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' 'K? IT'- ^P^ks ^> ~^T> ^f> '^Tt-^i 

ALBUHj 







IYINGSTON COUNTY, ILL,, 



CONTAINING 



Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent 
and Representative Citizens of the County, 

TOGETHER WITH 

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS, AND 
OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



CHICAGO: 

CHAPMAN BEOTHEES. 

1888. 



1 





E HAVE completed our labors in writing and compiling the PORTRAIT AND BIO- 
GRAPHICAL ALBUM of this county, and wish, in presenting it to our patrons, to speak 
briefly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duty 
of the present to commemorate the past, to perpetuatethe names of the pioneers, 
to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the story of their progress. 
The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and this solemn duty which 
men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity. 



demai-.d t'r.at a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local history is found a power 
to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe 
vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this region from its, 
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the noble men, who in their vigor and prime 
came early to the county and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage, are passing to their 
graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is 
becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of his- 
torical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only 
is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer times full and accurate, but it is also essen- 
tial that the history of the county, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various 
phases, so that a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to the future. The present the age 
of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times; it is abriliiant 
record, which is destined to live in the future; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, theii 
lives, whether commercial or military, do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrary, grow brighter with age, 
and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will be advanced and 
observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten and their very names hidden in obscurity. 

In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual care and pains were 
taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated 
indifferently ; and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published. 
As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous represent- 
ative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented 
in this department ; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose 
portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the call- 
ings and professions worthy to be given. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with 
those given; but of course it was impossible for us to give portraits of all the leading men and pioneers 
of the county. We are under great obligation to many of the noble and generous people of this county 
for kindly and material assistance in the preparation of this ALBUM. 



CHICAGO, March, 1888. 



CHAPMAN BROS, 



T 




OF THE 




AND OF THE 






OF THE 










t 





FIRST PRESIDENT. 




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HE Father of our Country was 
born in Westmorland Co., Va.., 
Feb. 22, 1732. His parents 
were Augustine and Mary 
| (Ball) Washington. The family 
to which he belonged has not 
been satisfactorily traced in 
England. His great-grand- 
father, John Washington, em- 
igrated to Virginia about 1657, 
and became a prosperous 
planter. He had two sons, 
Lawrence and John. The 
former married Mildred Warner 
and had three children, John, 
Augustine and Mildred. Augus- 
tine, the father of George, first 
married Jane Butler, who bore 
him four children, two of whom, 
Lawrence and Augustine, reached 
maturity. Of six children by his 
second marriage, George was the 
eldest, the others being Betty, 
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles 
and Mildred. 

Augustine Washington, the father of George, died 
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his 
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on 
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon, 
and to George he left the parental residence. George 
received only such education as the neighborhood 
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left 
school, when he received private instruction in 
mathematics. His spelling was rather defective. 



Remarkable stories are told of his great physical 
strength and development at an early age. He was 
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and 
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair- 
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life. 

When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to 
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him, 
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was 
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed 
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In 
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier 
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very 
essential to him. In 175 r, though only 19 years of 
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of 
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for 
active service against the French and Indians. Soon 
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother 
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They 
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence 
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter 
who did not long survive him. On her demise the 
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George. 

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was 
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili- 
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to 
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this 
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac- 
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro- 
ceed to the French post near Lake Erie in North- 
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed 
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand, 
and the journey was to be made without military 
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near 
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished 
u full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment 
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com- 
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was 
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was 
then begun against the French and Indians, in which 
Washington took a most important part. In the 
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad- 
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer 
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the 
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock 
were disabled early in the action, and Washington 
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter 
to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through 
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped 
unhurt, though death was levelin > my companions 
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was 
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he had taken 
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit 
him. 

After having been five years in the military service, 
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he 
took advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the 
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio, 
to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the 
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an 
active and important part. January 17, 1759, he 
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy 
widow of John Parke Custis. 

When the British Parliament had closed the port 
of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces 
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all." 
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con- 
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila- 
delphia, Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties, 
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash- 
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the 
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of 
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con- 
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the 
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com- 
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and 
responsible office was conferred upon Washington, 
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted 
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he 
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account 
of expenses and expect Congress lo pay them and 
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to 
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the 
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country 
were so long confided. The war was conducted by 
him under ever)' possible disadvantage, and while his 
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every 
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion 
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest 
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in 
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his 



commission as conunander-in-chief of the army to 
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He 
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed 
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all 
connection with public life. 

In February, 1 789, Washington was unanimously 
elected President. In his presidential career he was 
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new 
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part 
of other governments ; trials from want of harmony 
between the different sections of our own country; 
trials from the impoverished condition of the country, 
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the 
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His 
clear judgment could discern the golden mean ; and 
while perhaps this alone kept our government from 
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to 
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and 
very annoying. 

At the expiration of his first term he was unani- 
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many 
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely 
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March, 
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi- 
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there 
his few remaining years free from the annoyances of 
public life. Later in the year, however, his repose 
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France. 
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to 
take command of the armies. He chose his sub- 
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat- 
ters in the field, which he superintended from his 
home. In accepting the command he made the 
reservation that he was not to be in the field until 
it wns necessary. In the midst of these preparations 
his life was suddenly cut off". December 12, he took 
a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling 
in Irs throat, produced inflammation, and terminated 
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh- 
teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its 
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at 
Mount Vernon. 

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to 
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad- 
miration. The more we see of the operations of 
our government, and the more deeply we feel the 
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest, 
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal- 
ent and character, which have been able to challenge 
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na- 
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits 
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will 
be as lasting as the existence of man. 

The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect 
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was 
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry. 
He commanded respect without any appearance of 
haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull. 





SECOND PRESIDENT. 




^Aft-teaf 








i 



OHN ADAMS, the second 
President and the first Vice- 
President of the United States, 
was born in Braintree ( now 
Quincy),Mass., and about ten 
miles from Boston, Oct. 19, 
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry 
Adams, emigrated from England 
about 1 640, with a family of eight 
, sons, and settled at Braintree. The 
parents of John were John and 
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His 
father was a farmer of limited 
means, to which he added the bus- 
iness of shoemaking. He gave his 
eldest son, John, a classical educa- 
tion at Harvard College. John 
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the 
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a 
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to 
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the 
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself 
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He 
had thought seriously of the clerical profession 
but seems to have been turned from this by what he 
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun- 
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,'' 
of the operations of which he had been a witness in 
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal 
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being 
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep- 
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in 
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister, 
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his 
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa- 
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial 
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu- 



tions he offered on the subject became very popular 
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for 
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos- 
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous 
and prominent advocates of the popular cause, and 
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg- 
lislature) in 1770. 

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates 
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress, 
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself 
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad- 
vocated the movement for independence against the 
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved 
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies 
should assume the duties of self-government. He 
was a prominent member of the committee of five 
appointed June n, to prepare a declaration of inde 
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, bu) 
on Adams devolved the task of battling it througl 
Congress in a three days debate. 

On the day after the Declaration of Independence 
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the 
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wile, 
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated 
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says, "thf 
greatest question was decided that ever was debated 
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will 
be decided among men. A resolution \vas passed 
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United 
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of 
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history 
of America. I am apt to" believe it will be celebrated 
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary 
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of 
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty 
God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp, showsj 



24 



JOHN ADAMS. 



games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations 
from one end of the continent to the other, from this 
time forward for ever. You will think me transported 
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of 
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to 
maintain this declaration, and support and defend 
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the 
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is 
worth more than all the means; and that posterity 
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I 
hope we shall not." 

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a 
delegate to France, and to co-operate with Bemjamin 
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in 
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money 
from the French Government. This was a severe trial 
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home, 
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex- 
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis- 
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17, 
1779. In September of the same year he was again 
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi- 
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce 
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet 
might be found willing to listen to such proposels. He 
sailed for France in November, from there he went to 
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and 
formed important commercial treaties. 

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed 
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement, 
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed 
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con- 
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he 
was advised to goto England to drink the waters of 
Bath. While in England, still drooping and despond- 
ing, he received dispatches from his own government 
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to 
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was 
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through 
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip. 

February 24, 1785, Congress appointed Mr. Adams 
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face 
to face the King of England, who had so long re- 
garded him as a traitor. As England did not 
condescend to appoint a minister to the United 
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom- 
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to 
his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788. 

When Washington was first chosen President, John 
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at 
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again 
at the second election of Washington as President, 
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash- 
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was 
elected President,though not without much opposition. 
Serving in this office four years,he was succeeded by 
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics. 

While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great 



French Revolution shook the continent of Europe, 
and it was upon this point which he was at issue with 
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson. 
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people 
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their 
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the 
class of atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it. 
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly 
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or- 
iginated the alienation between these distinguished 
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ- 
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies 
were with England and Jefferson led the other in 
sympathy with France. 

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more 
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the 
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling 
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just 
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till 
after death. No one could look upon his venerable 
form, and think of what he had done and suffered, 
and how he had given up all the prime and strength 
of his life to the public good, without the deepest 
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar 
good fortune to witness the complete success of the 
institution which he had been so active in creating and 
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled 
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest 
station in the gift of the people. 

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half 
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the 
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the 
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is 
well known, on that day two of these finished their 
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as 
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr. 
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning 
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from 
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the 
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " IN- 
DEPENDENCE FOREVER." When the day was ushered 
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons, 
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew 
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor- 
ious fourth of July God bless it God bless you all." 
In the course of the day he said, " It is a great and 
glorious day." The last words he uttered were, 
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re- 
signed his spirit into the hands of his God. 

The personal appearance and manners of Mr. 
Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face, 
as his portrait manifests.was intellectual ard expres- 
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his 
manners were frequently abrupt and uncourteous. 
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor 
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked 
the manners and address of Jefferson. 




THIRD PRESIDENT. 





HOMAS JEFFERSON was 
born April 2, 1743, at Shad- 
well, Albermarle county, Va. 

His parents were Peter and 
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson, 
the former a native of Wales, 
and the latter born in Lon- 
don. To them were born six 
daughters and two sons, of 
whom Thomas was the elder. 
When 14 years of age his 
father died. He received a 
most liberal education, hav- 
ing been kept diligently at school 
from the time he was five years of 
age. In 1760 he entered William 
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat 
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obode of fashion 
and splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17 
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine 
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he 
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha- 
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under 
such influences, that he was not ruined. In the sec- 
ond year of his college course, moved by some un- 
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses, 
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had 
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex- 
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out 
of the city and back again. He thus attained very 
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso- 
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and 
Greek authors he read with facility. A more finished 
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls ; and 



there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a 
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man. 

Immediately upon leaving college he began the 
study of law. For the short time he continued in the 
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin- 
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a 
lawyer. But the times called for greater action. 
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of 
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged 
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led 
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen 
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 
1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti- 
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow. 

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there 
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which 
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and 
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new 
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet 
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon, 
became the most distinguished resort in our land. 

In 1775 he was sent to the Colonial Congress, 
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a 
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he 
was placed upon a number of important committees, 
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw- 
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com- 
mittee consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R. 
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed 
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested 
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con- 
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made 
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July 
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that 



f 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



man what the emotions that swelled his breast 
who was charged with the preparation of that Dec- 
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of 
America, .vas also to publish her to the world, free, 
soverign and independent. It is one of the most re- 
markable papers ever written ; and did noother effort 
uf the mind of its author exist, that alone would be 
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality. 

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to 
Patrick Henry, as Governor of Virginia. At one time 
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to 
Monticello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five 
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef- 
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses- 
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never 
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and 
in the summer of 1782 she died. 

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783. 
Two yeirs later he was appointed Minister Plenipo- 
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States 
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State 
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned 
Jan. r, 1794. In 1797, he was chosen Vice Presi- 
dent, and four years later was elected President over 
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In 
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity, 
and George Clinton, Vice President. 

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra- 
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the 
tranquilily and peace of the Union ; this was the con- 
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election 
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled 
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a 
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our 
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there 
a new republic. This has been generally supposed 
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been 
generally known what his real plans were, there is no 
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous 
character. 

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for 
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined 
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly 
forty years, he had been continually before the pub- 
lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of 
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de- 
voted the best part of his life to the service of his 
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his 
declining years required, and upon the organization of 
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare- 
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello. 

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole 
families came in their coaches with their hoises, 
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and 
nurses, and remained three and even six months. 
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a 
fashionable watering-place. 

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver- 



i 



sary of the Declaration of American Independence, 
great preparations were made in every pait of tho 
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and 
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity 
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer. 
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara- 
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill- 
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and 
had been continually increasing, compelled him to 
decline the invitation. 

On the second of July, the disease under which 
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced 
state that his medical attendants, entertained no 
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly 
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next 
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around 
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was 
the third of July, he expressed the earnest wish that 
he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth 
anniversary. His prayer was heard that day, whose 
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land, 
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for- 
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble 
life ! To die on that day, the birthday of a nation,- - 
the day which his own name and his own act had 
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicings and 
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him, 
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings, 
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life. 

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin- 
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear 
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors. 
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of 
freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper- 
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and 
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a 
century they had labored together for the good of 
the country; and now hand in hand they depart. 
In their lives they had been united in the same great 
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not 
divided. 

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather 
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes 
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became 
white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore- 
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and 
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind as 
well as personal courage ; and his command of tem- 
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends 
never recollected to have seen him in a passion. 
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un- 
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that 
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver- 
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and 
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He 
was a finished classical scholar, and in his writings is 
discernable the care with which he formed his style 
upon the best models of antiquity. 










X 



FOURTH PRESIDENT. 





III 



AMES MADISON, "Father 
of the Constitution," and fourth 
President of the United States, 
was born March 16, 1757, and 
died at his home in Virginia, 
June 28, 1836. The name of 
James Madison is inseparably con- 
nected with most of the important 
events in that heroic period of our 
country during which" the founda- 
tions of this great republic were 
laid. He was the last of the founders 
of the Constitution of the United 
States to be called to his eternal 
reward. 

The Madison family were among 
the early emigrants to the New World, 
landing upon the shores of the Chesa- 
peake but 15 years after the settle- 
ment of Jamestown. The father of 
James Madison was an opulent 
planter, residing upon a very fine es- 
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co., 
Va. The mansion was situated in 
the midst of scenery highly pictur- 
esque and romantic, on the west side 
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of 
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of 
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and 
political attachment existed between these illustrious 
men, from their early youth until death. 

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted 
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of 
1 8 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey. 
Here he applied himself to study with the most im- 



prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three 
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so 
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor 
of constitution. He graduated in 1771, with a feeble 
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a 
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning 
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf 
quent career. 

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of 
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading. 
This educational course, the spirit of the times in 
which he lived, and the society with which he asso- 
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong 
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of 
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of 
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that 
his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten- 
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind 
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with 
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed 
all the arguments for and against revealed religion, 
until his faith became so established as never to 
be shaken. 

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he 
was elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to 
frame the constitution of the State. The next year 
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly. 
He refused to treat the whisky-lovir.g voters, and 
consequently lost his election ; but those who had 
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the 
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf, 
and he was appointed to the Executive Council. 

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were 
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained 
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his 



JAMES MADISON. 



intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not 
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year 
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental 
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in 
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of 
the most conspicuous positions among them. 

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con- 
gress, one of its most active and influential members. 
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was 
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature. 

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the 
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na- 
tional government, with no power to form treaties 
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There 
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in 
the declaration, that an efficient national government 
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison 
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of 
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis- 
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss 
this subject. Five States only were represented. The 
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up 
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their 
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft 
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place 
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at 
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island 
was represented. George Washington was chosen 
president of the convention ; and the present Consti- 
tution of the United States was then and there formed. 
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac- 
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind 
and the pen of James Madison. 

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was 
to be presented to the several States for acceptance. 
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected 
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent 
States, with but little power at home and little respect 
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by the conven- 
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United 
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution, 
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition 
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and 
went into effect in 1789. 

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the 
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in 
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a 
young widow of remarkable power of fascination, 
whom he married. She was in person and character 
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied 
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society 
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under 
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration 
was chosen President. At this time the encroach- 
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war. 



British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and 
our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison 
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring 
in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the 
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood 
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought 
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser. 
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the 
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal- 
ance he selects any number whom he may please to 
designate as British subjects ; orders them down the 
ship's side into his boat; and places them on the gun- 
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the 
battles of England. This right of search and im- 
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce 
the British cabinet to relinquish. 

On the 1 8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave 
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war 
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter 
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 4th 
of March, igtS) w as re-elected by a large majority, 
and entered upon his second term of office. This is 
not the place to describe the various adventures of 
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant 
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap- 
pling with the most formidable power which ever 
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest 
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in February, 
1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole 
coast of the United States under blockade. 

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me 
dilator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit- 
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks 
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa- 
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens- 
burg, upon Washington. 

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown 
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict 
at Bladensbnrg echoed through the streets of the 
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city. 
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White 
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to 
await his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers 
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed, 
and he could not go back without danger of being 
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential 
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in 
Washington were in flames. 

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on 
Feb. r3, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, his second term of 
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair 
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau- 
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re- 
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the 
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi- 
son died July 12, 1849. 



I 




FIFTH PRESIDENT. 








i 



AMES MONROE, the fifth 
Presidentof The United States, 
was born in Westmoreland Co., 
Va., April 28, 1758. His early 
life was passed at the place of 
nativity. His ancestors had for 
many years resided in the prov- 
ince in which he was born. When, 
at 17 years of age, in the process 
of completing his education at 
William and Mary College, the Co- 
lonial Congress assembled at Phila- 
delphia to deliberate upon the un- 
just and manifold oppressions of 
Great Britian, declared the separa- 
tion of the Colonies, and promul- 
gated the Declaration of Indepen- 
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly 
probable that he would have been one of the signers 
of that celebrated instrument. At this time he left 
school and enlisted among the patriots. 

He joined the army when everything looked hope- 
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased 
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring 
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the 
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits, 
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con- 
tending with an enemy whom they had been taught 
to deem invincible. To such brave spirits as James 
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through 
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their 
political emancipation. The young cadet joined the 
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country, 
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife 



for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel- 
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White 
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled 
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months 
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots 
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of 
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg- 
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left 
shoulder. 

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro- 
moted a captain of infantry; and, having recovered 
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however, 
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an 
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam- 
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued 
aid-de-camp; but becoming desirous to regain his 
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a 
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed 
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon 
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at 
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable 
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however, 
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag ; 
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun- 
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits. 

In 1782, he was elected from King George county, 
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that 
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive 
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence 
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having 
at this early period displayed some of that ability 
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards 
employed with unremitting energy for the public good, 



b 



JAMES MOivROE. 



he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of 
the Congress of the United States. 

Deeplyas Mr. Monroe felt the imperfections of the old 
^Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
ihinking, with many others of the Republican party, 
that it gave too much power to the Central Government, 
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re- 
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm 
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition 
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member 
of the United States Senate ; which office he held for 
four years. Every month the line of distinction be- 
tween the two great parties which divided the nation, 
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more 
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep- 
arated them were, that the Republican party was in 
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a 
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the 
Central Government as little power, and the State 
Governments as much power, as the Constitution would 
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England, 
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con- 
stitution, which would give as much power to the 
Central Government as that document could possibly 
authorize. 

The leading Federalists and Republicans were 
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the 
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more 
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and 
James Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In 
building up this majestic nation, which is destined 
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian greatness, the com- 
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the 
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de- 
nounced as almost a demon. 

Washington was then President. England had es- 
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi- 
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn 
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away. 
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France had helped 
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms 
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse 
than that which we had endured Col. Monroe, more 
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at 
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in 
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous 
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres- 
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such a character, 
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness, 
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de- 
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister 
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr. 
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention 
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations. 



Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon- 
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the 
office for three yeais. He was again sent to France to 
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining 
the vast territory then known as the Province of 
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob- 
tained from Spain. Tlieir united efforts were suc- 
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen 
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and 
district of Louisiana were added to the United States. 
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate 
which was ever made in all the history of the world. 

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob- 
tain from that country some recognition of out- 
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those 
odious impressments of our seamen. But Eng- 
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng- 
land on the same mission, but could receive no 
redress. He returned to his home and was again 
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned 
to accept the position of Secretary of State under 
Madison. While in this office war with England was 
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during 
these trying times, the duties of the War Department 
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor- 
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return oi 
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con- 
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex- 
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec- 
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had 
been chosen President with but little opposition, and 
upon March 4, 1817, was inaugurated. Four years 
later he was elected for a second term. 

Among the important measures of his Presidency 
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the 
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine."' 

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe 
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that 
time the United States had recognized the independ- 
ence of the South American states, and did not \\ish 
to have European powers longer attempting to sub- 
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine 
is as follows : " That we should consider any attempt 
on the part of European powers to extend their sys- 
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous 
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not 
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing 
or controlling American governments or provinces in 
any other light than as a manifestation by European 
powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United 
States." This doctrine immediately affected the course 
of foreign governments, and has become the approved 
sentiment of the United States. 

At the end of his second term Mr. Monroe retired 
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830, 
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 
law. In that city he died,on the 4th of July, 1831. 



*l> 




J, 



SIXTH PRESIDENT. 



39 




Qmi)0 




OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the 
sixth President of the United 
States, was born in the rural 
home of his honored father, 
John Adams, in Quincy, Mass., 
on the i ith cf July, 1767. His 
mother, a woman of exalted 
worth, watched over his childhood 
during the almost constant ab- 
sence of his father. When but 
eight years of age, he stood with 
his mother on an eminence, listen- 
ing to the booming of the great bat- 
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on 
upon the smoke and flames billow- 
ing up from the conflagration of 
Charlestown. 

When but eleven years oW he 
took a tearful adieu of his mother, 
to sail with his fattier for Europe, 
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright, 
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where 
his father was associated with Franklin and Lee as 
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted 
the notice of these distinguished men, and he received 
from them flattering marks of attention. 

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this 
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again 
John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he 
applied himself with great diligence, for six months, 
to study; then accompained his father to Holland, 
where he entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then 
the University at Leyden. About a year from this 
time, in 1781, when the manly Loy was but fourteen 
years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min- 
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary. 

Tn this school of incessant labor and of enobling 
culture he spent fourteen months, and then returned 
to Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the 
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed 
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence, 



in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to 
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance 
with the most distinguished men on the Continent; 
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings, 
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again 
became associated with the most illustrious men of 
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal 
themes which can engross the human mind. After 
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and 
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785, 
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young 
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world, 
and who was familiar with the .etiquette of courts, a 
residence with his father in London, under such cir- 
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive; 
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre- 
ferred to return to America to complete his education 
in an American college. He wished then to study 
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be 
able to obtain an independent support. 

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty, 
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be- 
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap- 
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the 
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached 
London in October, where he was immediately admit- 
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney, 
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with 
Great Britian. After thus spending a fortnight in 
London, he proceeded to the Hague. 

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as 
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal, 
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches 
directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting 
him to remain in London until he should receive his 
instructions. While waiting he was married to an 
American lady to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged, Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter 
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London ; 
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom- 
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the 
elevated sphere for which she was destined. 



JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. 



i 



He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ; 
where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful- 
filled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his 
recall. . 

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to 
Ihe Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then 
was elected Senator of the United States for six years, 
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his 
ability and his experience, placed him immediately 
among the most prominent and influential members 
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern- 
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach- 
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in- 
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more 
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon 
these points, and no one more resolved to present 
a firm resistance. 

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres- 
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John 
Qiiincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign- 
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked 
at Boston, in August, 1809. 

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu- 
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and 
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the 
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to 
the climate and astronomical observations ; while he 
sept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and 
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a 
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found. 
All through life the Bible constituted an important 
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five 
chapters every day. 

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the 
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr. 
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num- 
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he 
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the 
1 8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his 
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon- 
roe's administration, Mr. Adams continued Secretary 
of State. 

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second 
term of office, new candidates began to be presented 
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought 
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign. 
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and 
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re- 
ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four; 
William H. Crawford, forty -one ; Henry Clay, thirty- 
seven. As there was no choice by the people, the 
question went to the House of Representatives. Mr. 
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and 
he was elected. 

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now 
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in 
the past history of our country than the abuse which 



was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this 
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was 
an administration more pure in principles, more con- 
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun- 
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per- 
haps, was there an administration more unscrupu- 
lously and outrageously assailed. 

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab- 
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising 
early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in 
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast, 
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said 
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his 
own fire and applying himself to work in his library 
often long before dawn. 

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired 
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew 
Jackson. John C. Calhoun was elected Vice Presi- 
dent. The slavery question now began to assume 
portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued with un- 
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re- 
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was 
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen 
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre- 
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to 
do brave battle* for freedom, and winning the title of 
"the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in 
the House, he announced that he should hold him- 
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a 
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually 
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to 
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could 
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The 
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against 
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime 
in its moral daring and heroism. For persisting in 
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he 
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury, 
with expulsion from the House, with assassination : 
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final 
triumph was complete. 

It has been said of President Adams, that when his 
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of 
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little 
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before 
he slept, the prayer which his mother taught him in 
his infant years. 

On the 2istof February, 1848, he rose on the floor 
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the 
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly- 
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. 
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to 
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious- 
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and 
said " This is the end of earth /'then after a moment's 
pause he added, "7 am content." These were the 
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent." 



SEVENTH PRESIDENT. 



* 



. , 





NDREW JACKSON, the 
seventh President of the 
United States, was born in 
Waxhaw settlement, N. C., 
March 15, 1767, a few days 
after his father's death. His 
parents were poor emigrants 
from Ireland, and took up 
their abode in Waxhaw set- 
tlement, where they lived in 
deepest poverty. 
Andrew, or Andy, as he was 
universally called, grew up a very 
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His 
features were coarse, his form un- 
gainly; and there was but very 
little in his character, made visible, which was at- 
tractive. 

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun- 
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In 
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and 
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer 
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am 
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of 
the dauntless boy. 

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate 
blow at the head of the helpless young prisoner. 
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear- 
ful gashes, one on the hand and the other upon the 
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert 
with the same demand. He also refused, and re- 
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite 
diiabled him, and which probably soon after caused 
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and 
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their 
mother was successful in obtaining their exchange, 



and took her sick boys home. After a long illness 
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon 
left him entirely friendless. 

Andrew supported himself in various ways, such as 
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and 
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he 
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however, 
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the 
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed 
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of 
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved 
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of 
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear, 
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish 
with the Sharp Knife. 

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was married to a woman who 
supposed herself divorced from her former husband. 
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later, 
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been 
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage 
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur- 
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr. 
Jackson into disfavor. 

Daring these years he worked hard at his profes- 
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand, 
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then 
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the 
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con- 
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven 
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates. 
The new State was entitled to but one member in 
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack- 
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he 
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its 



dL 



44 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



sessions, a distance of about eight hundred miles. 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo- 
cratic party. Jefferson was his idol. He admired 
Bonaparte, loved France and hated England. As Mr. 
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose 
second term of office was then expiring, delivered his 
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a 
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson 
did not approve of the address, and was one of the 
twelve who voted against'it. He was not willing to 
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been 
!' wise, firm and patriotic." 

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States 
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court 
of his State, which position he held for six years. 

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com- 
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair. 
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was 
ah unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who 
would do credit to a commission if one were con- 
ferred upon him. Just at that time Gen. Jackson 
offered his services and those of twenty-five hundred 
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops 
were assembled at Nashville. 

As the British were hourly expected to make an at- 
tack upon New Orleans, where Gen Wilkinson was 
in command, he was ordered to descend the river 
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The 
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev- 
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything, 
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the 
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire 
devotion t'o the comrfort of his soldiers, won him 
golden opinions; and he became the most popular 
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his 
toughness gave him the nickname of "Old Hickory." 

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col. 
Thomas H. Benton, for a remark that gentleman 
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in 
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged, 
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was 
"lingering \i\xm a bed of suffering news came that the 
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from 
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set- 
tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De- 
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with 
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in 
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis- 
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an 
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama. 

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on 
one of the bends of the Tallaooosa River, near the cen- 
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother. 
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson 
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven 
days. He reached their fort, called Tohopeka or 
Horse-shoe, on the 27th of March. 1814. The bend 

4* 



of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of 
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow 
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast- 
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors, 
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled. 

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des- 
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When 
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en- 
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn- 
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was 
awful and revolting. Some threw themselves into the 
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads as 
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war- 
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam 
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The 
power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold 
plunge into the wilderness, with itsterriffic slaughter, 
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants 
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace. 

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con- 
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the 
allies of the Indians No man of less .resolute will 
than Gen. Jackson could have conducted this Indian 
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he 
was appointed major-general. 

Late in August, with an army of two thousand 
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to 
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed 
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort, 
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious 
assault The battle was long and doubtful. At length 
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired. 

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little 
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans, 
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued, 
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won 
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his 
troops, which numbered about four thousand men, 
won a signal victory over the British army of about 
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the 
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred. 

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men- 
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824, 
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however, 
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected 
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he 
assumed the reins of the government, he met with 
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of 
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has 
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of 
her death he never recovered. 

His administration was one of the most memorable 
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, 
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter 
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his 
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where 
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Jack- 
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man. 






: 




EIGHTH PRESIDENT. 





ARTIN VAN BUREN, the 

eighth President of the 
United States, was bom at 
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5, 
1782. He died at the same 
place, July 24, 1862. His 
body rests in the cemetery 
at Kinderhook. Above it is 
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet 
high, bearing a simple inscription 
about half way up on one face. 
The lot is unfenced, unbordered 
or unbounded by shrub or flower. 

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren 
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged 
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in 
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many 
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those 
incidents which give zest to biography. His an- 
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin, 
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland 
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer, 
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother, 
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel- 
ligence and exemplary piety. 

He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un- 
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the 
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies 
in his native village, and commenced the study of 
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven 
years of study in a law-office were required of him 
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with 
n lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur- 
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After 
spending six years in an office in his native village, 



he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his 
studies for the seventh year. 

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of 
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil- 
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and 
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van 
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had, 
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the 
many discussions which had been carried on in his 
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with 
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the 
cause of State Rights; though at that time the Fed- 
eral party held the supremacy both in his town 
and State. 

His success and increasing ruputation led him 
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th<: 
county seat of his county. Here he spent seven years 
constantly gaining strength by contending in tin. 
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned 
the bar of his State. 

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi. 
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for 
beauty and accomplishments. After twelve short 
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump- 
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over 
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was 
an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record 
of those years is barren in items of public interest. 
In 1812, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to 
the State Senate, and cave his strenuous support to 
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved 
to Albany, the capital of the State. 

While he was acknowledged as one of the most 
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



the moral courage to avow that true democracy did 
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits 
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of 
governing the State. In true consistency with his 
democratic principles, he contended that, while the 
path leading to the privilege of voting should be open 
to every man without distinction, no one should be 
invested with that sacred prerogative, unless he were 
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue 
and some property interests in the welfare of the 
State. 

In 1821 he was elected a member of the United 
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat 
in the convention to revise the constitution of his 
native State. His course in this convention secured 
the approval of men of all parties. No one could 
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the 
interests of all classes in the community. In the 
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a 
conspicuous position as an active and useful legislator. 

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the 
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to 
the Senate. He had been from the beginning a de- 
termined opposer of the Administration, adopting the 
" State Rights " view in opposition to what was 
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams. 

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof 
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his 
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United 
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q. 
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing in it 
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether 
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re- 
garded throughout the United States as one of the 
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians. 
It was supposed that no one knew so well as he how 
to touch the secret spiings of action; how to pull all 
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to 
organize a political army which would, secretly and 
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By 
these powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams, 
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which 
few thought then could be accomplished. 

When Andrew Jackson was elected President he 
appointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This 
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately 
appointed Minister to England, where he went the 
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met, 
reused to ratify the nomination, and he returned 



home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice 
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election 
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and 
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that 
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination 
as ambassador. 

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of 
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor- 
ite ; and this, probably more than any other cause, 
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu- 
tive. On the 2oth of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re- 
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen. 
Jackson as President of the United States. He was 
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the 
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the 
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van 
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen. 
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred 
upon him the power to appoint a successor." 

His administration was filled with exciting events. 
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in 
volve this country in war with England, the agitation 
of the slavery question, and finally the great commer- 
cial panic which spread over the country, all were 
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at- 
tributed to the management of the Democratic party, 
and brought the President into such disfavor that he 
failed of re-election. 

With the exception of being nominated for the 
Presidency by the " Free Soil " Democrats, in 1 848, 
Mr. Van Buren lived quietly upon his estate until 
his death. 

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits, 
and living within his income, had now fortunately a 
competence for his declining years. His unblemished 
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned 
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he 
had occupied in the government of our country, se- 
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but 
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the 
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from 
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald ) 
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics 
of the country. From this time until his death, on 
the 24th of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he 
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of 
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old 
age, probably far more happiness than he had before 
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life. 





NINTH PRESIDENT. 





1 r 

1 



ILLIAM HENRY HARRI- 
SON, the ninth President of 
the United States, was born 
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773. 
His father, Benjamin Harri- 
son, was in comparatively op- 
ulent circumstances, and was 
one of the most distinguished 
men of his day. He was an 
intimate friend of George 
Washington, was early elected 
a member of the Continental 
Congress, and was conspicuous 
among the patriots of Virginia in 
resisting the encroachments of the 
British crown. In the celebrated 
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har- 
rison and John Hancock were 
both candidates for the office of 
speaker. 

Mr Harrison was subsequently 
chosen Governor of Virginia, and 
was twice re-elected. His son, 
I William Henry, of course enjoyed 

in childhood all the advantages which wealth and 
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav- 
ing received a thorough common-school education, he 
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated 
with honor soon after the death of his father. He 
then repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under 
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of 
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father, 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not- 
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he 
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army, 
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi- 



dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old. 
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank 
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose 
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap- 
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This 
Territory was then entitled to but one member in 
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that 
position. 

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory 
was divided by Congress into two portions. The 
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced 
in the State of Ohio, was called '' The Territory 
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which 
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil- 
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap- 
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana 
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of 
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as 
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He 
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in- 
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now 
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and 
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible 
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four 
times appointed to this office first by John Adams, 
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When he began his adminstration there were but 
three white settlementsin that almost boundless region, 
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the 
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements 
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at 
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French 
settlement. 

The vast .wilderness over which Gov. Harrison 
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About 



I 



5 2 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers, 
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of 
these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching 
Panther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or " The Prophet." 
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man 
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit- 
able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might 
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm, 
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred 
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting- 
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was 
an orator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored 
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which 
they dwelt. 

But the Prophet was not merely an orator : he was, 
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested 
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a 
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter 
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went 
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent 
by the Great Spirit. 

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate 
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe- 
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter. 
October 28, 1812, his army began its march. When 
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made 
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was 
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. - After a 
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet- 
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace. 

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with 
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes- 
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en- 
campment, he took every precaution against surprise. 
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept 
upon their arms. 

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for 
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his 
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The 
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in 
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa- 
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It 
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In 
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi- 
ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all 
the desperation which superstition and passion most 
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the 
little army. The savages had been amply provided 
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their 
war-whoop was accompained by a shower of bullets. 

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the 
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide- 
DUS yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a 
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's 
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them 
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous 
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be- 
fore them, and completely routing the foe. 



Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked 
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can- 
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but 
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the 
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn- 
ing, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier 
was plunged into a state of consternation which even 
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive. 
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the 
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra- 
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made 
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit. 
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison 
was appointed by President Madison Commander-in- 
chief of the North-western army, with orders to retake 
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers. 

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation 
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but 
General Harrison was found equal to the position, 
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re- 
sponsibilities. 

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing 
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while 
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was carried in a 
valise; and his bedding consisted of a single blanket 
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers, 
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle. 
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted 
before the fire, without bread or salt. 

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of 
the National House of Representatives, to represent 
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an 
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with 
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested 
the attention of all the members. 

In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors 
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The 
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate. 

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against 
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of 
Mr. Van Buren 's term, he was re-nominated by his 
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated 
by the Whigs, with John Tyler forthe Vice Presidency. 
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave 
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but 
his triumph was signal. 

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster 
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most 
brilliant with which any President had ever been 
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin- 
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country 
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and 
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a 
pleurisv-fever and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died on the 4th of April ; just one month after 
his inauguration as President of the United States. 






TENTH PRESIDENT. 



55 t \ 





1 



OHN TYLER, the tenth 
, Presidentof the United States. 
He was born in Charles-city 
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He 
was the favored child of af- 
fluence and high social po- 
sition. At the early age of 
twelve, John entered William 
and Mary College and grad- 
uated with much honor when 
but seventeen years old. After 
graduating, he devoted him- 
self with great assiduity to the 
study of law, partly with his 
father and partly with Edmund 
Randolph, one of the most distin- 
guished lawyers of Virginia. 

At nineteen years of age, he 
commenced the practice of law. 
His success was rapid and aston- 
ishing. It is said that three 
months had not elapsed ere there 
was scarcely a case on the dock- 
I et of the court in which he was 
not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he 
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of 
Tefferson and Madison. For five successive years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the 
unanimous vote or his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and 
ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national 
bank, internal improvements by the General Govern- 



ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con- 
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful 
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress 
were so arduous that before the close of his second 
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his 
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He, 
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the 
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful 
in promoting public works of great utility. With a 
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen 
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his 
native State. His administration was signally a suc- 
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election. 

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed 
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the 
United States. A portion of the Democratic party 
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course, 
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent, 
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient 
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of 
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor. 

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his 
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi- 
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and 
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren- 
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist- 
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen- 
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr. 
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen. 
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had 
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party. 
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, a record 
in perfect accordance with the principles which he 
had always avowed. 

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of 
his profession. There was a split in the Democratic 



JOHN TYLER. 



party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef- 
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli- 
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of 
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con- 
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri- 
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder ; and it was 
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice 
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan- 
tation. Soon after this he remov ed to Williamsburg, 
for the better education of his children ; and he again 
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia. 

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national 
convention at Harrisburg to nominate a President in 
1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har- 
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of 
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili- 
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the 
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres- 
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa- 
thy with the Whig party in the Noith : but the Vice 
President has but very little power in the Govern- 
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre- 
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap- 
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a 
Democratic Vice President were chosen. 

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States. In one short month from 
that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler 
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of 
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential 
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our 
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our 
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler 
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the 
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri- 
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of 
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible 
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding 
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been 
opposed to the main principles of the party which had 
brought him into power. He had ever been a con- 
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record. 
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should 
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun- 
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or, 
on the other hand, should he turn against the party 
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har- 
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those 
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub- 
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in- 
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had 
selected to retain their seats. He reccomnnjiided a 
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and 
bless us. 

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the 
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States. 
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with 
his veto. He suggested, however, that he would 



approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he 
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and 
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. 
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back 
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture. 
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas- 
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M. 
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely 
touched the pride of the President. 

The opposition now exultingly received the Presi- 
dent into their arms. The party which elected him 
denounced him bitterly. All the members of his 
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs 
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a 
meeting and issued an address to the people of the 
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance 
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at 
an end. 

Still the President attempted to conciliate. He 
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and 
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party 
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign, 
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus 
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra- 
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The 
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Whigs 
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more, 
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his 
old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term, 
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr. 
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the 
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and 
probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife, 
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842; 
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married, 
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of 
many personal and intellectual accomplishments. 

The remainder of his days Mr. Tyler passed mainly 
in retirement at his beautiful home, Sherwood For- 
est, Charles -city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in 
his manners, richly furnished with information from 
books and experience in the world, and possessing 
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was 
the scene of unusual attractions. With sufficient 
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he 
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few 
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the 
storms of civil war which his own principles and 
policy had helped to introduce. 

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State- 
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal- 
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his 
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed- 
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress; 
and while engaged in active measures to deslroy, by 
force of arms, the Government over which he had 
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died. 



f 



ELEVENTH PRESIDENT. 






AMES K. POLK, the eleventh 
President of the United States, 
was born in Mecklenburg Co., 
N. C., Nov. 2, 1795. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Jane 
(Knox) Polk, the former a son 

of Col. Thomas Polk, who located 

at the above place, as one of the 

first pioneers, in 1735. 

In the year 1806, with his wife 

and children, and soon after fol- 



lowed by most of the members of 
the Polk farnly, Samuel Polk emi- 
grated some two or three hundred 
miles farther west, to the rich valley 
of the Duck River. Here in the 
midst of the wilderness, in a region 
which was subsequently called Mau- 
ry Co., they reared their log huts, 
and established their homes. In the 
hard toil of a new farm in the wil- 
derness, James K. Polk spent the 
early years of his childhood and 
youth. His father, adding the pur- 
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer, 
gradually increased in wealth until 
he became one of the leading men of the region. His 
mother was a superior woman, of strong common 
sense and earnest piety. 

Very early in life, James developed a taste for 
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain 
a liberal education. His mother's training had made 
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct- 
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty 
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his 
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a 



sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the 
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits. 

This was to James a bitter disappointment. He 
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks 
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this 
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his 
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made 
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon 
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With 
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed 
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half 
years, in the autumn of 1815, entered the sophomore 
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel 
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of 
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing 
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious 
service. 

He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be- 
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in 
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty- 
three years of age. Mr. Folk's health was at this 
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he 
had prosecuted his studies. After a short season of 
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the 
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk 
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who 
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few 
miles from Nashville. They had probably been 
slightly acquainted before. 

Mr. Folk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican, 
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi- 
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was 
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his 
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that 
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump. 
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and 



f 



4* 



6o 



JAMES K. POLK. 



\ 



courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic 
nature in the joy s and griefs of others which ever gave 
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected 
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his 
strong influence towards the election of his friend, 
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah 
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was 
altogether worthy of him, a lady of beauty and cul- 
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a 
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave 
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that 
for fourteen successive years, until 1 839, he was con- 
tinued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew, 
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair 
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious 
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was 
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever 
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any 
ambitious rhetorical display. 

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was 
Speaker of the House Strong passions were roused, 
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per- 
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac- 
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was 
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of 
March, 1839. 

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a 
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was 
elected by a large majority, and on the i4th of Octo- 
ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841, 
his term of office expired, and he was again the can- 
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated. 

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. P^ was inaugur- 
ated President of the United States. The verdict of 
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted 
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the 
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig- 
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the 
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to 
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas 
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister, 
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and 
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation 
to be an act hostile to Mexico. 

In his first message, President Polk urged that 
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re- 
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the 
other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent 



with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was 
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the 
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly 
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande, 
where he erected batteries which commanded the 
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on 
the western banks. 

The anticipated collision soon took place, and war 
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The 
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration 
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first 
called one of "observation," then of "occupation," 
then of " invasion,"was sent forward to Monterey. The 
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly 
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement 
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused. 
It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration 
that the war was brought on. 

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was 
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands. 
We now consented to peace upon the condition that 
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas, 
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal- 
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of 
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This 
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the 
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen 
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were 
some Americans who thought it all right : there were 
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution 
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and 
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this 
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico. 

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from 
office, having served one term. The next day was 
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated 
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the 
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even- 
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to 
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age. 
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits, 
and his health was good. With an ample fortune, 
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties 
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years 
of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the 
cholera that fearful scourge was then sweeping up 
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted, 
and died on the 15th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth ^ 
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen. 





TWELFTH PRESIDENT, 






ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth 
President of the United States, 
was born on the 24th of Nov., 
1784, in Orange Co., Va. His 
father, Colonel Taylor, was 
a Virginian of note, and a dis- 
tinguished patriot and soldier of 
the Revolution. When Zachary 
was an infant, his father with his 
wife and two children, emigrated 
to Kentucky, where he settled in 
the pathless wilderness, a few 
miles from Louisville. In this front- 
ier home, away from civilization and 
all its refinements, young Zachary 
could enjoy but few social and educational advan- 
tages. When six years of age he attended a common 
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy, 
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char- 
acter He was strong, fearless and self-reliant, and 
manifested a. strong desire to enter the army to fight 
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There 
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his 
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation. 
In 1808, his father succeeded in obtaining for him 
the commission of lieutenant in the United States 
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed 
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after 
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady 
from one of the first families of Maryland. 

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng- 
land, in 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been 
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above 
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder- 
ness by Gen. Harrison,on his march to Tippecanoe. 
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians, 
led by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken 



company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of 
whom were sick. 

Early in the autumn of 1812, the Indians, stealthily, 
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their 
approach was first indicated by the murder of two 
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor 
made every possible preparation to meet the antici- 
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of 
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort, 
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that 
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk 
with him. It was evident that their object was merely 
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt. 
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept 
them at a distance. 

The sun went down ; the savages disappeared, the 
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before 
midnight the war whoop burst from a thousand lips 
in the forest around, followed by the discharge of 
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick 
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that 
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap- 
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor- 
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can 
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc- 
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses- 
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict 
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point, 
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt. 
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the 
rank of major by brevet. 

Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed 
in such situations that he saw but little more of active 
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the 
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which 
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little 
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one 
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- 




ZACHARY TAYLOR. 



tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful 
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of 
colonel. In the Black-Hawk war, which resulted in 
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor 
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part. 

For twenty -four years Col. Taylor was engaged in 
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in 
employments so obscure, that his name was unknown 
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance. 
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel 
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re- 
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty, 
had promised they should do. The services rendered 
here secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of 
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated 
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon 
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com- 
mand of the United States troops in Florida. 

After two years of such wearisome employment 
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor 
obtained, at his own request, a change of command, 
and was stationed over the Department of the South- 
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters 
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family 
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue. 
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were, 
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty 
imposed upon him. 

In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land 
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river 
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed 
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico 
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the 
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet 
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name 
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in 
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and 
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over 
forces much larger than he commanded. 

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected 
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops, 
the sobriquet of " Old Rough and Ready." 

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista 
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The 
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The 
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder- 
ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un- 
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the 
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an- 
nouncement, and for a time would not listen toil; de- 
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an 
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that, 
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not 
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen 
who had been long years in the public service found 
their claims set aside in behalf of one whose name 



had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo 
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena 
Vista. It Is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re- 
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made." 

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine 
writer. His friends took possession of him, and pre- 
pared such few communications as it was needful 
should be presented to the public. The popularity of 
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri- 
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, 
Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren. 
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good 
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position, 
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed. 
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably 
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party 
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi- 
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was 
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery 
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found 
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more 
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or 
Indians. 

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor, 
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little 
over a year, took cold, and after a brief sickness of 
but little over five days, died on the oth of July, 1850. 
His last words were, " I am not afraid to die. I am 
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died 
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un- 
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the 
affections of the people ; and the Nation bitterly la- 
mented his death. 

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with 
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful 
description of his character: " With a good store of 
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en- 
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse 
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse- 
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had 
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his 
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim- 
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju- 
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the 
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable, 
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat 
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave 
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out- 
side pocket, in any such case, this critic held the 
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse), 
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase, 
' touch with a pair of tongs.' 

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil- 
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a 
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter 
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short, 
few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor- 
saving contempt for learning of every kind." 




1 





THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT. 




FILLMOHE, 





ILLARD FILLMORE, thir- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born at Summer 
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on 
the 7th of January, 1800. His 
father was a farmer, and ow- 
ing to misfortune, in humble cir- 
cumstances. Of his mother, the 
daughter of Dr. AbiatharMillard, 
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been 
said that she possessed an intellect 
of very high order, united with much 
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis- 
position, graceful manners and ex- 
quisite sensibilities. She died in 
1831 ; having lived to see her son a 
young man of distinguished prom- 
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high 
dignity which he finally attained. 

In consequence of the secluded home and limited 
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad- 
vantages for education in his early years. The com- 
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were 
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce 
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char- 
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he 
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ; 
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred 
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible, 
and had laid Ihe foundations of an upright character. 
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him 
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of 
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier. 
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some 



enterprising man had commenced the collection of a 
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing 
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read- 
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with 
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate; 
and the selections which he made were continually 
more elevating and instructive. He read history, 
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en- 
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more 
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be- 
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed, 
educated man. 

The young clothier had now attained the age of 
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance 
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that 
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample 
pecuniary means and of benevolence, Judge Walter 
Wood, who was struck with the prepossessing ap- 
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint- 
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and 
attainments that he advised him to abandon his 
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The 
young man replied, that he had no means of his own, 
r.o friends to help him and that his previous educa- 
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had 
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to 
take him into his own office, and to loan him such 
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous 
offer was accepted. 

There is in many minds a strange delusion about 
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to 
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col- 
lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls 
ind then enters a law office, who is by no means as 



t 



68 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was 
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing- 
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during 
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in- 
tense mental culture. 

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was 
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then 
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the 
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region, 
his practice of course was limited, and there was no 
opportunity for a sudden rise in fortune or in fame. 
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great 
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station 
she might be called to fill, Miss Abigail Powers. 

His elevation of character, his untiring industry, 
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate, 
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to 
enter into partnership under highly advantageous 
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in 
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829, 
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the 
State of New York, as a representative from Erie 
County. Though he had never taken a very active 
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with 
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic, 
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the 
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties, 
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very 
unusual degree the respect of his associates. 

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in 
the United States Congress He entered that troubled 
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our 
national history. The great conflict respecting the 
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was 
then raging. 

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to 
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep- 
utation and success. After a lapse of two years 
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re- 
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe- 
rience as a representative gave him strength and 
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to 
any man can be but little more than an introduction. 
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener- 
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every 
measure received his impress. 

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and 
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847, 
he wa5 elected Comptroller of the State. 



Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven 
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in 
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con- 
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to 
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi- 
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the 
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old 
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles 
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be 
proclaimed in tiumpet-tones all over the land. But 
it was necessary to associate with him on the same 
ticket some man of re'putation as a statesman. 

Under the influence of these considerations, the 
names of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for 
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was 
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849, 
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard 
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States. 

On the gth of July, 1850, President Taylor, but 
about one year and four months after his inaugura- 
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con- 
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi- 
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which 
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State. 

Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend 
with, since the opposition had a majority in both 
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate 
the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt 
the inadequacy of all measures of transient conciliation. 
The population of the free States was so rapidly in- 
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in- 
evitable that the power of the Government should 
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The 
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr. 
Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition 
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill- 
more, having served one term, retired. 

In 1856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres- 
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten 
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in 
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war, 
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that 
his sympathies were rather with those who were en- 
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President 
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any 
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other. 
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe 
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874. 




FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT. 




-S=5- ^ 



**X*;p^|:*;psi:^ 

FIEHEE.^ 





t 



RANKLIN PIERCE, the 
fourteenth President of the 
United States, was born in 
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov. 
23, 1804. His father was a 
Revolutionary soldier, who, 
with his own strong arm, 
hewed out a home in the 
wilderness. He was a man 
of inflexible integrity; of 
strong, though uncultivated 
mind, and an uncompromis- 
ing Democrat. The mother of 
Franklin Pierce was all that a son 
could desire, an intelligent, pru- 
dent, affectionate, Christian wom- 
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen- 
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the 
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground 
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors 
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was 
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words, 
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact 
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de- 
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural 
devotion to books, he was a good scholar; in body, 
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy. 

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he 
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me He was 
one of the most popular young men in the college. 
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying 
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and 



genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite. 
There was something very peculiarly winning in his 
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de- 
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his 
own magnanimous and loving nature. 

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce 
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge 
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of 
the State, and a man of great private worth. The 
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his 
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant 
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en- 
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci- 
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all 
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen. 
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the 
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected 
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here 
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was 
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote. 

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected 
a member of Congress. Without taking an active 
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty, 
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom 
he was associatad. 

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age, 
he was elected to the Senate of the United States; 
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced 
his administration. He was the youngest member in 
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane 
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom- 
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every 
station with which her husband was honoied. Of the 
* 




FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



three sons who were born to them, all now sleep with 
their parents in the grave. 

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame 
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his 
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire. 
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed 
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but 
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous 
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos 
state of Mrs. Pierce 's health. He also, about the 
same time declined the nomination for governor by the 
.Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr. 
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of 
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his 
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 271)1 of May, 1847. 
He took an important part in this war, proving him- 
self a brave and true soldier. 

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native 
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo- 
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo- 
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession, 
very frequently taking an active part in political ques- 
tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery 
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise 
measures met cordially with his approval; and he 
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa- 
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious 
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin- 
guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.'' 
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse- 
quently regarded him as a man whom they could 
safely trust in office to carry out their plans. 

On the I2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven- 
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the 
Presidency. For four days they continued in session, 
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown 
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation 
brought forward his name. There were fourteen 
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he 
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all 
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was 
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with 
great unanimity. Only four States Vermont, Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee cast their 
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce 
was therefore inaugurated President of the United 
States on the 4th of March, 1853. 



His administration proved one of the most stormy our 
country had ever experienced. The controversy be- 
tween slavery and freedom was then approaching its 
culminating point. It became evident that there was 
an " irrepressible conflict" between them, and that 
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half 
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad- 
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate 
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every 
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution 
of the Union were borne to the North on every South- 
ern breeze. 

Such was the condition of affairs when President 
Pierce approached the close of his four-years' term 
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien- 
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded 
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all 
the intellectual ability and social worth of President 
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad- 
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also, 
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo- 
cated those measures of Government which they ap- 
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had 
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be 
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped 
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him. 

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re- 
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two 
had died, and his only surviving child had been 
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his 
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of 
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The 
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left 
alone in the world, without wife or child. 

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di- 
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr. 
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he 
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to 
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been 
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice 
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov- 
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until 
the time of his death, which occurred in October, 
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of 
men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal 
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen- 
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al- 
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns- 
people were often gladened by his material bounty. 



^p 



- 



fIFTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



- 

7S 





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AMES BUCHANAN, the fif- 
teenth President of the United 
States, was born in a small 
frontier town, at the foot of the 
eastern ridge of the Allegha- 
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn.,on 
the 23d of April, 1791. The place 
where the humble cabin of his 
father stood was called Stony 
Batter. It was a wild and ro- 
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun- 
tains, with towering summits rising 
grandly all around. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland ; 
a poor man, who had emigrated in 
1783, with little property save his 
Five years afterwards he married 
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer, 
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder- 
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a 
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per- 
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se- 
cluded home, where James was born, he remained 
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual 
advantages. When James was eight yeaisof age, his 
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where 
his son was placed at school, and commenced a 
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His 
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he 
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de- 
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution. His application 
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en- 



own strong arms. 



abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with 
facility. 

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest 
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of 
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of 
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with 
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately 
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was 
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose 
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand 
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but 
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate ore of the 
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of 
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally 
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar; and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu- 
crative practice. 

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a 
candidate for Congress. He was elected, and for 
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House, 
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally 
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired 
altogether from the toils of his profession, having ac- 
quired an ample fortune. 

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The 
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which 
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in 
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster, 
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas- 
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri- 




JAMES BUCHANAN. 



sals against France, to enforce the payment of our 
claims against that country ; and defended the course 
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removal from office of those who were not the sup- 
porters of his administration. Upon this question he 
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay. 
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging 
from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure 
against Gen. Jackson for removing the deposits. 
Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the 
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United 
States mails. 

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo- 
cated that they should be respectfully received ; and 
that the reply should be returned, that Congress had 
no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress," 
said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with 
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the 
States where it now exists." 

Upon Mr. Folk's accession to the Presidency, Mr. 
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such, 
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of 
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing 
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed 
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross 
the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration 
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the 
account of the course our Government pursued in that 
movement. 

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with 
the party devoted to the pfirpetuation and extension 
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind 
to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his 
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1850, 
which included the fugitive-slave law. Mr. Pierce, 
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr. 
Buchanan with the mission to England. 

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven- 
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The 
political conflict was one of the most severe in which 
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of 
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re- 
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre- 
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re- 
ceived 1 14 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received 
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood 
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On 
March 4th, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated. 

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four 
years were wanting to fill up his threescore years and 
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been 
allied in political principles and action for years, were 
seeking the destruction of the Government, that they 
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a 
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery. 
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be- 
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin- 



ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in 
their assumptions. As President of the United States, 
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws, 
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind, 
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub- 
lic. He therefore did nothing. 

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration 
nominal ed Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer 
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery 
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con- 
trol of the Government were thus taken from their 
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking 
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at 
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of 
the United States. 

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slaver)' 
party was such, that he had been willing to offer them 
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the 
South had professed to ask of the North was non- 
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu- 
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co- 
operation of the Government to defend and extend 
the institution. 

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders 
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow- 
ing that Congress had no power to prevent it, one of 
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im- 
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He 
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its 
laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which 
was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This 
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with 
his hand upon his sword-hilt, he exclaimed, "The 
Union must and shall be preserved!" 

South Carolina seceded in December, 1860; nearly 
three months before the inauguration of President 
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair. 
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston : Fort Sumpter 
was besieged; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals 
were seized ; our depots of military stores were plun- 
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were 
appropriated by the rebels. 

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our 
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked 
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away, 
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak- 
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver- 
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the 
scepter. 

The administration of President Buchanan was 
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex- 
perienced. His best friends canr.ot recall it with 
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame, 
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows 
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came 
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's 
banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion. 
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868. 










' 



t. 




SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT. 





LINCOLN. > I 





BRAHAM LINCOLN, the 
sixteenth President of the 
United States, was born in 
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 
1809. About the year 1780, a 
man by the name of Abraham 
Lincoln left Virginia with his 
s family and moved into the then 
wilds of Kentucky. Only two yeaYs 
after this emigration, still a young 
man, while working one day in a 
field, was stealthily approached by 
an Indian and shot dead. His widow 
was left in extreme poverty with five 
little children, three boys and two 
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the 
boys, was four years of age at his 
father's death. This Thomas was 
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the 
President of the United States 
whose name must henceforth fo r ever be enrolled 
with the most prominent in the annals of our world. 
Of course no record has been kept of the life 
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among 
the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched 
log-cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest. 
Education he had none; he could never either read 
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for 
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his 
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend- 
less, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him- 
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a 
laborer in the fields of others. 

When twenty-eight years of age he built a log- 
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the 
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi- 
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their 
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of 
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble 
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn 
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel. 
" All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate- 
ful son " I owe to my angel-mother. " 

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his 



cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where 
two years later his mother died. 

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated 
community around him. He could not have had a 
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts 
into words. He also became an eager reader. The 
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read 
and re-read until they were almost committed to 
memory. 

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family 
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and 
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister 
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar- 
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and 
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr. 
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830, 
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111. 

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age. 
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing 
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this 
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their 
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when 
he announced to his father his intention to leave 
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for- 
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril- 
liant that fortune was to be.' He saw the value of 
education and was intensely earnest to improve his 
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin 
which ardent spirits were causing, and became 
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi- 
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in 
God's word, "Thou shah r.ot take the name of the 
Lord thy God in vain ;" and a profane expression he 
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His 
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a 
single vice. 

Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer 
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield, 
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat. 
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down 
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis- 
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin- 
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give 
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven- i 



8o 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon 
his return they placed a store and mill under his care. 
' In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he 
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He 
returned to Sangambn County, and although only 23 
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but 
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew 
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem, 
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he 
received he carried there ready to deliver to those 
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon 
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a 
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. Mr. 
ijtuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He 
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of 
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and 
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as- 
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back 
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In 
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it 
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re- 
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law. 
His success with the jury was so great that he was 
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit. 

In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr. 
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question. 
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois, 
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became 
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's 
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con- 
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most 
notable part of his history. The issue was on the 
slavery question, and he took the broad ground of 
;he Declaration of Independence, that all men are 
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con- 
test, but won a far higher prize. 

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago 
on the :6th of June, 1860. The delegates and 
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty- 
five thousand. An immense building called " The 
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven- 
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes 
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame 
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most 
urominent. It was generally supposed he would be 
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received 
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then 
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the 
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him : 
and as little did he dream that he was to vender services 
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of 
the whole civilized world, and which would give him 
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second 
only, if second, to that of Washington. 

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180 
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore, 
constitutionally elected President of the United States. 
The tirade of abuse that was poured upon this good 



and merciful man, especially by the slaveholders, was 
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this 
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started 
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his 
way making speeches. The whole journey was fraught 
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had 
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination 
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti- 
more had arranged, upon his arrival to "get up a row," 
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with 
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled 
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to 
take him from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, at an 
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at 
half-past ten ; and to prevent any possible communi- 
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con- 
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had 
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln 
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated, 
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people. 

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave 
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other 
prominent opponents before the convention he gave 
important positions. 

During no other administration have the duties 
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and 
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to 
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and 
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in 
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he 
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in 
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his 
trials, bo'h personal and national Contrary to his 
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the 
most courageous of men. He went directly into the 
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving, 
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he 
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been 
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim 
to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gn. Grant, 
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It 
was announced that they would Le present. Gen. 
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel- 
ing, with his characteristic kindliness of heart, that 
it would be a disappointment if he should fail them, 
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to 
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth 
entered the box where the President and family were 
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the 
next morning at seven o'clock. 

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation 
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler 
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless 
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was 
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a 
model. His name as the savior of his country will 
live with that of Washington's, its father; his country- 
men being unable to decide which is the greater. 



SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT. 



8.1 





NDREW JOHNSON, seven- 
teenth President of the United 
States. The early life of 
Andrew Johnson contains but 
the record of poverty, destitu- 
tion and friendlessness. He 
was born December 29, 1808, 
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents, 
belonging to the class of the 
"poor whites " of the South, were 
in such circumstances, that they 
could not confer even the slight- 
est advantages of education upon 
their child. When Andrew was five 
years of age, his father accidentally 
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a 
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew 
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the 
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with 
her own hands. 

He then, having never attended a school one day, 
and being unable either to read or write, was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman 
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion- 
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often 
read from the speeches of distinguished British states- 
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more 
than ordinary native ability, became much interested 
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he 
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read. 

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and 
with the assistance of some of his fellow-workmen, 
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle- 
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner, 



pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book, 
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters 
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on- 
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours 
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest 
and recreation to devote such time as he could to 
reading. 

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at 
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos- 
sessed some education. Under her instructions he 
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent 
in the village debating society, and a favorite with 
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or- 
ganized a working man's party, which elected him 
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which 
position he held three years. 

He now began to take a lively interest in political 
affairs; identifying himself with the working-classes, 
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a 
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes- 
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age. 
He became a very active member of the legislature, 
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in 
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van 
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those 
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much 
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased 
his reputation. 

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he 
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive 
elections, held that important post for ten years. In 
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and 
was re-elected in 1855. In all these res]>onsible posi- 
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abil- 



ANDRE W JOHNSON. 



ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work- 
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected 
United States Senator. 

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated 
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his 
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob- 
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable 
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom, 
and become merged in a population congenial to 
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com- 
promise measures, the two essential features of which 
were, that the white people of the Territories should 
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they 
would enslave the colored people or not, and that 
the free States of the North should return to the 
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery. 

Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin: 
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that 
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir," 
said he on the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget 
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam 
was a tailor and sewed fig-leaves, and that our Sav- 
ior was the son of a carpenter." 

In the Charleston-Baltimore convention of 1860, he 
was the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the 
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South- 
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided 
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery 
must be held subordinate to the Union at whatever 
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly 
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of 
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the 
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap- 
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he 
established the most stringent military rule. His 
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In 

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United 
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15, 

1865, became President. In a speech two days later 
he said, " The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and 
must be punished ; that the Government will not 
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not 
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people 
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of 
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole 
administration, the history of which is so well known, 
was in utter inconsistency with, and the mpst violent 



opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech. 

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general 
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char- 
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly 
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In 
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes 
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the 
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten- 
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre- 
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23. 

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three 
months. A test article of the impeachment was at 
length submitted to the court for its action. It was 
certain that as the court voted upon that article so 
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced 
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces- 
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against 
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty 
side would have sustained the impeachment. 

The President, for the remainder of his term, was 
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently, 
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not 
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi- 
dency. The Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar- 
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name 
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten. 
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the 
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was 
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im- 
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a 
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home 
in Greenville, Tenn., taking no very active part in 
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting 
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten- 
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con- 
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special 
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of 
March. On the 27th of July, 1875, the ex-President 
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter 
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was 
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach- 
ing the residence of his child the following day, was 
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious. 
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at 
2 A.M., July 31, aged sixty-seven years. His fun- 
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August, 
with every demonstration of respect. 




EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT. 





I 



LYSSES S. GRANT, the 
eighteenth President of the 
United States, was born on 
the 29th of April, 1822, of 
Christian parents, in a humble 
home, at Point Pleasant, on the 
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after 
his father moved to George- 
town, Brown Co., O. In this re- 
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses 
received a common-school edu- 
cation. At the age of seven- 
teen, in the year 1839, he entered 
the Military Academy at West 
Point. Here he was regarded as a 
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of 
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank 
as a scholar. In June, 1843, h'e graduated, about the 
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in- 
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis- 
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary 
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating 
Indians. 

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was 
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first 
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here 
for the exhibition of either skill or heroism, nor at 
Resaca de la Palma, his second battle. At the battle 
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that 
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful 
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am- 
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along 
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut. 
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians, 
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one 
side of the anirofl.1, ran the gauntlet in entire safety. 



From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry, 
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In 
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he 
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the 
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a 
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha- 
pultepec. 

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re- 
turned with his regiment to New York, and was again 
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The 
discovery of gold in California causing an immense 
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt. 
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in 
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im- 
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt. 
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the 
States ; and having married, entered upon the cultiva- 
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but 
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re- 
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into 
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga- 
lena, 111. This was in the year 1860. As the tidings 
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears 
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, 
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the army; though 
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that 
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge 
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword 
and see Uncle Sam through this war too." 

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol- 
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield, 
the capital of the State, where their services were 
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by 
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt. 
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the 
volunteer organization that was being formed in the 
State in behalf of the Government. On the 1 5th of 



I 



88 



ULYSSES S. GRANT. 



June, 1861, Capt. Grant received a commission as 
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol- 
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who 
had served for 15 years in the regular army, were such 
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier- 
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The 
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth 
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap- 
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The 
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and 
stripes were unfurled in its stead. 

He entered the service with great determination 
and immediately began active duty. This was the be- 
ginning, and until the surrender of Lee at Richmond 
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and 
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur- 
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry 
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight 
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the 
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was 
immediately made a Major-General, and the military 
Jistrict of Tennessee was assigned to him. 

Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how 
to secure the results of victory. He immediately 
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the 
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the 
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an 
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty 
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can- 
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most 
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered, 
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf. 

Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with 
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro- 
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from 
his horse, and received severe injuries, from which he 
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid 
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and 
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas- 
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then 
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout 
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels 
were routed with great loss. This won for him un- 
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant- 
general, and the rank was conferred'on Gen. Grant. 
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials 
and enter upon the duties of his new office, 



Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of 
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National 
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal 
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de- 
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as- 
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole 
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these 
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field. 
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains 
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His 
plans were comprehensive and involved a series of 
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en- 
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur- 
render of Lee, April 9, 1865. 

The war was ended. The Union was saved. The 
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen. 
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in its sal- 
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered 
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the 
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair. 

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago, 
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the 
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a 
majority of the popular vote, and 214 out of 294 
electoral votes. 

The National Convention of the Republican party 
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872, 
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term 
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati- 
cally indorsed by the. people five months later, 292 
electoral votes being cast for him. 

Soon after the close of his second tenn, Gen. Grant 
started upon his famous trip around the world. He 
visited almost every country of the civilized world, 
and was everywhere received with such ovations 
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private 
as well as public and official, as were never before 
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States. 

He was the most prominent candidate before the 
Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re- 
nomination for President. He went to New York and 
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm 
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain, 
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to 
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with 
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like 
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as 
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The 
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23, 
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of , 
the illustrious General. 



T 



NINETEENTH PRESIDENT. 



9' 








UTHERFORD B. HAYES, 
the nineteenth President of 
the United States, was born in 
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al- 
most three months after the 
death of his father, Rutherford 
Hayes. His ancestry on both 
the paternal and maternal sides, 
was of the most honorable char- 
acter. It can be traced, it is said, 
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish chief- 
tains, fighting side by side with 
Baliol, William Wallace and Robert 
Bruce. Both families belonged to the 
nobility, owned extensive estates, 
and had a large following. Misfor- 
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot- 
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn. His son 
George was born in Windsor, and remained there 
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar- 
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar- 
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel, 
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac- 
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes, 
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was 
born inNewHaven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer, 
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro, 
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth- 
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was 



born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia 
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt., whose ancestors emi- 
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been 
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich. 
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to 
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders 
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The father of President Hayes was an industrious, 
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me- 
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock- 
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to 
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active 
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con- 
ducted his business on Christian principles. After 
the close of the war of 1812, for reasons inexplicable 
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio. 

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day, 
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways, 
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was 
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter- 
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived 
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial 
fever, less than three months before the birth of the 
son,of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be- 
reavement, found the support she so much needed in 
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the 
household from the day of its departure from Ver- 
mont, and in an orphan girl whom .she had adopted 
some time before as an act of charity. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the 






f 



92 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



' 



subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he 
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at 
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and 
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in- 
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Hayes' baby died 
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on 
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of 
him, said in a bantering way, " That's right ! Stick to 
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't 
wonder if he would really come to something yet." 

" You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. " You 
wait and se. You can't tell but I shall make him 
President of the United States yet." The boy lived, 
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy 
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was 
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his 
mother. 

The boy was seven years old before he went to 
school. His education, however, was not neglected. 
He probably learned as much from his mother and 
sister as he would have done at school. His sports 
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circumstances 
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo- 
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings 
of others, which are marked traits of his character. 

His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest 
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im- 
proved, and he was making good progress in his 
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre- 
paration commenced with a tutor at home; but he 
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the 
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en- 
tered Kenyon College in 1838,3! the age of sixteen, 
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842. 

Immediately after his graduation he began the 
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq., 
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in 
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter 
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re- 
mained two years. 

In 1 845 , after graduating at the Law School, he was 
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly 
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law 
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re- 
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice, 
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro- 
fession. 

In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi- 
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how- 
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at 
this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse- 
quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of 
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin- 
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its 
members such men as^hief Justice Salmon P. Chase, 



Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many 
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The 
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as 
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our 
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced 
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did 
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into 
constant association with young men of high char- 
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the 
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and 
modesty. 

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of 
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac- 
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office of 
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council 
elected him for the unexpired term. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at 
the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the 
bar was among the the first. But the news of the 
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take up 
arms for the defense of his country. 

His military record was bright and illustrious. In 
October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and 
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 7gth Ohio 
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades 
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he 
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle 
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while 
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude 
that won admiration from all. 

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after 
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed 
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division, 
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles 
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted 
Major-General, "for gallant and distinguished services 
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In 
the course of his arduous services, four horses were 
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times. 

In 1864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from 
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem- 
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign, 
and after his election was importuned to resign his 
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I 
shall never corne to Washington until I can come by 
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866. 

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Govern or of Ohio, 
over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat. 
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton. 
He was elected Governor for the third term in 1875. 

In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub- 
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a 
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in 
augurated Monday, March 5, 1875. He served his 
full term, not, however, with satisfaction to his party, 
but his administration was an average on 



I 



TWENTIETH PRESIDENT. 



95 





AMES A. GARKIELD, twen- 
tieth President of the United 
States, was born Nov. ig, 
1831, in the woods of Orange, 
Cuyahoga Co., O His par- 
ents were Abram and Eliza 
(Ballou) Garfield, both of New 
England ancestry and from fami- 
lies well known in the early his- 
tory of that section of our coun- 
try, but had moved to the Western 
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle- 
ment. 

The house in which James A. was 
born was not unlike the houses of 
j poor Ohio farmers of that day. It 
was about 20 x 30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be- 
tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a 
hard working farmer, and he soon had his fields 
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built. 
The household comprised the father and mother and 
their four children Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and 
James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con- 
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At 
this time James was about eighteen months old, and 
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can 
tell how much James was indebted to his brother's 
toil and self-sacrifice during the twenty years suc- 
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very 
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis- 
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace. 

The early educational advantages young Garfield 
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of 
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car- 
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that 
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed 
mother in he' struggles to keep the little family to- 



gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his 
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug- 
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they 
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor, 
the humblest fiiend of his boyhood was as kindly 
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the 
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness 
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the 
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain, 
modest gentleman. 

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he 
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of 
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard 
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She 
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the 
understanding, however, that he should try to obtain 
some other kind of employment. He walked all the 
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city. 
After making many applications for work, and trying 
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with 
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos 
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re- 
mained at this work but a short time when he went 
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for 
about three years, when he entered Hiram and the 
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in 
the meantime, and doing other work. This school 
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of 
which church he was then a member. He became 
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way. 
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon 
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the 
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which 
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon- 
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram 
College as its President. As above stated, he early 
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at 
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem- 
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where 
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of 
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion : 



JAMES A. GARFIELD. 



" President Garfield was more than a man of 
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole 
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to 
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and 
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs 
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In 
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of 
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of 
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent 
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian 
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty 
and noble who are called ' show a similar loyalty to 
the less stately and cultured Christian communions 
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true 
that as they step upward in social and political sig- 
nificance they step upward from one degree to 
another in some of the many types of fashionable 
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the 
church of his mother, the church in which he was 
trained, and in which he served as a pillar and an 
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec- 
tarian charity for all 'who love our Lord in sincerity.'" 

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss 
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself 
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and 
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living, four boys and one girl. 

Mr. Garfield made his first political speeches in 1856, 
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three 
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet- 
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he 
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio 
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland, 
and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. The great 
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year, 
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had 
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re- 
ceived his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Forty- 
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser- 
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action, 
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry 
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the 
work of driving out of his native State the officer 
(Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of 
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given 
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed- 
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres- 
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him 
Brigadier-General, Jan. 10, 1862; and as "he had 
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years 
before, so now he was the youngest General in the 
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh, 
in its operations around Corinth and its march through 
Alabama. He was then detailed as a member of the 
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John 
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose- 
crans, and was assigned to the "Chief of Staff." 

The military history of Gen. Garfield closed with 



his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won 
the stars of the Major-General. 

Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was 
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 from the 
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio 
had been represented in Congress for sixty years 
mainly by two men Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua 
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he 
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en- 
tered Congress he was" the youngest member in that 
body. There he remained by successive re- 
elections until he was elected President in 1880. 
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since 
the year 1864 you cannot think of a. question which 
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a 
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which 
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu- 
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance 
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in 
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by 
Mr. Garfield." 

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to 
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the 
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his 
party for President at the great Chicago Convention. 
He was elected in the following November, and on 
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad- 
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter 
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every 
day it grew in favor with the people, and by the first 
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre- 
liminary work of his administration and was prepar- 
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams 
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com- 
pany with Secretary Elaine, a man stepped behind 
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back. 
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the 
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the 
left coat sleeve of his victim, but inflicting no further 
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was 
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never 
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc- 
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people 
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit- 
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and 
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty 
days, all during the hot months of July and August, 
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained 
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent 
bearing was teaching the country and the world the 
noblest of human lessons how to live grandly in the 
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass- 
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept. 
19, 1883, at Elheron, N. J., on the very bank of the 
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The 
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the 
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it. 
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe- 
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed. 



TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT. 





HESTER A. ARTHUR, 
twenty-first PresKLiu of the 
United States, was born in 
Franklin Cour ty, Vermont, on 
the fifthofOdober, 1830, andis 
the oldest of a family of two 
sons and five daughters. His 
father was the Rev. Dr. William 
Arthur, aBaptistc''.rgyman,who 
emigrated to tb.s country from 
the county Antrim, Ireland, in 
his i8th year, and died in 1875, in 
Newtonville, neai Albany, after a 
long and successful ministry. 

Young Arthur was educated at 
Union College, S< henectady, where 
he excelled in all his studies. Af- 
ter his graduation he taught school 
in Vermont for two years, and at 
the expiration of that time came to 
New York, with $500 in his pocket, 
and entered the office of ex- Judge 
E. D. Culver as student. After 
being admitted to the bar he formed 
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate, 
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing 
in the West, and for three months they roamed about 
in the Western States in search of an eligible site, 
but in the end returned to New York, where they 
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success- 
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur 
soon afterward marred the daughter .of Lieutenant 



Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at 
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in 
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa- 
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's 
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two 
children. 

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity 
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit, 
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had 
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior 
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon, 
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with 
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when 
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided 
that they could not be held by the owner under the 
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from 
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the 
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal. 
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed 
to represent the People, and they won their case, 
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United 
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause 
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs. 
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward 
the emancipation of the black race. 

Another great service was rendered by General 
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings, 
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth 
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare. 
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a 
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa- 
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride 
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly 



100 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 






followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave- 
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per- 
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all. 

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention 
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party. 
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the 
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov- 
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer- 
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec- 
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas- 
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered 
great service to the Government during the war. At 
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the 
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr. 
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney 
of New York, was added to the firm. The legal prac- 
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra- 
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able 
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if 
not indeed one of national extent. 

He always took a leading part in State and city 
politics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of 
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc- 
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July, 
20, 1878, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt. 

Mr. Arthur was nominated on the Presidential 
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous 
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in 
June, 1880. This was perhaps the greatest political 
convention that ever assembled on the continent. It 
was composed of the leading politicians of the Re- 
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and 
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their 
respective candidates that were before the conven- 
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re- 
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur 
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed 
was one of the most animated known in the history of 
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of 
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his 
party made a valiant fight for his election. 

Finally the election came and the country's choice 
was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated 
March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President. 
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen 
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then 
came terrible weeks of suffering, those moments of 
anxious suspense, wher. the hearts of all civilized na- 



tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re- 
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark- 
able patience that he manifested during those hours 
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf- 
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was 
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God- 
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr. 
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his 
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest 
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to 
serve the remainder of the term he had so auspi- 
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested 
in deed or look of this man, even though the most 
honored position in the world was at any moment 
likely to fall to him. 

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar- 
field from further suffering, and the world, as never 
before in its history over the death of any other 
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of 
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of 
the high office, and he took the oath in New York, 
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarrassing 
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all 
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do, 
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se- 
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been 
greatly neglected during the President's long illness, 
and many important measures were to be immediately 
decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he 
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he 
became President, and knew the feelings of many on 
this point. Under these trying circumstances President 
Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own 
hands; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of 
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so 
wisely that but few criticised his administration. 
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the 
close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was 
a popular candidate before his party for a second 
term. His name was ably presented before the con- 
vention at Chicago, and was received with great 
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity 
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have 
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party 
for another campaign. He retired to private life car- 
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo- 
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory 
to them and with credit to himself. 



t 



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TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT. 



103 



i 





TEPHEN GROVER CLEVE- 
LAND,thetwenty-second Pres- 
ident of the United States, was 
born in 1837, in the obscure 
town of Caldwell, Essex Co., 
N. J., and in a little two-and-a- 
half-story white house which is still 
standing, characteristically to mark 
the humble birth-place of one of 
America's great men in striking con- 
trast with the Old World, where all 
men high in office must be high in 
origin and born in the cradle of 
wealth. When the subject of this 
sketch was three years of age, his 
father, who was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved, 
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to 
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a 
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most 
straggling of country villages, about five miles from 
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was born. 

At the last mentioned place young Grover com- 
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned 
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the 
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he 
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of 
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he 
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the 
capacity of the village school and expressed a most 



emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this 
his father decidedly objected. Academies in those 
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to 
become self-supporting by the quickest possible 
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed 
to be a position in a country store, where his father 
and the large family on his hands had considerable 
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services 
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to 
receive $100 the second year. Here the lad com- 
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he 
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness 
that his employers desired to retain him for an in- 
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex- 
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or 
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy. 
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette- 
ville, he went with the family in their removal to 
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a 
high school. Here he industriously pursued his 
studies until the family removed with him to a point 
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a 
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica, 
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching 
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family, 
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a 
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an 
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two 
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in 
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his 



104 



S. GROVER CLEVELAND. 




calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order, 
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going 
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as 
there was some charm in that name for him; but 
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to 
ask the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted 
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not 
speak enthusiastically. " What is it you want to do, 
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study 
law," was the reply. " Good gracious ! " remarked 
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put 
that into your head? How much money have you 
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got 
any." 

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a 
place temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a 
year, while lie could "look around." One day soon 
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers, 
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he 
wanted. A number of young men were already en- 
gaged in the office, but Graver's persistency won, and 
he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and 
have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum 
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for 
his board and washing. The walk to and from his 
uncle's was a long and rugged one ; and, although 
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his 
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat he had 
none yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular. 
On the first day of his service here, his senior em- 
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him 
with a bang that made the dust fly, saying " That's 
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little 
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that 
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ; 
but in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume. 
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland 
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for 
chasing principles through all their metaphysical 
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do 
it," was practically his motto. 

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was 
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in 
which Buffalo is situated ; and in such capacity it fell 
to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two 
criminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the 
City of Buffalo, on the Democratic ticket, with es- 
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms 



in the administration of the municipal affairs of that 
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his 
performance of duty has generally been considered 
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer- 
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential 
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in 
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui- 
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for 
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall 
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of 
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme 
to betray the interests of the people and to worse 
than squander the people's money." The New York 
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve- 
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there- 
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire 
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882, 
and his administration of the affairs of State was 
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if 
any, were made very public throughout the nation 
after he was nominated for President of the United 
States. For this high office he was nominated July 
ir, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at 
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F. 
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks, 
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he 
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a 
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub- 
lican statesman, James G. Elaine. President Cleve- 
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in 
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as 
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which 
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of 
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected 
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State, 
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the 
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary 
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts; 
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New 
York ; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of 
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas, 
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of 
Arkansas. 

The silver question precipitated a controversy be- 
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of 
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr. 
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his 
inauguration. 



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(?<9 VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 








HADRACH BOND, the first 
Governor of Illinois after its 
organization as a State, serving 
from 1818 to 1822, was born in 
Frederick County, Maryland, 
in the year 1773, and was 
raised a farmer on his father's 
plantation, receiving only a plain 
English education. He emigrated 
to this State in 1794, when it was a 
part of the "Northwest Territory," 
continuing in the vocation in which 
he had been brought up in his native 
State, in the " New Design," near 
Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe 
County. He served several terms as 
a member of the General Assembly 
of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such, 
and in 1812-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelfth 
and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his seat Dec. 3, 
1812, and serving until Oct. 3, 1814. These were 
the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov- 
ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain. 
The year 1812 is also noted in the history of this 
State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature 
was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and 
adjourned Dec. 26, following. 

While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond 
was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp- 
tion on the public domain. On the expiration of his 
'term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of 
Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of the 
Territory. In company with John G. Comyges, 



Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones, 
Warren Brown, Edward Humphries and Charles W. 
Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the 
initial city of Cairo, which they hoped, from its favor- 
able location at the junction of the two great 
rivers near the center of the Great West, would 
rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter- 
prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis- 
lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of 
Cairo. 

In 1818 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor 
of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct. 6, 
that year, which was several weeks before Illinois 
was actually admitted. The facts are these: In 
January, 1818, the Territorial Legislature sent a peti- 
tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a 
State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The 
petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the 
State on the latitude of the southern extremity of 
Lake Michigan ; but the bill was afterward so amend- 
ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In 
July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a 
constitution, which, however, was not submitted to 
the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros- 
ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record- 
ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed 
by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This 
constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At 
that time Illinois comprised but eleven counties, 
namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, 
Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington 
and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be- 
ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears 
that Mr, Bond was. honored by the naming of a 



112 



SHADRACH BOND. 



county before he was elected Governor. The present 
county of Bond is of small limitations, about 60 to 80 
miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor 
the people chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and 
worthy Frenchman, after whom a county in this State 
is named. In this election there were no opposition 
candidates, as the popularity of these men had made 
their promotion to the chief offices of the Slate, even 
before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con- 
clusion. 

The principal points that excited the people in 
reference to political issues at this period wjre local 
or "internal improvements," as they were called, 
State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the 
personal characteristics of the proposed candidates. 
Mr. Bond represented ths " Convention party," for 
introducing slavery into the State, supported by Elias 
Kent Kane, his Secretary of State, and John Mc- 
Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led 
the anti-slavery element. The people, however, did 
not become very much excited over this issue until 
1820, when the f.ira >us Missouri Compromise was 
adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south 
of the parallel of 36 30' except in Missouri. While 
this measure settled the great slavery controversy, 
so far as the average public sentiment was tempor- 
arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed 
under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue 
as considered locally in this State was not decided 
until i8"24, after a most furious campaign. (See 
sketch of Gov. Coles.) The ticket of 1818 was a 
compromise one, Bond representing (moderately) the 
pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery. 

An awkward element in the State government 
under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec- 
tion of the State constitution. The Convention 
wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor 
of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed that the 
new Governor would not appoint him to the office, 
the Convention declared in a schedule that " an 
auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and 
such other officers of the State as may be necessary, 
may be appointed by the General Assembly." The 
Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large appoint- 
ing power in the Governor ; but for the purpose of 
getting one man into office, a total change was made, 
and the power vested in the Legislature. Of this 
provision the Legislature took advantage, and de- 



clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners, 
bank directors, etc., were all " officers of the State " 
and must therefore be appointed by itself independ- 
ently of the Governor. 

During Gov. Bond's administration a general law 
was passed for the incorporation of academies and 
towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of 
1822 authorized the Governor to appoint commis- 
sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners 
appointed by the State of Indiana, to report on the 
practicability and expediency of improving the navi- 
gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation 
generally. Many improvements were recommended, 
some of which have been feebly worked at even till 
the present day, those along the Wabash being of no 
value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the 
capital of the State was removed from Kaskaskia to 
Vandalia. In 1820 a law was passed by Congress 
authorizing this State to open a canal through the 
public lands. The State appointed commissioners 
lo explore the route and prepare the necessary sur- 
veys and estimates, preparatory to its execution; 
but, being unable out of its own resources to defray 
the expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned 
until some time after Congress made the grant of 
land for the purpose of its construction. 

On the whole, Gov. Bond's administration was 
fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from 
any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration 
of his term of office, he was brought out as a candi- 
date for Congress against the formidable John P. 
Cook, but received only 4,374 votes to 7,460 for the 
latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had made 
many fast friends by a judicious bestowment of his 
gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously 
for him in the campaign. 

In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg- 
islalure, with Wm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom 
Jayne, as Commissioners to locate a site for a peni- 
tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton. 

Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis- 
position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap- 
preciation of events. His person was erect, stand- 
ing six feet in height, and after middle life became 
portly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were 
strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and 
eyes hazel ; was a favorite with the ladies. He died 
April 1 1, 1830, in peace and contentment. 






f. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 







]>war& Coles. 




DWARD COLES, second 
Governor of Illinois, 1823- 
6, was born Dec. 15, 1786, 
in Albemarle Co., Va., on 
the old family estate called 
"Enniscorthy," on the 
Green Mountain. His fath- 
er, John Coles, was a Colonel in the 
Revolutionary War. Having been fit- 
ted for college by private tutors, he 
was sent to Hampden Sidney, where 
he remained until the autumn of 1805, 
when he was removed to William and 
Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va. 
This college he left in the summer of 
1807, a short time before the final and graduating 
examination. Among his classmates were Lieut. 
Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wm. S. Archer, 
United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice 
Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The 
President of the latter college, Bishop Madison, was 
a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir- 
cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming 
personally acquainted with the President and re- 
ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15. 
The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir- 
ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old- 
fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by 
such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the 
age of 23, young Coles found himself heir to a plant- 
ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever 
since his earlier college days his attention had been 
drawn to the question of slavery. He read every- 



thing on the subject that came in his way, and 
listened to lectures on the rights of man. The more 
he reflected upon the subject, the more impossible 
was it for him to reconcile the immortal declaration 
"that all men are born free and equal " with the 
practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to 
free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove 
his residence to a free State. One reason which de- 
termined him to accept the appointment as private 
secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed 
that through the acquaintances ne could make at 
Washington he could better determine in what part 
of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he would 
prefer to settle. 

The relations between Mr. Coles and President 
Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished 
men, were of a very friendly character, arising from 
the similarity of their views on the question of slavery 
and their sympathy for each other in holding doc- 
trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti- 
ment in their own State. 

In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a 
portion of the following autumn in exploring the 
Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo- 
cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his 
negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with 
an extra man and horse for emergencies, through 
many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, 
determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time, 
however, a misunderstanding arose between our 
Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles was selected 
to repair to St. Petersburg on a special mission, bear- 
ing important papers concerning the matter at issue. 
The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex- 



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EDWARD COLES. 



su 

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ander) of the error committed by his minister at 
Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the 
the latter from the post. On his return, Mr. Coles 
visited oilier parts of Europe, especially Paris, where 
he was introduced to Gen. Lafayette. 

In the spring of 1819, he removed with all his 
negroes from Virginia to Edwardsville, 111., with the 
intention of giving them their liberty. He did not 
make known to them his intention until one beautiful 
morning in April, as they were descending the Ohio 
River. He lashed all the boats together and called 
all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad- 
dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him- 
self that by a turn of a sentence lie proclaimed in 
the shortest and fullest manner that they were no 
longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty 
to proceed with him or go ashore -at their pleas- 
ure. A description of the effect upon the negroes is 
best desciibed in his own language : 

"The effect upon them was electrical. They stared 
at me and then at each other, as if doubting the ac- 
curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless 
silence they stood before me, unable to utter a word, 
but with countenance.; beaming with expression which 
no words could convey, and which no language 
can describe. As they began to see the truth of 
what they had heard, and realize their situation, there 
came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After 
a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed 
in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to 
their gratitude and implored the blessing of God 
on me." 

Before landing he gave them a general certificate 
of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu- 
larly with the law of this State requiring that each 
individual should have a certificate. This act of 
Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering 
the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding 
him, has challenged the admiration of every philan- 
thropist of modern times. 

Marcli 5, 1819, President Monroe ap|X>inted Mr. 
Coles Registrar of the Land Office at Edwardsvil.a, 
at that time one of the principal land offices in the 
State. While acting in th's capacity and gaining 
many friends by his politeness and general intelli- 
gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in 
Illinois on the slavery ques ion culminated in the 
furious contest characterizing the campaigns and 
elections of 1822-4. In the summer of 1823, when a 
new Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr. 
Uond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions, 
pulling forward for the executive office Joseph 
Phillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C. 
Browne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil- 
ilia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr. 
Coles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns, 
succeeded in electing him as Governor. His plural- 
ity over Judge Phillips was only 59 in a total vote of 



over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected 
by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech 
w.is marked by calmness, deliberation and such a 
wise expression of appropriate suggestions as to 
elicit the sanction of all judicious politicians. But 
he compromised not with evil. In his message to 
the Legislature, the seat of Government being then 
at Vandalia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the 
modified form of slavery whhh then existed in this 
State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi- 
tion on this subject seems the. more remarkable, when 
it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the 
population of Illinois being at that time almost ex- 
clusively from slave-holding States and by a large 
majority in favor of the perpetuation of that old relic 
of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course, 
a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority of 
them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of 
the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and 
deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the 
public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of 
mob, or " shiveree " party, who visited the residence 
of the Governor and others at Vaudalia and yelled 
and groaned and spat fire. 

The Constitution, not establishing or permitting 
slavery in this State, was thought therefore to be 
defective by the slavery politicians, and they desired 
a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub- 
mit a new Constitution ; and the dominant politics 
of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people, 
Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address 
published by the latter party. This address revealed 
the schemes of the conspirators in a masierly man- 
ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti- 
mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in 
which the Governor was placed at that time. 

Our hero maintained himself honorably and with 
supreme dignity throughout his administration, and 
in his honor a county in this State is named. He 
was truly a great man, and those who lived in 
this State during his sojourn here, like those who 
live at the base of the mountain, were too near to see 
and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them. 

Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bishop 
De Lancey, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter 
of Hugh Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestry, 
who cam.: to this country with Win. Penn in 1682. 

After the expiration of his term of service, Gov. 
Coles continued his residen'-e in Edwardsville, sup- 
erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond 
of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri- 
cultural society in the State. On account of ill 
health, however, and having no family to tie him 
down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities. 
About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel- 
phia, where he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at 
Woodland, near that city. 



t 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



fjf 





INIAN EDWARDS, Governor 
from 1827 to 1830, was a son 
Y- of Benjamin Edwards, and 
was born in Montgomery 
County, Maryland, in March, 
1775. His domestic train- 
ing was well fitted to give 
his mind strength, firmness and 
honorable principles, and a good 
foundation was laid for the elevated 
character to which he afterwards 
attained. His parents were Bap- 
tists, and very strict in their moral 
principles. His education in early 
youth was in company with and 
partly under the tuition of Hon. Wm. 
Wirt, whom his father patronized j 
and who was more than two years 
older. An intimacy was thus 
formed between them which was lasting for life. He 
was further educated at Dickinson College, at Car 
lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but 
before completing his course he moved to Nelson 
County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to 
purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and 
sisters. Here he fell in the company of dissolute 
companions, and for several years led the life of a 
spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis- 
lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson 
bounty before he was 2 1 years of age, and was re- 
elected by an almost unanimous vote. 



In 1798 he was licensed to practice law, and the 
following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes- 
see. About this time he left Nelson County for 
Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his 
dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and 
devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He 
then began to rise rapidly in his profession, and soon 
became an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years 
he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge 
of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth Judge of 
the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State, 
all before he was 32 years of age ! In addition, in 
1802, he received a commission as Major of a battal- 
ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a 
Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton 
ticket. In 1806 he was a candidate for Congress, 
but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of 
Appeals. 

Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in 
the spring of r8og, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief 
Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received 
from President Madison the appointment as Gover- 
nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date 
April 24, r8og. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia in 
June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of 
office. At the same time he was appointed Superin- 
tendent of the United States Saline, this Government 
interest then developing into considerable proportions 
in Southern Illinois. Although during the first three 
years of his administration he had the power to make 
new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always 
allowed the people of each county, by an informal 



120 



NINIAN EDWARDS. 






vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili- 
tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward 
United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed 
by Gev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of 
the Territory, which office was accepted for a short 
time only. 

The Indians in 1810 committing sundry depreda- 
tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from 
the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol- 
lowed between the respective Governors concerning 
the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav- 
ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of 
the treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de- 
predations, and was not re-settled for many years 
afterward. 

As Gov. Edwards' term of office expired by law in 
1812, he was re-appointed for another term of three 
years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving 
until the organization of the State in the fall of 1818 
and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time 
ex-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States 
Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As 
Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and 
acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that 
came up in that body, being well posted, an able de- 
bater and a conscientious statesman. He thought 
seriously of resigning this situation in 1821, but was 
persuaded by his old friend, Wm. Wirt, and others to 
continue in office, which he did to the end of the 
term. 

He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by 
President Monroe. About this time, it appears that 
Mr. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of 
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States 
Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for the Presi- 
dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of 
his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in 
order fully to investigate the charges. The result 
was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards. 

Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws," 
disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and 
the State of Illinois during the whole of his career in 
this commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main- 
tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important 
actor in the great struggle which ended in a victory 
for his parfy in 1824. 

In 1826-7 the Winnebago and other Indians com- 
mitted some depredations in the northern part of the 



State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands 
and wished to exasperate the savages into an evacu- 
ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of 
the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be- 
tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war, 
known in history as the " Winnebago War." A few 
chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson 
succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief, 
and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at 
least until the troubles commenced which ended in 
the " Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre- 
tation of treaties and execution of their provisions 
Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The 
Indians kept themselves generally within the juris- 
diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor, 
Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor- 
respondence with him was difficult or impossible. 
Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to 
the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have 
been very efficient and satisfactory. 

For a considerable portion of his time after his re- 
moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his 
farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well stocked with 
horses, cattle and sheep from Kentucky, also with 
fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab- 
lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively 
in mercantile business, having no less than eight or ten 
stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding 
the arduous duties of his office, he nearly always pur- 
chased the goods himself with which to supply the 
stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi- 
cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex- 
tent, and took great pleasure in prescribing for, and 
taking care of, the sick, generally without charge. 
He was also liberal to the poor, several widows and 
ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him 
even for their homes. 

He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in 
1803, and they became the affectionate parents of 
several children, one of whom, especially, is well 
known to the people of the " Prairie State," namely, 
Ninian Wirt Edwards, once the Superintendent of 
Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield. 
Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas- 
kaskia from 1809 to 1818; in Edwardsville (named 
after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat- 
ter date at Belleville, St. Clair County, until his 
death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwards 
County is also named in his honor. 







GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





j:OHN REYNOLDS, Governor 1831- 
4, was born in Montgomery Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788. 
His father, Robert Reynolds and 
his mother, nee Margaret Moore, 
were both natives of Ireland, from 
which country they emigrated to 
the United States in 1785, land- 
ing at Philadelphia, The senior 
Reynolds entertained an undying 
hostility to the British Govern- 
ment. When the subject of this 
sketch was about six months old, 
his parents emigrated with him to 
Tennessee, where many of their 
relatives had already located, at the base of the 
Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of 
the present city of Knoxville. There they were ex- 
posed to Indian depredations, and were much molest- 
ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior 
of the State. They were poor, and brought up their 
children to habits of manual industry. 

In 1 800 the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with 
eight horses and two wagons, encountering many 
hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed 
the most of his childhood, while his character began 

Ito develop, the most prominent traits of which were 
ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle 
and practice of total abstinence from intoxicating 
liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal, 



this time to the " Goshen Settlement," at the foot of 
the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest 
of Edwardsville. 

On arriving at his zoth year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing 
that he must look about for his own livelihood and 
not yet having determined what calling to pursue, 
concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly 
went to such an institution of learning, near Knox- 
ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his 
diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of 
his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered 
wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a 
shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himself 
into the society of the wealthy in the vicinity of 
Knoxville! He attended college nearly two years, 
going through the principal Latin authors; but it 
seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern 
times, had but very little use for his Latin in after 
life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good 
degree of literary discipline. He commenced the 
study of law in Knoxville, but a pulmonary trouble 
came on and compelled him to change his mode 
of life. Accordingly he returned home and re- 
cuperated, and in 1812 resumed his college and 
law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was 
admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time 
he also learned the French language, which he 
practiced with pleasure in conversation with his 
family for many years. He regarded this language 
as being superior to all others for social intercourse. 



\ 



124 



JOHN REYNOLDS. 



From his services in the West, in the war of 181 2, 
he obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He 
was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate. 

Mr. Reynolds o|>ened his first law office in the 
winter and spring of 1814, in the French village of 
Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County. 

In the fall of 1818 he was elected an Associate 
Justice upon the Supreme Bench by the General 
Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than 
ever into the practice of law, and the very next year 
was elected a member of the Legislature, where he 
acted independently of all cliques and private inter- 
ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for 
the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi- 
nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and 
raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds preserved a 
judicial calmness and moderation. The real animus 
of the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson," 
the former party carrying the State. 

In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov- 
ernor, amid great excitement. Installed in office, he 
did all within his power to advance the cause of edu- 
cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun- 
try, etc.; also reccmmended the winding up of the 
State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously 
complicated. In his national politics, he was a 
moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the 
most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin- 
istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred 
in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted 
the contest with commendable diligence, appearing 
in person on the battle-grounds during the most 
critical periods. He was recognized by the President 
as Major-General, and authorized by him to make 
treaties with the Indians. By the assistance of the 
general Government the war was terminated without 
much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This 
war, as well as everything else, was materially re- 
tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the 
West. This was its first appearance here, and was 
the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds' 
term. 

South Carolina nullification coming up at this time, 
it was heartily condemned by both President Jackson 
and Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same 
grounds as the Unionists in the last war. 

On the termination of his gubernatorial term in 
1834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con- 
gress, still considering himself a backwoodsman, as 
he had scarcely been outside of the State since he 
became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful 
days in the wildest region of the frontier. His first 
move in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in 
all elections made by the House for officers the votes 
should be given viva iwce, each member in his place 
naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This 
created considerable heated discussion, but was es- 



sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin- 
ciple for many years. The ex Governor was scarcely 
absent from his seat a single day, during eii^ht ses- 
sions of Congress, covering a period of seven years, 
and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed 
to get the Democratic party to foster his " National 
Road " scheme. He says, in " My Own Times " (a 
large autobiography he published), that it was only 
by rigid economy that he avoided insolvency while in 
Washington. During his sojourn in that city he was 
married, to a lady of the place. 

In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company 
with a few others, he built the first railroad in the 
Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long, 
leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to 
the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Having not 
the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it 
by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com- 
pany sold out, at great sacrifice. 

In 1839 the ex-Governor was appointed one of the 
Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow 
money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord 1 ngly, Jie 
repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining 
a million dollars, which, however, was only a fourth 
of what was wanted. The same year he and his 
wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, Mr. 
Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility 
of introducing to President Van Buren the noted 
Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In 1846 Gov. Reynolds was elected a member of 
the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu- 
larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter 
for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis, 
a distance of nearly 14 miles. This was immediately 
built, and was the first road of the kind in the State. 
He was again elected tothe Legislature in 1852, when 
he was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1860, aged 
and infirm, he attended the National Democratic 
Convention at Charleston, S. C., as an anti-Douglas 
Delegate, where he received more attention from the 
Southern Delegates than any other member. He 
supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After 
the October elections foreshadowed the success of 
Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo- 
crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi- 
ately preceding and during the late war, his corre- 
spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern 
secession, and about the first of March, 1861, he 
urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the 
treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal 
at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a rather talkative 
man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch- 
words that ever gained currency, besides many cun- 
ning and odd ones of his own manufacture. 

He was married twice, but had no children. He 
died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close 
of the war. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



I2 7 





"fro 



ILLIAM LEE D. EWING, 
Governor of Illinois Nov. 3 
to 17, 1834, was a native 
of Kentucky, and probably 
of Scotch ancestry. He had 
a fine education, was a gentle- 
man of polished manners and 
refined sentiment. In 1830 John Rey- 
nolds was elected Governor of the State, 
and Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor, 
and for the principal events that followed, 
and the characteristics of the times, see 
sketch of Gov. Reynolds. The first we 
see in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in- 
forms us that he was a Receiver of Public 
Moneys at Vandalia soon after the organization of 
this State, and that the public moneys in his hands 
were deposited in various banks, as they are usually 
at the present day. In 1823 the State Bank was 
robbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand- 
dollar deposit. 

The subject of this sketch had a commission as 
Colonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies 
he acted also as Major. In the summer of 1832, 
when it was rumored among the whites that Black 
Hawk and his men had encamped somewhere on 
Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of 
reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians 
from the State. After some opposition from his 
subordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up 
Rock River in search of the enemy. On the igth of 
July, early in the morning, five baggage wagons. 



camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti- 
cles were piled up and left, so that the army might 
make speedy and forced marches. For some miles 
the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps 
and the worst thickets; but the large, fresh trail 
gave life and animation to the Americans. Gen. 
Dodge and Col. Ewing were both acting as Majors, 
and composed the " spy corps " or vanguard of the 
army. It is supposed the army marched nearly 50 
miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed 
became fresher, and was strewed with much property 
and trinkets of the red-skins that they had lost or 
thrown away to hasten their march. During the 
following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and 
the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On approaching nearer the Indians the next day. 
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a 
battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the 
battle, but the savages were not overtaken this day 
Forced marches were continued until they reached. 
Wisconsin River,_ where a veritable battle ensued, 
resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's 
men. The next day they continued the chase, and 
as soon as he discovered the trail of the Indians 
leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed 
his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order 
of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the 
ground and ordered a charge, which directly resulted 
in chasing the red warriors across the great river. 
Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly 
efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors 
in driving the main body of the Sacs and Foxes, in- 



-h 

I 128 



WILLIAM L. D. EWING. 



eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi, 
while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex- 
pedition, with a body of the army, was hunting for 
them in another direction. 

In the above affair Maj. Ewing is often referred to 
as a " General," which title he had derived from his 
connection with the militia. 

It was in the latter part of the same year (1832) 
that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con- 
gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected -to the 
Senate, was chosen to preside over that body. At 
the August election of 1834, Gov. Reynolds was also 
elected to Congress, more than a year ahead of the 
time at which he could actually take his seat, as was 
then the law. His predecessor, Charles Slade, had 
just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec- 
tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his 
unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wash- 
ington in November of that year to take his seat in 
Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as 
President of the Senate, became Governor of the 
State of Illinois, his term covering only a period of 
15 days, namely, from the 3d to the lyth days, in- 
clusive, of November. On the ryth the Legislature 
met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his 
message, giving a statement of the condition of the 
affairs of the State at that time, and urging a contin- 
uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor ; and 
on the same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan 
was sworn into office, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from 



the responsible situation. This is the only time that 
such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi- 
nois. 

On the 29111 of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was 
elected a United States Senator to serve out the 
unexpired term of Elias Ken: Kane, deceased. The 
latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the 
early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is 
named in his honor. The election of Gen. Ewing to 
the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi- 
tors were James Semple, who afterwards held several 
important offices in this State, and Richard M. 
Young, afterward a United States Senator and a 
Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On 
the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes, Young 19 
and Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was 
dropped ; the ninth and tenth stood a tie ; but on 
the 1 2th Ewing received 40, to Semple 37, and was 
accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing 
received some votes for a continuance of his term in 
Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was 
elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State 
Audit?r on the ticket with Gov. Ford. 

Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer 
by profession, and was much in public life. In person 
he was above medium height and of heavy build, 
with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and 
short face. He was genial, social, friendly and 
affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of 
originality. He died March 25, 1846. 



-I 




I 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 






OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor 
1834-8, was born at Paris, 
Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the 
tender age of 19 years he en- 
listed in the war against Great 
Britain, and as a soldier he 
acquitted himself with credit. He 
was an Ensign under the daunt- 
less Croghan at Lower Sandusky, 
or Fort Stephenson. In Illinois 
he first appeared in a public capa- 
city as Major-General of the Militia, 
a position which his military fame 
had procured him. Subsequently 
he became a State Senator from 
Jackson County, and is honorably 
mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for 
a free-school system. In r826, when the redoubt- 
able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such 
men as John McLean, Elias Kent Kane and ex- 
Gov. Bond, came up for the fourth time for Congress, 
Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his 
friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians. 
As yet he was but little known in the State. He was 
an original Jackson man at that time, being attached 
to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of 
his militaiy achievements. His chances of success 
against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless, 
but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His 
speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were 
full of good sense. He made a diligent canvass of 
the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of 
his health. The most that was expected of Mr. 
Duncan, under the circumstances, was that he would 



obtain a respectable vote, but without defeating Mr. 
Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a 
source of surprise and amazement to both friends 
and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 641 votes ahead! 
He received 6,321 votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un- 
til this denouement, the violence of party feeling 
smoldering in the breasts of the people on account 
of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated. 
Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no 
other than mere local and penonal considerations 
had ever before controlled an election in Illinois. 

From the above date Mr. Duncan retained his 
seat in Congress until his election as Governor in 
August, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the 
Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey- 
nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the 
volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock 
Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash- 
ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did 
not personally participate in it, but addressed circu- 
lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed, 
attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be- 
cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his 
political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely 
in ascendency in the State, was complete ; but while 
his defection was well known to his Whig friends, 
and even to the leading Jackson men of this State, 
the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact 
to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at 
that day were far inferior to those of the present 
time. Of course the Governor was much abused 
afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re- 
garded party ties and affiliations as above all 
other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless 



\ 



132 



JOSEPH DUNCAN. 



sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter 
had vetoed several important western measures 
which were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural 
message he threw off the mask and took a bold stand 
against the course of the President. The measures 
he recommended in his message, however, were so 
desirable that the Legislature, although by a large 
majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain 
from endorsing them. These measures related 
mainly to banks and internal improvements. 

It was while Mr. Duncan was Governor that the 
people of Illinois w.ent whirling on with bank and in- 
ternal improvement schemes that well nigh bank- 
rupted the State. The hard times of 1837 came on, 
and the disasters that attended the inauguration of 
these plans and the operation of the banks were mu- 
tually charged upon the two political parties. Had 
any one man autocratic power to introduce and 
carry on any one of these measures, he would proba- 
bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public ; 
but as many jealous men had hold of the same plow 
handle, no success followed and each blamed the other 
for the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan 
was carried along, suffering the like derogation of 
character with his fellow citizens. 

At the height of the excitement the Legislature 
" provided for " railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton 
to Shawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the 
eastern boundary of the State in the direction of 
Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the Wabash, 
Bloomington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, in all 
about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the 
improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia, 
Illinois, Great and Little Wabash and Rock Rivers ; 
also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis- 
tributed to the various counties wherein no improve- 
ments were ordered to be made as above. The 
estimate for the expenses for all these projects was 
placed at a little over $10,000,000, which was not 
more than half enough ! That would now be equal to 
saddling upon the State a debt of $225,000,000 ! It 
was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times 
over, even counting all the possible benefits. 

One of the most exciting events that ever occurred 
in this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love- 
joy in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's 
term as Governor. Lovejoy was an " Abolitionist," 
editing the Observer at that place, and the pro- 
slavery slums there formed themselves into a mob, 



and after destroying successively three presses be- 
longing to Mr. Lovejoy, surrounded the warehouse 
where the fourth press was stored away, endeavoring 
to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and his friends 
were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the 
brave reformer! 

About this time, also, the question of removing the 
State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for 
its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close. 
There was, of course, considerable excitement over 
the matter, the two main points competing for it be- 
ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat- 
ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully 
allayed. 

Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842 
he was again proposed as a candidate for the Execu- 
tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam 
W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the 
Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi- 
date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died 
before the campaign had advanced very far, and his 
party substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected, 
receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and 
909 for Hunter. The cause of Democratic success 
at this time is mainly attributed to the temporary 
support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the 
want of any knowledge, on the part of the masses, 
that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given policy en- 
tertained in the respective localities. 

Gov. Duncan was a man of rather limited educa- 
tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited 
greatly by his various public services, and gathered 
a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which 
served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear 
judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral 
courage to carry out his convictions of right. In his 
deportment he was well adapted to gain the admira- 
tion of the people. His intercourse with them was 
both affable and dignified. His portrait at the Gov- 
ernor's mansion, from which the accompanying was 
made, represents him as having a swarthy complex- 
ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black 
eyes and straight black hair. 

He was a liberal patron of the Illinois College at 
Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and 
died, after a short illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted 
member of the Presbyterian Church, leaving a wife 
but no children. Two children, born to them, had 
died in infancy. 









GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





IHOMAS CARLIN, the sixth 

Governor of the State of 
Illinois, serving from 1838 
to 1842, was also a Ken- 
tuckian, being born near 
Frankfort, that State, July 
18, 1789, of Irish paternity. 
The opportunities for an education 
being very meager in his native 
place, he, on approaching years of 
judgment and maturity, applied 
himself to those branches of learn- 
ing that seemed most important, 
and thus became a self-made man ; 
and his taste for reading and 
study remained with him through 
life. In 1803 his father removed 
to Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he 
died in 1810. 

In 1812 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici- 
pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the 
war of that period, proving himself a soldier of un- 
daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rebecca 
Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the 
Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis- 
souri, where he followed fanning, and then removed 
to Greene County. He located the town site of Car- 
roxton, in that county, and in 1825 made a liberal 
donation of land for county building purposes. He 
was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate 
organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a 
Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate. In the 
Black Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a 
post of considerable danger. In 1834 he was ap- 
pointed by President Jackson to the position of 
Receiver of Public Moneys, and to fulfill the office 



more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy. 

While, in rSaS, the unwieldy internal improvement 
system of the State was in full operation, with all its 
expensive machinery, amidst bank suspensions 
throughout the United States, a great stringency in 
the money market everywhere, and Illinois bonds 
forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest 
times " existing that the people of the Prairie State 
ever saw, the general election of State officers was 
approaching. Discreet men who had cherished the 
hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua- 
tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and 
Legislature were to be elected, and these were now 
looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous State 
policy. But the grand schema had not yet lost its 
dazzling influence upon the minds of the people. 
Time and experience had not yet fully demonstrated 
its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting 
its career of profligate expenditures did not become 
a leading one with the dominant party during the 
campaign, and most of the old members of the Leg- 
islature were returned at this election. 

Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State 
Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the 
office of Governor, and S. H. Anderson for Lieuten- 
ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed- 
wards, brother of Ninian Edwards, formerly Governor, 
and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly 
for a continuance of the State policy, while Carlin 
remained non-committal. This was the first time 
that the two main political parties in this State were 
unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The 
result of the els :tion was: Carlin, 35,573; Ander- 
son, 30,335 ; Edwards, 29,629 ; and Davidson, 28,- 

?i.S- 

Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature 

(1839), the retiring Governor CDuncan") in his mes- 






THOMAS CARLIN. 



sage spoke in emphatic terms of the impolicy of the 
internal improvement system, presaging the evils 
threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost 
to correct the great error ; yet, on the contrary, the 
Legislature not only decided to continue the policy 
but also added to its burden by voting more appro- 
priations and ordering more improvements. Although 
the money market was still stringent, a further loan 
of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich- 
igan Canal alone. Chicago at that time began to 
loom up and promise to be an important city, even 
the great emporium of the West, as it has since in- 
deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe- 
tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan, 
and accordingly hastened to the East on this respons- 
ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera- 
ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment 
to Carlin's administration, the Legislature also de- 
clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary 
of State until a vacancy existed, and A. P. Field, a 
Whig, who had already held the post by appointment 
through three administrations, was determined to 
keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car- 
lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in 
this regard, however, was finally sustained by the 
Supreme Court, in a quo warranty case brought up 
before it by John A. McClernand, whom the Gov- 
ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that 
dignified body was denounced as a "Whig Court!" 
endeavoring to establish the principle of life-tenure 
of office. 

A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici- 
ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges 
were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas 
Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B. 
Scales, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas 
all Democrats. 

It was during Cov. Carlin's administration that the 
noisy campaign of " Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc- 
curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however, 
did not affect Illinois politics very seriously. 

Another prominent event in the West during Gov. 
Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by 
the Mormons and their removal from Independence, 
Mo., to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time 
they began to figure somewhat in State politics. On 
account of their believing as they thought, accord- 
ing to the New Testament that they should have 



" all things common," and that consequently " all 
the earth " and all that is upon it were the" Lord's " 
and therefore the property of his " saints," they 
were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing 
many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that 
were so rife throughout this country in those days. 
Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the 
Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of 
Missouri the Mormons always supported the Dem- 
ocracy until they were driven out by the Democratic 
government, when they turned their support to the 
Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the 
Legislature of 1840-1, therefore, it became a matter 
of great interest with both parties to conciliate these 
people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben- 
nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing 
through the Legislature (both parties not daring to 
oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir- 
tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed- 
eral Government itself. In the fall of 1841 the 
Governor of Missouri made a demand upon Gov. 
Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader, 
as a fugitive from justice. Gov.> Carlin issued the 
writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved. 
It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested, 
but was either rescued by his followers or discharged 
by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus. 

In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention 
nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, for Gov- 
ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla- 
ture, rather friendly to the Mormons, the latter 
naturally turned their support to the Democratic 
party. The next spring the Whigs nominated Ex- 
Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime 
the Mormons began to grow more odious to the 
masses of the people, and the comparative prospects 
of the respective parties for success became very 
problematical. Mr. Snyder died in May, and 
Thomas Ford, a Supreme Judge, was substituted as 
a candidate, and was elected. 

At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin 
removed back to his old home at Carrollton, where 
he spent the remainder of his life, as before his ele- 
vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In 1849 
he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the 
Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4, 
1852, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife 
and seven children. 



t. 



GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



139 



a 



$^t.4l&&4^W.tA*.-*-.^ 





HOMAS FOR13, Governor 
from 1842 to 1846, and au- 
thor of a very interesting 
history of Illinois, was born 
at Uniontown, Pa., in the 
year 1 800. His mother, after 
the death of her first hus- 
band (Mr. Forquer), married Rob- 
ert Ford, who was killed in 1802, 
by the Indians in the mountains 
of Pennsylvania. She was conse- 
quently left in indigent circum- 
stances, with a large family, mostly 
girls. With a view to better her 
condition, she, in 1804, removed to 
Missouri, where it had been cus- 
tomary by the Spanish Govern- 
ment to give land to actual settlers; but upon her 
arrival at St. Louis she found the country ceded to 
the United States, and the liberal policy toward set- 
tlers changed by the new ownership. After some 
sickness to herself and family, she finally removed to 
Illinois, and settled some three miles south of Water- 
loo, but the following year moved nearer the Missis- 
sippi bluffs. Here young Ford received his first 



schooling, under the instructions of a Mr. Humphrey, 
for which he had to walk three miles. His mother, 
though lacking a thorough education, was a woman 
of superior mental endowments, joined to energy 
and determination of character. She inculcated in 
her children those high-toned principles which dis- 
tinguished her sons in public life. She exercised a 
rigid economy to provide her children an education ; 
but George Forquer, her oldest son (six years older 
than Thomas Ford), at an early age had to quit 
school to aid by his labor in the support of the family. 
He afterward became an eminent man in Illinois 
affairs, and but for his early death would probably 
have been elected to the United States Senate. 

Young Ford, with somewhat better opportunities, 
received a better education, though limited to the 
curriculum of the common school of those pioneer 
times. His mind gave early promise of superior en- 
dowments, with an inclination for mathematics. His 
proficiency attracted the attention of Hon. Daniel P. 
Cook, who became his efficient patron and friend. 
The latter gentleman was an eminent Illinois states- 
man who, as a Member of Congress, obtained a grant 
of 300,000 acres of land to aid in completing the 
Illinois & Michigan Canal, and after whom the 
county of Cook was named. Through the advice of 



ft I4 



THOMAS FORD. 



I 



this gentleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the 
study of law; but Forquer, then merchandising, re- 
garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl- 
vania University, where, however, he remained but 
one term, o-ving to Forquer's failure in business. On 
his return he alternated his law reading with teach- 
ing school for support. 

In 1829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting 
Attorney, and in 1831 he was re-appointed by Gov. 
Reynolds, and after that he was four times elected a 
Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a 
Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Chicago, and as As- 
sociate Judge of the Supreme Court, when, in 1841, 
the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition 
of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to 
the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity 
he was holding Court in Ogle County he received a 
notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven- 
tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re- 
signed his place and entered upon the canvass. In 
August, 1842, he was elected, and on the 8th of De- 
cember following he was inaugurated. 

All the offices which he had held were unsolicited 
by him. He received them uprm the true Jefferson- 
ian principle, Never to ask .uid never to refuse 
office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood 
deservedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him 
rather for a writer upon law than a practicing advo- 
cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void 
of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to 
success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were 
"ound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In 
practice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in- 
sinuating address of the politician, but he saw through 
the arts of demagogues as well as any man. He was 
plain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, that at 
one time after the expiration of his term of office, 
during a session of the Legislature, he was taken by 
a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door- 
keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid- 
night by a knot of small office-seekers with the view 
of effecting a " combination ! " 

Mr. Ford had not the "brass" of the ordinary 
llitician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a 
political leader. He cared little for money, and 
hardly enough for a decent support. In person he 
was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion, 
with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a 
pointed, aquiline nose having a. decided twist to one 
side, and a small mouth. 

The three most important events in Gov. Ford's 
administration were the establishment of the high 
linancial credit of the State, the " Mormon War "and 
the Mexican War. 

In the first of these the Governor proved himself 
to be eminently wise. .On coming into office he found 
the State badly paralyzed by the ruinous effects of 
the notorious "internal improvement" schemes of 



the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to 
show by way of "improvement." The enterprise 
that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the 
rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this 
promised to be the most important thoroughfare, 
feasible to the people, it was well under headway in 
its construction. Therefore the State policy wa> 
almost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on to 
completion. The bonded indebtedness of the State 
was growing so large as to frighten the people, and 
they were about ready to entertain a proposition for 
repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to 
recommend such measures as would maintain the 
public credit, for which every citizen to-day feels 
thankful. 

But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for 
his connection with the Mormon troubles than for 
anything else; for it was daring his term of office 
that the " Latter-Day Saints " became so strong at 
Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num- 
bers throughout the country, committed misdemean- 
ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of 
their leader, Jo Smith, by a violent death, were driven 
out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a 
Judge for so many years previously, Mr. Ford of 
course was no.i-committal concerning Mormon affairs, 
and was therefore claimed by both parties and also 
accused by each of sympathizing too greatly with the 
other side. Mormonism claiming to be a system of 
religion, the Governor no doubt was "between two 
fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather 
" gingerly," and doubtless felt greatly relieved when 
that pestilential people left the State. Such compli- 
cated matters, especially when religion is mixed up 
with them, expose every person participating in 
them to criticism from all parties. 

The Mexican War was begun in the spring of 
1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term 
of Mr. Ford's successor. The Governor's connection 
with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it 
was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc. 

Ford's " History of Illinois " is a very readable and 
entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is 
destined to increase in value with the lapse of time. 
It exhibits a natural flow of compact and forcible 
thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In 
tracing with his trenchant pen the devious operations 
of the professional politician, in which he is inimit- 
able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection 
that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place- 
seekers, while many of them have since been judged 
by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings 
seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit 
a little splenetic partiality ngainst those of his con- 
temporaries who were prominent during his term of 
office as Governor. 

Tlie death of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, 111., 
Nov. 2, 1850. 



t. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



-*-*- 



143 







Augustus c. French. 









AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH, 
Governor of Illinois from 
1846 to 1852, was born in 
the 'town of Hill, in the 
State of New Hampshire, 
Aug. 2, 1808. He was a 
descendant in the fourth 
generation of Nathaniel 
French, who emigrated from England 
in 1687 and settled in Saybury, Mass. 
In early life young French lost his 
father, but continued to receive in- 
struction from an exemplary and 
Christian mother until he was 19 years 
old, when she also died, confiding to 
his care and trust four younger broth- 
ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with 
parental devotion. His education in early life was 
such mainly as a common school afforded. For a 
brief period he attended Dartmouth College, but 
from pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers 
and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently 
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1831, and 
shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at 
Albion, Edwards County, where he established him- 
self in the practice of law. The following year he 
removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained 
eminence in his profession, and entered public life 
by representing that county in the Legislature. A 
strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste- 
phen A. Douglas. 

In 1839, Mr. French was appointed Receiver of 
the United States Land Office at Palestine, Craw- 
ford County, at which place he was a resident when 



elevated to the gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was 
a Presidential ,Elector, and as such he voted for 
James K. Polk. 

The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet- 
ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French 
for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were 
Lyman Trumbull, John Calhoun (subsequently of 
Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scales, 
Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly, an array of 
very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per- 
haps defeated in the Convention by the rumor that 
he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal, 
as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant 
Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi- 
dates were Lewis Ross, Wm. McMurtry, Newton 
Cloud, J. B. Hamilton and W. W. Thompson. The 
resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita- 
tion of the old State Banks. 

The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held 
their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected 
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor, 
and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox, of Schuyler, for 
Lieutenant Governor. 

In the campaign the latter exposed Mr. French's 
record and connection with the passage of the in- 
ternal improvement system, urging it against his 
election; but in the meantime the war with Mexico 
broke out, regarding which the Whig record was un- 
popular in this State. The war was the absorbing 
and dominating question of the period, sweeping 
every other political issue in its course. The elec- 
tion in August gave Mr. French 58,700 votes, and 
Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist 
candidate for the same office, received 5,152 vot-s, 



r 



144 



AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH. 



By the new Constitution of 1848, a new election for 
State officers was ordered in Novembei of that year, 
before Gov. French's term was half out, and he was 
re-elected for the term of four years. He was there- 
fore the incu.nbent for six consecutive years, the 
only Governor of this State who has ever served in 
that capacity so long at one time. As there was no 
organized opposition to his election, he received 67,- 
453 votes, to 5,639 for Pisrre Menard (son of the 
first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V. 
Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and 1,361 for 
James I,. D. Morrison. But Win McMurtry, of 
Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in 
place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected 
and did not run again. 

Governor French was inaugurated into office dur- 
ing the progress of the Mexican War, which closed 
during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2, 
1848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com- 
mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair 
he was, of course, only an administrative officer. 
During his term of office, Feb. 19, 1847, the Legisla- 
ture, by special per.nissioti of Congress, declared that 
all Government lands sold to settlers should be im- 
mediately subject to State taxation; before this they 
were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar- 
rangement the revenue was materially" increased. 
About the same lime, the distribution of Government 
land warrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty 
threw upon the market a great quantity of good 
lands, and this enhanced the settlement of the State. 
The same Legislature authorized, with the recom- 
mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern 
Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, the 
first in the State and now a section of the Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific) It sold for jjjjroo.ooo in bonds, 
although it had cost the State not less than a million. 
The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve 
in Gallatin County, granted by the general Govern- 
ment to the State, were also authorized by the 
Governor to be sold, to apply on the State debt. In 
1850, for the first time since 1839, the accruing State 
revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was 
sufficient ta meet the current demands upon the 
treasury. The aggregate taxable property of the 
State at this time was over $100,000,000, and the 
population 851,470. 



In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or- 
ganization law, which, however, proved defective, 
and was properly amended in 1851. At its session 
in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed 
a law to exempt homesteads from sale on executions 
This beneficent measure had been repeatedly urged 
upon that body by Gov. French. 

In 1850 some business men in St. Louis com- 
menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of 
their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi 
in its channel near St. Louis, instead of breaking 
away from them as it sometimes threatened to do. 
This they undertook without permission from the 
Legislature or Executive authority of this State ; and 
as many of the inhabitants there complained that 
the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable 
land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re- 
sulting in favor of the St. Louis project; and since 
then a good site has existed there for a city (East St. 
Louis), and now a score of railroads center there. 

It was in September, 1850, that Congress granted 
to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of 
the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, 
which constituted the most important epoch in the 
railroad we might say internal improvement his- 
tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com- 
pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in- 
terior of the State by a good class cf industrious citi- 
zens, and by the charter a good income to the State 
Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road. 

In 185 i the Legislature passed a law authorizing 
free stock banks, which was the source of much leg- 
islative discussion for a number of years. 

But we have not space further to particularize 
concerning legislation. Gov. French's administra- 
tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised, 
while the country was settling up as never before. 

In stature, Gov. French was of medium height, 
squarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face 
and pleasant countenance. In manners he was 
plain and agreeable. By nature he was somewhat 
diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con- 
victions of duty. In public speech he was not an 
orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In 
business he was accurate and methodical, and in his 
administration he kept up the credit of the State. 

He died in 1865, at his home in Lebanon, St 
Clair Co., 111. 



M7 \ 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





|OEL A. MATTESON, Governor 
1853-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808, 
in Jefferson County, New York, 
to which place his father had re- 
moved from Vermont three years 
before. His father was a farmer 
in fair circumstances, but a com- 
mon English education was all 
that his only son received. Young 
Joel first tempted fortune as a 
small tradesman in Prescott, 
Canada, before he was of age. 
He returned from that place to 
his home, entered an academy, 
taught school, visited the prin- 
cipal Eastern cities, improved a farm his father had 
given him, made a tour in the South, worked there 
in building railroads, experienced a storm on the 
Gulf of Mexico, visited the gold diggings of Northern 
Georgia, and returned via Nashville to St. Louis and 
through Illinois to his father's home, when he mar- 
ried. In 1833, having sold his farm, he removed, 
with his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered 
a claim on Government land near the head of Au 
Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At 
that time there were not more than two neighbors 
within a range of ten miles of his place, and only 
three or four houses between him and Chicago. He 
opened a large farm. His family -was boardv^ '" 



miles away while he erected a house on his claim, 
sleeping, during this time, under a rude pole shed. 
Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by 
a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed. 

In 1835 he bought largely at the Government land 
sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which 
broke out in Chicago in 1836 and spread over the State, 
he sold his lands under the inflation of that period 
and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy 
contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon 
the completion of his job in i84r, when hard times 
prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State 
scrip; when all the public works except the canal 
were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons 
of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat- 
teson at a bargain. This he accepted, shipped and 
sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit, 
enough to pay off all his canal debts and leave him a 
surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise 
next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet, 
in which he prospered, and which, after successive 
enlargements, became an enormous establishment. 

In 1842 he was first elected a State Senator, but, 
by a bungling apportionment, John Pearson, a Senator 
holding over, was found to be in the same district, 
and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat- 
teson's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however, 
with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of 



\ 



148 



JOEL A. MATTESON. 






greed for office, unwilling lo represent his district 
under the circumstances, immediately resigned his 
unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a 
few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days' 
time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took 
his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity 
as a business man, he was made Chairman of the 
Committee on Finance, a position he held during 
this half and t.vo full succeeding Senatorial terms, 
discharging its important daties with ability and faith- 
fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest, 
when work was resumed on the canal under the new 
loan of $[,600,000 he again became a heavy con- 
tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in 
building railroads. Thus he showed himself a most 
energetic and thorough business man. 

He was nominated for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic State Convention which met at Springfield 
April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con- 
vention were D. L. Gregg and F. O. Sherman, of 
Cook ; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of 
Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton; and D. P. Bush, 
of Pike. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom- 
inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices 
the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and Dexter A. 
Knowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at 
the election, while Mr. Webb received 64,408. Mat- 
teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul- 
tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being 
all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took 
rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His 
turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage- 
ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov- 
ernmental principles, as in those more solid and 
enduring operations which cause the physical devel- 
opment and advancement of a State, of commerce 
and business enterprise, into which he labored with 
success to lead the people. As a politician he was 
just and liberal in his views, and both in official and 
private life he then stood untainted and free from 
blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social 
rirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or 
citizen, he had few superiors. His messages present 
a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the 
State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant 
diction. 

The greatest excitement during his term of office 
was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, by Cpn- 



gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in 
1854, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri- 
tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large portion of 
the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op- 
position to the Democratic party, naturally drifted 
into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what 
was temporarily called the "Anti-Nebraska" party, 
while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne- 
braska or Douglas Democrats." It was during this 
embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham 
Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate for the United States Senatorship, while 
Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom- 
inated by the Democrats. But after a fewballotings 
in the Legislature (1855), these men were dropped, 
and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrat, 
was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson, 
then Governor, by the latter. On the nth ballot 
Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac- 
cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson 's 
term expired, the Republicans were fully organized 
as a national party, and in 1856 put into the field a 
full national and State ticket, carrying the State, but 
not the nation. 

The Legislature of 1855 passed two very import- 
ant measures, the present free-school system and a 
submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote of the 
people. The latter was defeated by a small majority 
of the popular vote. 

During the four years of Gov. Matteson's admin- 
istration the taxable wealth of the State was about 
trebled, from $137,818.079 to $349,95 [,272; the pub- 
lic debt \v:is reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,- 
144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the 
State resumed paying interest on its debt in New 
York as fast as it fell due; railroads were increased 
in their mileage from something lei,s than 400 to 
about 3,000 ; and the population of Chicago was 
nearly doubled, and its commerce more than quad- 
rupled. 

Before closing this account, we regret that we have 
to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an 
upright man and a good Governor, was implicated 
in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, amount- 
ing to $224,182.66. By a suit in the Sangamon Cir- 
cuit Court the State recovered the principal and all 
the interest excepting $27,500. 

He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago. 



GO VRRNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





*- 



ILLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov- 
ernor 1857-60, was born 
April 25, 1811, in the 
State of New York, near 
Painted Post, Yates County. 
His parents were obscure, 
honest, God-fearing people, 
who reared their children under the daily 
example of industry and frugality, accord- 
ing to the custom of that class of Eastern 
society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta- 
ble but not thorough academical education. 
By assiduous application he acquired a 
knowledge of medicine, and in his early 
manhood came West and located in Mon- 
roe County, this State, where he engaged in the 
practice of that profession. But he was not enam- 
ored of his calling: he was swayed by a broader 
ambition, to such an extent that the mysteries of the 
healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him 
further any charms. In a few years he discovered 
his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when 
he approached the age of 30 he sought to begin 
anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him- 
self, discovered a singular facility and charm of 
speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a 
ready local notoriety. It soon came lo be under- 



stood that he desired to abandon his profession and 
take up that of the law. During terms of Court he 
would spend his time at the county seat among the 
members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready 
welcome. 

It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift 
into public life. In 1840 he was elected as a Dem- 
ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and 
was an efficient member of that body. On his re- 
turn home he qualified himself for admission to the 
Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo- 
cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a 
pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures, 
clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly 
humor, his efforts before a jury told with irresistible 
effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut- 
ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and 
in that position he fully discharged his duty to the 
State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom 
failed lo convict the offender of the law. 

In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and 
with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis- 
tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark, 
his head well poised, though not large, his address 
pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplary 
in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent. 
He was twice married, the first time to Miss James, 



f 



WILLIAM H. BISSELL. 



of Monroe County, by whom he had two children, 
both daughters. She died soon after the year 1840, 
and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daughter 
of Elias K. Kane, previously a United States Senator 
from this State. She survived him but a short time, 
and died without issue. 

When the war with Mexico was declared in 1846, 
Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his 
regiment, over Hon. Don Morrison, by an almost 
unanimous vote, 807 to 6. Considering the limited 
opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of 
military talent. On the .bloody field of Buena Vista 
he acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished 
ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second 
Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver- 
ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely 
contested battle. 

After his return home, at the close of the war, he 
was elected to Congress, his opponents being the 
Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served 
two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician. 
During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor 
of the adjustment measures; but in 1854 he opposed 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and 
therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Douglas, and 
thus became identified with the nascent Republican 
party. 

During his first Congressional term, while the 
Southern members were following their old practice 
of intimidating the North by bullying language, 
and claiming most of the credit for victories in the 
Mexican War, and Jefferson Davis claiming for the 
Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena 
Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Northern 
troops ; whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel, 
which was accepted. This matter was brought up 
against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor 
and during his term of office, as the Constitution of 
this State forbade any duelist from holding a State 
office. 

In 1856, when the Republican party first put forth 
a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the 
United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell 
for Governor of Illinois, and John Wood, of Quincy, 
for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi- 
nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County, 
for Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook 
r County, for Lieutenant Governor. The result of the 



election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard- 
son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a 
ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal- 
anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor. 
His message to the Legislature was short and rather 
ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup- 
posed obligations of the people to the incorporators 
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re- 
opening the slavery question by allusions to the 
Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion- 
ment bill, based upon the State census of 1855, was 
passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor 
at first signed the bill and then vetoed it. A furious 
debate followed, and the question whether the Gov- 
ernor had the authority to recall a signature was 
referred to the Courts, that of last resort deciding in 
favor of the Governor. Two years afterward another 
outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment 
and to gerrymander the State, but the Legislature 
failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor. 

It was during Gov. Bissell 's administration that 
the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light, 
implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent 
State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat- 
ing $255,500, was all recovered by the State except- 
ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.) 

In 1859 an attempt was discovered to fraudu- 
lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and 
thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a quarter of a 
million dollars. The State Government was impli- 
cated in this affair, and to this day remains unex- 
plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other 
matters previously mentioned, Gov. Bissell has been 
severely criticised, and he has also been most shame- 
fully libelled and slandered. 

On account of exposure in the army, the remote 
cause of a nervous form of disease gained entrance 
into his system and eventually developed paraplegia, 
affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left 
his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco- 
motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was 
generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste- 
rious disease pursued him, without once relaxing its 
stealthy hold, to the close of his life, March 18, 
1860, over nine months before the expiration of his 
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He 
died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, of 
which he harl been a member since 1854. 






GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 








j:OHN WOOD, Governor 1860-1, and 
the first settler of Quincy, 111., 
was born in the town of Sempro- 
nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co., 
N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was 
the second child and only son of 
Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother, 
nee Catherine Crause, was of 
German parentage, and died 
while he was an infant. Dr. 
Wood was a learned and skillful 
physician, of classical attain- 
ments and proficient in several 
modern languages, who, after 
serving throughout the Revolu- 
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted 
him by the Government, and resided there a re- 
spected and leading influence in his section until his 
death, at the ripe age of 92 years. 

The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit 
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere, 
left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed the succeed- 
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum- 
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown, 
and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun 
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes, 
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast 
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued 
farming. In 1821 he visited "the Bluffs" (as the 
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited) 
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased 
a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow- 
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin, 



18 x 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which 
he then became the first and for some months the 
only occupant. 

About this time he visited his old friends in Pike 
County, chief of whom was William Ross, the lead- 
ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that 
county, which was thought then to be the possible 
commencement of a city. One day they and others 
were traveling together over the country between the 
two points named, making observations on the com- 
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap- 
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place, 
the latter told hjs companions to follow him and he 
would show them where he was going to build a city. 
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high 
point, from which the view in every direction was 
most magnificent, as it had been for ages and as yet 
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept 
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by 
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at 
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross 
replied, " But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to 
anything!" 

Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is a 
city of over 30,000 population. 

In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a newspaper notice, 
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply 
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new 
county. This was done the following winter, result- 
ing in the establishment of the present Adams 
County. During the next summer Quincy was se- 
lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then " 
containing but four adult male residents and half 



i 



JOHN WOOD. 



that number of females. Since that period Mr. 
Wood resided at the place of his early adoption un- 
til his death, and far more than any other man was 
he identified with every measure of its progress and 
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi- 
tions. 

He was one of the early town Trustees, and after 
the place became a city he was often a member of 
the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the 
face of a constant large opposition political majority. 
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856, 
on the organization of the Republican party, he was 
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the 
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the 
death of the latter, March 18, 1860, he succeeded to 
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until 
Gov. Yates was inaugurated nearly ten months after- 
ward. 

Nothing very marked characterized the adminis- 
tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam- 
paign of 1860, resulting in the election of the honest 
Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the 
United States, occurred during the short period 
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and the excitement 
and issues of that struggle dominated over every 
other consideration, indeed, supplanted them in a 
great measure. The people of Illinois, during all 
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes 
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming 
issue of preserving the whole nation from destruction. 

In 186 r ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele- 
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at 
Washington, and in April of the san.e year, on the 
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed 



Quartermaster-General of the State, which position 
he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com- 
mand as Colonel of the i37th 111. Vol. Inf., with 
whom he served until the period of enlistment ex- 
pired. 

Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi- 
fied with the Whig and Republican parties. Few 
men have in personal experience comprehended so 
many surprising and advancing local changes as 
vested in the more than half century recollections of 
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler 
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor 
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away 
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his 
only visitant, he lived to see growing around him, 
and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the 
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second 
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in 
beauty, prosperity and promise ; whose people recog- 
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and 
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened 
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor." 

Gov. Wood was twice married, first in January, 
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter, 
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had 
eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in 
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow 
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4, 
1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight 
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of 
Gen. John Tillson; Daniel C., who married Mary J. 
Abernethy ; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner, 
and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The 
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and 
all the rest are still at Quincy. 







GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



'59 





ICHARD YATES, the "War 
Governor," 1861-4, was born 
Jan. 1 8, 1818, on the banks of 
the Ohio River, at Warsaw, 
Gallatin Co., Ky. His father 
moved in 1831 to Illinois, and ( 
after stopping for a time in 
Springfield, settled at Island 
Grove, Sangamon County. Here, 
after attending school, Richard joined 
the family. Subsequently he entered 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, 
where, in 1837, he graduated with 
first honors. He chose for his pro- 
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har- 
din being his instructor. After ad- 
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an 
advocate. 

Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon 
appeared in the political hustings, andj being a 
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the 
West, Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to 
the party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great 
ardor in the exciting " hard cider " campaign for 
Harrison. Two years later he was elected to the 
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic 
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the 
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora- 
tory that by 1850 his large Congressional District, 
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties 
north to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him 
the Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic 
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop- 
ular man who had won distinction at the battle of 
Cerro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had 
beaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position, 



two years before, by a large majority. Yates was 
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over 
John Calhoun. 

It was during Yates' second term in Congress that 
the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re- 
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took 
strong grounds against the repeal, and thus became 
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse- 
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which 
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he 
fell behind Major Harris only 200 votes, after the 
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000 
majority for President. 

The Republican State Convention of 1860 met at 
Decatur May 9, and nominated for the office of Gov- 
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B. 
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming- 
ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were 
also candidates before the Convention. Francis A. 
Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated for 
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr. 
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re- 
membered as characterized by the great whirlpool 
which precipitated the bloody War of the Rebellion. 
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen of 
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ro:=s, 
of Fulton County, for Lieutenant Governor. The 
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party 
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear- 
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr. 
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr. Allen 159,253. Mr. 
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did 
Mr. Lincoln himself. 

Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the 



> 



i 



1 60 



most critical period of our country's history. In the 
fate of the nation was involved that of each State. 
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance 
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates 
seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself 
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government. 
He had a deep hold upon the affections of the 
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial 
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre- 
possessing appearance, with a winning address and a 
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele- 
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and 
captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they 
were transported. He was social and convivial. In 
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far. 

The very creditable military efforts of this State 
during the War of the Rebellion, in putting into the 
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers, 
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel- 
lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of 
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battle of 
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look 
after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were 
promptly responded to by the people. His procla- 
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate 
appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re- 
quirements of patriotism ; and his special message 
in 1863 to the Democratic Legislature of this State 
pleading for material aid for the sick and wounded 
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor 
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in 
beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes- 
sages on political and civil affairs were able and com- 
prehensive. During his administration, however, 
there were no civil events of an engrossing character, 
although two years of his time were replete with 
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar- 
rests, Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton 
County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times 
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of 
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting 
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem- 
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that 
the law calling it was no longer binding, and that it 
had supreme power; that it represented a virtual 
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was 
sovereign in the exercise of all power necessary to 
\ p effect a peaceable revolution of the State Government 



RICHARD YATES. 




and to the re-establishment of one for the " happiness, 
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only 
by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the 
law calling the Convention required its members to 
take an oath to support the Constitution of the State 
as well as that of the general Government, they 
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as- 
sumed legislative powers and passed several import- 
ant " laws ! " Interfering with the (then) present 
executive duties, Gov. Yates was provoked to tell 
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right 
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance 
of his duty." 

In 1863 the Governor astonished the Democrats 
by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after 
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to 
waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and, 
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the 
question of adjourning sine die, the Governor, having 
the authority in such cases, surprised them all by 
adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding the 
first Monday in January, 1865 ! " This led to great 
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the 
Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided in 
his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive 
abuse for weeks and months afterward. 

During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de- 
tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber- 
ation of the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the 
burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellion 
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the 
camp at the time, first had his suspicions of danger 
aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters 
which passed through the Camp postoffice. A de- 
tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen. 
Marmaduke was in the city, under an assumed 
name, and he, with other rebel officers Grenfell, 
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charles 
Walsh was arrested, most of whom were convicted 
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to 
imprisonment, Grenfell to be hung. The sentence 
of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison- 
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months' 
imprisonment, were pardoned. 

In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov- 
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in 
which office he continued until his decease, at St. 
Louis, Mo., on the 27th of November following. 



=* 






G<9 VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 







Richard JT. Ogles 







^ 



ICHARD J. OGLESBY, Gov- 
ernor 1865-8, and re-elected 
in 1872 and 1884, was born 
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co., 
Ky., the State which might 
be considered the " mother of 
Illinois Governors." Bereft of 
his parents at the tender age 
of eight years, his early education 
was neglected. When 12 years of 
age, and after he had worked a year 
and a half at the carpenter's trade, 
he removed with an uncle, Willis 
Oglesby, into whose care he had 
been committed, to Decatur, this 
State, where he continued his ap- 
prenticeship as a mechanic, working six months for 
Hon. E. O. Smith. 

In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring- 
field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him 
one year. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845, and 
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at 
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County. 

The next year the war with Mexico was com- 
menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered, 
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois 
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. 

On his return he sought to perfect his law studies 
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but 
on the breaking out of the California "gold fever " in 
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the 
new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com- 



pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader. 

In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and 
was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket 
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe, 
Asia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his 
return home he resumed the practice of law, as a 
member of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby. 
In 1858 he was the Republican nominee for the 
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the 
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In 1860 he 
was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the 
evening the returns of this election were coming in, 
Mr. Oglesby had a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro 
Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious, 
and which was regarded as " the first fight of the 
Rebellion." The following spring, when the war 
had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature 
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and 
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature 
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry, 
the second one in the State raised to suppress the 
great Rebellion. 

He was shortly entrusted with important com- 
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point 
and Cairo ; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen- 
eral ; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van, 
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army 
and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500 
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these 
men were from Macon County. He was engaged in 
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this 
place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball, 
and was carried from the field in expectation of im- 



^ ' 

* 



*- 



164 



RICHARD J. OGLESB V. 



: 



mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this 
day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as 
Major General, for g illantry, his commission to rank 
from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he 
was assigned to the command of the i6th Army 
Corps, but, owing to inability fro.n the effects of his 
wound, he relinquished this command in July, that 
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his 
resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow- 
ing, to court-martial and try the Surgeon General of 
the Army at Washington, where he remained until 
May, 1864, when he returned home. 

The Republican, or U lion, State Convention of 
1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr. 
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor, 
while other candidates before the Convention were 
Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois.of Sanga- 
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wm. 
Bross, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant 
Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were 
James C. Robinson, of ("lark, for Governor, and S. 
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor. 
The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority 
of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a 
majority in both thi Legislature and in the repre- 
sentation in Congress. 

Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865. 
The day before the first time set for his installation 
death visited his home at Decatur, and took from it 
his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of six 
years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This 
caused the inauguration to be postponed a week. 

The political events of the Legislative session of 
r86s were the election of ex-Gov. Yates to the 
United States Senate, and the ratification of the 131(1 
amendment to the Constitution of the United States, 
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized 
itself by repealing the notorious " black laws," part 
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place 
upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re- 
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a 
State Board of Equalization, were passed by this Leg- 
islature. But the same body evinced that it was cor- 
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted 
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota- 
bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse 
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now 
sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure 
was promptly passed over his veto by both branches 
of the Legislature, he deemed it useless further to 
attempt to check their headlong career. At this 
session no law of a general useful character or public 
interest was perfected, unless we count such the 
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened. 
The session of 1867 was still more productive of 
private and special acts. Many omnibus bills were 
proposed, and some passed. The contests over the 
location of the Industrial College, the Capital, the 



i- 



Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement 
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every- 
thing else. 

During the year 1872, it became evident that if 
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the 
office of Governor, they could also elect him to the 
United States Senate, which they desired to do. 
Accordingly they re-nominated him for the Execu- 
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket with him for 
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook 
County. On the other side the Democrats put into 
the field Gastavus Koerner for Governor and John 
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election 
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from 
35,334 to 56,174, the Democratic defection being 
caused mainly by their having an old-time Whig and 
Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket 
for President. According to the general understand- 
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met 
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate, 
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's term expired March 4, 1879, having 
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of 
statesmanship beyond criticism. 

During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was 
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the 
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor 
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both 
gentlemen " stumped " the State, and while the peo- 
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a joint 
ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the 
jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov- 
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The 
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on 
account of its equal division between the two main 
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of each 
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of 
the House. 

Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with 
regular, well defined features and rotund face. In 
stature he is a little above medium height, of a large 
frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical appear- 
ance is striking and prepossessing, while his straight- 
out, not to say bluff, manner and speech are well 
calculated favorably to impress the average masses. 
Ardent in feeling and strongly committed to the pol- 
icies of his party, he intensifies Republicanism 
among Republicans, while at the same time his jovial 
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite 
party from hating him. 

He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe- 
ment, passionate and scornful tone and gesture , 
tremendous physical power, which in speaking he 
exercises to the utmost; with frequent descents to 
the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari- 
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest 
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasN 
he delights a promiscuous audience beyond measure! 

1 



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t 




GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 






JOHN M. PALMER 






i 



jjOHN Me A.ULEY PALMER, Gov- 
ernor 1869-72, \va.s born on 
Eagle Creek, Scott Co., Ky., 
Sept. 13, 1817. During his in- 
fancy, his father, who had been 
a soldier in the war of 1812, re- 
moved to Christian Co., Ky., 
where lands were cheap. Here 
the future Governor of the great 
Prairie State spent his childhood 
and received such meager school- 
ing as the new and sparsely set- 
tled country afforded. To this 
he added materially by diligent 
reading, for which he evinced an 
eaily aptitude. His father, an ardent Jackson man, 
was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which 
he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831 
he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County. 
Here the labor of improving a farm was pursued for 
about two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's 
mother broke up the family. About this time Alton 
College was opened, on the "manual labor " system, 
and in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his 
elder brother, Elihu, entered this school and remained 
1 8 months. Next, for over three years, he tried 
variously coopering, peddling and school-teaching. 

During the summer of 1838 he formed the ac- 
quaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his 



first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in 
political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi- 
dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The 
following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be- 
gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading 
of law, and in the spring entered a law office at Car- 
linville, making his home with his elder brother, 
Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con- 
siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On 
the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad- 
mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners. 
He was not immediately successful in his profession, 
and would have located elsewhere than Carlinville 
had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty 
was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes 
the success of his life. 

From 1839 on, while he diligently pursued his 
profession, he participated more or less in local 
politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. In 
1847 he was elected to the State Constitutional Con- 
vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 he 
was elected to the State Senate, and at the special 
session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slavery 
sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op- 
position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise; 
and when the Nebraska question became a party 
issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for the 
Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuing 
a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward, 




JOHN MC AULEY PALMER. 



however, hesitating to break with his party, he par- 
ticipated in a Congressional Convention which nomi- 
T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which 
unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made 
the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat, and was elected. The following winter 
he put in nomination for the _United States Senate 
Mr. Trumbull, and was one of the five steadfast men 
who voted for him until all the Whigs came to their 
support and elected their man. 

In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State 
Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in 
1859, but was defeated. In 1860 he was Republican 
Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861 
he was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re- 
publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at 
Washington. 

When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his 
services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the 
I4th 111. Vol. Inf., and participated in the engagements 
at Island No. 10; at Farmington, where he skillfully 
extricated his command from a dangerous position ; 
at Stone River, where his division for several hours, 
Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a 
rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major 
General; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's 
divisions for two hours maintained their position 
when they were cut off by overpowering numbers. 
Under Gen. Sherman, he was assigned to the i/jlh 
Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign. 
At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert 
disaster. In February, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as- 
signed to the military administration of Kentucky, 
which was a delicate post. That State was about 
half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter 
element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves. 
He, who had been bred to the rules of common law, 
trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary 
power over the persons and property of his fellow 
men, with which he was vested in his capacity as 
military Governor ; and he exhibited great caution in 
the execution of the duties of his post. 

Gen. Palmer was nominated for Governor of Illi- 
nois by the Republican State Convention which met 
at Peori.i May 6, 1868, and his nomination would 
probably have been made by acclamation had he not 
persistently declared that he could not accept a can- 



didature for the office. The result of the ensuing 
election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over 
John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee. 

O.i the meeting of the Legislature in January, 
1869, the first thing to arrest public attention was 
that portion of the Governor's message which took 
broad Slate's rights ground. This and some minor 
points, which were more in keeping with the Demo- 
cratic sentiment, constituted the entering wedge fir 
the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received 
from the Republican party, and ultimately resulted 
in his entire aleniation from the Litter element. The 
Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro- 
duction of numerous bills in the interest of private 
parties, which were embarrassing to the Governor. 
Among the public acts passed was that which limited 
railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum 
.of three cents per mile; and it was passed over the 
Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto, 
the "tax-grabbing law" to pay railroad subscriptions, 
the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The new State 
Constitution of 1870, far superior to the old, was a 
peaceful " revolution " which took place during Gov. 
Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the 
great Chicago Fire of October, 1871, was greatly 
alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency. 

Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers 's term, he has 
been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and 
has been talked of by many, especially in the Dem- 
ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a 
United States Senator. His business during life has 
been that of the law. Few excel him in an accurate 
appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles- 
The great number of his able veto messages abun- 
dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to 
point them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner 
and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker, 
though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his 
dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with 
appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot 
and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is 
above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy 
complexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He 
has a large cranial development, is vivacious, social 
in disposition, easy of approach, unostentatious in his 
habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners 
and is a true American in his fundamental principles 
of statesmanshiD. 



T 



t. 

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GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



171 



' ; V ; ' :v; ::. '.>'t '. s . '. ; 'iVi '.'.-. ' '. v. ' ( . v. v. T'.n v 





OHN LOWRiE BEVER- 
IDGE, Governor 1873-6, was 
born in the town of Green- 
wich, Washington Co., N. Y., 
July 6, 1824. His parents 
were George and Ann Bever- 
idge. His father's parents, An- 
drew and Isabel Bcveridge, be- 
fore their marriage emigrated 
from Scotland just before the 
Revolutionary War, settling in 
Washington County. His father 
was the eldest of eight brothers, the 
youngest of whom was 60 years of 
age when the first one of the num- 
ber died. His mother's parents, 
James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated 
from Scotland at the close of the 
Revolutionary War, settling also in 
1 Washington Co., N. Y., with their 
first-born, whose " native land "was 
the wild ocean. His parents and 
grandparents lived beyond the time 
allotted to man, their average age 
being over 80 years. They belonged to the "Asso- 
ciate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of 



America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid 
was the training of young Beveridge that he never 
heard a sermon from any other minister except that 
of his own denomination until he was in his igth 
year. Later in life he became a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still 
holds. 

Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed- 
ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood 
only by rigid economy and industry, could not send 
him away to college. He was raised upon a farm, 
and was in his i8th year when the family removed 
to De Kalb County, this State, when that section was 
very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000 
inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a 
farm laborer, teaching school during the winter 
months to supply the means of an education. In the 
fall of 1842 he attended one term at the academy at 
Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several 
terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris, 
Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At 
this time, the fall of 1845, his parents and brothers 
were anxious to have him go to college, even though 
he had not money sufficient; but, njt willing to bur- 
den the family, he packed his trunk and with only 
$40 in money started South to seek his fortune. 









f, , 



JOHN L. BEVERIDGE. 



Poor, alone, without friends and influence, he thus 
entered upon the battle of life. 

First, he taught school in Wilson, Overton and 
Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which experience he under- 
went considerable mental drill, both in book studies 
and in the ways of the world. He read law and was 
admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn 
to love the institution of slavery, although he ad- 
mired many features of Southern character. In De- 
cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 1848, 
he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Clark- 
Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that 
time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring 
of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee, 
where his two children, Alia May and Philo Judson, 
were born. 

In the fall of 1849, through the mismanagement 
of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu- 
lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to 
earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb 
Co., 111., and entered upon the practice of his pro- 
fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival 
from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in 
money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself 
and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced 
law, worked in public offices, kept books for some of 
the business men of the town, and some railroad en- 
gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed 
to Evanston, 1 2 miles north of Chicago, a place then 
but recently laid out, under the supervision of the 
Northwestern University, a Methodist institution. 
Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial 
agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge 
prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law 
office in Chicago, where he found the battle some- 
what hard; but he persevered with encouragement 
and increasing success. 

Aug. 12, 1861, his law partner, Gen. John F. 
Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment of 
cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a 
company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais- 
ing the company, of course enlisting himself along 
with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles, 
111., was mustered in Sept. 18, and on its organiza- 
tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at- 
tached, Oct. n, to the Eighth Cavalry and to the 
Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment 
until November, 1863, participating in some 40 bat- 



ties and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days' 
fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- 
vine and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment 
the greater part of the summer of 1863, and it was while 
lying in camp this year that he originated the policy 
of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac- 
ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system. 
It worked so well that many other officers adopted 
it. In the fall of this year he recruited another com- 
pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was 
commissioned Colonel of the ijth 111. Cav., and 
skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the 
reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's 
army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various 
sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered 
out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and 
a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men 
idolized him. 

He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with 
no library and no clientage, and no political experi- 
ence except to help others into office. In the fall of 
1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving 
one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced 
law and closed up the unfinished business of his 
office. He was then elected State Senator; in No- 
vember, 1871, he was elected Congressman at large; 
in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby ; the latter be- 
ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became 
Governor, Jan. 21, 1873. Thus, inside of a few 
weeks, he was Congressman at large, Lieutenant 
Governor and Governor. The principal events oc- 
curring during Gov. Beveridge 's administration were: 
The completion of the revision of the statutes, begun 
in 1869; the partial success of the "farmers' move- 
ment;" " Haines' Legislature " and Illinois' exhibit at 
the Centennial. 

Since the close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov. 
Beveridge has been a member of the firm of Bever- 
idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers in commercial 
paper at fi Dearborn Street (McCormick Block), 
Chicago, and since November, 1 88 1, he has also been 
Assistant United States Treasurer : office in the 
Government Building. His residence is still at Ev- 
anston. 

He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in 
De Kalb County James H. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet 
Henry and Mrs. Isabel French. 



GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 





HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover- 
nor 1877-83,13 the sixth child 
of the late Richard N. Cullom, 
and was born Nov. 22, 1829,111 
Wayne Co., Ky., where his fa- 
ther then resided, and whence 
both the Illinois and Tennessee 
branches of the family originated. In 
the following year the family emi- 
grated to the vicinity of Washington, 
Tazewell Co., 111., when that section 
was very sparsely settled. They lo- 
cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at 
the time occupied by a party of In- 
dians, attracted there by the superior 
hunting and fishing afforded in that 
vicinity. The following winter was 
known as the " hard winter," the snow being very 
deep and lasting and the weather severely cold; and 
the family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or 
hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In 
the course of time Mr. R. N. Cullom became a prom- 
inent citizen and was several times elected to the 
Legislature, both before and after the removal of the 
capital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about 



I 



Until about 19 years of age young Cullom grew up 
to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had 
opportunity during the winter. Within this time, 
however, he spent several months teaching school, 



and in the following summer he "broke prairie "with 
an ox team for the neighbors. With the money ob- 
tained by these various ventures, he undertook a 
course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a 
Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County; 
but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu- 
dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken 
home, being considered in a hopeless condition. While 
at Mt. Morris he heard Hon. E. B. Washburne make 
his first speech. 

On recovering health, Mr. Cullom concluded to 
study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln, 
at Springfield, who had by this time attained some 
notoriety as an able lawyer; but the latter, being ab- 
sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr. 
Cullom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards. 
After about a year of study there, however, his health 
failed again, and he was obliged to return once more 
to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs foi 
packing, for A. G. Tyng, in 1'eoria, and while he re- 
gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in 
a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he 
went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City 
Attorney, on the Anti-Nebraska ticket. 

In 1856 he ran on the Fillmore ticket as a Presi- 
dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as 
such, he was at the same time elected a Representa- 
tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a 
local coalition of the American and Republican par- 
ties. On the organization of the House, he received 
the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing 



f 



, k 176 



SHELB Y M. CULLOM. 



t 



law until 1860, he was again elected to the Legisla- 
ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo- 
cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow- 
ing he was elected Speaker, probably the youngest 
man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis- 
lature. After the session of 1861, he was a candidate 
for the State Constitutional Convention called for 
that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped the 
disgrace of being connected with that abortive party 
scheme to revolutionize the State Government. In 
1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but 
was defeated. The same year, however, he was ap- 
pointed by President Lincoln on a Government 
Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of 
Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the 
New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the 
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at 
Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty. 

In 1864 he enteied upon a larger political field, 
being nominated as the Republican candidate for 
Congress from the Eighth (Springfield) District, in 
opposition to the incumbent, JohnT. Stuart, who had 
been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over 
Leonard Swett, then of Bloomington, now of Chicago. 
The result was the election of Mr. Cullom in Novem- 
ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he 
was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by 
the magnificent majority of 4,103! In 1868 he was 
again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards, 
another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes. 

During his first term in Congress he served on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Expenditures in 
the Treasury Department; in his second term, on 
the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Territories ; 
and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of 
Ohio, to the Chairm.mship of the latter. He intro- 
duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of 
law in Utah, which caused more consternation among 
the Mormons than any measure had previously, but 
which, though it passed the House, failed to pass the 
Senate. 

The Republican Convention which met May 25, 
1876, nominated Mr. Cullom for Governor, while the 
other contestant was Gov. Beveridge. For Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor 
of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the 
Democrats, combining with the Anti-Monopolists, 
placed in nomination Lewis Steward, a wealthy 



farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The 
result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom 
obtaining only 6,800 majority. He was inaugurated 
Jan. 8, 1877. 

Great depression prevailed in financial circles at 
this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of 
1873 and afterward, the effect of which had seemed 
to gather force from that time to the end of Gov. 
Cullom's first administration. This unspeculative 
period was not calculated to call forth any new 
issues, but the Governor's energies were at one time 
put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination that 
had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring 
classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East 
St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring 
men for a short time refused to work or allow others 
to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and 
the wheels of industry again set in motion. 

In May, 1880, Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by 
the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by the 
Democrats; and although the former party was some- 
what handicapped in the campaign by a zealous 
faction opposed to Grant for President and to Grant 
men for office generally, Mr. Cullom was re-elected 
by about 314,565, to 277,532 forthe Democratic State 
ticket. The Greenback vote at the same time was 
about 27,000. Both Houses of the Legislature again 
became Republican, and no representative of the 
Greenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov. 
Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, 1881. In his mes- 
sage he announced that the last dollar of the State 
debt had been provided for. 

March 4, 1883, the term of David Davis as United 
States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul- 
lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted 
Lteutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to the Gov- 
ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the United 
States Senate will empire March 4, 1889. 

As a practitioner of law Mr. C. has been a member 
of the firm of Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at Spring- 
field ; and he has also been President of the State 
National Bank. 

He has been married twice, the first time Dec. 
12, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had 
two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863, 
to Julia Fisher. Mrs. C is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, with which religious body Mr. 
C. is also in sympathy. 



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GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS. 



179 





OHN MARSHALL HAMIL- 
TON, Governor 1883-5, was 
born May 28, 1847, in a log 
house upon a farm about two 
miles from Richwood, Union 
County, Ohio. His father was 
Samuel Hamilton, the eldest son 
of Rev. Wm. Hamilton, who, to- 
gether with his brother, the Rev. 
Samuel Hamilton, was among the 
early pioneer Methodist preachers in 
Ohio. The mother of the subject of 
this sketch was, before her marriage, 
Mrs. Nancy McMorris, who was 
born and raised in Fauquier or Lou- 
doun County, Va., and related to the 
two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well 
known in that commonwealth; and from the latter 
family name was derived the middle name of Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out 
his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., 
and, loading his few household effects and family 
(of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, 
moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being 
2 1 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams 
and innumerable hardships and privations met them 
on their way. Their new home had been previously 
selected by the father. Here, after many long years 
of toil, they succeeded in paying for the land and 
making a comfortable home. John was, of course, 



brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling 
except three or four months in the year at a common 
country school. However, he evinced a capacity 
and taste for a high order of self-education, by 
studying or reading what books he could borrow, as 
the family had but very few in the house. Much of 
his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in 
the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial 
panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing 
their home, to pay debts ; but the father and two 
sons, William and John, "buckled to" and perse- 
vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed 
their place from the mortgage. 

When the tremendous excitement of the political 
campaign of 1860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- 
erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been 
brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- 
ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special 
efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he 
joined a company of Lincoln Wide- Awakes at Mag- 
nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the 
ensuing election it became evident that trouble 
would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake 
company, like many others throughout the country, 
kept up its organization and transformed itself into a 
military company. During the ensuing summer they 
met often for drill and became proficient ; but when 
they offered themselves for the v/ar, young Hamilton 
was rejected on account of his youth, he being then 
but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he 
attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County. 



i 



1 80 



JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON. 



i 



and in the following May he again enlisted, for the 
fourth time, when he was placed in the 14151 111. 
Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111., 
for the loo-day service. He took with him 13 other 
lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the 
service. This regiment operated in Southwestern 
Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine. 

The following winter, 1864-5, Mr. Hamilton taught 
school, and during the two college years 1865-7, ne 
went through three years of the curriculum of the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The 
third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46, 
in the classical department. In due time he received 
the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the 
Principal of Marshall " College " at Henry, an acad- 
emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By 
this lime he had commenced the study of law, and 
after earning some money as a temporary Professor 
of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at 
Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, 
Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of 
this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. 
Admitted to the Bar in May, 1870, Mr. Hamilton 
was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- 
ing been elected Judge. In October following he 
formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time 
Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then 
small, but they increased it to very large proportions, 
practicing in all grades of courts, including even the 
U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued 
unbroken until Pel). 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton 
was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th 
of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- 
gress. 

In July, 1871. Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen 
M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Win. G. Williams, 
Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesley an University. 
Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son. 

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- 
publicans for the State Senate, over other and older 
competitors. He took an active part " on the stump " 
in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was 
elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- 
Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on 
the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- 
lany ; and during the contest for the election of a 
' U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re- 



elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on 
every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- 
cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and 
the Democrats and Independents elected Judge 
David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the 
first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of 
which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, agair:t r; 
much opposition that the bill was several times 
"laid on the table." Also, this session authorized 
the location and establishment of a southern peni- 
tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session 
of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pro tern. 
of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John 
A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who wa<s this time 
elected without any trouble. 

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on 
the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his 
principal competitors before the Convention being 
Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of 
Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash 
County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and 
Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged 
actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected 
by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, 
he presided almost continuously over the Senate in 
the 3zd General Assembly and during the early days 
of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. 
When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom 
to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton 
succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the 
oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the 
annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon 
taking up another's administration. The principal 
events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as 
the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- 
aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clairand Madison 
Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the 
State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license 
liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc. 

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the 
National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 

1884, where his first choice for President was John 
A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but 
he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. 
Blaine, true to his party. 

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 

1885, when the great favorite "Dick" Oglesby was 
inaugurated. 





umois. 







r 




r 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 






INTRODUCTORY. 





OME of the fairest and most 
productive counties of the 
great Prairie State are to be 
found in what is known as 
Central Illinois, and the chief- 
est among these is Livingston 
County. Though settlers came into 
this county as early as 1829, yet the 
commencement of its rapid growth 
was not until many years later. It 
was the railroad that did so much 
toward the encouragement of sturdy 
tillers of the soil to come to the 
fair and fertile prairies. Since then 
the county has enjoyed steady 
growth, until to-day it stands among the foremost 
counties of the great Northwest. In the growth 
and development of her vast resources, in her agri- 
culture and stock-raising, in all the departments of 
labor in which busy man is engaged ; in her churches 
and schools, in civilization and culture, Livingston 
County has taken a front rank. Well may her 
people be proud of their product; well may her 
pioneers turn with pride to their achievements. 
Within half a century a wilderness lias been sub- 
dued and converted into beautiful farms and 
thriving, populous cities, and a community estab- 
lished commanding the admiration of the country. 

Transportation Facilities. 

ER1IAPS th^ most important factor in the 
business development and prosperity of a 
city or county is its railroad communica- 
tions. At least it is safe to assert that 
such has become a demonstrated fact with regard 





to Livingston County. A retrospection of her 
history since the advent of railroad facilities will 
convince the careful observer of the immense ben- 
efit resulting from the introduction of this essential 
adjunct of commercial enterprise, hence we give 
brief sketches of the railroads traversing this 
county. 

Wabash Railroad. 

>1IE Wabash Railroad Company, now under 
the able management of John McNulta, Re- 
ceiver, has two lines traversing this county 
the Chicago Line and the Streator Branch. The 
former extends through the eastern part of the 
county from north to south, and has in this county, 
including side tracks, about forty miles of road. 
At Streator Junction connections are had with the 
Blooinington Branch of the Illinois Central, at 
Forest, the most important station on the road in 
this county, with the Toledo. Peoria & Western, 
and at Scovel with the Minonk Branch of the Illinois 
Central. The Streator Branch traverses the county 
diagonally from the southeast to the northwest cor- 
ner, making connection at Streator with the main 
roads which center there. At Pontiac, the county 
seat of Livingston County, it crosses the lines of 
the Chicago & Alton and the Minonk Branch of 
the Illinois Central, and at Fairbury, the second 
town of importance in the county, with the Toledo, 
Peoria & Western. 

The W abash has more miles of railroad in this 
county than any other company, and owing to its 
splendid facilities and connections with the sea- 
board traffic and the principal Southern and West- 
ern cities, is destined to do more toward the de- 



t 



1X4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




velopment of the agricultural and material resources 
of the county than any other road. The principal 
lines of this road, including the Chicago Branch, 
have steel-rail track, well-ballasted road beds, and 
altogether constitute one of the greatest railroad 
systems in the West. It is one of the most enter- 
prising roads in the country, and the finest passen- 
ger coaches on the continent are run on its linos 
and every effort put forth for the comfort and 
safety of its patrons. The number of miles now 
operated by the Receiver is 956, all of which, with 
the exception of that extending from the State 
line to Toledo, is in Illinois. 

Illinois Central .Railroad Company. 

>>HE Illinois Central Railroad Company has 
two branches which pass through this county, 
one known as the Chicago, Pontiac & Chats- 
worth Division, and the other as the Bloomington 
Division. There are something over sixty-six 
miles of track in this county. The line extending 
from Kempton to Minonk passes through the cen- 
ter of the county, crossing the line of the Chicago 
Branch of the Wabash at Scovel, and the Chicago 
& Alton and the Streator Branch of the Wabash at 
Pontiac. At Minonk the connections are made 
with the main line. The Bloomington Branch 
crosses the Toledo, Peoria & Western at Chats- 
worth ; the connections of these lines with the main 
line and the Chicago Divison makes this road one 
of the best for transportation in the count}'. 

In September, 1850, Congress granted an aggre- 
gate 2,595,053 acres to aid in building this road. 
The act granted the right of way and gave alter- 
nate sections of land for six miles on cither side of 
the road to the company. The grant was made 
directly to the State, and Feb. 10, 1851, the Illi- 
nois Legislature gave a charter to an Eastern com- 
pany, represented by Rantoul and others, to build 
the road. In granting the charter and transferring 
to the corporation the land, the Legislature stipu- 
lated that seven per cent of the gross earnings 
of the road should be paid semi-annually into the 
State Treasury forever. This wise provision in 
lieu of the liberal grant yields a handsome annual 
income to the State. 

The Illinois Central is one of the great trunk 




lines of the Mississippi Valley, connecting Chicago 
with Sioux City and New Orleans, and toward de- 
veloping the material resources of Illinois, stands 
first in importance. Strict attention to local busi- 
ness has always been a marked characteristic' of its 
management, hence their land has been eagerly 
sought after, and its officials have the satisfaction 
of knowing that the value of the road is not en- 
tirely dependent upon its identification with the 
through business of the country, but on the con- 
tribution of local traffic, which shows a permanent 
and certain increase. The total mileage of this road 
in Illinois alone is over 1,100 miles. 

Other Roads. 

illE Chicago & Alton is an important road 
and has about fifty -seven miles of track in 
Sir this count}'. The main line enters the 
county near Dwightfrom the north. Here connec- 
tions are had with the Streator Branch of the Chi- 
cago & Alton and Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroad. 
The next important station is Pontiac, the county 
seat, where the road crosses the Wabash and the 
Illinois Central The Alton is the pioneer road in 
this county, and one of the best in the country. 
The rolling stock is excellent and the road bed one 
of the best in the State. This road has contributed 
largely to the development of the county. 

The Indiana, Illinois & Iowa has thirty -two miles 
of track in this county, passing through the north 
tier of townships, viz.: Round Grove, D wight, 
Nevada, Sunbury and Newtown, having its western 
terminus at Streator. 

The Toledo, Peoria Ar Western is a line extend- 
ing from east to west, in the southern part of the 
county, through the townships of Chatsworth, For- 
est and Indian Grove. The most important sta- 
tion in the county is Fairbiiry, and at Forest con- 
nection is had with the Wabash system, and at 
Chatsworth with the Bloomington Branch of the 
Illinois Central. Its mileage, including side tracks, 
is twenty-two. 

The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe has recently 
constructed a line through the northwestern corner 
of the county, traversing a portion of Reading Tp. 

The Chicago & St. Louis is a short line in the 
northwestern part of the county, passing through 
the west corner of Newtown Township, through 
the center of Reading and the northwest corner of 
Long Point. The length of road in this county 
is about eleven miles, and the principal stations are 
Reading and Aneona. 



i 

r 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



187 





HE portrait on tlie opposite 
page is that of David Mc- 
Williams, who was the first 
merchant of Dwight, and 
who followed mercantile life 
there for many years, and with 
the growth of the place grad- 
ually drifted into his present 
business, that of banking ; he 
settled in Dwight in April, 1855. 
Of his ancestors we gather the 
following: His great-grandfather, 
Alexander Me Williams, emigrated 
in company with a small colony 
from Scotland in 177G. While on 
the ocean passage his grandfather, Alexander, Jr., 
was born. The colony had selected a place not 
far from Pittsburgh, Pa., which afterward became 
known as Pease's Iron Mills, where Alexander, Jr., 
was reared, and about the time of his becoming of 
age he, in company with a number of young men 
of the colony, located in Belmont County, Ohio, 
and the place is still known as the Scotch Ridge 
Settlement. It is about six miles from the cit\- of 
Wheeling, Va., on the Ohio side. James McWill- 
iams, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
was born there March 2, 1802, and upon ar- 
riving at manhood purchased a small portion of 
his father's farm, and was married to Margaret 
Lattimer, the daughter of a well-known Scotch 



family of the same settlement, who had come 
direct from Scotland to this colon}' only a short 
time previous. He occupied his farm until 1834, 
when he sold out and migrated to Griggsville, 
Pike Co., 111. His familj- then consisted of five 
children, named in order of their ages Alexander, 
Elizabeth Jane, Rachel, John and David. Mary 
was born afterward in Illinois. Rachel died soon 
after their arrival, and Alexander died in 1842. at 
the age of seventeen, and all the rest are now living. 
Mrs. McWilliams, the mother, died in Pike County, 
in December,! 839, and Mr. McWilliams was married 
again, to Miss Lucretia Prescott, of Concord, Mass., 
who was at the time the Principal of the Griggs- 
ville Female Acadeniy. She was a highly culti- 
vated lady, and they passed forty years of wedded 
life together. She died in 1880, and Mr. James 
McWilliams in 1883, having spent nearly fifty 
years in and about Griggsville. having served his 
community in almost all positions of honor and 
trust. 

David McWilliams was born in Belmont County, 
Ohio, Jan. 14, 1834, and was eight months old 
when his parents moved to Illinois. He was en- 
gaged in farm work, attending the district school 
during the winters until he was fourteen years of 
age. At that time an offer was made by Z. N. 
Garbutt, the editor and proprietor of the Free 
Press, of Pittsfield, Pike Co., 111., to enter his 
printing-olh'M. This he accepted, and remained 

* 



4 s 

, 188 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



there for some time, gaining a knowledge of print- 
ing 'and becoming familiar with the general methods 
of newspaper work. During his residence at tin: 
count}' seat he had the opportunity of seeing the 
great lawyers of those days, among whom were Lin- 
coln, Douglass, Col. E. D. Baker, O. H. Browning, 
C. A. Warren, Archibald Williams, O. C. Skinner, 
William A. Richardson, John J. I lard in, and ofthe 
younger lawyers. Milton Ha} 1 and Jackson Grim- 
shaw. Judge Lockwood at that time was on the 
bench, and he well recollects the Presidential cam- 
paign of that year, when Zachary Taylor ran for 
the Presidency on the Whig ticket and was elected. 
He also recollects, during that campaign, of hearing 
Col. E. D. Baker, who was called the Silver Tongued 
Orator of Illinois in those days, make one of his 
great speeches at the court-house in Pittsfield, and 
such was the enthusiasm at the meeting that at its 
close Col. Baker was carried on the shoulders of 
his friends to his hotel. In the year 1849, his 
father, upon the opening of the Illinois & Michi- 
gan Canal, embarked in the pine lumber trade, and 
he returned home and in a short time the entire 
charge of the yard developed upon him. The 
business grew in proportions rapidly, and proved 
to bo quite lucrative, and at this he continued un- 
til the spring of 1855, when he settled in D wight, 
erected the first store building, which was in size 
20x32 feet, and two stories high, and his first 
stock of goods cost less than $2,000. The railroad 
had been completed through Dwight only a few 
months before, and but few families were in or 
about that place on his arrival there. The country 
settled up quite rapidly and his first year's business 
amounted to about $20,000. He gave his personal 
attention to his mercantile business for eighteen 
years, and was also interested in the same for 
seven years longer. 

While engaged in the mercantile business our 
subject had been doing more or less of a banking 
business, receiving deposits -from the farmers and 
selling New York and Chicago exchange, and has 
ever since been doing a regular banking business, 
and enjoys the confidence and credit of the 
moneyed interests of hi.- portion of the State. His 
career has been quite successful, having pa>-e<l 
through all the financial panics miscarred, and has 



never been compelled to dishonor a draft or ask 
for an extension of credit. As he accumulated 
means he invested in farm lands and has done so 
ever since, and is now one of the largest land-own- 
ers of Livingston County. 

Coining, as wo have before stated, of Scotch 
origin, Mr. McWilliams' family wore all Presby- 
terians, but at the age of eighteen years he identi- 
fied himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
at Griggsville, 111., and was one of the six members 
who organized the Methodist Church of Dwight, 
in 1855, and has been connected with it over since. 
He was quite active in the erection of the present 
church edifice of Dwight, which was built in 1867, 
and contributed liberally to its erection. He has 
served the church in about all the positions that 
laymen arc eligible to, and was honored by an 
election to a seat in the first General Conference 
to which laymen were admitted, which was held in 
Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1X72, and also served again in 
Baltimore, in May, 187G, and at Cincinnati in 1880. 
He was also a delegate to the Ecumenical council 
of all the Methodist bodies of the world, held in 
London, England, in September, 1^81, and also to 
a similar council of the Methodist bodies of the 
United States, held at Baltimore in December, 
1885. He has been quite liberal to the various 
benevolence objects of the church, and in 1870 
made the first donation of 110,000 to the Loan 
Fund of the Methodist Church Society, which fund 
he has lived to see increased to over 000,000. 
The Onarga Seminar}', the Wesleyan University, at 
Bloomington, the Garrett Biblical Institute, and 
I ho Northwestern University at Evanston have 
realized great benefits from his generosity, . and 
ho has served the Northwestern University for ten 
years past. 

Politically, Mr. McWilliams has always been a 
stanch Republican, his first vote being cast for 
John C. Fremont. He was present at the first 
State Republican Convention which was held in 
Bloomington, in 185II, and there for the lir.-l time 
.-aw and heard Owen Lovejoy. There wore also 
present Abraham Lincoln, John M. Palmer, N. 
I!. Jndd, B. C. Cook, and many others of like polit- 
ical faith. In 1884 he was the elector for the Ninth 
Congressional District, and was permitted to cast 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



18!) 



i; 



his vote at Springfield for James G. Blaine for 
President. He has alwa}'s been active in temper- 
ance work in his own town and takes pleasure in 
pointing to the fact that Dwight has had no saloons 
for ten years past. 

In December, 185(5, Mr. McWilliams returned to 
Griggsville, and was married to Miss Louisa M. 
Weaglcy. They commenced life together at Dwight 
in a modest home, and thirty-two years later they 
still occupy the same homestead. There have been 
born to them four sons and two daughters, namely : 
Edward, the eldest, succeeds his father in the mer- 
cantile business in Dwight: James is engaged 
in the mercantile business in Odell ; Nellie remains 
at home with her parents; John manages the landed 
interests of his father, and otherwise assists in his 
business affairs; Louise is completing her studies at 
Mt. Yernon Institute, Washington, I). C., and 
Charles, the youngest, is attending the High School 
at Dwight. 

In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. McWilliain> crossed the 
Atlantic, and made quite a tour of Europe, travel- 
ing through Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, 
Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, 
visiting the cities of Naples, Rome, Florence, Yen- 
ice, Milan, Geneva, Paris and London. In 1887 
they were again abroad, revisiting England, and 
spent three weeks in London during the Jubilee, 
from there going to Norway, and visiting the 
land of the midnight sun, also visiting the cities of 
Christiana, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, 
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and from 
there to Berlin, the capital of the German Empire; 
Dresden, the capital of Saxony, Prague, the capital 
of Bohemia, and as far east as Vienna, the capital 
of Austria: They returned across Southern Ger- 
many to Switzerland, where they spent some time 
at Lucerne and Geneva, thence going to Paris and 
London, and home by the way of Liverpool. 

Mr. McWilliams has always encouraged the en- 
terprises best calculated for the good of the people 
around him, rightly judging that whatever affects 
the community in general also has due influence 
upon the interests of the individuals which compose 
it. The institutions which he has assisted in build- 
ing up and the large property interests with which 
ho is connected will remain as a monument to his 



enterprise and worth long after, in accordance with 
the common lot of man, he shall have been gath- 
ered to his fathers, and the accompanying portrait 
will show to succeeding generations the features 
of the man thus useful and honored. 




AVID HUNTLEY resides on section 24, 
Broughton Township, and is engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. He is the son 
of Hezekiah and Priscilla (Smith) Hunt- 
ley. and was born in the town of Sand Lake, Rens- 
selaer Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1885. His father was a 
farmer, and when our subject was twelve years old 
the family moved to Ohio, locating in Lucas County. 
Here the son, David, received the common-school 
education picked up in the way common to those 
times, that is, attending school during the few 
months of the winter season. 

When our subject was twenty-one years old, in 
the spring of 1857, he came west to LaSalle Count}', 
111., where he worked by the month for Benjamin 
French during the following summer. This limited 
experience in Illinois gave him a good impression 
of the State and its great possibilities, and he re- 
solved to make it his future home. The first im- 
portant step in that direction was to get a wife, 
and in the fall of that year he returned to 
Ohio, and was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth Cooper, whom he had previously selected as the 
girl of his choice. She was the daughter of Reming- 
ton and Anna (Fogle) Cooper. Their marriage oc- 
curred Nov. 26, 1857. In the winter of 1858-59, 
his father sold his small home place of forty acres 
in Ohio for $350, and by the persuasion of his son 
was induced to migrate to LaSalle County, 111., 
whither our subject followed him, with his young 
wife, in the spring of 1859. 

During the following summer David Huntley ran 
a mole-ditcher for C. II. Horine & Co., then of 
Mendota, 111., but since of the Chicago stockyards. 
The next summer he farmed for himself, paying 
cash rent, and doing extra work wherever he could 
find employment. In February, 1 8(11 . he removed to 
Livingston County, where he settled on land on 
section 30, belonging to the canal, which he finally 



I 




A , 190 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Nought. In the spring of 18fi2 our subject caught 
the Western fever, and started in April for Idaho, 
leaving his family in Livingston County. His work 
then; was divided between the gold mines and a 
stock ranch, and he received $200 per month for his 
labor. lie returned from Idaho in about a year, 
and soon afterward sold his farm and bought the 
one where he now lives, to which he moved in 1867. 
It is a fine body of land, well cultivated, splendidly 
watered, and has good improvements. A more 
convenient and well located farm can scarcely be 
found in Livingston County, it being just near 
enough to both Caberyand Keuipton to be pleasant. 

Mr. and Mrs. Huntley have six children, of whom 
the record is as follows : Altie E. was born in Lucas 
County, Ohio, Sept. lf>, 1858, married John Slimpin, 
Sept. 15, 1878, and lives in McHeury County. 111.; 
they have four children. Albert E. was born May 1 2, 
1861, married Sarah H. Canliam, Oct. 2, 1882; they 
have three children, and live at Rogers, Ford 
County, 111. Alice E. was born Feb. 28, 1863, mar- 
ried George Schumacher, Nov. 9, 1887, and lives in 
Rogers Township, Ford County ; Alcie E. was born 
Sept. 20, 1865, and lives at home, as does Alfred E., 
born Nov. 17, 1867; Andrew E. was born Nov. 22, 
1873. 

Our subject is the eldest in a family of three chil- 
dren. His brother Asil was a soldier in the 129th 
Illinois Infantry, serving under Gen. Grant, and 
was four years in the army. He was wounded once, 
had typhoid fever, and saw nearly all the fighting 
in which the famous 1 29th Regiment was engaged : 
he has five children, and lives in Ford Count}'. 
His sister, Mary S., married George Rogers, lives in 
Chetopa, Labette Co., Kan., and has three chil- 
dren. Our subject's father was born Oct. 8, 1807, 
in Rensselaer County, N. Y., where the birth of his 
mother also took place June 3, 1808; they were mar- 
ried Oct. 25. 1829. The father died Oct. 25, 1887, 
and the mother Fob. 27, 1853; they were descend, 
ants of the early settlers of New England. The 
grandfather of our subject, Obediah Little, was a 
soldier in the Revolution and in the War of 1812. 

Mrs. Huntley's father was born July 8, 17111, :it 
Providence, R. I. Her grandfather, William Cooper, 
was cousin of Peter Cooper, of Greenback fame, 
and was born in Vermont. Her mother was born i 




in Toronto, Canada, March 20, 1800. She was 
married March 20, 1815, on her fifteenth birthday. 
Mrs. Huntley, the wife of our subject. \\;i- born 
April 1, 1833, and was the seventh child in a family 
of ten, all of whom givw to maturity, and five of 
whom, including Mrs. II., are still living, as follows: 
William married Maria Wilcox, and dying, left four 
children; Julia married Isaac Rogers, and is de- 
ceased, leaving six children, who live in Michigan: 
Laura married Richard Kimball, lives in Cabery, 
111., and has four children; Phu-be married John 
Komiskey, and died living no children; Philip 
married Sarah Hendrickson, lives in Lucas County, 
Ohio, and has one daughter; Mary married John 
Parker, who resides in Adrian, Midi., and has t\v<> 
sons; Elizabeth; Horace married Mary Kimball, 
and was killed in the battle of Shiloh; his widow 
and son live in Ohio. Harriet lives in Ohio, and is 
unmarried; A I mini married Wallace Mushreau; 
she is deceased and left no children. 




GLASS, of Dwight Township, is 
comfortably located and in possession of a 
good farm on section 34. His course in 
life has been marked by the persistence and indns- 
try which he inherited from his substantial Ger- 
man ancestry, and which has distinguished the 
Glass family as far back as it can be traced. The 
later descendants have been familiarly known 
throughout Central Pennsylvania, where Thomas 
Glass, the father of our subject, was born, and was 
one of the first of that name to take up his residence 
in another State. 

Thomas Glass, ST., upon leaving his native 
county, located in Ohio, where he married Miss Re- 
becca Storrer, who was born in Maryland and went 
with her parents to the Buckeye State when but a 
child. At the time of their courtship the story 
goes that Mr. Glass, who lived on one side of the 
Ohio River while his sweetheart lived on the other, 
in the absence of a ferry, was obliged to swim the 
river to meet her. Love in this case, as in nearly all 
others, laughed as much at water as at locksmiths, 
and ever since the world began there has been 
found a way out of these peculiar difficulties. The 

: -^ 



f 

'I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



191 ' 



3'oung people were happily married, as they de- 
served, and in due time the household circle in- 
cluded eight children. These were named respect- 
ively: James, Robert, Elizabeth, Isaac, Jackson, 
Thomas, Seambns and George. 

The parents of our subject continued in Ohio 
and became possessors of a good farm in Guernsey 
County, where all their children were born. In 
1852 Thomas Glass, Sr., migrated to this State with 
his family and located near Gardner, Grundy County, 
during the early settlement of that region. He 
was at once recognized as n valuable addition to 
the community, and became the owner of a hand- 
some property. Politically, he was a Democrat, 
and with his estimable wife, a devout member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was foremost 
in those enterprises calculated for the good of the 
growing township, and exerted himself particularly 
to encourage the immigration of an intelligent and 
thrifty class of people. He provided generously 
for his children, assisting each of them in securing 
a quarter section of land. He was a man of ro- 
bust frame, six feet in -height, and weighing 260 
pounds, while he possessed a dignified and com- 
manding figure which attracted attention wher- 
ever he went. During the war troubles of 1812 
he served as a soldier under Gen. Harrison, his du- 
ties lying in the country around Ft. Meigs. The 
mother of our subject departed this life at her home 
in Illinois at the age of sixty-one years. She pos- 
sessed all the womanly qualities so admirable in 
the wife, mother and friend, and was in all respects 
the suitable companion and helpmeet of her hus- 
band. 

Our subject was born on the old homestead in 
Guernsey County. Ohio, .July 10, 1832. He ac- 
quired a common-school education, and was of that 
temperament which naturally inclined to the free 
and independent life of a farmer. He therefore 
cheerfully assisted in the duties around the home- 
stead, and upon coming to Illinois when twenty years 
of age, soon began to lay his plans for the establish- 
ment of a home of his own. In 1854 he was united 
in marriage with_Miss Mary, daughter of Francis and 
Mary (Pyatt) Evans, of Kendall County, 111. The 
father of Mrs. Glass was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and descended from Welsh ancestry. The parents 

4* 



spent their last years in Illinois, the mother passing 
away in 1883, and the father in 1877. 

After marriage the 3'oung couple went to live on 
their own farm, which Mr. Glass had inherited 
from his father. A year later, however, they re- 
moved to Kendall County, where they resided fif- 
teen years, and where, with the exception of the 
youngest, all their children were born. These were 
named respectively : Nellie A.. Mary J., George 
G., Elizabeth A., Thomas W., Edward B. and De- 
los H. 

In 1871 Mr. (Mass came to this county and pur- 
chased his present farm, to which he soon after- 
ward removed his family, and where he has since 
remained. He is widely and favorably known for 
his straightforward methods of doing business, and 
his skill and industry as an enterprising agricult- 
urist. His children are receiving the advantages 
of a good education, the younger members of 
whom are still pursuing their studies and remain 
at home with their parents. The eldest daughter, 
Nellie, was married, in 1885, to Mr. L. B. Kale, 
of Sand Brook, N. J., but they now reside on a 
farm near the homestead of our subject. 



r J/-RANCIS M. DAVIS, although not an old 
y resident of Dwight Township, is numbered 
among its most substantial and reliable citi- 
zens, and has been doing business in Livingston 
County for probably thirty years or more. He is 
of Welsh ancestry, and bears the reputation of an 
industrious and upright man of unimpeachable 
moral character and correct business methods. He 
became familiar with farm life in his youth, but has 
had experience in other branches of business. He 
has concluded, however, that there is nothing more 
satisfactory than the independence and quiet of the 
country, and proposes to spend his declining 3'ears 
amid its scenes and occupations. 

Mr. Davis when but a lad was deprived of the 
protecting care of his parents, and of the disinter- 
e>tcd counsels which a father and mother naturally 
give to their offspring. He was fortunate, how- 
ever, in having preserved a good part of the family 
history, from which we find that his paternal grand- 







4 s 

< , 192 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



father, a native of Wales, located in West Virginia 
sometime in the latter part of the last century. He 
married a lady of excellent birth, and they reared a 
family of children, among the sons being James, 
who became the father of our subject. 

James Davis was born in West Virginia about 
1808, where he developed into manhood, and mar- 
ried a lady of his own count}', Miss Jane Taylor. 
He followed farming extensively, and secured pos- 
session of quite a large tract of land. The house- 
hold circle was completed b} 1 the birth of eleven 
children, and the father departed this life amid the 
comforts of the home which he had built up in 
Greene County, Pa., at the age of sixty-five years; 
the mother had died some time before. Most of the 
children attained to mature years, and are named 
as follows: William II., Samuel. Jackson, James, 
Francis, Harriet, Betsey, Clarinsy, Annie and Jane. 

Our subject was born in Marshall County, W. 
\'a.. in May, 1842, and after the death of his mother 
was taken into the home of Mrs. Bradford, of 
Greene County, where he remained until twelve 
years of age, when he came to this county with Eli 
Bradford. Although this section was rapidly com- 
ing into notice as a desirable place of residence and 
for carrying on agriculture, no regular school sys- 
tem was yet established, and consequently young 
Davis received but a limited education. He learned 
the art of farming, however, most thoroughly, and 
kept himself well posted upon matters of general in- 
terest by the perusal of instructive books and all 
the papers which he could obtain. He had watched 
with interest the aspect of political affairs, and es- 
pecially the career of the newly elected President, 
Abraham Lincoln, and when the call came for 
300,000 troops, to put down the Rebellion, young 
Davis, although but nineteen years old, was one of 
those who promptly responded, and enlisted as a 
private in Company C, 44th Illinois Infantry. He 
was mustered in in July, 1861, and for three years 
following suffered all the hardships and privations 
of a life in the army, lie served under Siegel. 
Buell and Rosccrans, and participated in the battles 
of Pea Ridge. Shiloh, Perry ville, Ky., and Stone 
River, and although experiencing many hairbreadth 
escapes, fortunately was neither wounded nor cap- 
tured. After two years of service, however, he had 



a severe attack of rheumatism which confined him 
to the field hospital for three months. As soon a> 
sufficiently recovered, he was transferred to tiie 15th 
Veteran Reserves, and went with his regiment to 
Buffalo, N. Y., to enforce the draft, in the fall of 
18G3. From Buffalo the loth Regiment was de- 
tailed to Rock Island to guard the prisoners at that 
point, and there his services as a soldier terminated. 
Mr. Davis received his honorable discharge on 
the 12th of September, 1864, and returning to this 
county, prepared to enter upon the further business 
of life. His constitution had been considerably 
shattered, and purchasing a stock of goods, he em- 
barked in trade at Coalville, Livingston County, 
where he continued with fair success until the 
spring of 1 869, when he sold out, and removed to 
a farm in Newtown Township. The results of this 
venture, however, not proving so satisfactory as he 
desired, he transferred his interests to the town of 
Newtown, and assumed charge of a hotel, where he 
officiated as "mine host" afterward for a period of 
fourteen years. He conducted this with excellent 
tact and good management, and the house was 
known for miles around as one of the most desir- 
able places for the transient traveler in that sec- 

! tion. Mr. Davis thus became widely and favor- 
ably known, and retains the friendship and esteem 

; of a large circle of acquaintances. In 188") he 
abandoned his hotel interests, and invested a part 
of his capital in a snug farm near the town limits of 
Dwight. where he now resides, taking life in an 
easy and sensible manner. 

One of the most interesting and important events 
in the life of our subject was his marriage with the 
amiable and excellent lady who has presided over 
his domestic affairs for more than twenty years. 
She was in her girlhood Miss Anna Horford. and 
their wedding took place at the home of the bride 
near Manville, Jan. 24, 1866. Mrs. Davis was born 
Sept. 28, 1844, and is the daughter of Thomas and 
Jemima (Leonard) Horford. natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, who came to this county about 1801, and are 
now living in the village of Dwight. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Davis there were born three 
children Lyda ('.. William T. and Jessie M. Lyda 
C., an intelligent and accomplished young lady, was 

i married, Sept. 28, 1887. tol-'inleyj. Hohensliell, of 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



193 



this county, and they are now living in LaSallc 
County, where Mr. H. is carrying on fanning; Will- 
iam T. and Jessie M. continue at home with their 
parents. The entire family are held in the highest 
respect, and their homo is the frequent resort of the 
best residents of the conntv, where, in the social in- 
terchange of sentiment and the comparison of the 
past with the present, there is often recalled the un- 
written history of other days. 



V 



HARLES W. SHELDON, residing on sec- 
tion 33, is one of the prominent farmers of 
Round Grove Township, and the founder of 
the village of Campus, 111. He was born in Otsego 
County, N. Y., July 31, 1831), and was reared to 
manhood upon the farm. His parents moved to 
Ohio and settled in the Western Reserve when he 
was eighteen months old, and at the age of twelve 
he returned to New York where he attended school 
four years, and thence to Butler County, Ohio. At 
the age of twenty j'ears he worked for himself and 
with the money he thus obtained he was enabled to 
enter Miami University, in Butler County. Ohio, 
where he attended for two years, and was then 
obliged to abandon his course of study, on account 
of his eyes. He then turned his attention to farm- 
ing, and in 1X62 he came with his father's family 
to Iroquois County, 111. 

In the spring of 1X63 our subject enlisted in 
Battery B, 1st Illinois Artillery, in which he served 
until the close of the war. In the battle of Chicka- 
manga, on the I'.tth of September, 1803, he was 
wounded in the left hip and injured in the spine so 
severely that he had to be left on the field and was 
taken prisoner, and paroled eleven days later. He 
lay on the battle-field of Chickamauga for eleven 
days without any attention given him whatever, 
and received no care until he was taken from the 
field to Chattanooga, the eleventh day after the bat- 
tle. He suffered untold pain from his wound, which 
was caused by the explosion of a shell that struck 
the wheel of his gun carriage. Every man except 
two on the piece was either killed or wounded. It 
war- fortunate for Mr. Sheldon that he was so 



wounded that he could not be transported farther 
south, for had he been he would have been consigned 
to Andersouvillc prison pen. During the winter of 
1X63 he spent four months in the parol camp at 
Camp Chase, Ohio. In the spring of 1X(>4 he was 
exchanged and returned to his battery, and took an 
active part in all the engagements, with one excep- 
tion, in the Atlanta campaign. After the fall of 
Atlanta he was in Gen. Thomas' corps, with which 
he went back to Nashville, and was in the battles 
of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. He was 
mustered out of the service at Chicago in Sep- 
tember, 1865, and then returned to Iroquois Comity, 
111., where he remained until he came to Living- 
ston County. For two years he, in company with 
two brothers, was engaged in merchandising at 
Clifton, Iroquois County. In the spring of 18611 he 
came to Livingston Comity, and bought 640 acres 
of land on section 33, Round Grove Township, 
where he settled and has since lived. Upon this 
farm he erected good buildings and made other first- 
class improvements. 

In April, 1880, Mr. Sheldon laid out and platted 
the village of Campus, which is on the line of the 
Wabasli Railwa}'. It has a population of about l.'ii) 
inhabitants, and is rapidly assuming the proportions 
of a prosperous town. Mr. Sheldon is actively 
engaged in farming, and has laid on his place over 
thirty-two miles of tile drain, the larger portion of 
which was made at his own factory on his farm. 
He was the first man who began laying tile in this 
part of the country, and is the senior partner of the 
firm of Sheldon it Straight, tile manufacturers, at 
Campus. In company with his brother, C. II. Shel- 
don, he owns and operates a cattle ranch in Western 
Nebraska, and owns 200 head of cattle. In Bos- 
ton, Mass., on the 2;>th of May, 1X6!), Mr. Sheldon 
was married to Miss Mary Fisher, who was born 
in Butler County, Ohio, on the Ifith of Decem- 
ber, 1X42. Her parents were James and Eliza 
(Tucker) Fisher, who were natives of New England. 
In 1X71 they came to Livingston County, and 
resided with their daughter. Mrs. Sheldon, for three 
years, and then returned to Boston, Mass. Jabez 
Fisher, a brother of Mrs. Sheldon's father, is the 
oldest living pork packer in this country. He is 
now living in Washington, N. H., in his ninety- 







' > 194 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



seventh year. James Fisher had a family of eight 
children, of whom Mrs. Sheldon was the second. 
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon four 
children, who bear the following names: Eliza S., 
Sarah G., James M. and Mary Ellen. 

Mr. Sheldon's parents were John B. and Sarah A. 
(Seeley) Sheldon. The father was a native of 
Rhode Island and the mother was a Vermonter by 
birth. They were the parents of eleven'children, of 
whom our subject was the seventh: they both died 
in Iroqnois County, 111. Mr. aud Mrs. Sheldon are 
member:- of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Sheldon is a Republican in politics and has held the 
office of Supervisor for Round Grove Township two 
year>, and was a member of the board during the 
erection of the new court-house at Pontiac. Dur- 
ing hi? residence in Livingston County he has taken 
an active part in public affairs, -and being a large 
tax-payer has done what he could to inculcate a 
spirit of economy and judicious expenditure of the 
public funds. 




HARLES A. F1NEFIELD, senior member 
of the hardware firm of Finefield & Larson, 
at Odell. has been a resident of this county 
since 1860. He is regarded as a man upright in 
his business transactions, public-spirited and liberal, 
and is in all respects one of the important factors 
of an enterprising and progressive city. He has 
done much in building up its interests, and nothing 
pleases him better than to note the progress of the 
people both morally and intellectually. He takes 
some interet in politics, enough to cast hi* decided 
vote with the Republican party, and is a member 
in high standing of the Masonic fraternity. He 
has been connected with '.he Village Board for a 
period of fourteen years, and i> naturally looked to 
for aid in those enterprises which are calculated to 
advance the general interests of the town. 

Our subject was born in St. James, forty mile:- 
from Montreal. Canada. Sept. 23, 1830, and is the 
youngest child of Charles and Magdalena (Pellerin) 
Finefield, also natives of the Dominion, where the 
father followed carpentering and was a quiet, in- 
offeiisi\e citizen, neither identified with polities nor 



war. In his younger years he had engaged in lum- 
bering in Upper Canada and with his wife spent 
his entire life in his native Province. Charles 
Finefield was placed in school at. a suitable age and 
became familiar, with both the French and English 
languages. Much of his time until he was fourteen 
years of age was spent in the carpenter-shop with 
his father, and then the death of that parent neces- 
sitated a decided change in his life. Not long after- 
ward lie came to the States, locating first at Bur- 
lington, Vt, where he engaged at carpentering one 
3'ear aud then took up the trade of a blacksmith, 
which he followed two years in New England, and 
in 1847 migrated westward to Chicago. Not being 
fortunate in finding work there he went to Peoria 
and fron; there to Oswego, of which he was after- 
ward a resident eight years and engaged in black- 
smithing. 

From Oswego Mr. Finefield came to Odell and 
continued in the blacksmith-shop >ix years. Then 
deciding upon a change of occupation he purchased 
160 acres of wild land in Union Township, and with 
his family established himself in a small frame 
dwelling which had been erected upon it. Two 
years later, however, he returned to town, took up 
his trade, and afterward became associated in part- 
nership with ex-Sheriff J. A. Hunter. They oper- 
ated together five years, the firm being dissolved 
by mutual consent. Mr. Finefield carried on the 
business three years by himself, and then cro>sing 
the Mississippi purchased 300 acre> of Kansas land 
with a view of improving a farm. He, however, 
met with a good opportunity to sell and conse- 
quently returned to Odell. His sons in the mean- 
time who had learned blacks mi thing of their father 
were carrying on that business, and Mr. Finefield 
invested a part of his capital in a stock of hardware 
He operated alone from 1882 until 1885, and then 
his ^resent partner wa> admitted to the business. 
They carry a well-as>orted stock of the articles 
mainly required in the country hoii;-ehold and the 
lighter implement* of the farm. Both men are en- 
terprising and honest in their transaction.-, and the 
firm is ranked among the stronger of this section. 

Mr. Finefield chose for his life companion a lady 
of his own country, namely. .Mi Julia St. Dennis, 
who became his wife on the -'oth of July. l?v><>. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Mrs. Fiiieficld was born at St. John, Canada. June 
."), 1826, and is tlie daughter of Louis and Aggate 
Si. Dennis, natives of the Dominion, whence they 
removed at an earl_y day to Oswego, Kendall 
Comity, during its first settlement. They after- 
ward, however, returned to Canada, where the 
father died about 1856, the mother having pre- 
ceded him to the better land in about 1837. 

Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Finc- 
field two are now deceased : Mary Jane who died 
in 1853, at the age of eleven months, and Ephraini 
at the age of eleven years, in 1866. The record of 
the others is as follows: Ellen is the wife of Leroy 
McAllen, a carpenter; Frank married Miss Helen 
Woodbury; Charles remains with his father; Fred 
married Miss Carrie Erschens; these are all living 
at Odell. Willie, the youngest, is unmarried and 
engaged in buying grain in Dakota. Mrs. Finefield 
departed this life at her home in Odell. March 11, 
1887. She was reared in the faith of the Catholic 
Church to which she adhered to the end of life. As 
a wife and mother she was faithful in all respects 
and fulfilled nobly the responsibilities committed to 
her. She presented in her daily life all those amia- 
ble and estimable qualities which made her home, 
to her husband and children, the most .attractive 
spot on earth, while in the community which had 
known her so long and well she was held in univer- 
sal esteem. 



jpALTER S. HUNT, a prominent and well-to- 
do farmer of Broughton Township, owns 
240 acres of good land on section 28, and 
a quarter section in Iowa, which he has acquired by 
his own unaided industry, except eighty acres which 
came from the estate of the father of Mrs. Hunt. He 
commenced in life for himself on H cash capital of 
$3, and it is hardly necessary to say that his career 
has been marked by tireless perseverance and re- 
markably good judgment. The term self-made will 
apply most properly to this gentleman, who is 
widely and favorably known throughout this com- 
munity as one of its representative men. For many 
years he engaged in general fanning, and later 
made a specialty of stock-raising, in which he has 





met with unquestioned success^ ..'Politically lie nllil- 
iates with the Republican party, and although 
steadily declining to become an office-holder IIMS 
exerted much influence in township affairs. 

Our subject, a native of Chenango County, N. 
Y., was burn Aug. 13, 1839. His parents. Edwin 
and Emeline (Ladd) Hunt, were also natives of the 
Empire State, where they owned a modest property, 
and whence they migrated in the spring of 1843 
to Kendall County, 111., during its early settlement. 
The father of our subject, with his patient and 
courageous wife, endured all the hardships and pri- 
vations incident to pioneer life, and were numbered 
among the most highly respected residents of that 
section of country. They spent the remainder of 
their days in Kendall County, the father passing 
away Jan. 11), 1864, and the mother on the 9th of 
March, 1879. The elder Hunt had transformed a 
portion of the uncultivated prairie into a good 
homestead, which later passed into the hands of 
his son J. B. 

The subject of this history was the eldest child of 
his parents, and spent his childhood and youth on 
the farm in Kendall County. His first lessons were 
conducted in the subscription schools, which were 
carried on only a few weeks in winter. The re- 
mainder of the time his services were utilized on 
the farm, and he early in life acquired those habits 
of industry and economy which later paved his 
way to success. He continued with his parents 
until the outbreak of the Civil War, and in May, 
1861, soon after the call for troops, enlisted in 
Company H, 13th Illinois Infantry, and was with 
the commands of Gens. Grant and Sherman during 
his entire service. As may be supposed he par- 
ticipated in the most important battles of that 
period, including the fight of Arkansas Post, the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg, the second battle 
of Jackson, the engagements at Lookout Mountain 
and Mission Ridge, besides meeting the enemy at 
various other points, and engaging in numberless 
skirmishes. At Chickasaw Bayou young Hunt was 
wounded three times, once in each arm, and once 
in the left leg. He was in the volunteer service 
until receiving his honorable discharge on the 18th 
of June, 1864; in the meantime he was promoted 
to Second Sergeant, and received many evidences 



4- 



P.M; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of the approval of his superior officers. His life as 
a soldier was similar to that of thousands of others, 
and like most of the brave boys he seldom refer- 
to that dark period in the nation's history which in- 
volved so much affliction, bereavement and distress. 

Upon his retirement from the army Mr. Hunt re- 
turned to Kendall County, where he continued the 
pursuit of farming, and on the tith of February, 
1 868, was married to Miss Sallie A. E. Wagner, then 
a resident of that county. Mrs. Hunt was born in 
Highland County, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1842, and is the 
daughter of William and Delilah A. (Golladay) 
Wagner, natives of Virginia. Upon leaving the Old 
Dominion they lived in Ohio until the fall of 18~>2, 
and thence removed to Kendall County, where they 
were among the earliest settlers. Mr. Wagner car- 
ried on farming successfully, and departed this life 
on the 28th of March, 1884; the mother had de- 
parted this life Aug. 31, 1873. Their family in- 
cluded eight children, of whom five are living, 
namely: Silas F., a resident of Nebraska; Mary J.. 
the wife of H. A. MeKinzie, of Kansas; Pauline R.. 
Mrs. David Hall, of Kendall County; Sallie A. E., 
and Samuel S., who is farming in Pottawattamie 
County, Iowa. 

The children of Edwin and Emeline Hunt besides 
Walter are as follows: John B. is living in Oswego, 
111.; Sarah A. is the wife of Zopher Ketchum, of 
Kane County; Mary A. is living in Aurora, 111. ; 
Ellen L., Mrs. Edson Wheeler, is in Dakota; Charles 
E. is engaged in the carshops at Aurora, 111. Our 
subject and his wife have three children : Edwin W., 
who was born June 4, 1870; Walter S., Sept. 11, 
1876, and Celia, Dec. 17, 1877; one child, Lnla A., 
died April 19, 1874, aged four years. They have 
been resident* of Broughton Township nearly four- 
teen years, having located on their present farm in 
the spring of 1874. 



AMUEL HOKE, after a long and industri- 
ous life, is now a retired farmer living 
in the city of Odell. He was born in Mc- 
C'onnellsburg, Pa., on the 24th of April, 
1827, and was the youngest of six boys, and the 
eighth in a family of ten children born to Jacob 
and Margaret (Lohr) lloke, who were natives of j 




Pennsylvania. The father w,-is born in Hanover, 
Oct. 10, 1783, and the mother in Gettysburg, April 
22, 1793. The father was a mechanic, and moved 
tn McConnellsbiirg about 180H, where he spent his 
declining .years, dying on the 28th of November, 
1867. His excellent wife survived him, and died 
in Epworth, Iowa, Oct. 10, 1872, while she was 
visiting her daughter who resided there. Jacob 
Hoke was a soldier in the War of 181 2, serving 
until its close, and was present when the British 
invaded Baltimore. The paternal grandfather was 
Henry Hoke. Our subject's maternal grandparents 
were Jacob and Margaret (Zeigler) Lohr, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania. Both grandfathers par- 
ticipated in tho Revolutionary War. 

Samuel Hoke was reared in town, and his educa- 
tion was almost entirely neglected. At the age of 
seventeen he went to Chambersburg to learn the 
trade of a painter, where he was apprenticed and 
served four years. At that time the customary 
rule was to board the apprentice and pay him $2 
per month in cash, and while thus engaged Mr. 
Hoke formed his habits of prudence and economy. 
At the age of twenty-one years he began work for 
himself, and engaged one year in Chambersburg, 
after which he went to Gettysburg, where he re- 
mained one year. From there he went to Williams- 
burg, and opened a paint and cabinet-making shop, 
and while living at that place, met the lady who 
became his wife. 

On the 18th of April, 1850, Mr. Hoke was mar- 
ried to Miss Laura M. Kenney, who was born in 
Martinsburg, Bedford Co., Pa., on the 22d of No- 
vember, 1831. She was the youngest child in a 
family of five, born to Alexander W. and Hannah 
E. (Harvey) Kenney, natives of Pennsylvania. 
Her father was born June 6, 1797, in Lewistown, 
Mint in Co.. Pa., and was a saddler by trade, but he 
went into business as a merchant and grain-buyer 
in his later years. He died April 13, 1858, in Hol- 
lidaysbnrg, Pa. His wife, Hannah E., daughter of 
Samuel and Elizabeth Harvey, was born June 13, 
1792, in Chester County, and died in Martinsburg, 
June 31, 1837. A. W. Kenney was the son of 
Robert and Margaret Kenney, both of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Mr. Hoke and his wife settled in life at Williams- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



197 



burg, where he was engaged in business and re- 
mained there nine years. In 1 859 lie sold his pos- 
sessions there and moved to Dwight, Living.-tim 
County, where he opened the first furniture store 
started in the town, and also pursued his vocation 
as a painter. He soon sold out his business and 
purchased a farm of eighty acres, on which he built 
a house, and in the fall of the same year he removed 
to this farm, which was located in Union Town- 
ship. Here Mrs. Hoke taught the second school in 
that township, with an enrollment of but five pu- 
pils, three of whom were her own children. Mr. 
Hoke was one of the first to advocate a division of 
the township into districts, and being one of the 
Trustees, he eventually accomplished his object. 
In 1860 the township was laid off by Samuel Hoke. 
William Thompson and Arthur Marshall, into four 
sectional districts, which remain to-day as they 
were designated then. The first school-house iu 
the district in which Mr. Hoke resided was located 
on his land. Mr. Hoke continued to live on this 
farm until 1880, through thrift and enterprise in- 
creasing it to 400 acres of fine arable laud, which 
he put under a fine state of cultivation, and man- 
aged with great success until he retired from act- 
ual business life. In 1864 he was drafted as a sol- 
dier in the army, but sickness prevented his re- 
sponding to the call, and he provided a substitute. 
During his residence there he served as Assessor 
five years, and during nearly the entire time he was 
School Director. He and his wife have given up 
active life, and are now living comparatively at 
their ease, enjoying the fruits of their early labors. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoke are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, six of whom are living: Alexander Rees was 
born Sept. 16, 1851 ; Hannah Margaret, Jan. 8, 
1854; William Elias,Oct. 2, 1850; Charles Harvey, 
June 28, 1860; George Kenney, Dec. 17, 1862; 
Samuel Lewis, July 8, 1867, and Frank Lincoln, 
Nov. 11, 1871. Lewis died Jan. 19, 1887. He 
was a member of the Congregational Church, which 
he joined at the age of sixteen, and was active in 
the Sunday-school and meetings of that denomina- 
tion; he always evinced a readiness to come for- 
ward and identify himself with the cause of Chris- 
tianity. He was a teacher, and while engaged in 
that profession was taken sick at Belle Prairie, this 




county, and remained at his post in the school- room 
until within five days of his death. He was grad- 
uated at the Odell High School, and afterward at- 
tended Dixon College. He had taken a high course 
in mathematics, and prepared himself for the work 
of a civil engineer, but all the events of his life 
tended toward the ministry, which would eventu- 
ally have become his work had he lived. During 
his last school term he lived at the residence of 
Mr. and Mrs. I). Spence. 

Mr. and Mrs. Iloke are members of the Presby- 
terian Church, and are active and earnest in all 
their Christian labors, to which they devote much 
of their time. 



>HOMAS J. JOHNSON, who is now a retired 
farmer residing in Dwight, is a native of the 
State of Connecticut, being bom in Sterling. 
Windliam County, March 1, 1827. He is of Pro- 
testant-Irish stock, and his remote ancestors settled 
at a very early day in Connecticut. John L. John- 
son, the father of our subject, was born in Rhode 
Island, and was a farmer by occupation. He after- 
ward went to Connecticut, where he worked for 
James Bailey, Sr., whose daughter, Miss Eunice 
Bailey, he eventually married ; her mother's name 
was also Eunice. The Baileys were of Protest- 
ant-Welsh origin, who settled at an early day in 
New England. 

The parental family of our subject included eight 
children Nancy, Thomas J., Henry D., Mary A., 
John F., Gilbert C., Jane and Alexander. After 
marriage, Mr. Johnson went to Oneco, Conn., where 
he had the management of several farms for Mr. 
Valentine, who was the proprietor of the extensive 
manufacturing establishment located there. Mr. 
Johnson bought out the heirs of the Bailey estate, 
and lived upon that homestead for many j-ears, and 
died there at the age of sixty-seven. He was a 
well-disposed man, and of religious principles, but 
was never a mem her of any religious organization. 
He was a representative New England farmer, mod- 
est and retiring in his disposition, and always de- 
clined to accept office. 

Thomas J. Johnson was born on the farm named 



199 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



above, and received a good common-school educa- 
tion. When young he had an ambition to obtain 
a more liberal education than the common school.- 
of Connecticut afforded, and he worked and strug- 
gled by teaching school and canvassing for books 
in the West, to earn the money needed to gratify 
this worthy ambition. With the money thus pro- 
cured he managed to attend the Smithville Semi- 
nary, Rhode Island, and Phillips Academy at And- 
over, Mass. He was obliged to abandon his inten- 
tion of obtaining a university education, on ac- 
count of his delicate constitution, but having natural 
ability as a conversationalist, he engaged with Hon. 
Henry Bill, a prominent and well-known publisher 
of Norwich, Conn., to canvass for his publications. 
Mr. Johnson traveled extensively in Ohio, Illinois, 
Missouri and Iowa, and besides canvassing himself, 
employed others to work for him. He was in the 
book trade from 1850 until IXliS, and was very 
successful. The professional book men of the 
United States are a class by themselves, and have 
distributed among the masses of the people a vast 
amount of useful information. They, next to the 
common school, the press and the pulpit, have been 
one of the greatest causes for the advancement of 
the people. Numberless valuable books have been 
circulated in the highways and byways, where oth- 
erwise few or no books would have found their 
way. Often situated many miles from an}' book- 
store, the people would seldom see a valuable book 
but for the energetic agent, who allows no obstacle 
to prevent his sales. The professional agents are 
usually men of fair education, unusual energy and 
intelligence, and possess perseverance and industry 
to a remarkable degree. After following this busi- 
ness for fifteen years, and having saved a consider- 
able amount of money, Mr. Johnson concluded to 
take to himself a life partner. 

On the 31st of January, 1870, Mr. Johnson was 
married to Miss Jennie E., daughter of Albert and 
Deborah (Kittle) Field, of Rhode Island. Her 
parents were people of English descent, who came 
to New England at an early clay. Immediately 
after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson moved upon 
a farm in Broughton Township, Livingston Co., 111., 
which he had previously purchased. They have 
become the parents of six children, who were named 



Byron L.. Irving E., Bertie, Byron (2d), Roscoe 
and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been 
sadly afflicted in the death of all their children ex- 
cepting Florence. Byron L. died at the age of 
three and one-half years, and in December, 1882, 
the four boys, Irving, Bertie, Byron (2d) and Ros- 
coe, died of scarlet fever within two weeks of each 
other, in Dwight, 111. This severe blow has been 
endured with great patience and resignation. Flor- 
ence is now attending school at Dwight, where Mr. 
Johnson resides, having retired from active life. 

Our subject possesses a substantial property con- 
sisting of two farms, together containing 375 acres 
of land, a good residence and thirty-two town lots 
in Dwight. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Democrat, 
but does not take an active interest in political 
affairs. He is a self-made man, who by intelligence 
and perseverance has accumulated his large prop- 
erty. Wide-awake and well informed on most sub- 
jects, he stands well in the community in which he 
lives. 

PHRAIM S. CLARK, the owner of 480 acres 
land located on sections 32 and 33. Read- 
Township, after a busy and successful 
life as a farmer, has retired from active work. He 
was born in Meigs County, Ohio, on the 27th of 
February, 1819, and is the son of Samuel and 
Pirn-be (Sayre) Clark. The father was the son of 
Samuel Clark, a native of New Jersey, and the 
mother was the daughter of Ephraim and Lydia 
(Fosett) Sayre, who were of English descent. 

Samuel Clark, .the father of our subject, was a 
volunteer soldier in the War of 1812, and also in 
the Black Hawk War. He was born on the 8th of 
March, 1792, and died on the 2d of June, 1*40. 
Phoebe, the mother of our subject, was born Feb. 
4, 1797, and died Aug. 5, 1845. To Samuel and 
Phu'be Clark were born fourteen children, named 
as follows: Mary, Lydia, Ephraim S., Hannah, 
Sarah, Caroline, Amos, Esther, Robert, Rosetta, 
Charles Wesley, Malvina, John Nelson and Eliza 
Ann. Mary, born Aug. 27, 1815, died Aug. 30, 
1823; Lydia, born Oct. 4, 1817, married Philip 
Shull, and died leaving five children; Hannah, born 
Oct. G, 1820, married Abram Hoffman, a farmer, 



<^p^ PHRA 

tof lan 
ing T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



201 



i 



has six children, and lives in Indiana; Sarah, born 
May 10, 1822, married Isaac F. Cashman, of Bu- 
reau County, 111., has five children, and resides in 
Iowa County, Iowa; Caroline, born March 16, 182 1. 
died April 18, 1824; Amos, born March 27, 1825, 
married Lucy Reither, and they have one child ; 
Amos is a shoemaker by trade, but he is now a 
traveling salesman. Esther, born Nov. 2(>, 1826, 
was married to George Washington Grant, a far- 
mer, has four children, and resides in Missouri: 
Robert, born April 1, 1831, married Hannah Ostran- 
der; they have two children, and reside in Boone 
County, Iowa. Rosetta, born Oct. 18, 1832, mar- 
ried George Hoffman; they have three children, 
and are residents of Holt County, Neb. Charles W., 
born Feb. 23, 1834, married Catherine McManus, 
and they have a family of four children, and reside 
in Southern Missouri; his occupation is that of a 
farmer, and he served three years during the late 
war in Company 1), 20th Illinois Infantry. Mal- 
vina, born Oct 14, 18:55, married Calvin Roberts, a 
carpenter by trade; they have six children, and re- 
side in Barton County, Mo. John N., born Dec. 
18, 1837, enlisted in Company D, 20th Illinois In- 
fantry, and received a wound at Ft. Donelson, 
from which he died ; his remains were brought 
home and buried in Ancona Cemetery, where his 
grave is marked by a fine marble monument. Eliza 
A., bom July 2-2, 1839, married Henry Sultzbaugh; 
they have four children, and reside in Webster 
County, Iowa, where the husband is engaged in 
mining coal. 

On the 10th of April, 1845, Mr. Clark was mar- 
ried to Mildred Ann Jones, a native of Kentucky, 
who was born on the 6th of November, 1822. She 
is the daughter of Lewis and Catherine Jones, to j 
whom, besides the wife of our subject, were born 
the following-named children : Edward. Sarah Ann, , 
Winnie Ann, Silas, Lucetta and Nancy Eleanor. 
Edward married Mary Goodrich, and died, leaving 
a large family ; Sarah Ann married James McManus, 
and they both died, leaving one child*; Winnie Ann 
married Jacob Doll, a tailor by trade; they have 
three children, and reside in Terre Haute, Ind. 
Silas died when a young man in Ancona; Lucetta 
married James Mclntyre, a fanner and stock- raiser, 
who died at Ransom, 111., leaving two children; 



Nancy Eleanor married Daniel Foster, who died in 
Iowa, leaving five children; after the death of her 
first husband she was married to William McGee, a 
farmer, and they reside in LaSalle County, 111. 

In the winter of 1828-29, our subject accom- 
panied his parents when they removed from Ohio 
to Indiana, making the trip by water in a boat built 
for the occasion. When they arrived at the mouth 
of the White River, a considerable delay was occa- 
sioned on account of the water being low, and they 
had to remain at this point until the river arose 
sufficiently to permit them to continue their jour- 
ney to Terre Haute, their destination. At the age 
of ten years our subject, with his sister, began at- 
tending school at Mt. Carmel, 111., in 1829, and 
remaining at school about three months, returned 
to his home in Indiana. In the fall of 1845 our 
subject, with his young wife, removed to Bureau 
County, 111., where he remained for about five 
years, and in December, 1850, he came to Living- 
ston County, and at once erected a log house, cut- 
ting and hauling the logs and completing his house 
in two days. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born the fol- 
lowing-named children: William Talbot, Tarsina, 
Annice, Frank, Lycurgus, John Ephraim and Win- 
field Scott. William T., born March 4, 1848, mar- 
ried Amy Coe, who has borne him six children, 
five of whom are living; he is a farmer and stock- 
raiser by occupation, and resides in Livingston 
County. Tarsina, born Oct. 12, 1851, married Al- 
bert Coe, a farmer; they have five children, and live 
in Woodson County, Kan. Annice, born March :!, 
1854, married William Boatman, a farmer by occu- 
pation, has two children, and resides in Woodson 
County, Kan.; Frank, born Jan. 8, 1856, married 
Kate Willoughby, who is now deceased ; he resides 
in Livingston County, and is a prominent teacher 
and farmer. Lycurgus, born Dec. 22, 1857, died 
Jan. 19. 1859; John E., born Oct. 28, 1859, died 
Sept. 18, 1871 ; he met his death by being kicked 
by a horse. Winfield S., born Oct. 1 7, 1 862, was 
educated in the common schools and at the Normal 
School at Valparaiso. Ind., and now resides at home. 

Mr. Clark purchased land in Livingston County 
in the fall of 1852, paying for it with a land war- 
rant procured from a neighbor, which was issued 



i; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



r 



for services rendered as a ranger during the Black 
Hawk War. He first settled in Reading Township, 
on section 27, where the village of Ancoua now 
stands, and from which place he hauled his grain 
and pork to Ottawa, and his milling to Dayton, 
four miles northeast of Ottawa. Mr. Clark now 
owns 480 acres of excellent land, which has been 
well improved, and contains, besides the homestead, 
two tenant houses. A double-page view of his 
estate may be found in the pictorial department of 
this volume. 

Mr. Clark was formerly a member of the Demo- , 
cratic part}', with which he remained up to 185C. 
In 1860, however, he voted for Stephen A. Doug- 
las, and since that time has acted independently. 
Ke is a strong advocate of the principles of tem- 
perance, and never neglects an opportunity to ad- 
vance that cause. He has served twenty-six years 
as School Director, and six as Town Trustee, and has 
also served as Assessor and Justice of the Peace. 
He is one of Reading Township's foremost citizens, 
and has always espoused everything that tended 
toward the general welfare of the people. He is j 
widely known for his benevolence and kindness as 
a neighbor, and indulgence as a husband and father, 
and enjoys the confidence of all the people of that 
section of Livingston County. None of those rep- 
resented in the portrait department of this ALBUM 
are more worthy of a place there than Mr. Clark. 
As a fitting accompaniment of his portrait we give 
that of his estimable wife. 



J^ESSE UIFFENBAUGH is a prominent grain 
dealer of Dwight, whose transactions are so 
extensive as to embrace nearly all the farm 
' products of the section of country adjacent. 
He was born on the 21st of August, 1830, near 
Westminster, Md. The Diffenbaughs are of an 
old pioneer family of that State, of sturdy origin, 
who came to Maryland in the old Colonial times. 
On the maternal side Mr. Diffenbaugh is of English 
descent, from one of the old Baltimore families. 

John Henry Diffenbaugh was the first of the name 
of whom we have any record, and IIP was brought 
to this country when a small boy by his father, who 
4* 



was the original pioneer, and brought with him 
three sons. In those- early days it was a long dis- 
tance to mill, ns they were located along the creek 
and were far apart. One of the brothers started to 
mill to be absent two or three days, but never re- 
turned. It is supposed he was taken and carried 
into captivity by some wandering band of Indians. 
Mr. Diffenbaugh settled on a farm near Westmins- 
ter, Md., and was drafted as a soldier in the War 
of 1812, but being in ill-health he was permitted to 
secure a substitute. The maiden name of his wife 
was Bumgardner, and they were the parents of four 
daughters and one son Elizabeth, Catherine, 
Lydia, Susan and John H. They are all now living 
except Lydia, who'was thrown from a buggy and 
killed. Elizabeth is eighty-eight years of age, 
Catherine eighty-four, John H. eighty-one, and 
Susan seventy-seven, the combined ages of the four 
being three hundred and thirty years. The father 
of this family died in 1813. 

John Henry, the father of our subject, was born 
in 1806, and followed the occupation of a farmer. 
He received a common-school education, and has 
for many years been a member of the Christian 
Church. In political opinions he was a Democrat 
up to the breaking out of the war, and after that he 
became a Republican. In 1826 he was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Powell, daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth Powell, who lived on a neighboring farm. Mr. 
Powell came from England when a young man, in 
company with his mother, one sister and two broth- 
ers. Mrs. Powell was a Stewart, whose mother mar- 
ried a Towson, who belonged to a celebrated Balti- 
more family during the War of 1812, in which 
Capt. William Towson wa> an ollicer. Mrs. Powell 
wai a woman of superior intelligence, and is well 
remembered by her grandchildren as a woman pos- 
sessing great force of character. She was a very 
skillful nurse and of great service to the sick, who 
at that day did not have the best medical atten- 
dance. Mr. Diffenbaugh by his union with Miss 
Powell became the father of fourteen children 
John T.. Angelina, Jesse, Margaret, Catherine. 
Emily J., Lucinda, Adam II., Louisa, Mary, Mar- 
tha, and three who died in infancy. Martha mar- 
ried David Burns, of Maryland, and died in 187H, 
leaving two children, Harvey and Ernest. The 



f 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



203 



remainder of the family are all in Maryland, ex- 
cepting Jesse, and Louisa, who married Isaac Perry, 
and is at present a resident of Dwight. Mr. Diffen- 
baugh was a man of sterling character and brought 
up his large family to principles of the strictest 
integrity. Mrs. Diffenbaugh died in 1868, at the 
age of sixty-one years. 

The subject of this sketch received a common- 
school education during his boyhood days and early 
learned the trade of a shoemaker. Leaving home 
in 1852, at the age of twenty-two, he went to Mill 
Creek, Pa., where he engaged as a clerk in a store 
for eight years. He afterward opened a store of 
his own, and operated a sawmill, engaging in a gen- 
eral lumber business. In 1860 Mr. Diffenbaugh 
was married to Miss Sarah Goodman, daughter of 
John Goodman, a farmer of Mill Creek. They have 
had two children, Harry J. and Nora E., of whom 
the latter died when about eleven years of age. In 
1868 Mr. Diffenbaugh sold out his business and 
moved to Dwight, 111., where he began farming on 
land which he had previously bought about two 
miles south of Dwight. In 1870 he engaged in the 
grain business, which he has prosecuted with suc- 
cess up to the present time. 

In political matters Mr. Diffenbaugh acts with 
the Democratic party, and has been Assessor of the 
township for three years, and a member of the 
School Board. He is a prominent member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and takes an active interest in 
lodge matters. A life of perseverance and indus- 
try has earned for Mr. Diffenbaugh an excellent 
reputation as a business man, and he stands de- 
servedly high in commercial circles. In his social 
relations with the people he has popularized him- 
self with all classes, by whom he is held in the high- 
est esteem. 




t 



EWIS HOLLOWAY, dealer in dry-goods, 
groceries, tin and glassware in the village 
i 'v of Wing, Pleasant Ridge Township, was 
born in Hamilton Count}', Ohio, in 1838. He is 
the son of John and Mary (Massey) Holloway, the 
former of whom was born in 1809 and died in 1849 
in Ohio. He was a cabinet-maker b}' trade, and 



was skillful in his calling. The father's death oc- 
curred one day after that of the mother, the death 
of both being caused by cholera. They were the 
parents of seven children, whose names are as fol- 
lows: John, Ann, Lewis, William, Sarah, Edward 
and Emily. 

Mr. Holloway came to Illinois in 1855, and lo- 
cated in LaSalle County, where he learned the 
trades of bricklaying and plastering, at which he 
worked for four years and then engaged in farm- 
ing. On the 8th of January, 1862, he enlisted in 
the army, and was mustered in as a private in an 
independent company attached to the 53d Illinois In- 
fantry as Company A Cavalry, and known as Will- 
iam Ford's Cavalry, afterward Gen. Halleck's es- 
cort, and later Gen. Grant's escort, and later as 
Company L, 15th Illinois Cavalry, and soon after- 
ward it participated in the siege at Corinth, where 
it remained for about one month. Thence it went 
to Shewalla, where it remained until the second 
siege of Corinth, in which it was engaged. The 
first general engagement in which this company 
participated was at Hatchie River on the 25th of 
September, 1862. The company afterward went 
to Glendale, where it remained until the spring of 
1863. In the engagement at Hatchie River Mr. 
Holloway had received injuries which rendered him 
unfit for any service, and he was discharged for 
permanent disability. His discharge bears date Feb. 
25, 1863. Immediately upon his discharge he re- 
turned home, and after recruiting his health about 
one year he engaged in farming. His first purchase 
of land was forty acres, to which he has from time 
to time added until he now owns 140 acres of good 
land on section 13, this township, and all under 
cultivation. 

On the 24th of July, 1858, Mr. Holloway was 
married to Miss Mary A. Brundage, a native of 
Pennsylvania, who was born on the 10th of Septem- 
ber, 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Holloway have had ten 
children, eight of whom are now living: Oscar, 
Clarence, Alice, Ida J., Harry, Clifford, George and 
Alma. Mr. Holloway began his present business in 
May, 1880, but afterward disposed of it and went to 
the farm, where he staid two years. He then returned 
to Wing and erected another store building, which 
he supplied with a large and varied stock of goods, 



t 



f 



4 



204 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



consisting principally of flour, boots and shoes, dry- 
goods, groceries, tin and glassware. lie has built 
up an extensive trade with the people of that sec- 
tion of the country, and is meeting with marked 
success. 

In politics Mr. llolloway acts with the Repub- 
lican party, and has been selected by the people to 
discharge the duties of various offices. He has 
filled the office of Road Commissioner nine years 
and has been Justice of the Peace eleven years, 
and during that time none of his decisions have 
been reversed upon an appeal to a higher court. 
He has jurisdiction in certain criminal cases, and 
the decisions he has rendered in those cases have 
been approved whenever an appeal has been 
taken. Mr. llolloway does not belong to any church 
organization, but is a strong believer in religion as 
taught by Christ, and is a Second Adventist in 
belief, but his children are active members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Comrade 
of Post No. 114, G. A. R., at Forest, and is quite 
regular in his attendance. As a citizen Mr. Hollo- 
way is highly esteemed, and as a prompt and cor- 
rect business man has earned an enviable reputa- 
tion. 



T 



(AMES TANNER. This gentleman is one 
of the oldest living citizens of Avoca Town- 
ship, and has made his impress in the his- 
_ ' tory of both the county and township. He 
was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, on the 
27th of September, 1815, and is the son of Rob- 
ert and Jane Tanner, the former a native of Ken- 
tucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His pater- 
nal ancestors were of English and the maternal an- 
cestors of Irish descent. His parents settled in 
Montgomery County, Ohio, about the j'ear 1812, 
and were among the very earliest pioneers of that 
region of country. His father has been twice mar- 
ried, and of a large family of children there are but 
three survivors James, John A. and Ann M., the 
last the wife of Samuel Parrott, of Kansas. 

The subject of this sketch, when about twelve 
years of age, accompanied his parents when they 
removed to and settled in Fountain County, Ind., 
where lie was reared to manhood and received a 



rudimentary education in the early subscription 
schools, which were the only kind they had before 
the inauguration of the present free school system 
in Indiana. His early days were spent upon the 
farm, where he gained that practical experience 
which has been so' valuable to him in active life. 
lie was first married in Indiana, on the 24th of 
December, 1840, to Ann, a daughter of Robert 
Buchanan, and a native of Pennsylvania. She died 
on the 5th of March, 1852. Mr. Tanner's second 
marriage occurred in Illinois on the 1 4th of Decem- 
ber, 1853, when he was united with Ulala Tucker, 
who was born on the 14th of December, 1823, in 
Butler County, Ohio. She was a daughter of Joel 
and Sarah Tucker, who were natives of Kentucky 
and Pennsylvania respectively. When seven years 
of age she accompanied her parents when they re- 
moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., where she was 
reared to maturity. In 1851 with her parents she 
came to Livingston County, where they settled on 
the Vermilion River in Avoca Township, and were 
among the pioneer settlers of that section. The}' 
both died in this place. 

In the spring of 1850 Mr. Tanner came from 
Indiana to Livingston County, and bought eighty 
acres of land on section 17, in Avoca Township, to 
which he has added by subsequent purchases until 
he now owns 154 acres, most of which is under cul- 
tivation, lie has resided continuously on section 
17 since he became a citizen of Livingston County. 
At the time he settled here the market for his farm 
products and the base of supplies was Ottawa, to 
which point he hauled all his grain. He endured 
all the usual hardships that befall the pioneer in a 
new country, but he has been successful in life, 
overcoming all obstacles, and has now one of the 
most pleasant homes and best improved farms in 
the county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tanner arc members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and for years he has served 
as Class-Leader, Steward and Superintendent of 
the Sunday-school. To the church he is a liberal 
contributor, and as ;i member his example is wor- 
thy of emulation. To encourage those actively 
engaged in the battle of life, a few words of his 
Christian experience from his own pen are quite 
appropriate in this connection. "I was born of 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Christian parents, who in early youth taught me 
the fear of the Lord, and to read His holy word. 
I \VM.S eon verted and gave my heart to God in my 
sixteenth year, finding great peace in believing in 
the Lord Jesus Christ. In this Christian faith and 
hope I have lived for fifty-six years. A large ma- 
jority of my friends and neighbors have passed on 
before, and I hope to -meet many of them in the 
land where sickness and death will never come." 
He has served as Road Commissioner of the town- 
ship one term, for several years of said board as 
Treasurer, and as Justice of the Peace five years, 
and all these positions he has filled with credit to 
himself and to the satisfaction of the people. Mr. 
Tanner was appointed Postmaster of Lodemia, Oct. 
24. 1878, and has held the office up to the present 
time. He is a Republican in politics, and is thor- 
oughly imbued with the doctrines and modern 
ideas of that party. He has a tendency toward the 
doctrines of the Prohibition party, and looks upon 
the evil of intemperance as one of the greatest 
curses of the land. He and his wife are now in 
their declining years, but are enjoying the fruits of 
a life spent in usefulness and well-doing. They 
are both highly esteemed b'y their neighbors and 
acquaintances. 



A. HUNTER. One of the most 
jH] prominent young business men in the city 
of Odell, and one who deserves special men- 
tion for the energy with which he conducts his 
business, is the subject of this sketch, who is a 
dealer in drugs and medicines. He was born in 
Lawrence Count}-, Pa., on the 5th of November, 
1857. and in order of birth was third in a family 
of four children born to James A. and Jane 
(Struthers) Hunter, whose biographies appear in 
this Ai.ncM. 

Mr. Hunter was reared to city life and educated 
in the schools of Odell, where his parents located 
when he was eight years of age. From that time 
until he was sixteen years of age he constantly at- 
tended school, and was then granted a teacher's 
certificate, and engaged to teach school in the 
country, but an eminent physician. Dr. \Valdon, at 



this time bought a half interest in the Odell City 
Drug .Store with J. P. Kidder, with the understand- 
ing that young Hunter should take charge of his 
interest there. At the end of the first week in the 
school-room he turned over to a successor his 
school work and entered the store, in 1874. It 
being the home of his youth, his acquaintance ex- 
tended throughout the entire city and many miles 
in the surrounding country, and his natural genial 
disposition and upright life, which was an open 
book to all, brought to him the patronage of the 
best people of the community, llis business ca- 
reer proved him to be, as a man, what his' conduct 
as a boy indicated. After being engaged as a 
clerk four years, and Dr. Waldon desiring to with- 
draw from the business in Odell, for the purpose 
of going West, Mr. Hunter arranged to buy his in- 
terest in the store. Negotiations were soon com- 
pleted and at the age of twenty-one years he was 
in full possession of a half interest in the best pay- 
ing store in the city. 

On the 17th of November, 1881, Mr. II. was mar- 
ried to Florence M. Shaw, who was born in Lawrence 
County, Pa., on the Kith of February, 1 80!) , and 
was the second child of eight born to Stephen and 
Harriet (Ramsey) Shaw, who were natives of Penn- 
sylvania. Her father was a stanch Abolitionist 
during the exciting days of the discussion of the 
slavery question, and during the war was one of 
the most active aiders and abettors of anti-slavery 
doctrines. An early acquaintance between Mr. Hun- 
ter and his wife during their childhood led up to 
their marriage. The}' are the parents of two chil- 
dren: James A. was born on the 29th of Septem- 
ber, 1882, and Harriet J., on the 4th of March, 
1887. Mr. Hunter has been remarkably successful 
in his business affairs, and makes safe investments 
of his surplus cash. The cottage home which he 
purchased some four years ago was the beginning 
of his investment in real estate. In addition to 
this he also wwns a half interest in the store build- 
ing where his business is carried on, and a quarter 
section of fine farming land in Dakota. 

Mr. Hunter is quite active in political matters, 
displaying the same energy as he does in his busi- 
ness, and all his political efforts are directed for the 
benefit of the Republican party. There i> no self- 



20G 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ish motive to any part he may take in politics, for 
he does not desire public office, preferring to de- 
vote his time to his private business. He is a 
member in high standing of the Masonic fraternity, 
and both lie and his wife are members of the Con- 
gregational Church, in which he serves as Trustee, 
and is an active Sunday-school worker. 



<jw?AMES E. MORRIS, one of the oldest settlers 
of Broughton Township, is a native of En- 
gland, having been born in Wiltshire, June 
21, 1815, and is the son of Prince and Sarah 
Morris, both of whom were natives of England. 
When the subject of this sketch was fifteen years 
old his parents decided to emigrate to America, 
taking passage at Bristol on the sailing-vessel "Mary 
Jane," which left her port May 4, 1831. They 
came via Quebec to Hamilton, Ontario, where they 
landed June 21 following. His parents located on 
what was then known as the "Huron Tract," near 
Goderick, which was a wild country in those days, 
and the family remained there until 1851, when 
the father came to LaSalle County, 111., our subject 
following the year after. 

Mr. Morris received but a limited education, 
even for his day, and learned the trade of a car- 
penter, which he followed for thirty years, part of 
the time in connection with farming. He was first 
married in 1843, to Mis's Charlotte Carey, by whom 
he had four children, only one of whom survives, 
Susan, wife of Martin Seabert, of Round Grove 
Township, this county. Mr. Morris was married a 
second time, Oct. 1 3, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Carey, 
and this marriage resulted in the birth of eleven 
children, of whom eight are now living, namely : 
Emma J., the wife of Frank Foltz, and Lydia, the 
wife of Edward Lakin, both of whom reside in 
Campus, 111. ; James C., a hardware merchant of 
Emington, 111. ; Seth E., John E., Sarah A., Han- 
nah E. and Benjamin C. 

The subject of this sketch came to Livingston 
County in December, 1858, settling in Broughton 
Township, on the place where he now resides. His 
farm was then in a primitive condition, and it 
was only by much hard and unremitting labor thai 




he transformed it into its present finely improved 
condition. He experienced the usual hardship> <>f 
pioneer life, such as distant markets and small 
prices for the products of his labor. An uncon- 
querable will, however, overcame all obstacles, and 
he now owns 161 acres of good land, all of which 
has been the result of his own efforts. Mr. Morris 
is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he 
has officiated as Deacon for several years. He was 
among the first to preach the Gospel in his 
neighborhood, which he did in the capacity of a 
local preacher for many years. In recent years, 
however, owing to increasing age and infirmities, 
he has not engaged actively in ministerial labor, 
but is still an active worker in the Lord's vine- 
yard, and is an earnest promoter of every move- 
ment tending to improve society. While not an 
active politician he has filled several of the local 
offices, having served as Assessor and School Di- 
rector. In politics he is a Republican, and as a 
man his unsullied reputation has won for him the 
esteem and confidence of all who know him. 



OHN GEIS, cigar manufacturer of D wight, is 
regarded among the substantial German citi- 
zens of the town, and is a fine representative 
of the industry and persistence which are so 
essential in the building up of communities, both 
agricultural and industrial. He is the descendant 
of a long line of pure German ancestry, and was 
born and reared near the town of Villmar, in the 
Province of Hesse-Nassau, of which his father was 
one of the most prosperous farmers. The latter, 
who owned a large extent of land, and accumulated 
a good property, is now retired from active life, 
spending his declining years in ease and comfort. 
Only two of the family came to the United States, 
our subject and his brother Joseph, the latter being 
now a resident of Nebraska. 

Mr. Geis was born in 184'J, and spent his boy- 
hood years not far from the beautiful valley of the 
IMiine, which is so renowned for its fertility and 
richness in quarries of marble and iron ore. In 
common with the youth of his country, he was thor- 
oughly educated in the schools of his native Prov- 








LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



207 



ince, iincl remained there until eighteen years of age. 
In the spring of 1807 he embarked on a steamer 
from Bremen, and after a fair passage set foot on 
American soil, and proceeded directly to the city of 
Chicago. Thence, -not long afterward, he migrated 
to Milwaukee, Wis., where he learned the shoe- 
maker's trade, and remained four years. Then re- 
turning to Chicago he took up cigar-making, re- 
maining there four years also, and in 1 N75 was 
married to Miss Mary A. Schmidt of that city. 
They are now the proud parents of four boys 
John, William, Joseph and Edward. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Geis were all born 
at Dwight after their removal here, March 30, 1875, 
where during a residence of twelve years, they have 
fairly established themselves in the esteem and con- 
fidence of the community. The career of Mr. G. 
has been steadily onward, and he has built up a suc- 
cessful patronage, both as a wholesale and retail 
dealer, he owning his residence and his store. He 
is declared to be one of the most straightforward 
and honorable business men of Dwight. He is 
Democratic, politically, and socially, belongs to the 
I.O. O. F. and the K. of P. 



11. CHISAM. It being generally believed 
that heredity has much to do with the forma- 
tion of character, and that our lives are 
stimulated by the indirect as well as the immediate 
influences of our ancestors, a short resume of the 
lives of Mr. Chisam's parents may serve as the in- 
dex to the liberal and humane impulses which mark 
his daily life, and which have won for him the 
esteem of those who know him. 

The subject of this sketch, a dealer in grain and 
hay at Odell, was born in Rome, N. Y., on the I'.Hh 
of July, 1849, and is the eldest child born to James 
and Margaret (Hayden) Chisam, natives of New 
York. The paternal grandparents were James and 
Mary (Cook) Chisam, of North of Ireland descent 
and of the Protestant faith. They came to America 
about 182(1, where James Chisam was engaged in 
farming, and spent his declining years. The ma- 
ternal grandparents were Dr. Ansonand Kate (Ilill- 
iard) Ilayden. natives of New York, where he was 



a practicing physician when the wolves chased night 
travelers across the country to their doorj'ards. 
The grandparents all lived to be more than ninety 
years of age. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was a 
carriage-maker by trade, and for many years car- 
ried on the business in Taberg, N. Y. After the 
death of his wife he came West, and spent his declin- 
ing years in Springlield, 111., with his son Charles, 
freight agent of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He 
was a quiet, conservative citizen, taking but little 
part in politics, though he espoused the principles 
of the Republican party. At the age of sixty-two 
years he died in Springfield. 

C. II. Chisam was reared to city life, and was 
educated in the common schools until thirteen 
years of age, when he entered a general store at 
Taberg, as clerk, where his parents resided at that 
time. In that line he remained five years and then 
came West to see what this section of country had 
in store for him. lie came by the way of Chicago, 
and down to Lincoln, where he had friends, and en- 
gaged iii a general merchandise store for two years. 
At the end of that time he went to Springfield, '111., 
where he served in the capacity of railroad agent 
for the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, for 
about eight years. 

While residing at Springfield, Mr. Chisam was 
married, on the 1 2th of Ma_y, 1875, to Clara Arming- 
ton, of Atlanta, 111., who was born Oct. 1!), 1850, 
and was the third in a family of four children born 
to Hezekiah and Frances (Verry) Armington, who 
were natives of the State of Vermont, but were early 
settlers at Armington, Tazewell County, where their 
daughter was born. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Chisam settled at Springfield, where he was em- 
ployed, and thence removed to Atlanta, when Mr. 
Chisam accepted an engagement as a traveling sales- 
man in Illinois. Five years later he left the road, 
and coming to Odell, engaged in the grain business, 
leavinghis wife and family at Atlanta. They were 
the parents of three children, all of whom are liv- 
ing. Mr. Chisam had been in business only a short 
time, spending his Sundays at home, when his wife 
died on the 22dof March, 1H85, having been a suf- 
ferer from consumption. 

Mrs. Chisam was a lad}' of high womanly virtue 



208 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and inanj- accomplishments, a graduate of the High 
Scliool in Atlanta, and identified with the best in- 
t crusts of the young people of that city. She was 
a bright, vivacious, open-hearted young woman. 
whom all her associates respected and loved. She 
had always been a promising flower, and was a faith- 
ful wife and loving mother; her bright, happy man- 
ner, mid many excellent traits of character making 
her the friend of all who knew her. The little boys 
are with their father in Odell, which he contem- 
plates making their permanent home. Mr. Chisam 
is a Republican in politics, but does not take an act- 
ive part; he is a member of the City School Board. 




II. HINKEY, a prominent farmer, stock 
^ii - _ dealer and breeder of full-blood Percheron 

and Norman horses, on section 31, Dwight 
Township, is of German origin. Herman Hinkey, 
the founder of the family in America, came to this 
country from Germany in 1853, and settled in La- 
Salle County, 111. His father bought a farm in 
Wallace Township, LaSalle County, and this home- 
stead is still in the hands of his son, John H. Hinkey. 
lie was the father of ten children, and lived on this 
farm until his death, which occurred in 1881, at 
the age of sixty-four years. He was a hard-work- 
ing and industrious man, reliable in all his transac- 
tions. 

The subject of our sketch was born on the 15th of 
February, 18411, and came to this country with his 
parents when he was but four years of age. While 
yet a boy he received a good common-school educa- 
tion and took his first lessons in the details of farm- 
ing. Early developing a great interest in stock of 
various kinds, and especially in horses, he has been 
given opportunities in after life of fully gratifying 
his inclinations. When but twenty-two years of 
age, young Hinkey went to Humboldt County, 
Nev., .in 1871, and worked three years by the 
month for his brother. Saving his money he rented 
his brother's ranch of 640 acres of land, and raised 
15,000 bushels of barley and wheat, which he sold 
for ninety cents per bushel, and cleared $5,000. 
At this time Mr. Hickey was prostrated by a very 
serious illness, and was confined to his room for 



three months, but ultimately regained his health. 
In 1873 he bought a half interest in a hotel in 
Winneniucca, Nev., and was successful in the con- 
duct of the business. 

In 187") Mr. Hinkey returned to LaSalle County, 
and on the 20th of April, he was married to 
Miss Mary McGinnis, daughter of Philip and Ellen 
(Lynch) MeGinnis, of LaSalle County, 111. To 
them have been born six children, namely : Maggie, 
Philip, Ella, Agnes, Belle and Mary. Mr. Hinkey 
took his young bride to his hotel in Nevada, where 
they remained until the fall of 187~>, when he sold 
the hotel and purchased a ranch, which he stocked 
with cattle. He continued in this business until 
1884, and was very prosperous. 

In 1884 Mr. Hinkey returned with his family to 
Illinois, and purchased 320 acres of land in Dwight 
Township, which is situated on a gently rolling 
prairie. On this land he began farming and rais- 
ing blooded Norman horses. He now has two im- 
ported stallions, "Taducah" and "Superb," full- 
blooded Percheron Normans, which were purchased 
from the importer, J. J. Kemp, of Lexington, III., 
at 12,000 each. Mr. Hinkey has also four full- 
blooded mares, imported by Mr. Kemp. The}' are 
all first-class animals, and were purchased at a cost 
of $2,000, which makes a total investment in Nor- 
mans, of $6,000. In point of superior beauty, power 
of draft and weight, these horses are unequaled. 
Mr. Hinkey is also a large feeder and dealer in 
steers, and as he is a man of large and varied ex- 
perience in this line of business, his work is all 
conducted upon an intelligent basis. His stock has 
achieved a reputation throughout the West equaled 
by few and surpassed by none. 




ANIEL REED is familiarly known through- 
out Reading Township as the leading 
dealer in full-blooded Jersey cattle and 
high-grade Durhams, in which business lie 
has had several years' experience, and has operated 
with success. His headquarters are at a pleasantly 
located farm on section 2',), where he also lia> a 
blacksmith-shop, in which he employs his leisure 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



211 



lime, and which proves a great convenience in the 
general business of the farm, enabling him to re- 
pair the machinery and at once save time and labor. 

Mr Reed carae to this State from Ohio in 1850, 
and early in life had been made acquainted with 
hard labor and economy, and his early education 
was extremely limited. When quite young he la- 
bored to assist in the support of his father's family. 
Notwithstanding this disadvantage, the experience 
he acquired was of such value that on starting out 
for himself he was found well fitted for the strug- 
gle of life, and only sought the reward of his hon- 
est efforts. This in a measure he now enjoys, as he 
lias a good farm of 160 acres under a high state of 
cultivation. Upon this farm was laid the first tile 
for agricultural purposes in Reading Township, and 
Mr. Reed has in other respects been one of the 
most progressive men in this part of the county, 
availing himself of approved methods and modern 
machinery. 

Mr. Reed was born in Clermont County, Ohio, 
Dec. 2'J, 1*26, and is the son of Conrad and Cath- 
erine (Weaver) Reed, natives respectively of Penn- 
sylvania and Maryland. Conrad Reed was born in 
Washington County, Pa., in 1796, and was the son 
of John Reed, one of the pioneer settlers of the 
Keystone State, whence he removed later to Ohio, 
and was also a pioneer there. The mother of our 
subject was born in 1805, and is still living, in 
Streator, 111. ; she has now been a widow twelve 
years, her husband having died in 1875, at the ripe 
old age of seventy-nine years. Their children 
were named Elizabeth, Mary, Daniel, Amanda, 
William, Nancy, Catherine, Conrad, Matilda, Jane 
and Jacob. Elizabeth became the wife of David 
Tullis; Mary married Thomas Osborne, and is now 
a widow; Amanda was the second wife of David 
Tullis, who served three years in the arm}' and en- 
dured great exposure and hardship, which finally 
resulted in his death at home; William receives no- 
tice elsewhere in this volume; Nancy is the wife of 
A. D. Thomas, a practicing physician of Missouri; 
Catherine married Charles .Werner, and is now de- 
ceased; Matilda is the wife of Leonard Wet/., a 
fanner of Long Point Township; Jane is the wife 
of John Wetz, brother of the above Conrad; the 
twin brother of Catherine died when quite young 



in Ohio, and Jacob died there when nine years of 
age; one infant died unnamed. 

Mr. Reed learned the trade of a blacksmith in 
Butlei ville, Warren Co., Ohio, and remained a res- 
ident of his native county until thirty years of age. 
Before coining to the West he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Eliza G. Merrill, the wedding tak- 
ing place at the home of. the bride, in Clermont 
County, Ohio, March 8, 1849. Mrs. Reed is the 
daughter of William and Mary Ann (Woliver) 
Merrill, natives of New Jersey. Mr. Merrill, who 
was a wagon-maker by occupation, boarded a ship 
bound for Australia which is supposed to have 
been lost with all on board, as she was never after- 
ward heard from. His wife died in Clermont 
Count}', Ohio, in 1833, when her daughter Eliza 
was but seven years of age. The parental house- 
hold included the following-named children : Maria, 
Eliza, Margaret, Hannah, Emma and Mary Jane. 
Maria became the wife of Hugh Lemmons. and 
the mother of one child ; she died of cholera at 
Pickaway, Ohio, in. 1840. Eliza was born Feb. 

6, 1829, in the State of New Jersey. Margaret 
died in Michigan when ten years of age, while 
Hannah came to her death by being scalded when 
about five years of age; Emma married David 
Brown in Hamilton County, Ohio, and they are 
now residents of Reading Township; Mary Jane 
died when three months old, and the youngi-st died 
unnamed in infancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Reed commenced life together in 
Clermont County, Ohio, whence they removed to 
their present farm in 1856. In due time the house- 
hold was increased by the birth of the following- 
named children : Catherine, Amanda, Lucy Jane, 
Conrad and Daniel M. Catherine was born March 
14, 1850, and married Samuel Yerty, who is Con- 
stable of Ancona; they have two children. Amanda 
was born July 10, 1851, and died March 5, 1853; 
Lucy Jane was born March 5, 1853, and died Sept. 

7, 1858; Conrad was born Dec. 7, 1855, and died 
Oct. 20, 1857; Daniel M. was born May 28, 1860, 
and is now in LaSalle. 111. 

Mr. Reed, politically, is untrammeled by party, 
and in religious views he and his estimable lady are 
independent. Their children were given the ad- 
vantages of a good education, and have taken their 




212 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 




places in society as the honored representatives of 
wise and judicious parents and good citizens. The 
Reed homestead is one of the most attractive in 
Livingston County, the result of the labors of a 
self-made man, who commenced in life without 
means and has proved an admirable example of 
what may be accomplished by persevering industry. 
No man is more highly respected among his neigh- 
bors, and few have contributed more toward em- 
bellishing the county and assisting to develop its 
resources than he has. 

As illustrative of the prosperity of this section 
of country, and especially so of the gentleman 
whose life is here briefly sketched, we present on 
an ad joining page of this ALBUM a view of his resi- 
dence, with its environments. 



GORGE ORB, Postmaster at Round Grove, 
and an extensive grain dealer, is senior 
member of the firm of George Orr & Co., 
which was established in 1882, and is evidently 
taking the lead in this business in the northeastern 
part of Livingston County. They are young and 
enterprising men, keeping pace with the progress 
of the times, and to whom the community look for 
assistance in those enterprises best calculated for 
its advancement, socially and financially. 

Mr. Orr, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 
Allegheny Comity, April 11, 1847, and is the young- 
est of seven sons and seven daughters, the offspring 
of John R. and Nanc3' (Thompson) Orr, natives of 
Ireland. They came to America early in life, 
locating first in Pennsylvania, where the father 
died in Allegheny County, in 1852. The mother 
came with her children to the \Vest when (ieorge 
was :i lad nine years of age, and settled first in Do 
Kalb County, 111., where the\- lived five years, then 
took up their residence for a like period in Kendall 
County, and in 18(17 came to Livingston, of which 
our subject ha. since been a resident. The mother 
is still living and a resident of Round Grove Town- 
>hip. 

Mr. Orr was bred to farm pursuits, in which lie 
engaged until the spring of 1882. Besides his in- 
terest in the grain business, in which the firm 



handles from 80,000 to 100,000 bushels annually. 
he owns a fine farm of over 400 acres, upon which 
are first-class buildings and all other modern im- 
provements. There is the usual quantity of ma- 
chinery and farm stock which the agriculturist of 
to-day requires for his convenience and profit, and 
the estate in all its appointments forms a complete 
country home. 

Mr. Orr, while a resident of Kendall County, w.-i> 
united in marriage, in March, 1877, with Miss Jane 
Ilaverhill, who was a native of that county, and 
born in June, 18">2. Mrs. Orr is the daughter of 
Oliver and Juliett Haverhill, natives of New York. 
and now of Kendall County, 111. She received a 
fair education and was carefully trained to those 
household duties and accomplishments which aid so 
much in the happiness and contentment of a home. 
Of her union with our subject there are three chil- 
dren : Burton L., who was born Feb. 11, 1 877 ; Amy 
E.,Jan. 9, 1880, and James, Jan. 1,188(5. Mr. O. was 
appointed Postmaster in 1882, and the fact that he 
holds his office under a Democratic administration, 
being himself a stanch Republican, is sufficient 
proof of the estimation in which he is held b}' the 
people of his community. He takes a genuine in- 
terest in local affairs and has served as Constable 
and School Director. 




pBUSTIN HOWARD in the winter of 1*80 
came with his family to this county, and 
shortly afterward secured possession of 160 
acres of good land on section 2!i, in 
Broughton Township. This he has since occupied, 
bringing about many improvements, and proving 
himself to be a thorough and skillful agriculturist, 
a good business man, and a valued addition to the 
community. lie makes a specialty of stock-raising, 
and lias all the conveniences for carrying on the 
various pursuits of the farm after the most ap- 
proved methods. 

Mr. Howard is comparatively a young man, hav- 
ing been born July 20, 1843, and is a native of 
Kane County, this State. His parents, Philo and 
Annie (Colvin) Howard, were born in New York 
State, and are the descendants of prominent fami- 



t 





LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



213 



lies, well known throughout the East, where they 
are largely represented. They left New York State 
in 1841, and the father, after reaching Illinois, pur- 
chased eighty acres of Government laud .soon after 
the organization of Kane County, of which he was 
one of the earliest pioneers. The mother died soon 
after Ihe removal, and the father followed his de- 
voted wife in January, 1869. The latter, after the 
death of his first wife, was married the second time, 
and was the father of ten children, of whom the 
following survive, namely: Melvin, of DeKalb 
County, this State ; Oriu, of Broughton Township, 
this county; Jane, the wife of Mahlon Snj'der, of 
Cook County; Emerson A., and Zada, of Kane 
County, and Austin, our subject. 

Mr. Howard was the third son of his father's 
family, with whom he remained in Kane County 
until reaching manhood. He received a common- 
school education, and with the exception of four 
years spent in selling agricultural implements and 
four years dealing in horses has been engaged in 
farming. He was married after reaching his twenty- 
fifth birthday to Miss Ella Bidden-, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride in Kendall 
County, Dec. 81, 1868. Mrs. Howard was born in 
Quebec, Canada, Nov. 18. 1849, and is the daugh- 
ter of Jeremiah and Nancy (Brown) Biddore, the 
father a native of France, and the mother of Lower 
Canada. Her father died in Quebec about 1850, 
and the mother, when her daughter Ella was about 
fifteen years of age, came to the United States, and 
located in LaSalle County, 111.; she died in 1X69. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard continued in Kendall 
County until 1880, and became the parents of eight 
children La June, Zenas H., Philo E., Auson L., 
John A., Edward J., Everet B. and Ray C. La June 
was born Nov. 26, 1869, and is attending the High 
School at Pontiac: Zenas H. was born Oct. 23, 1X71, 
and with the younger children is at home with his 
parents ; Philo E. was born Dec. 4, 1*73; Anson L., 
April 1 1, 1876; John A., Sept. 8, 1879; Edward J., 
Aug. 23, 1X81; Everet B., Nov. 4, 1884, and Ray 
C'., Jan. 20, 1X87. Mr. Howard has always been a 
Republican and is serving his third term as High- 
way Commissioner, the duties of which office he is 
discharging with great credit to himself and satis- 
faction to the people of his district. Botli he and 



his estimable lady belong to the church of the Lat- 
ter-Day Saints. He is public-spirited and liberal, 
and in all respects a valued member of society. 

The mother of Mrs. Howard was twice married. 
By her first union, with John Perrin, she had five 
children, namely : Mary, Mrs. Joseph Sear, of Ken- 
dall County, 111., William P. and Stephen, of Can- 
ada ; Rachel, of DeKalb County, 111., and Nancy, wife 
of A. Bowers, of Kendall County. By her second 
union, with Jeremiah Beddore, two children, Ellen 
and Mrs. Howard of this notice, were born. 




DWIN DILLON. The little burnt clay 
-j tubes used in draining land have revolu- 
tionized fanning during the last few decades, 
and the Illinois farmer who puts 600 rods of 
tile under 160 acres of land full}- understands 
their efficacy, and receives his reward in the in- 
creased production of corn and wheat. Mr. Dillon 
believes in the tile, and as an evidence of the 
practical application of that faith he has one of the 
finest and most productive farms in Livingston 
County, located on secticn 35, in Eppard's Point 
Township, where he is engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. This farm is located on the south 
line of the township, one mile from the town of 
Weston, in McLean County, and is under a most 
excellent state of cultivation. 

Mr. Dillon was born on the l'.)th of October, 
1839, in Tazewcll County, 111., and is the son of 
Daniel and Ruth (Hoskins) Dillon. The former was 
a native of North Carolina, where he was born in 
1 802, and was brought to Ohio by his parents when 
two years of age. In 1816 several families moved 
from Ohio to Illinois, and settled in Tazewell 
County, and in 1826 Mr. Dillon's father settled in 
the same county, where he lived until IcS.'io, and 
then moved to Delavan Prairie in Mason County, 
where he lived until his death, which occurred in 
March, 1 8X5. He was the father < >f eleven children 
Jane, Cyrus, Emily, Caroline, Catherine, Mary, 
Edwin, Daniel, Lorenzo, Annie L. and George. 
Jane died in childhood; Cyrus is married, has three 
children, and is a farmer in Tazewcll County; 
Emily is the wife of Z. B. Kidder, who is engaged 




' > 214 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY, 



in milling in Russell County, Kan.; Caroline and 
Catherine arc twins; the former is the wife of Ed. 
Lyons, lives in Mason County, and has three chil- 
dren. Catherine is the wife of R. B. Summers, 
and lives in Kansas. Mary married Abner Summers, 
and died in Sullivan County, Mo., in 1882, leaving 
four children; Daniel has a wife and four children, 
and follows the trade of a carpenter in Peoria; 
Lorenzo has a wife and four children, and re- 
sides in San Jose, Mason Co., 111. ; Annie L. mar- 
ried William Kent, and lives in Florence, Kan. ; 
George died in 1857, when ten years old, in Mason 
County, 111. Mr. Dillon's mother died in Mason 
County, 111., in 1857. Both the parents were mem- 
bers of the Society of Friends, in which the father 
was a preacher and leader. 

Mr. Dillon was educated in the common schools 
and lived at home until twenty-one years of age. 
when he began farming for himself, and continued 
until the year 1862. He then enlisted in the 
108th Illinois Infantry, and was assigned to mem- 
bership in Company H, in which command he re- 
mained until he was honorably discharged on the 
7th of July, 1865, at Camp Butler, Springfield, 111. 
During the time he was in the service he partici- 
pated in the second attack on Vicksburg, which was 
unsuccessful; the battle of Arkansas Post, where 
7,(H)() prisoners were captured; the siege of Vicks- 
burg; the Union defeat of Guntown, where 2,500 
Union prisoners were taken, and nearly all of 
their provisions. By this defeat this army was 
made almost destitute, and during the subsequent 
march of nearly 140 miles there was but one pound 
of provisions to issue to each man. During the 
time he was in the service Mr. Dillon contracted a 
disease which became chronic, and was also afflicted 
with inflammation of the eyes, which destroyed the 
sight of one of them. In 1H64 he was sent to the 
hospital in the field, and after remaining there 
sonic time was sent to the hospital at Springfield, 
111., where he remained until lie was discharged. 
After his discharge he went to Mason County, III., 
and engaged in farming. 

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Dillon married 
Elizabeth \Vakelield. who is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and daughter of Robert and Martha \Vake- 
lield. She wa.- reared to womanhood in her native 



State, and then accompanied her parents to Illinois, 
where she had two brothers, who lived in Mason 
County for many years. To Mr. and Mrs. Dillon 
have been born five children Clark, Edwin. Alida, 
Oscar and Edith. Clark and Edwin died in infancy; 
Alicia was born July 11, 1865; Oscar, Oct. 27, 
18(57; and Edith, June 11, 186!l. In addition to 
their own children they have an adopted child, 
whose name is Mabel J. Fultz, and was born March 
3, 1884. Mr. Dillon first came to Livingston 
County in 1867, but had purchased a farm the year 
before. He has expended much labor and money 
upon this farm, but in return has the satisfaction of 
knowing that it is one of the most productive and 
valuable pieces of farm property in Livingston 
County. For his family he has provided a com- 
fortable and convenient residence, and for the pro- 
tection of his products and the shelter of stock has 
made ample provision. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, and attend services 
at Fairbury. 




RS. ELECTA JEFFERS is the widow of 
the late Nelson Jeffers, of Round Grove 
Township. Soon after the death of her 
husband she took up her residence with 
her daughter in Broughton Township, of which she 
has since been a resident, and where she is held in 
universal respect as a lady possessing many amiable 
qualities, and excellent business capacities. 

Mrs. Jeffers was born in New London, Huron 
Co., Ohio, Sept. 13. 1823, where she was reared at 
the country home of her parents, receiving a good 
education in the common schools. She was also 
trained by her careful mother to those housewifely 
duties which have such a great influence in the 
happiness and comfort of the domestic circle. 
In those days learning to spin and weave was 
an essential element in the training of young girls, 
and Mrs. J. became expert in these arts before 
reaching the fifteenth year of her age. At this 
early age she commenced teaching school, which 
profession she followed until the time of her first 
marriage, July 4, IH44. to Mr. John B. Conway, a 
native of her own State, and one of the associate- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



215 



of her youthful days. Two years before her mar- 
riage she had created quite a sensation in herneigh- 
liorhood by spinning 100 knots of yarn between 
sunrise and sunset, an amount of labor which was 
considered really wonderful, as it usually consumed 
two and one-half days. 

The year following their marriage John B. Con- 
way and his young wife, accompanied by the family 
of his father, James B. Con way, left the Buckeye 
State and migrated to Green County, Wis. The 
young people upon their arrival had but fifty cents in 
money, besides two cows and a team of horses, but 
their stout hearts and willing hands comprised a 
capital which at that time and in that section of 
country proved, perhaps, full}' as available as 
money. The following spring the younger Con- 
way purchased eighty acres of land of his father, 
upon which he operated about two years, when, on 
account of poor health, he decided to leave Wis- 
consin and try the climate of Illinois. His parents 
spent the remainder of their days in Wisconsin. 
Soon after his arrival in Kendall County Mr. Con- 
way purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he 
farmed about two years, and then sold out and pur- 
chased 160 acres in Grundy County. This also he 
sold two years later, and in 1854 came to Living- 
ston County, purchasing ICO acres in Broughton 
Township, which comprises the farm still occupied 
by Mrs. Jeffers. There was then but one family 
besides themselves within the limits of the town- 
ship, and their first winter was one of unusual 
hardship, even at that day, and at a time when who- 
ever ventured into that section of country expected 
little else. They located on prairie land, and were 
obliged to go a long distance for fuel, the labor of 
gathering a load of wood employing three days' 
time. The nearest mill was at Wilmington, a 
journey which involved the same length of time. 
The little household had been increased in numbers 
by the birth of one child, and Mrs. Comvay dur- 
ing the forced excursions of her husband from 
home was obliged to remain alone with her little 
ones and the house unfinished. Upon one occasion 
a fearful storm came on, and in the absence of a 
door and window sash the rain blew through the 
house so that both mother and children almost per- 
ished from fright and cold. The experiences of 



those years of hardship would make a long and in- 
teresting tale, and fully prove the correctness of 
the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. 

Mr. and Mrs. C'onway continued at the place 
where they so bravely endeavored to establish a 
home until the winter of 1861-02; in the meantime 
they had surrounded themselves with many com- 
forts, and the settling up of the country had made 
.life quite endurable. The outbreak of the Re- 
bellion now interrupted their plans for the future, 
as Mr. Conway decided to enlist as a Union soldier, 
and assist in fighting the battles of his country. He 
joined Company D, 58th Illinois Infantry, and par- 
ticipated in many of the principal battles of the 
first important campaign, being present at the sieges 
of Ft. Donelson and Vicksburg, and the battles 
of Corinth, Shiloh and Red River, besides many 
minor engagements and skirmishes. The sufferings 
and hardships incident to army life brought on an 
incurable disease, and Mr. Conway, after being 
confined in the hospital at Joe Holt, Intl., died on 
the 17th of January, 1865. His remains were laid 
to rest in the cemetery in Broughton Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. C'onway became the parents of 
four children, of whom but one survives. The 
eldest, Olive E., was born March 28, 1846, and 
died on the 8th of October, 1855, from the effects 
of a fall; James J. was born Sept. 18, 1849, and 
died Jan. 22, 1850; Ezra B., born June 7, 1855, 
died in infancy; Emily C. was born April 4, 1857, 
and first married, Sept. 8, 1874, to Charles H. Glass, 
and became the mother of one child, Frederick E. 
Glass, born Aug. 8, 1875. She was divorced from 
Mr. G., and on the 1st of October, 1879, became 
the wife of Charles H. George, of this township. 
Of this marriage there were born four children, 
two living, namely : John Newell, who was born 
July 8, 1880, and Frank Irvin, Feb. 5, 1883. Mrs. 
George is a lady of good education, and much in- 
telligence, and makes a pleasant home for the 
mother who is now passing down the hill of life, 
being in the sixty-fifth year of her age. 

Mrs. Electa Conway, on the 25th of March, 1866, 
was united in marriage with Nelson Jeffers, of 
Round Grove Township, where the}' settled upon 
a farm which Mr. Jeffers operated successfully un- 
til compelled by his last illness to abandon his 



r 



21 (I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






labors His death took place on theCthof August, 
1878, in tlu' fifty-sixth year of his age. After the 
death of her husband Mrs. J. took up her abode 
with her daughter in Broughton Township, where 
she has since resided. 

The father of Mrs. Jeffers was Isaiah Day, who 
was first married to Mrs. Annie (Durphy) Tripp, 
and the}' became the parents of three daughters 
and one son, Electa being the second child. The 
mother died at her home in Ohio about 1827. Mr. 
Day was a second time married to a widow, and 
reversing the order of children, became the father 
of three sons and one daughter by this marriage. 



JOSEPH R. KING. The subject of this 
sketch has recently become one of the land- 
owners of Waldo Township, but has nearly 
all his life been identified with the agricult- 
ural interests of Livingston County. He has al- 
ways been a resident of the State, and is thoroughly 
enlisted in the work of making Illinois stand at the 
head of the great agricultural States of the Union. 
He is full of energy and enterprise, and the work 
he has in hand is prosecuted with that vigor char- 
acteristic of the man. He is engaged in fanning 
and stock-raising on section 24, Waldo Township. 
Mr. King was born in McLean County, III., on 
the 25th of May, 1854, and is the son of Christian 
R. and Mary (Beckler) King. He is the second 
child in a family of twelve, and was about twelve 
years of age when his father moved to Livingston 
County, and bought 1GO acres of land, to which he 
has added until he now owns 640 acres. Mr. King 
was reared on his father's farm, but the educational 
advantages during his boyhood days were so mea- 
ger that he reached manhood without obtaining 
more than a partial education. At the age of 
twenty-one years he began farming operations for 
himself on his father's farm, and after harvesting 
one crop concluded that it would be better if there 
were two instead of one to occupy a farm. 

On the 7th of November, 1875, Mr. King was 
married to Miss Mary, daughter of Christian and 
Salome (Summers) Slagell. After Mr. King's mar- 
riage he continued to farm on land owned by his 
father until 18s:i, when he moved to the farm 



which he at present occupies, which is well im- 
proved and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. 
and Mrs. King are the parents of the following- 
named children : Elias, who was born Sept. 25, 
1 87'! ; Christian, April 23, 1878; Benjamin, June 4, 
1881; Joseph, Oct. 30, 1883, and Ada, June 2, 
1 885. 

Mrs. King was born on the 18th of June, 1851), 
near Pekin, 111. Her girlhood was spent with her 
parents upon the farm, and she attended the com- 
mon schools, in which she received a good educa- 
tion. Her parents were natives of France, where 
the father was born in February, 1819, and the 
mother on the 17th of June of the same year. 
They were united in marriage in the city of Cin- 
cinnati, and came to Livingston County when 
Mary was five years of age. The father died on 
the 26th of November, 1884, and tin mother is 
still living in Waldo Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. King have made an excellent start 
in life and their prospects for the future are bright. 
They both participate actively in all matters that 
concern the welfare of the community in which 
they reside. In the management of their own af- 
fairs they are prudent and economical, yet liberal 
when and where liberality will accomplish the most 
good. Mr. King is thoroughly interested in the 
growth and improvement of Livingston County, 
and particularly of Waldo Township, where his in- 
terests lie. The family enjoy the respect and es- 
teem of all those with whom they associate. 

As indicative of the progress made in this sec- 
tion of country we present on another page of this 
AI.IU-M a view of Mr. King's residence. 

3 A. GARRELS is the proprietor of a 
comfortable homestead on section 16, Ne- 
braska Township, which invariably attracts 
the eye of the passer-by from its neat and well-kept 
appearance, the convenient and substantial build- 
ings, the goodly array of well-fed stock, and all the 
other appurtenances of a modern farm. A view of 
this pleasant and valuable homestead is given in 
this volume. Our subject, a highly respected Ger- 
man citizen, crossed the Atlantic in his youth, and 
commenced at the foot of the ladder to work his 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



217 



way up in the world. He should bo reasonably 
well satisfied with the position which he has attained 
as a citizen and a property owner. His accumula- 
tions are the result of his own industry, and lie has 
pursued that steady and straightforward course 
which forms the basis upon which men establish 
themselves in the esteem and confidence of those 
with whom they have to deal. 

Our subject was born in the Province of Han- 
over, Germany, Dec. 22, 1841, and is the son of 
Abjet and Franke (Kaiser) Garrels, who were also 
of German birth and parentage. They immigrated 
to America when George A. was about fifteen years 
of age, landing in the city of New Orleans, Nov. 2, 
1857. Thence they proceeded up the Mississippi 
River to Quincy and located in Adams County, 
this State, where the father purchased fifty acres of 
land, upon which they lived for the following seven 
years. Then selling out they came to this county 
and purchased the land which constitutes the pres- 
ent homestead of our subject. 

There is one law of" the German Empire which 
might well be imitated by countries all over the 
face of the earth, and that is compulsory education. 
In compliance with this law, oursubject was placed 
in school at an earlj' age, and pursued his studies, 
which he completed at fourteen years old. He re- 
mained with his parents until the breaking out of 
the Civil War, and then enlisted in the 100th Illi- 
nois Infantry. His first engagement was at Dyer's 
Station, where he and a number of his comrades 
were captured by Forrest's Cavalry. Upon being 
paroled they were sent to Benton Barracks, St. 
Louis, and there remained about nine months. 
After being exchanged, in October, 1863, they 
were sent to Memphis, Tenn., where they remained 
during the winter following, and then, after partici- 
pating in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, joined 
the army of Gen. Sherman and assisted in destroy- 
ing the railroad line from Vicksburg to Meridian, 
Miss. Subsequently they met the rebels in battle 
at Pleasant View on Black River, and after a skir- 
mish at Meridian returned to Vicksburg, and from 
there set out on the Red River expedition. Mr. 
Garrels while at Shreveport, La., was taken ill and 
put upon a boat bound for Vicksburg. It was at- 
tacked by the rebels but finally succeeded in mak- 



ing the passage in safety. In the meantime the 
Red River was so low that vessels could not pass, 
and a dam was built in order that the boats might 
be taken over the rapids. Oursubject after recov- 
ering, was finally sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. 
Louis, to defend the city against the rebel General, 
Price. When the danger was passed, they repaired 
to Nashville and engaged in a two clays' fight, al- 
most completely annihilating Hood's army, there 
being of 45,000 troops only about 7,000 able- 
bodied men remaining after the battle. They 
pressed him on to Eastport, where they put up for 
the winter, and in the spring moved upon Mobile, 
and the capture of Ft. Blakesley followed soon after 
in April, 1865. The war had now practically 
closed, and Mr. Garrels, with his companions, was 
honorably discharged at Mobile on the 26th of 
August following. 

Mr. Garrels upon retiring from army life, re- 
turned to his old haunts in Livingston County, 
where he operated on rented land a year, and then 
assumed the management of his father's homestead, 
where he continued until his marriage. This in- 
teresting event took place at the home of the bride, 
Miss Sophia Obert, on the 6th of August, 1870. 
Mrs. Garrels is the daughter of Vincent and The- 
resa (Schwenderman) Obert, and ivas born in Bos- 
ton, Mass., March 1, 1852. She came to Illinois 
with her parents when a mere child, and has the 
most of her life been a resident of Livingston 
County. Mr. and Mrs. G. became the parents of 
eight children, namely : Elizabeth, who was born 
.June 3, 1871; Ida M., Jan. 19, 1873; Martin J., 
Nov. 23, 1875; Hermann H., Jan. 25,1878; Henry 
\V., Dec. 1), 1879; John J., July 14, 1883; Will- 
iam H. and Mary L. (twins) Sept. 2<s, 1887. Mr. 
G. is Republican in politics, but has never been an 
olfice-seeker, and gives his attention wholly to his 
farm pursuits. He was reared in the Lutheran 
Church, of which he is now a Deacon and Trustee. 

The father of our subject was born in 1815, and 
departed this life at his home in Nebraska Town- 
ship, in February, 18(!7. His remains were laid to 
rest in Central Cemeteiy. The mother was born 
Nov. 23, LSI 2, and surviving her husband twenty 
years, passed away April 1 1, 1887. She was buried 
in the Lutheran Cemetery in Nebraska Township. 



t 



218 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 







A sister of Mr. Garrets, Elske by name, \vns lioni 
in Hanover, Feb. 22, 1845, and is now the wife of 
Herbert Duis, who is carrying on fanning near 
Milfortl, Iroquois County, this State; they have 
nine children. Two half-brothers, Alex J. and 
John II. Park, are residents of Nebraska Township, 
this county. 



ATTHEW R. MAXSON, sou of one of the 
early pioneers of the Prairie State, came to 
Illinois with his parents when a lad ten years 
of age, locating first in Tazewell County. 
Thence the family removed to Peoria County, and 
from there our subject, in 1880, came to Livingston 
and located upon his present farm in Saunemin 
Township. He is comparatively a young man and 
is one of those of whom much is expected in the 
future, being wide-awake, enterprising and indus- 
trious, and taking a lively interest in the enterprises 
calculated to advance the morality and education 
of the people, rightly judging thai, whatever affects 
the whole will, in a like degree, affect each member 
singly. A. well-regulated farm increases the value 
of the property adjacent, just as a fine building in 
the city enhances the value of property around it. 
Our subject was born in Rensselaer County, N. 
Y., April 2, 1X44, and is the son of Randall and 
Deborah (Kenyon) Maxson, also natives of the Em- 
pire State. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch 
descent, and Mr. Maxson is one of a family of 
eleven children : Mary, the eldest, is the wife of 
William Judson, of Nebraska; Potter is engaged in 
the nursery business at Benton Harbor, Mich.: 
Norman is farming in Jefferson County, Kan. ; 
Elizabeth is the wife of Clinton W. Card, of Morris, 
111.; Orson lives in Nebraska; William in Ford 
County, 111.; Matthew R.; Add ie is the wife of San- 
ford .Stillman, of Jefferson County, Kan. ; Ellen L., 
Mrs. Lewis Johnson, lives in Fayette Count}', this 
State; Jane, wife of William Cole, of Nebraska, died 
Julv 22, 1887; Delia is the wife of Anson Stillman. 
of Jefferson County, Kan. The parents passed their 
last years in Peoria County, where the father died 
in March, 1XG7, and the mother, surviving twelve 
year-, passed away in .May, 1879. They were most 



excellent and worthy people, fulfilling their whole 
duty as parents and neighbors, and are kindly re- 
membered by a large circle of friends and acquaint- 
ances. 

Young Maxson during his youth became familiar 
with the various employments of farm life and re- 
ceived a fair education in the district schools, pur- 
suing his studies mostly in the winter. He was 
naturally inclined to be industrious and economical, 
and was extremely prudent about taking upon him- 
self the responsibilities of a family until he could 
suitably provide for them. After reaching his 
thirty-fourth 3 7 ear, he was married, Nov. 27, 1878, 
to Miss Alice E. Miller, who was born in Peoria 
County, 111., July 26, 1 8;">6, and was consequently 
twenty-two 3'ears of age at the time of their marriage. 
The wedding took place at the home of the bride, 
and Mr. and Mrs. M. at once settled in Peoria 
County, where they remained until removing to their 
present farm. 

The wife of our subject was the daughter of John 
E. and Eliza A. (Hare) Miller, who were pioneer 
settlers of Peoria County, locating there in 1841*. 
Mr. Miller was born in Reusselaer County, N. Y., 
and his wife was a native of Kentucky; she died 
Nov. 7, 1 887. Their family included four children : 
George; Flora, the wife of Edgar Davis, Harry 
L. and Alice. All but Mrs. Maxson are residents 
of Peoria County. Mr. and Mrs. M. have two chil- 
dren: Fred R., who was born Sept. 24, 1X81, and 
Alice E., Aug. 19, 1884. The homestead includes 
eighty acres of good land, a comfortable farm resi- 
dence, a fair-sized barn and all the other buildings 
required for the shelter of stock and the storing of 
grain. They do not pretend to live elegantly, but 
are simply surrounded by all the comforts of life, 
and probably are far more contented than those who 
shine in the fashionable world. Mr. Maxson takes 
an interest in school matters and for the past five 
years has served as School Director. 

During the late war Mr. Maxson served in the 
Army of the Cumberland several months, being a 
member of Company C, 8(>th Illinois Infantry. He 
participated in the battle at Peri^-ville, Ky., and 
was engaged in numerous other skirmishes with the 
enemy. lie is an ardent Republican, politically, and 
a member of the G. A. R. Post at Saunemin. 



1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



223 




)ENNET HUMISTON, deceased, was a pio- 
neer settler of Livingston County, in Esmen 
Township, becoming a resident in October, 
1852. He became well and widely known, 
as one of the most enterprising farmers and stock- 
breeders of the county, and during all the years of 
his residence here was recognized as a business 
man of the utmost probity of character, one whose 
word was considered as good as his bond. Born in 
the good old State of Connecticut, and descended 
from a long line of Puritan ancestry, who were 
noted for their sterling qualities of man and woman- 
hood, it could not be otherwise but that he would 
inherit in a large measure the pure principles which 
are characteristic of those people. 

Bennet Humiston was born Sept. 6, 1830, in the 
town of Thomaston (then known as Plymouth), 
Conn., and was the son of Bennet and Emily (War- 
ner) Humiston. His parents were natives of Ply- 
mouth, Conn., and his father was extensively en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising. His father, 
Jesse, the grandfather of our subject, was also a na- 
tive of Thomaston, and was likewise a farmer. 
The grandparents of Bennet on the mother's side, 
were Aaron and Mary (Camp) Warner, who were 
farmers, and descended from a long line of English 
ancestry. 

Our subject was liberally educated in the district 
schools and the academy in his native town, after 
which he spent a year in assisting his father on the 
farm, then came West as above stated, with Mr. 
Camp, and they entered into partnership in the 
stock business, and were so engaged most of the 
time until 1876, the date of Mr. Humiston's re- 
moval to Pontiac. While still a single man, he 
came with Mr. Apollos Camp to this county in 
October, 1852, and purchased a tract of land and 
settled in Esmen Township; he subsequently be- 
came an extensive breeder of imported horses, and 
was also a large stock-raiser of the higher grades. 

Mr. Humiston was married, May 22, 185G, to 
Harriet, the only living child of Apollos and Nancy 
(Thomas) Camp, whose biography and portraits 
are shown on another page. Mr. and Mrs. Humis- 
ton continued to live in Esmen Township until 
1876, when they removed to Pontiac, and there re- 
sided until his death, which took place Nov. 14, 



1883. He had accumulated a handsome com- 
petency before his death, and was known and loved 
in the community where he had resided for over 
thirty years. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. 
When a child he was baptized in the Episcopal 
Church. He was a liberal contributor toward the 
erection of the beautiful church of that denomina- 
tion in Pontiac. He left to his widow a large landed 
estate besides other property. 

The portrait of Mr. Humiston, which is shown 
in this connection, will be looked upon with pleas- 
ure by all who knew him, as being the likeness of 
one who at all times used his influence on the side 
! of right. As a fitting accompanying picture, that 
of his wife is also given. 



ILLIAM CAPES. The connecting link be- 
tween an American and an Englishman is 
so close that it is difficult to tell when one 
ceases to be an Englishman, and begins to be an 
American. The Americans sprung from the En- 
glishmen at a time when tyranny drove Englishmen 
to the New World, and made Americans of them. 
Ever since then has the work of making Americans 
out of Englishmen been going on. Through proc- 
esses which are largely pleasant, the subject of 
this sketch, who is a representative farmer on sec- 
tion 33, Pontiac Township, became an American 
citizen. Mr. Capes was born on the 23d of July, 
1851, in Lincolnshire, England, arid during that 
year his parents emigrated to America. He is the 
son of Willoughby and Elizabeth (Milner) Capes, 
both natives of England. Upon their arrival in 
America in 1851, they came direct to Tazewell 
County, and there resided for twelve years, when 
they moved to Livingston County, and settled in 
Pike Township, where they still reside. There was 
born to them a large family of children, nine of 
whom survive : Charles ; Hannah, Mrs. John Crabb ; 
William, George; Jennie, Mrs. A. Mott; John; 
Sarah A., Mrs. Herman Baxter; David; and Mary 
L., Mrs. George Crow. The parents are ardent 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
are widely and favorably known throughout their 
locality, enjoying the respect and confidence of 



224 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



their neighbors and friends. The father is a Re- 
publican in politics, and takes an active interest in 
political affairs. 

When a boy, the subject of this sketch came to 
Livingston County with his parents, where he has 
ever since resided, and the very liberal education 
he enjoys was obtained in the district schools of 
this county. He was married on the 21st of August, 
1874, to Miss Mary Kirkpatrick, daughter of G. L. 
Kirkpatrick, formerly a citizen of this county, but 
now residing in Kansas. They have two children: 
Mary E., born on the 3d of June, 1875, and Delia 
M., on the 2d of October, 1880. Mr. Capes be- 
came a citizen of Pontiac Township in 1880, where 
he has since resided. His admirable farm consists 
of seventy acres of most excellent land, finely un- 
derdrained, and well cultivated. He has erected 
good and substantial buildings, and employs the 
most improved machinery in the cultivation of his 
farm. He acts with the Republican party, and has 
been four years Overseer of Highways in his road 
district. 

Mr. Capes and his wife are identified with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which they regularly 
attend. They are highly respected members of the 
community in which they live, and engage in all 
social and moral undertakings that are calculated 
for the improvement of themselves and neighbors. 
In their own affairs they have been signally suc- 
cessful, and not yet having reached the meridian 
of life, the future before them looks bright. They 
have learned that "where there is a will there is a 
way," and they have the will to yet accomplish 
much. 



J~ ACOB YOUNG. Some of the most stable 
and substantial citizens of this country have 
been contributed by Germany, and this is es- 
' pecially true of that portion of our country 
known as the boundless West, where magnificent 
farms have taken the place of the wilderness, and 
the wild prairies "blossom as the rose." The sub- 
ject of this sketch, a native of Bavaria, has done 
his part in this world of transformation, so far as 
one of the most beautiful portions of Illinois is 



concerned. He is a farmer and stock-raiser on sec- 
tion 33, Rook's Creek Township, and was born on 
the 29th of November, 1844, in Bavaria, the son of 
Henry and Margaret (VVirth) Young. 

Mr. Young arrived in this country on the llth 
of May, 1866, making the voyage across the ocean 
in the steamer "Pennsylvania," which required 
about fourteen days. He remained in New York 
while awaiting information concerning his relatives 
who had come to this country before him. Leav- 
ing New York, he went to La Salle County, 111., 
where he remained nearly seven years, six of which 
he spent as a hired man, and the seventh he worked 
for himself on a rented farm. On the 1st of Jan- 
uary, 1873, he left La Salle County and rented 
land near Pontiac, on which he remained five years, 
and then came to Rook's Creek Township, where 
he purchased 160 acres of land on section 33, and 
subsequently eighty more on section 34. On the 
9th of January, 1872, he was married to Mary 
Hensel, daughter of Christian and Annie (Hensel) 
Hensel, of La Salle County, who were natives of 
Wurtemberg, and came to this country in May, 
1867. Thej' are still living in La Salle County. 
Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, all living with their parents: Annie, born 
Oct. 28, 1872; Charles, born March 31, 1874; Ja- 
cob, born June 4, 1876; Christian, born July 12, 
1878; William, born Dec. 13, 1880; Mary, born 
Jan. 6, 1883; Henry, born Aug. 10, 1885. 

The father of Mr. Young was born in the year 
1819, the mother in 1816, and they were married, 
as nearly as Mr. Young can remember, about 1838. 
The state of the father's health disqualified him 
for military service, and he met his death by being 
struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a 
tree during a storm. Our subject was the youngest 
in a family of three children, the other two of 
whom are still living in Bavaria. The brother 
Henry was born in 1842, and has four children. 
His sister Catharina, born in 1839, married Peter 
Wirth, and has two children. The name of Mr. 
Young's grandfather was Michael Young, born 
about 1790, and was old enough to be a soldier in 
the French army under Napoleon. He avoided 
service in Russia by employing a substitute, which 
consumed all of his portion of his father's estate. ' 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



225 



He was a very rugged man physically, and lived to 
be eighty-six years of age, accumulating consider- 
able property. Mr. Young remembers seeing his 
great-grandfather, and of hearing him relate the 
details of procuring the release of his son from the 
army. The father-in-law of Mr. Young's grand- 
father, also named Young, was a wagon-maker by 
occupation, and a great hunter, fifty years of his life 
being devoted to the latter pastime as a business. 
He was born about 1760, and lived to be ninety-six 
years of age. 

Mrs. Jacob Young had five brothers and one sis- 
ter, their names being as follows: Christian, born 
in 1849; Fred, born in 1853; Christina, born in 
1857; Mary Gottlieb Walker; John, born in 1862; 
Gottlieb, born in 1865, and August, born in 1869. 
Her grandfather's name was Michael Hensel, who 
was born in 1791 and died in 1853, being sixty- 
two years of age. 

Mr. Young is not a party man. but in elections 
votes for the men he considers the most compe- 
tent to discharge the duties of the office. He is a 
member of the Lutheran Church. 




SEORGE ANDREWS, who is largely engaged 
in farming and stock-raising on section 29, 
Waldo Township, is a native of Lincoln- 
shire, England, which is one of the best known of 
the counties of that country. It excells in its agri- 
cultural products; its cattle, which are mostly 
Short-horn and attain a great weight; its sheep, 
which are famous for size and long wool; its fine 
horses, flue soil, and number and beauty of its 
ancient parish churches. Our subject was born on 
the 31st of May, 1848, his parents being James 
and Elizabeth (Plowright) Andrews. They came 
to this country when he was about seven years of 
age, landing in New York, and going at once to 
La Salle County, 111., where the father rented laud 
and lived for about two years. He then lived in 
Knox County for a time, then returned to La Salle 
County, and then went to Putnam County, where 
he remained two years. He then came to Livings- 
ton County in 1861, and purchased 160 acres of 
land, to which he after ward added 160 acres. 



At that time the chances for obtaining an educa- 
tion in Livingston County were very limited, and 
in the township in which our subject lived there 
were but two school-houses, and they were so far 
distant that a greater portion of the day was con- 
sumed in going to and fro. Besides, it was neces- 
sary to devote the greater portion of his time to 
work upon the farm. He managed, however, by 
close application to his studies during the time he 
was permitted to attend school, and at odd times, 
to secure a fair common-school education. At the 
age of twenty-one years he began doing for him- 
self, and engaged in working by the month for 
about one year, then rented ground of his father, 
which he began farming. This arrangement was 
continued with profit to himself until he was twen- 
ty-*ix years of age, when he purchased eighty acres 
of land, which he owned and farmed until 1883. 
In 1880 he bought another eighty acres, which he 
also sold in 1883, and purchased 200 acres, upon a 
portion of which bis house now stands, and the 
other portion is on section 32. 

On the 14th of December, 1876, Mr. Andrews 
was married to Mary J. Kingdon, daughter of 
Henry and Mary Ann (Hodge) Kingdon. To them 
have been born three children : Mary Elizabeth, 
born Oct. 31, 1878, died November 4 of the same 
year; Lillie Mabel, born May 19, 1880, .and Percy 
Henry, April 15, 1887. Mrs. Andrews was born 
on the 20th of August, 1856, in Peoria County, 
111. The father of Mr. Andrews was born in En- 
gland on the 5th of April, 1820, and died on the 
5th of August, 1883. He was a Republican in 
politics, and after becoming a citizen of this country 
took an active interest in political affairs. The 
mother of our subject was born in England in 
1825, and is still living in Gridley, 111. Our sub- 
ject is the third child in a family of fourteen, nine 
of whom are still living. Unlike his father, in 
political matters he is a Democrat. In the way of 
official positions he has held the office of Township 
Collector three years in succession, and was elected 
and re-elected as Road Commissioner. He is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Gridley, in which he is a Steward. 

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have surrounded them- 
selves with very many of the comforts of life, and 



226 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the home which they occupy is one of the pleasant- 
est in Waldo Township. The farm is well im- 
proved, being under-drained, and thorough!}' 
fenced. In their social relations with the people 
among whom they live they stand well, and enjoy 
the respect and esteem of all who know them. 




ERBERT F. ADAMS, one of the enterpris- 
ing and promising young business men of 
Livingston County, is a member of the firm 
of R. C. Adams & Son, general merchants, 
dealers in lumber, and proprietors of the Black- 
stone Creamer}'. He is a native of Livingston 
County, being born in Nevada Township Feb. 28, 
1861, and is the second son of R. C. Adams, whose 
biographical sketch appears on another page of this 
ALBUM. Our subject received a good education 
in the public schools in the town of Dwight, which 
he attended until eighteen years of age. At that 
time he began clerking in the banking house of 
D. McWilliams, of Dwight, and remained in that 
institution for about four years. After this he oc- 
cupied a trusted and confidential position in the 
bank of J. C. Hetzel, and at the end of one year, 
with another party he purchased this bank, and 
they conducted it one and one-half years, when he 
sold his interest to his partner and came to Black- 
stone, purchasing an interest in his present busi- 
ness in connection with his brother, Edwin F. They 
were associated together until the latter's death, 
which occurred in the terrible Chatsworth railroad 
disaster, on the morning of the 10th of August, 
1887. In 1886 they established the creamery 
business in Blackstone, which proved to be a very 
profitable adjunct to their other business. 

On May 27, 1885, Mr. Adams was married to 
Miss Mamie Bradford, who was born in Will 
County, 111., on the 29th of February, 1864. Her 
father was Chauncy Bradford, who was a native of 
Vermont and the lineal descendant of Gen. Will- 
iam Bradford, who came to America as a member 
of the Plymouth Colony, and was its second Gov- 
ernor. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams have been born 
two children, upon whom they have conferred the 
names of Jennie Olga and Catherine. 



The firm of R. C. Adams & Son is one of the 
best known in Livingston County, not only for the 
magnitude of its business, but for its business 
methods. It is prompt, reliable and enterprising 
in all its dealings with the people, and has estab- 
lished itself in their confidence. While the busi- 
iness in which they are engaged is remunerative to 
them, R. C. Adams & Son may be looked upon as 
public benefactors, in that 'they furnish a good, 
ready and cash market for the products of that 
section of the country. 



kUCAS H. BROWN is the proprietor of eighty 
acres of good land on section 35, in Rook's 
Creek Township, where he carries on farm- 
ing and stock-raising, and is known as a peaceable 
and law-abiding citizen. He is a native of this 
State, and the son of Henry O. and Margaret M. 
(Schonbeck) Brown, who were of German birth 
and parentage. Henry O. Brown was born in 1807, 
and the mother in 1816. They were married in 
1844, and came to this country in May, 1857, where 
the father died of lung fever. The mother married 
again, and of this union there was born one son, 
who is married and farming in this township. 

On their arrival in this country in 1857, the fam- 
ily of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown consisted of 
three children, and was increased in September of 
the same year by the birth of our subject. The 
eldest son, Henry, enlisted as a soldier in the Union 
army during the late war, and since the close of 
that struggle has never been heard from ; Frederick 
C. was twice married, is a painter by trade, and is 
now a resident of St. Louis; Anna H., the wife of 
G. Westermann, is the mother of six children, and 
a resident of Woodford County. 

Mr. Brown was educated in both English and 
German in the common schools, and with the ex- 
ception of a brief season spent at wagon-making, 
has followed agriculture all his life. When twenty- 
three years of age he purchased his present farm, 
which was then a tract of partially cultivated land, 
and he has made good improvements. Two years 
later, Sept. 24, 1882, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Lottie Frobish, at the residence of the 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






1 



bride's mother, in Rook's Creek Township. This 
union has resulted in the birth of two children, 
namely, Daisy, born Oct. 31, 1884, and Elbert C., 
Oct. 21, 1880. The parents of Mrs. Brown are J. 
Michael and Elizabeth (Konner) Frobish, the 
former a native of Germany, and the latter of 
Switzerland. They were married in Ohio. 



EDWIN F. ADAMS, deceased, formerly a mer- 
chant at Blackstone, was born in Nevada 
Township May 1 1, 1859, and was the oldest 
son of R. C. Adams (see sketch.) He received 
his early education in the public schools at Dwight, 
after which he advanced in his studies by attend- 
ance at the State University at Champaign. After 
completing his education at that institution he en- 
gaged as clerk in a drug-store in 1880, where he 
continued for three years. He then formed a part- 
nership with B. B. Dow, and rented a building at 
Blackstone, in which they began the business of 
general merchants. This firm continued in exist- 
ence until 1884, when he bought his partner's in- 
terest and conducted the business alone until 1885. 
He then sold an interest to his brother, H. F. 
Adams, with whom he was associated at the time 
of his death. On the morning of the 10th of 
August, 1887, he joined an excursion which was to 
run over the Toledo, Peoria & Western Road, from 
Peoria to Niagara Falls. Within a short time after 
boarding this train, and while running at the rate 
of forty miles an hour, it ran upon a bridge which 
had been partially destroyed by fire, and many of 
the cars were precipitated into the chasm be- 
low. The train being very much crowded at the 
time, many persons were either instantly killed or 
burned to death. Among those who lost their 
lives in this terrible disaster was the subject of this 
sketch. The Chatsworth railroad disaster has gone 
into history as one of the most destructive of 
human lives that has occurred in the annals 
of railroading. 

On the 7th of December, 1881, Mr. Adams was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Baker, who was born in 
Lebanon, Ind., in October, 1858. She is the daugh- 
ter of Nathan and Margaret Baker, of Dwight, 111. 



To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born two children 
Ethel and Harry. The widow is now living in 
Dwight. At the time of his death the subject of 
this sketch was one of the most promising young 
business men of Livingston County. He was thor- 
oughly fitted by education for business affairs, and 
his natural inclination led in that direction. His 
death, and the manner of it, was a terrible shock 
to his family and all who knew him. He had en- 
deared himself to the people among whom he lived, 
and will live long in their memories. The wife 
and orphaned children were the recipients of the 
tenderest and most heartfelt sympathy of relatives 
and friends. 



ATTIG, an industrious young farmer 
of Rook's Creek Township, occupies a snug 
homestead on section 34, comprising eighty 
acres of land, with a neat farm residence 
and the necessary out-buildings. He has spent his 
life thus far in the Prairie State, being a native of 
Woodford County, where his birth took place Nov. 
19, 1859. He has started out fairly for a young 
man, and is making good progress toward the es- 
tablishment of a permanent home and the accumu- 
lation of that which greatly assists in smoothing 
the rugged path of life. 

Mr. Attig is the son of German parents, who passed 
their youth in their native land, and emigrated to 
America after their marriage. Upon their arri- 
val in New York City they staid a few weeks, 
when they came West and remained residents of 
Woodford County until 1878. The father then 
removed to Rook's Creek Township, this county, 
and afterward to McLean County, where he still 
resides, near Chenoa. The parental household in- 
cluded eight children, of whom the record is as 
follows: Catherine, the eldest daughter, became 
the wife of John Snyder and is a resident of Mar- 
shall County ; Frederick married Miss Mary Trucke- 
miller, has two children, and is farming in Pontiac 
Township; John, our subject, is the third child; Sa- 
rah, Mrs. Frank Laschen, is the mother of two 
children and lives in Woodford County; William 
is unmarried and engaged in farming in Pontiac 



\ 



228 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Township; George, Maggie and Christopher re- 
main under the home roof. 

The subject of our notice was united in marriage 
with Miss Dorothea Salzman, March 4, 1886, the 
wedding taking place in Rook's Creek Township at 
the home of the bride's parents, Christopher and 
Mary Salzman, of whom a sketch will be found 
elsewhere in this ALBUM. The young people com- 
menced housekeeping at their present homestead, 
and have many friends in the community around 
them. 




THOMAS M. SPENCE. This gentleman 
ranks among the representative farmers 
and stock-growers of Rook's Creek Town- 
ship. He has been a resident of the western 
country about thirtj r years, and is of the opinion 
that it is about the finest locality in the world. He 
commenced life in Warren County, Ohio, Nov. 26, 
1846, aijd is the son of James and Lucinda (Shields) 
Spence, who emigrated from the Buckeye State to 
Illinois in 1855. They lived near Pontiac about 
two years, when they returned to Ohio and resided 
there until 1870. In the meantime occurred the out- 
break of the Rebellion and our subject, yet but a 
boy, ran away from home with a companion, Caleb 
Whittaker, and enlisted in an Ohio regiment, re- 
ceiving a bounty of about $600. He was as- 
signed to the 13th regiment of cavalry, and with 
his comrades marched to the front, meeting the 
enemy first at Petersburg, but not engaging in any 
serious conflict, as the war was nearing its close. 
He received an honorable discharge July 4, 1865, 
and returned to his home in Ohio, where he con- 
tinued until the death of his father, which occurred 
March 13, 1867. The following year he left home 
and engaged to work on a farm in Allen County 
six or seven months, at the expiration of which 
time, after a brief visit to his mother, he started 
for Illinois. He worked by the month in Shelby 
County about one year, when he came to Living- 
ston, where he concluded to remain. A year later 
he returned to Ohio for his mother, and they sub- 
sequently located a tract of land from a warrant 
which had been held by the maternal grandmother 
on account of the services of her husband in the 



War of 1812. This land is now included in the 
present home of Mr. Spence. 

Our subject, in 1873, returned to his native 
State, and was there married to one of the compan- 
ions of his childhood, Miss Hannah, daughter of 
James and Isabella (Martin) Walker, Sept. 10, 
1873. Of this union there has been one child 
only, a son, Franklin M., born Nov. 3, 1875. 

The subject of this sketch comes from excellent 
Pennsylvania stock, who afterward became resi- 
dents of Kentucky, where his father was born Feb. 
4, 1803. The maternal ancestors were also from 
the Keystone State, and the mother, Mrs. Lucinda 
Spence, was born in Ohio July 2, 1812. She was 
married to the father of our subject, Sept. 28, 
1841, and Thomas M. was the third child in a 
family of six sons all living, whose record is as fol- 
lows: William Preston, born Aug. 25, 1842, 
served in the Union army one year, married, and 
became the father of three children now living 
with him near Ft. Scott, Kan; his wife is dead. 
Robert Franklin was born April 7, 1844, and en- 
listed in the 4th Indiana Cavalry, serving two 
years and participating in several important bat- 
tles. He is married, has one child, and lives at 
Hazen, Ark.; Thomas M. is our subject; Calvin 
B., born Dec. 15, 1848, is married, has three chil- 
dren, and is a resident of Ft. Scott; James C., born 
March 2, 1851, is a resident of Kansas, and lives 
with his brother William near Ft. Scott; John L., 
born April 19, 1854, is unmarried, and continues 
on the old homestead in Rook's Creek Township. 

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Spence was 
born about 1756, and lived to be eighty-three 
years of age. He served three months in the War 
of 1812, and received from the Government a land 
warrant which his widow afterward sold. The lat- 
ter was born in 1771, and also lived to be eighty- 
three years old. Grandfather Shields was born in 
1776, and died in 1846, being seventy years of age. 
His wife survived him eighteen years, her death 
taking place in 1864, when she was eighty -six years 
of age. 

.Mrs. Spence was the third child in a family of 
six, and was born in Ohio, June 1, 1841. Her 
brothers and sisters, the most of whom are in 
Warren County, Ohio, were named respect! vely, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



229 






Mary, Sarah. Jane M., Samuel B. and Martin, and 
a half-brother, Scott Walker. Her father, James 
Walker, was born March 8, 1809, of Pennsylvania 
parents and ancestry; he died in July, 1879. The 
mother was horn April 16, 1810, and went with her 
parents to Ohio when a child eight years of age. 
They were married Dec. 25, 1834, and the mother 
passed away at her home in Warren County, Ohio, 
in 1857. 



J""j OSEPH A. BROWN, attorney-at-law, is one 
I of the rising young members of the legal 
profession at Pontiac, where he commenced 
' practice July 22, 1884. He has been suc- 
cessful thus far and bids fair to become prominent 
as an attorney and counselor. Mr. Brown was 
born in Warren County, Ind., Oct. 14, 1851, and 
is the son of Joseph A. and Mary J. (Myers) 
Brown, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. 
His father was a merchant of many years' standing, 
and departed this life at his home in Indianapolis 
in 1856, leaving a wife and two children, Henry 
F., now a resident of Arizona, where he is engaged 
in mining, and the subject of our sketch. The 
maternal grandparents of our subject were Will- 
iam and Annie (Buckels) Myers, natives of Ohio. 
After their marriage the}' emigrated to Indiana 
during the pioneer days of Warren County, where 
the father opened up a home in the wilderness and 
became a prominent citizen. The father of Annie 
Buckels was Abram Buckels, who served as a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and spent his last years 
in Warren County. 

The subject of this history was reared on a farm 
in Warren and Benton Counties, Ind., and con- 
tinued with his mother until twenty years of age, 
receiving a practical education in the common 
schools. He afterward taught school in his native 
county five months, and the next year operated a 
farm on shares. The following winter was again 
spent in teaching, and in the spring of 1873 he en- 
tered upon a classical course of studies in Wabash 
College, in Montgomery County, Ind., where he re- 
mained for five years, then pursuing the same course 
of studies for one year longer in Butler University 



at Indianapolis, Ind., from which institution he was 
graduated in the classical course in June, 1879; 
then taught school the next three years in Indiana. 
The total expenses of his six years' college course 
were defrayed by our subject with money earned 
by him before commencing the course and during 
college vacations. He came to Illinois in the fall 
of 1882, and was appointed Superintendent of 
Fairbury schools in this county, and acted as such 
for one year. In July, 1883, he crossed the Missis- 
sippi. He had heretofore employed his leisure 
time in reading law, and now entered the law 
school at Iowa City, where he was graduated after 
a year's studj', and thence returned to this county 
and commenced the practice of his profession 
July 22, 1884. Politically he is a decided Repub- 
lican, and took an active part in the Presidential 
campaign of 1884, by stumping nearly every 
township in Livingston County. 

Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss 
Laura E. St. John, of this county, Dec. 29, 1881, 
at the home of the bride in Eppard's Point Town- 
ship. Mrs. Brown was born July 18, 1859, and is 
the daughter of John and Emma St. John, natives 
of Ohio, and residents of Illinois since 1851 or 
1852. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have one child, a son, 
St. John Loyd, born Dee. 9, 1883, at Iowa City, 
Iowa. 



ERNEST F. PIERCE. In a town the size of 
Graymont, the man who occupies the posi- 
tions of Postmaster, Freight, Ticket and 
Express Agent, and telegraph operator, comes 
very nearly having business transactions with every 
man, woman and child in the territory adjacent to 
the place. This is the case with the subject of this 
sketch, who is now serving in all the capacities 
named. He is the son of James H. and Rachel 
(Reed) Pierce, and was born in LaSalle County, 111. 
At the age of ten years he accompanied his father 
when he moved to Clifton, and engaged in the 
hardware and tinware business, being a tinner by 
trade. While living in Clifton, oar subject learned 
telegraphy in the railroad office at that place, and 
commenced working in the office at the age of 
nineteen. In 1879 and 1880 he was employed in 




230 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the switching yard at Oilman, when in the fall of 
1880 he took charge of the office at Graymont, 
where he has since remained, and was also ap- 
pointed Postmaster in the spring of 1882. 

Mr. Pierce was married, on the 27th of April, 
1882, to Miss Sarah Beardslee, daughter of Smilie 
R. and Ruth (Hebron) Beardslee, of Clifton. 111., 
the ceremony being performed by George F. 
Weekes. To them was born a daughter on the 2d 
of January, 1887, upon whom ]they conferred the ! 
name of Ruth. Mr. Pierce is the oldest child in a 
family of six, the others being: Clara, Mrs. Bluford 
L. Starkey, living in Piano, Tulare Co., Cal. ; Harvey 
C. married Mary Brault, has two children, and 
lives in Alleyton, Mich. ; Albert II., unmarried, 
and lives with his father in Saugatuck, Mich. ; 
Flora and Archie R., unmarried, live at home. Mr. 
Pierce's father was born in Massachusetts on the 
18th of March, 1825; his mother was born near 
Harper's Ferry, but whether in Maryland or Vir- 
ginia, Mr. Pierce does not know, as she lived in 
both those States when a child. She came to Illi- 
nois with her parents when about fifteen years of 
age, and in La Salle County Mr. Pierce's father 
became, acquainted with her, and there they were 
married. The paternal ancestors came over in the 
Mayflower; the maternal ancestors were of German 
descent. Mr. Pierce's wife is the second child in a 
family of eight, the others being: Laura E., Mrs. 
Selva Beebe. has five children and lives in Ells- 
worth County, Kan.; Emma J., Mrs. Edmund A. 
Gardner, lives near Clifton, 111., having one child, 
a boy; Alice C., Mrs. Byron Osborne, has two 
children, and lives in Linn County, Kan.; William 
R., unmarried, lives in Clifton, 111.; Frank S., un- 
married, lives with his parents; Arthur S. married 
Rachel Hall, and lives at Ashkum, 111; George M., 
unmarried, lives at home. 

The father of Mrs. Pierce was born in New York 
on the 4th of November, 1824, and accompanied 
his parents when they moved to Michigan when he 
was ten or twelve years of age. Her mother was 
born in England on the 1st of April, 1829, and 
came with her parents to America when she was 
two years of age. They located in Michigan, 
where in childhood she became acquainted and 
went to school with the boy who afterward became 




her husband, on the 25th of December, 1849. Her 
maternal grandfather, William Hebron, lived to 
be quite old, and died in 1857. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, to "which they each 
attached themselves at the age of sixteen. Mr. 
Pierce is a Republican in politics, casting his first 
vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 187G. He was 
appointed to the office of Postmaster under a 
Republican administration, and has conducted the 
office with such complete satisfaction to the people 
that no disposition has been manifested to displace 
him since the advent of a Democratic administra- 
tion. 



lENJAMIN F. COLEHOWER, dealer in gen- 
eral merchandise at Long Point, is one of 
the most promising young business men of 
the place, and already the possessor of a 
good property. This includes his store building 
and the two lots on which it is located, besides 
three lots elsewhere, and a two-fifths interest in the 
Masonic Hall. He is wide-awake and energetic, 
one of those men who believe that the building up 
of his town is as much a credit to the citizens there- 
of as the building up of their own personal inter- 
ests. He is accordingly interested in whatever per- 
tains to the prosperity of Long Point, and is re- 
garded as one of its most valued citizens. 

Mr. Colehower is a native of this State, being 
born in Peoria County, Sept. 22, 1854. Of his 
parents,"John and Elizabeth Colehower, a sketch 
will be found elsewhere in this Ai.nr.v. Benjamin 
F. received a good education, and at an early age 
gained a good insight into business methods, and 
began to lay his plans for the future. He wa> first 
employed at Long Point, and established his present 
business in 1882. He began in a modest manner, 
and increased his stock by degrees as he became 
known, and there sprang up around him a good 
patronage from the best residents of this section. 
When the time came that he felt justified in taking 
upon himself the responsibilities of a family, he was 
united in marriage with the lady of his choice, Mi-- 
Jennie Phillips, who was born in Marshall Count}', 
111., Feb. 24, 1858, and is the daughter of James B. 



f 



RESIDENCE or G.W. BLACKWELL.SEC.SS.CHARLOTTEIOWNSHIP. 




RESIDENCE OTTHE LATE BENNET. HUMISTON,PONTIAC. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



233 



and Sarah (Clifford) Phillips, natives of Ohio, and 
now residents of Nebraska. The little household 
has been brightened by the birth of one child, Leah 
Blanche, born Jan. 30, 1877. They occupy a neat 
residence on Fourth street, and enjoy the society 
and friendship of a large circle of acquaintances. 



^Jl OHN R. CAPES. This country is just now 
passing through a period of transformation. 
The generation of ante-bellum days is pass- 
ing away, and is being replaced by a gener- 
ation of men and women who date their birth dur- 
ing and since the War period. This new'generation 
is one from which much can be expected, for it 
partakes of the new life which received its birth 
and impetus when the nation started on its new era 
of prosperity at the death of slavery. The man 
who was born early in the sixties, and has become 
anchored in the affairs of life is amply able to fill 
the place in the stirring world of to-day left vacant 
by any one of the old generation. Among those 
who have come upon the stage of action with the 
incoming of the new era is the subject of this 
sketch, who is a representative young farmer and 
stock-raiser on section 32 of Pontiac Township, 
and a native of Tazewell County, 111., where he was 
born on the 30th of August, I860, the son of Wil- 
loughby and Elizabeth (Milner) Capes, of Pike 
Township,] Livingston County. His parents are 
natives of England, who came to Livingston 
County in 1863 and settled in Pike Township, 
where they still reside. A large family of children 
was born to them, of whom the following are sur- 
vivors: Charles, of Pontiac; Hannah, Mrs. John 
Crabb, of Pike Township; George, of Livingston 
County ; Jennie, Mrs. J. Mott, of McLean County ; 
David; Louie, Mrs. George Crow, of Pike Town- 
ship; Sarah, Mrs. Herman Baxter, of Pontiac 
Township, and John R. and William, also of Pon- 
tiac. The parents were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and widely known as devoutly 
religious people. 

John R. Capes has lived on a farm all his life, 
and in his youth received a rudimentary education 
in the district schools. For the past ten years, in 



addition to his occupation as a farmer, he has en- 
gaged in threshing, in which business he has been 
quite successful. He was married Nov. 4, 1879, 
to Miss Annie Kirkpa trick, daughter of G. L. Kirk- 
patrick, of Kansas, and they have had three chil- 
dren: George E. ; Olive F., deceased, and Elsie M. 
Mr. Capes owns eighty acres of land, which he suc- 
cessfully cultivates. He takes a lively interest in 
political affairs, and in all such contests casts his 
influence and vote with the Republican party. He 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and take a warm interest, not only in 
church affairs, but in all matters which tend to the 
elevation of the people. 



x^g\\ YRUS G. BARR, grain dealer and farmer, of 
if! Nevada Township, was born in Bethel, Clarke 
^^ Co., Ohio, Sept. 11, 1838. His father, 
Jacob Barr, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and 
his grandfather, also named Jacob Barr, was a na- 
tive of Germany, who came to America and settled 
in Lancaster County, where he died. The father 
was reared and married in Lancaster County, and 
after marriage went to Clarke County, Ohio, pur- 
chasing a farm in Bethel Township, where he re- 
sided all the last years of his life, and died in 1847. 
The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our 
subject, was Christiana Barr, but no relation of her 
husband, although bearing the same name. She 
died before her husband, on the old homestead. 
To them were born ten children, eight of whom 
grew to man and womanhood. 

The subject of our sketch was the seventh child 
of his parents' family, and was but six years old 
when his mother died, and his father's death took 
place three years later. He then went to live with 
James Lamb, in Clarke County, Ohio, with whom 
he remained until he was fourteen years of age, and 
then engaged in farm work in the same county at 
$6.25 per month. In 1856 he came to Illinois, and 
on the 1st of April of that year he purchased the 
place where he now resides, paying for the land the 
sum of $7.25 per acre. It was a tract of wild, un- 
broken prairie, over which deer and other wild ani- 
mals and game roamed at will. After buying this 






234 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



land he went to Ohio, where he spent the winter, 
and in the spring of 1857 returned to Illinois and be- 
gan the improvement of his farm. He first erected 
a house, 12x12 feet, which he occupied, perform- 
ing his own housework up to the date of his mar- 
riage. He devoted his entire time to the improve- 
ment of the farm until 1881, when he went to 
Mansfield and engaged in the grain business one 
year; lie then resumed farming until 1885, in 
which year he returned to Mansfield, and has since 
been engaged in the grain business, leaving the act- 
ive management of the farm to his sons. 

On the llth of September, 18G1, Mr. Barr was 
married to Keziah Morrison, who was born in Phil- 
lips, Me., Jan. 4, 1844. Her father, Stephen Morri- 
son, was a native of the same State, where he was 
reared on a farm, and when a young man went to 
Lowell, Mass., and married there; afterward he re- 
turned to Maine, where he resided for three or four 
years, and then went back to Lowell. In 1848 he 
went to East Livermore, Me., and bought a farm, 
upon which he lived until 185C, in which year he 
moved to Illinois, and settled in DeKalb County, 
where he remained until the spring of 1857, at 
which time he moved to Livingston County, and 
settled in what is now Nevada Township. He pur- 
chased land on section 10, where he resided for a 
number of years, and then moved to Dwight, where 
he lived in retirement from active business during 
the last years of his life. He died in Dwiglit in 
July, 1876. The maiden name of his wife was 
Lydia Hanson, who was born about 1818, and grew 
to womanhood in Vermont. She is still living, and 
resides in Dwight. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Barr have been born six chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows: David E., 
Charles W., Josiah II., Susan A.. Minnie E. and 
Lj'dia E. Mr. and Mrs. Barr are both active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in its 
affairs take much interest. To the necessities of 
the church they are liberal givers, and in all good 
works which may result in the benefit of the pub- 
lic, they participate active^'. In politics Mr. Barr 
is a Republican, and casts his vote and uses his in- 
fluence for pure nominations and a higher standard 
of morals in the contest for preferment. He has 
filled various offices of trust and honor in his town- 




ship, and always to the satisfaction of the people, 
and credit to himself. He is a gentleman of pleas- 
ant and affable manner, and makes friends readily 
wherever he goes He is one of those persons 
whom it is a pleasure to meet upon any and all oc- 
casions. 

TEPHEN D. EWING. The "middle man" 
sustains an important position between the 
producer and the market, and in the in- 
stance of the subject of this sketch, he bears 
that relation in a dual capacity, buying the prod- 
ucts of the farm, and forwarding them to the 
market, and on the other hand, handling the prod- 
ucts of the manufacturer, and finding a market 
for them among the producers of grain. He is a 
grain buj'er and shipper, and dealer in agricultural 
implements, coal and tile, at Graymont, 111. He is 
the son of John and Elizabeth (Bowers) Ewing, and 
was born on the 22d of September, 1862, on section 
9, Pike Township, Livingston County. The days 
of his boyhood were spent upon a farm, and such 
education as he obtained was in the common schools. 
He remained on the farm with his parents until he 
was about twenty-two years of age. 

On the 3d of July, 1 884, Mr. Ewing was married 
to Nettie L. Crow, daughter of William and Mary 
(Plummer) Crow, whose sketch is given in another 
part of this Ai.Bor. They have one child, born on 
the 2d of June, 1886, upon whom has been con- 
ferred the name of Lester C. Soon after marriage 
Mr. Ewing moved to Graymont, where he engaged 
in buying grain for his father-in-law, William Crow, 
in whose employ he remained about two years, 
when Mr. Crow's lease of the elevator expired, and 
it was leased to Hamlin. Congdon & Co., who re- 
tained Mr. Ewing in their employ, and entrusted 
to him the management of their affairs. On the 
1st of August, 1887, the firm style was changed to 
Middle Division Elevator Company, and he was 
still continued in the employ of that company. 

Mr. Ewing is the seventh in a family of eight 
children, whose names are as follows: Mary E., 
who was born Sept. 17, 1844, married Richard Mc- 
Millan, and they live in Esmen Township; Rosella, 
born Nov. 9, 1847, married Robert Ralston, has 





t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



235 , ,) 



five children, and lives in Thayer County, Neb.; 
Aurelius McCurdy, who was born Dec. 13, 1850. 
married Frances Tracy ; they have five children, 
and live in Chicago. James Loren, born July 2, 
1853, married Mary H. Tracy, has three children, 
and lives in Pike Township; George W., born Oct. 
23, 1856, died March 3, 1874, and is buried in 
Pike Township graveyard; Laura Matilda, born 
March 11, 1859; Stephen, our subject; and Will- 
iam C., born Feb. 12\ 1865. The parents of Mr. 
Ewing were born in Ohio, the father on the 29th of 
September, 1820, and the mother on the 25th of 
April, 1824. They were married on the 1st of 
December, 1842, and came to Illinois in 1862, ar- 
riving on the 1st of March, and locating on section 
9, where they remained until 1863, when they re- 
moved to their present home on section 4, consist- 
ing of a half section, and 240 acres on section 5. 



1SAAC RAMY JOHNSTON. The people who 
have more to do with shaping the destiny of 
the country than any other class are the edu- 
cators of the children. It is they who first mold 
into shape the thoughts of the child when the book 
of life is first opened to it. On these educators 
depends largely the status of the rising generation, 
and great responsibilities rest upon them. No 
matter how humble the teacher may be, nor how 
obscure his locality, wherever it is he is the great 
factor in shaping the new generation for its duties 
in life. To the grand army of educators belongs 
the subject of this sketch. He is the teacher of the 
school at Graymont, 111. 

Mr. Johnston is the son of Adam Mitchell and 
Lydia C. (Teachenor) Johnston, and was born in 
Adams County, Ohio, on the 9th of January, 1851. 
His father was a cooper by occupation, and lived 
in Manchester, Ohio. At a time when Mr. John- 
ston was about ten years of age he came with his 
father to a little village called Fairview. Although 
his educational opportunities were very limited his 
diligence secured him a good common-school edu- 
cation, and at twelve years of age he entered 
his father's shop for the purpose of learning the 
trade of a cooper, at which he worked for about 



four years. His father then moved to Missouri, 
where he engaged in school teaching, and Mr. 
Johnston was enabled to attend school for one 
year, after which he labored on a farm for one 
year in the employ of his father, and for about two 
years he worked by the month, giving to his father 
the money he thus earned. Shortly after he was 
twenty-one years of age he accumulated money 
with which to purchase a horse and wagon, and 
renting a farm commenced business for himself. 

On the 10th of February, 1875, Mr. Johnston 
was married, by Rev. J. H. Polandor, to Miss Laura 
Frances Stretch, daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Lupton) Stretch, of Lewis County, Mo., 
formerly of Clinton County, Ohio. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Johnston remained one year in Missouri, 
and then moved to Livingston County by wagon, 
where he arrived in January, 1876, and rented a 
farm south of Pontiac. On account of the exces- 
sive rains of that year his crop was an entire fail- 
ure, but he tried farming one year more and was 
reasonably successful. In the month of Septem- 
ber, that year, he began school teaching, in which 
profession he has been more or less engaged ever 
since. In 1882 he was appointed Treasurer of the 
School Fund, a position which he has held ever 
since. In 1879 he was appointed Town Clerk, to 
fill a vacancy, and was afterward elected five 
times in succession. In 1885 and 1887 he was 
elected Assessor. Mr. Johnston is a Republican, 
and cast his first vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. When 
eleven years of age he became a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, but his actual con- 
version did not occur until his sixteenth year. He 
lived a consistent Christian life for several years, 
but finally became indifferent and lukewarm, and 
was not re-awakened to his condition until 1885, 
at a meeting held by the Free Holiness Evangelists, 
since which time he has been a believer in the 
doctrines taught by that church. 

Mr. Johnston's parents were born in Ohio. His 
father is of Irish descent, and his mother is of 
Scotch origin. They were married in 1 848, and 
now reside in Wilson County, Kan. They had 
a family of seven children, as follows : Sarah 
Ann married William Emerson ; they have three 
children, and live in Red Willow County, Neb. 



236 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Isaac R., the subject of this sketch; Frances E., un- 
married; John Mitchell, unmarried; Mary Agnes 
married Charles Newton, and has one child; George 
Wilbur, unmarried, and Wiley II., all live in Wil- 
son County, Kan. There is an adopted sister named 
Maud, who lives with his parents. 

Mrs. Johnston is the second child in a family of 
nine, one of whom died in infancy, and seven are 
still living: Mary Ann married Zacharias Clifton, 
and died in 1877; Laura Frances, Lewis Albert; 
Mary has three children, and lives in Shelby Countj^, 
Mo.; Marion Alonzo, married, is an evangelist and 
sings at the Holiness meetings; Alice Catherine 
married Brice Holbart, has three children, and lives 
in Lewis County, Mo. ; John William, unmar- 
ried, and lives in Kansas; Cora May, unmarried, 
and lives in Lewis County, Mo.; Mary Emma, un- 
married, and lives in Lewis County, Mo. Mrs. 
Johnston's father was of German descent, and the 
ancestors of her mother were Irish. Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnston have had four children, as follows: Mary 
Emily, born Dec. 6, 1876; Rainy, born March 8, 
1881, and died in infancy; Marion Reno, born 
June 30, 1884; Clarence Wilbur, May 27, 1886. 

In educational matters Mr. Johnston is an en- 
thusiast, and he and his wife both take a very 
ardent interest in everything pertaining to the 
profession. As a teacher he is popular, both with 
pupils and parents, and his school is a model for 
its discipline and perfect system of conduct. 



eHRISTOPH SALZMAN, a thrifty German 
farmer of Rook's Creek Township, owns 
eighty acres of good land which he has cul- 
tivated successfully for the last eighteen years, and 
upon which he has erected a substantial and com- 
fortable residence, a good barn and all the build- 
ings required by the intelligent agriculturist. He 
is held in respect as a useful member of the com- 
munity, and for the last ten years has served as 
School Director, although he would prefer to attend 
strictly to his farming affairs without being the in- 
cumbent of any office. He is a native of the 
Fatherland, and after becoming a naturalized citi- 
zen cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham 



Lincoln, whom he saw and heard speak at Havana 
at the time he was candidate for Senator. 

Our subject was born in the Province of Saxe 
Weimar, Germany, Jan. 23, 1835, and is the son of 
Christopher and Dorothea (Schwinger) Salzman, 
also of German birth and parentage, who spent their 
entire lives in their native land. The mother died 
while a young woman, when our subject was but 
three or four weeks old. He was then taken by 
his maternal grandparents, Johannes and Anna 
Elizabeth (Tuchscha) Schwinger, and when a 
young man accompanied them to the United States. 
His grandfather died at Cape Girardeau while en 
route for St. Louis, while the steamer was blockaded 
by ice. Grandmother Schwinger survived her hus- 
band several years, and came to Mason County, 
111., where her death took place in the spring of 
1856. The father of our subject married a second 
time and reared quite a large family, all of whom 
remained in Germany. 

Mr. Salzman, upon coming to this country in 
1 853, landed in the city of New Orleans, whence 
he at once proceeded to Havana, 111., where he 
worked on a farm about three years, and was after- 
ward employed in the store of Walker & Hancock 
four years. He was married, March 13, 1862, to 
Miss Mary Schmale, and soon afterward rented a 
tract of land in Mason County, where he carried 
on farming four years. Then going to Havana he 
took a clerkship under J. W. Jones, which he held 
two years, when he decided to return to rural pur- 
suits, and in 1869 located upon his present farm. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Salzman there have been born 
nine children, as follows: The eldest son, William 
Henr}', born Dec. 28, 1862, remains at home with 
his parents; Dorothea, born Dec. 18, 1864, is the 
wife of John Attig, a fanner of Rook's Creek Town- 
ship, and the mother of one child; Frederick, born 
Oct. 19, 1866, remains at home with his (parents; 
George Louis, born April 30, 1869; Maria Louisa, 
Jan. 9, 1872; Sophia E., Oct. 20, 1874; Albert, 
April 2, 1877; Anna C., Jan. 15, 1880, and Emma 
L., March 20, 1882. 

Mrs. Salzman is the daughter of William and 
Sophia (Bulks) Schmale. Her father was born 
about 1807 and died Aug. 28, 1855. The mother 
was born May 4, 1805, and died Aug. 28, 1877. 



. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



237 



They were married about 1835-36. Mrs. S. was 
the second child of four children who all lived to 
years of maturity. Her sister Catherine died when 
twenty-one years old. Henry married Mrs. Nancy 
(Schwartz) Bohlander, has two children, and is 
farming in Rook's Creek Township. Louisa, Mrs. 
Louis Zelle, is the mother of eight children, and 
lives in Havana, where her husband is engaged in 
the grocery trade. Mrs. S. has a faint recollection of 
her paternal grandmother, who lived to be quite 
aged. 

Mr. Salzman is a member in good standing of 
the German Lutheran Church, and has inherited 
the praiseworthy qualities of a long line of substan- 
tial German ancestry. 




H.K NTON G. JACOBS, a prosperous German 
Ol farmer of Rook's Creek Township, owns 



nearly 300 acres of valuable land on sec- 
tion 34, which is thoroughly drained with 
tile and provided with a substantial residence, a 
good barn, ample corn cribs, and a fine assortment 
of live-stock, including cattle, horses and swine. 
Mr. J. has been largely dependent upon his own 
resources since starting out in life, and his posses- 
sions are mainly the result of his own industry. 
His time has been principally employed in attend- 
ing to his own concerns, and the result has been 
very satisfactory. He is independent in politics, 
has never been an office-seeker, and is a member 
in good standing of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Jacobs was born in the Province of Hanover, 
Germany, Jan. 10, 1845, and is the son of Anton 
G. and Mary (Rebelf) Jacobs, natives of the same 
country. They emigrated to America in 1855, 
and proceeding directly westward, took up their 
residence first in Peoria, on the 28th of June, 
whence they removed the following month to 
Woodford County, where the father purchased the 
farm on which he still resides. He is a gentleman 
who appreciates the advantages of education, and 
left his native land for the sake of his children, 
who he considered would have better advantages, 
both socially and financially, in the New World. 



He had himself been fairly educated in his native 
tongue, and pursued his studies after coming to 
this country. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob 
Harmon Jacobs, died in the Fatherland about 1851. 
The grandmother, who was born about 1783, sur- 
vived her husband several years, and died in her 
native Province when about ninety-four years old. 
Her family is of German ancestry, as far back as 
our subject has any record. Mr. Jacobs was the 
fifth cliild in fi family of seven, who lived to mature 
years: Henrietta was married, and died childless; 
Lamert, married and the father of three girls, lives 
in Woodford County ; Mary, Mrs. Fritz Zachgo, is 
the mother of nine or ten children, and a resident 
of McLean County ; Margaret married John Will- 
iams, of Woodford County, and has five children ; 
Catherine, the wife of Christian Reiner, has four 
children and lives in Ohio. 

Mr. Jacobs remained on his father's homestead 
until twenty-three years of age, when he was mar- 
ried, Jan. 7, 1868, to Miss Mary, daughter of Al- 
bert E. and Mary W. (Eadler) Sathoff, natives of 
Germany, who emigrated to the United States in 
1857, when their daughter Mary was seven years 
of age. Mrs. Jacobs was born Jan. 4, 1850, and 
was the seventh in a family of eight children. 
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs settled 
down on a farm in Woodruff County, where they 
remained seven years, when they removed to Ben- 
son, and in 1881 took possession of a part of their 
present homestead. Mr. J. first purchased 160 
acres, to which he afterward added 126 more. 
Upon this he has effected fine improvements, build- 
ing up a country home which is the admiration of 
all who pass by it. The household circle includes 
nine children, all at home with their parents. The 
eldest son, Jacob Harmon, named after his pater- 
nal great-grandfather, was born Nov. 7, 1868; 
Mary, Oct. 31, 1870; Albert E., Aug. 16, 1872; 
Anton E., May 12, 1874; Henrietta C., Aug. 18. 
1876; Gesena, Dec. 1, 1878; John M., Nov. 10, 
1880; Hajo E., June 8, 1882; Bennett L., July 13. 
1886. 

The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Jacobs are re- 
corded as follows : Bena was married in early man- 
hood, and followed the sea, being Captain of a sail- 



> 









238 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ing-vessel; their home was in Germany, where his 
wife died in 1885, leaving four children. John is 
married, has three children, and lives in Kansas; 
Jesina, Mrs. Eddie Woltzen, has four children and 
lives in Woodford County; Bernardino, Mrs. Al- 
bert Woltzen, has thirteen children, and is also a 
resident of Woodford County; Hajo married Miss 
Phebe Franks, has seven children, and lives in Mc- 
Lean County ; Albert E., married, and. the father 
of six children, lives in Woodford County. 



D' 



UDOLPH EISELE. Lying on section 17, 
Rook's Creek Township, is one of the most 
valuable farms of that locality, the cultiva- 
tion of which has been in the skillful hands 
of the subject of our sketch. He comes of excel- 
lent German stock, and is a typical representative 
of that reliable element to which the West is so 
largely indebted for its development and progress. 
The fair prairies of Illinois are dotted all over with ! 
the substantial homesteads of the men who left their 
native land to seek their fortunes in the New World, ' 
the great advantages of which they had heard in 
their homes across the water. 

The subject of our sketch was born in Germany 
on the 17th of April, 1828, his parents being Jasper 
Eisele and Catherine (Rosebaum) Eisele, who came ! 
to this country in 1852, landing in New York, i 
where they remained three years, and then removed ' 
to Virginia, residing there for three years. He at- 
tended school for eight years in Germany, as is re- 
quired by the compulsory education law of that 
country. Being of a studious nature, he made rapid 
progress in his studies, in which he became quite 
proficient. From Virginia Mr. Eisele came West, 
locating at Peoria, where he spent a portion of his 
time on a farm, after which he came to Livingston 
County, where he purchased 160 acres of land. 
Mr. Eisele was married in New York, in 1856, to 
Elizabeth Keck, and to them have been born seven 
children: Elizabeth died in infantry; Minnie, Mrs. 
Joseph Webber, lives in Livingston County; John 
married Miss H. S. Fugar, and lives in Rook's Creek 
Township; Elizabeth resides with her parents; Ru- 




dolph and David are twins, born in 1868, and live 
at home; Mary Ann, the youngest, lives at home 
also. During the war of the Rebellion he served 
for six months in the Union army. On account of 
disability incurred in the service, he has asked the 
Government to grant him a pension, but his applica- 
tion has not yet been finally passed upon. 

Mr. Eisele is an enterprising and energetic far- 
mer, and takes considerable pride in the amount and 
quality of live stock that he raises. His farm is 
under a high state of cultivation, and he has erected 
suitable buildings for the care of his crops, and the 
shelter of his domestic animals. He has a comfort- 
able home, with pleasant and agreeable surround- 
ings, and enjoys the esteem and respect of all his 
neighbors. 



EORGE K. HOKE, one of the youngest men 
engaged in business upon his own account 
in Union Township, is successfully farming 
and raising stock on section 17. He is a native of 
Livingston County, and Union Township, and was 
born in the house he now lives in on the 17th of 
December, 1862, and was the fifth in a family of 
seven children born to Samuel and Laura (Kenney) 
Hoke, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and a 
history of whom appears in another place in this 
ALBUM. 

The subject of this sketch was reared wholly to 
farm life, for which he developed considerable apt- 
ness early in youth. The winters of his boyhood 
were devoted to attending the common schools, 
and he received a very fair education. At the age 
of twenty-two years he concluded to try his fort- 
unes in the West, and proceeded to Lincoln, Neb., 
where he engaged on a ranch with the famous Buf- 
falo Bill. He was not well pleased with that coun- 
try, however, and soon returned to Illinois, where 
he concluded to remain permanently. He began 
farming for himself on the home place, where he 
has continued until the present time. 

February 10, 1887, Mr. lloke was married to 
Emma J. Tanquarry, second child in a family of 
seven born to Levi and Sarah R. (Mead) Tanquarry, 
natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. Mrs. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



239 



Hoke's grandparents were William and Elizabeth 
(Shackleford) Tanquarry, .natives of Ohio, and her 
maternal grandparents were George W. and Lydia 
(Perkins) Mead, natives of Ohio. The parents of 
Mrs. Hoke came to Livingston County in 1867, 
and settled on a farm about ten miles west of Pon- 
tiac, where they resided until the death of the 
father, which occurred June 12, 1874. The mother 
still survives, and lives at Pontiac. Levi Tan- 
quarry, the father of Mrs. Hoke, served in the 
Union army for a time, but his health became so 
badly impaired that he was compelled to accept a 
discharge and return home. He was a member of 
the Methodist Church during his whole life, and 
was a Christian in every sense of the word. He 
was largely identified with all the progressive strides 
made by Livingston County. For very many 
years he was a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and religiously carried out its principles. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoke have settled on the farm lo- 
cated on section 17, where they expect to make 
their permanent home, and will expend their best 
energies in surrounding themselves with all the 
comforts and conveniences obtainable. Mr. Hoke 
is not much interested in political matters, and pro- 
poses to leave politics to the care of politicians, 
while he will devote his entire time to the affairs of 
his farm. Mrs. Hoke is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which she takes an active 
part, and they are both earnest workers in the 
cause of temperance. 




iHOMAS C. KIDDER. This gentleman's 
farm, pleasantly located on section 25 in 
Rook's Creek Township, comprises a valua- 
ble tract of eighty acres of land, provided with a 
good residence and all suitable buildings. This to 
him is all the more valuable because it was the 
homestead of his father, who settled here upon his 
arrival in this county about 1856. Mr. K., in ad- 
dition to general farming has given much attention 
of late years to stock-raising, in which he has met 
with success. 

Mr. Kidder is a native of the Prairie State, hav- 
ing been born in La Salle County, Feb. 9, 1850. 



His parents, Abel C. and Nancy (Chamberlain) 
Kidder, were natives respectively of Vermont and 
Massachusetts, the father born in 1800 and the 
mother in 1814. They subsequently became resi- 
dents of Ohio, whence they removed to this State 
at an earl}' day and shared with the pioneers of 
that time the hardships and dangers incident to life 
in a new settlement. Abel Kidder departed this 
life at his home in Rook's Creek Township, in 18G8, 
and the mother Jan. 27, 1882. 

Our subject after the death of his father took 
charge of the homestead, upon which he has since 
remained, effecting many improvements as the 
years have passed by. To this home he brought a 
bride in 1871, namely Miss Alice B. Cook, whom 
he married November 30 of that year. They have 
no children. Mrs. Kidder is-the daughter of Mic.ijah 
and Elizabeth (Lewis) Cook, and the twelfth in a 
family of thirteen children, eight of whom are liv- 
ing. She was born March 4, 1850. Micajah Cook 
was born in Virginia, Feb. 27, 1808, and his wife, 
Elizabeth, in Kentucky, Feb. 16, 1809. They were 
married Nov. 3, 1829, and made their home in 
Fayette County, Ky., until their removal to Illi- 
nois. They located upon a farm in Livingston, 
Pike Township, where the mother departed this 
life April 22, 1871. 

Mr. Cook is still living, and makes his home with 
his daughter Alice. Francis N. Cook, a brother of 
Mrs. Kidder, served as a soldier in the Union army, 
belonging to the 77th Illinois Infantry. He took 
part in two or three important battles, and after- 
ward contracted a disease from which he died the 
day after his arrival home, in 1862. 

The parental family of our subject included five 
children. His sister is now the wife of Wilson 
Breckenridge, of Kansas, and the mother of four 
children. William P. Kidder, the eldest son, was 
born in La Salle County about 1842. Upon the 
outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 20th 
Illinois Infantry, and after participating in the bat- 
tle at Ft. Donelson was killed in the engagement at 
Shiloh while lighting in the front ranks. Mr. Kid- 
der cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant 
in 1872, and since that time has been a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party. Although never 
an oflice-seeker he has maintained a warm interest 



f 



240 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



in the general welfare of his fellow-citizens, and 
has served as School Director six years. He i 
ranked among the representative men of his com- 
munity, where he is held in universal esteem. 







REMINGTON, retired merchant 
and grain dealer, is the owner of a pleasant 
home in Fairbury, where he is spending his 
declining years in the ease and quiet justly 
earned by the labors of his earlier manhood. He 
is a native of Suflield, Hartford Co., Conn., where 
lie began life Dec. }4, 1820. His early education 
was conducted in the common schools, and when 
fifteen years of age he pursued the higher brandies 
in an academy five years. The most of his time 
he lived upon his father's farm, and early in life, 
after completing his studies, embarked in business 
as a grain dealer, locating first at Camden, N. C. 
He was a resident of that town two years, and be- 
sides his grain operations engaged in general mer- 
chandising. The two years following he spent in 
Mississippi and Louisiana, and migrated from the 
latter State to Illinois in 1847. 

While a resident of East Granby, Conn., Mr. 
Remington was married, in 1846, to Miss Cliloe H. 
Alderman, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride' on the 31st of May. Mrs. R. was bom 
in Chester, Mass., April 13, 1822, and is the daugh- 
ter of Harvey and Sarah (Holcomb) Alderman. 
She came to Illinois with her husband, and they 
first located at Kaneville, Kane County, where they 
resided four years. Mr. Remington engaged in 
farming, and afterward purchased a stock of gen- 
eral merchandise, and continued in trade about 
seven years. He sold out in the fall of 1859, and 
coming to Fairbury established his present business, 
which has been marked with success from the be- 
ginning. Mr. and Mrs. R. have one child only, a 
son, Albert II., who was born Feb. ;">, 1850, and 
after reaching manhood married Miss Elizabeth 
No3 7 ce. He is now engaged in real estate and as 
a grain dealer at Fairbury. 

Besides his village property, which consists of a 
fine dwelling witli ample grounds, Mr. Remington 
owns ten acres of valuable land adjacent, upon 



which he keeps ten fine Jersey cows. He has al- 
ways taken a warm interest in the welfare of his 
adopted town, and is the encourager of those en- 
terprises tending to its advancement. He cast his 
first Presidential vote for Henry Cla.y, and has 
always been a stanch Republican. Socially he is a 
Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity; he 
became identified with Masonry in 1854, while a 
resident of Kane County. He was reared in the 
doctrines of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Remington 
is a Presbyterian. 

The parents of our subject, Isaac and Abigail 
(Gillette) Remington, were natives of Connecticut, 
and of English ancestry. Their family included 
three children Chauncy. Daniel, and Henry, our 
subject; the latter is the only immediate represent- 
ative living, his brothers and his parents being 
deceased. 



H. GUPPY is one of the successful farmers 
of Pontiac Township, who at the age of 
forty years was the owner of an excellent 
farm of 1 60 acres, which he has been able to 
purchase as the result of hard work. Mr. Guppy 
is a native of Toronto, Canada, where he was born 
on the 21st of July, 1846, his father being Emanuel 
Guppy, a native of England, who emigrated to 
Canada in 1840. The subject of this sketch spent 
his first eight years in Canada, when he removed 
with his father to Waukegan, Lake Co., 111., where 
he remained until the breaking out of the late 
Civil AVar. He was deprived of the care and 
affectionate training of a mother, she having died 
when he was but seven years of age. Being left 
almost entirely upon his own resources, and having 
to shift for himself, he did not have much oppor- 
tunity for securing an education. 

In April, 1862, Mr. Guppy enlisted in Company 
E, 134th Illinois Infantry, which was one of the 
100 days' regiments, and served with the regiment 
until the expiration of his term of enlistment. In 
the following spring he re-enlisted in Company C, 
155th Illinois Infantry, thus participating in army 
service, principally guard duty, for about seven 
months, and was honorably discharged in 1863. 
He came to Livingston County in the spring of 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



245 



1864. Since his return from the army he has re- 
sided in this county. 

On the 31st of December, 1874, our subject was 
married to Elizabeth Luke, born Aug. 31, 1851, 
on Staten Island, N. Y., and a daughter of John 
and Esther Luke. Her parents came to Livingston 
about 1862. Mr. Guppy lived in Odell Township 
until 1883, when he purchased a farm of 160 acres 
on section 14, Pontiac Township, where he now 
resides. As was said at the opening of this sketch, 
he is a self-made man. and has obtained the owner- 
ship of a good farm under the most adverse cir- 
cumstances and greatest discouragements. 

Mr. and Mrs. Guppy are the parents of three 
children: William J.. bora Jan. 28, 1876 ; Mary E., 
Sept. 27, 1879, and Harvey J., Dec. 9, 1884. Hav- 
ing overcome all the difficulties which surrounded 
them at the beginning of their married life, Mr. 
and Mrs. Guppy are now living in contentment, 
and are very hopeful for the future. While not 
taking a very active part in political matters Mr. 
Guppy patriotically prides himself on being a mem- 
ber of the Republican party, and freely does what 
he can for the success of that political organization. 



1 



J"?OHN W. MILLS, Supervisor of Reading 
Township, has a fine farm of 320 acres on 
| sections 16 and 21, and is largely engaged 
' in the breeding of Short-horn cattle. He 
has been a resident of the Prairie State since 1854, 
and is numbered among the most enterprising and 
wide-awake men of Livingston County. The farm 
is finely located and embellished with a handsome 
set of frame buildings, including a tasteful dwelling, 
a good barn, and the other structures required by 
the modern agriculturist for the successful prosecu- 
tion of his calling. A view of the place is shown 
on another page of this work. Mr. Mills has built 
up one of the finest homesteads in this section of 
country, and deserves great credit for the manner 
in which he has contributed to the wealth and pros- 
perity of Reading Township. 

Our subject was born near the town of Sabina, 



Clinton Co., Ohio, on the 4th of June, 1835, and is 
the son of Daniel and Mary (Bennett) Mills, na- 
tives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Dan- 
iel Mills was born April 17, 1781, and departed this 
life at his home in Reading Township, Feb. 6, 1868. 
His wife, Mary, was born April 16, 1793, and died 
also in this township Nov. 2, 1877. They were 
married in Ohio, Feb. 9, 1815, and became parents 
of the children bearing the following names: 
Thomas, Elizabeth, Louisa, James, Joshua C., Mar- 
tha, Elma, Maria, Mary, Margaret, Melissa, Letitia, 
Elvira and John W. (twins), and Louis Clark. 

Mr. Mills was reared to manhood in the Buckeye 
State, and early in life began to lay his plans for 
the future. When about the age of nineteen he 
started for the West, and finding no place which 
suited him better than this county, located here 
and has since remained, being now a resident for a 
period of thirty-three years. He first took up his 
residence in Reading Township, and in due time 
made the acquaintance of Miss Lucy E. Coe, who 
became his wife March 31, 1864. Mrs. Mills is the 
daughter of John and Nancy (Wilkinson) Coe, na- 
tives respectively of Connecticut and Vermont, and 
was born Feb. 5, 1842, in Geauga County, Ohio. 
John Coe was born Feb. 20, 1811, and departed 
this life Oct. 5. 1862. His wife, Nancy, was born 
Aug. 13, 1813, and passed away at her home Feb. 
16, 1874. 

The children of the parental household of Mrs. 
Mills were, Daniel T., now a resident of Sheridan, 
LaSalle Co., 111. ; Clara E., the wife of A. B. Whit- 
ney, of Peoria, traveling correspondent of the 
Transcript; Lucy E., the wife of our subject; Al- 
bert, who resides in Kansas; Arthur, who died 
when fourteen months old; Amie L., the wife of 
W. T. Clark, a farmer and stock-raiser of Reading 
Township. The parents were devoted members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father served 
one year in the Union army, being assigned to duty 
at Johnston's Island, near Sandusky, Ohio, where 
he contracted a fever which resulted in his death. 
He died at Columbus, Ohio, and his remains were 
taken to his home in Geauga County, Ohio, for 
burial. 

The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Mills are all 
at home with their parents. The eldest son, Fred- 



f 



246 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



die E., was born July 10, 1868, and after complet- 
ing his studies in the common schools, entered the 
business college at Peoria, 111. He, together with 
his sister, Clara E., has developed uncommon musi- 
cal talent, which is often utilized in the social as- 
semblies of their neighborhood and church. Clara 
Eveline was born Aug. 13, 1872; Charles Franklin, 
April 13, 1877, and Albert Roy, April 23, 1881. 

Mr. Mills was first elected Supervisor in 1876. 
He has been quite prominent in the councils of his 
fellow-townsmen, and served as Assessor four years, 
besides being Commissioner, School Treasurer and 
School Trustee. With his estimable wife he is an 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and politically, affiliates with the Republican party. 

We give in connection with this brief sketch of 
one [of Livingston County's representative citi- 
zens, the portrait of the man of whom we write, 
and as an appropriate companion picture, that of 
his estimable wife. 



J~~| OHN LOAR. "Like father like son" is an 
I old saying, and it is a pretty trite one. The 
man who commences the struggle of life 
without anything but willing hands and a 
brave heart, and fights successfully through until the 
end, generally transmits to his children an indom- 
itable will, and a courage which makes them suc- 
cessful in life. Such can be said of the subject of 
this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-grower on 
section 18, Belle Prairie Township. He was born 
in Greene County, Pa., on the 21st of April, 1826, 
and is the son of John and Hester (Stephens) 
Loar, natives of Mainland and Pennsylvania re- 
spectively. The father was born on the 28th of 
November, 1789, and died on the 5th of May, 
1873, in Pennsylvania. He was all his life a 
farmer by occupation, commencing his career as 
such without a cent of capital, and long before his 
death he had accumulated a competency. He and 
his wife were members of the Protestant Meth- 
odist Church, and in early times the meetings of 
that denomination were held at their residence. 
The mother was born in June, 1794, and died in 



December, 1881, both dying on the same farm in 
Pennsylvania. They were the parents of fourteen 
children, eleven of whom they reared to man and 
womanhood : Sarah ; Jacob, who held the office of 
Justice of the Peace fifteen years; George, who is a 
minister; Appollos, a physician and Christian minis- 
ter in Richmond, Ind.; Adam died in childhood; 
Martha; John ; Henry died at the age of eight years; 
Dr. James Loar, of Bloomington, 111.; Nancy died 
at the age of four years; Levi. Hester J., Lany A. 
and Elizabeth. 

John Loar was married to Miss Maria White on 
the 22d of April, 1847, the Rev. Foredyce, of the 
Protestant Methodist Church, officiating. She was 
born on the 24th of April, 1826, and is the daugh- 
ter of Rev. David and Leah (Straschneider) 
White, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father was born in 1795, and is still living, a hale 
and hearty old man of ninety-two years. On the 
day after his ninetieth birthday he delivered a very 
fine discourse in the same school-house where he 
studied eighty years before, this house standing on 
the same farm where he was born and reared. He 
displays considerable agility, and can run and 
jump with nearly as much ease as he could sixty 
years ago. He indulges considerably in horseback 
riding, and in 1856 he rode from his home in Penn- 
sylvania to Missouri in the month of December. 
He has been preaching since 1820. The mother 
was born in 1801, and died in April, 1865. She 
was also a member of the Christian Church, and 
her husband is credited with being the oldest liv- 
ing minister of that denomination. They were 
the parents of eight children Elizabeth, Israel, 
Sarah, Mariah, Eliza J., Reason, Mary A., and 
Christina, deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Loar have had ten children : 
Thomas J., now teaching school in Kansas; Martha 
J., David W., Elizabeth S. ; George, druggist and 
Postmaster in Cropsey, McLean Co., 111.; Emma 
F., a school teacher; James L., a lawyer, and 
graduate of Ann Arbor. Mich.; Fafayette died 
at the age of fifteen months in the year 1868; 
Ida B. and Artie M. Mr. Loar came to Illi- 
nois in 1868 and located on a farm of 160 acres on 
section 18, on which he has continuously resided 
since. In the management of his farm and the T , 

E - 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



247 



raising of graded stock, he displays unusual enter- 
prise, and encourages all organizations that are in- 
tended to further the interests of the agricultur- 
ists and stock-raisers. He is a stockholder in the 
Livingston County Fair Association, and also in 
the Belle Prairie Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- 
pany, chartered Jan. 14, 1874, fora term of twenty 
years. As a sample of the productiveness of his 
farm it may be stated that in 1871 he cut twenty- 
four tons of hay on ten acres of land, and sold 
$600 worth of apples that were raised on the same 
ten acres, and in 1881 the product of the orchard 
was $550 worth of apples. There are 600 rods of 
tile drain on the farm. 

The family of Mr. Loar are members of the 
Christian Church, in which he has held the office 
of Elder for many years. He is a stanch Demo- 
crat, and upon all proper occasions gives evidence 
of the political faith that is in him. 




1 



AMUEL EARP, one of the pioneer farmers 
and stock-raisers of Livingston County, 
resides on section 4 of Rook's Creek Town- 
ship. He is the son of William Earp, and 
was born on the 31st of May, 1829, at New Gar- 
den, Columbiana Co., Ohio. In 1856 he removed 
to Wisconsin, where he staid one summer, and then 
to Livingston County, 111., and settled in the 
neighborhood where he now resides. 

The father of the subject of this sketch was born 
in England about the year 1803, and came to the 
United States when fourteen years of age, landing 
at Philadelphia on his fourteenth birthday. His 
memory serves him so well that he remembers the 
return of soldiers to England after the defeat of 
Napoleon at Waterloo. He witnessed the review 
of the American soldiers by Gen. La Fayette at 
Philadelphia, in 1824. He had traveled over En- 
gland quite extensively in his boyhood days in 
company with an older brother, who was engaged 
in selling pottery, and was present when he sold a 
set of chinaware to Queen Victoria, before she was 
crowned ; while in Philadelphia he learned the trade 
of making boots and shoes. He was married in 



Pittsburgh about 1827, and some time after this 
moved to Ohio and engaged in farming. He was 
the father of four sons: Samuel; James, who is 
single and lives in Livingston County ; Charles W. 
died Dec. 15, 1868; George died in infancy. 

Samuel Earp received more than an ordinary 
education in the common schools, and attended 
the High School in Richmond, Jefferson Co., Ohio. 
He cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham 
Lincoln in 1860, and has been a constant and firm 
supporter of the principles of the Republican party 
ever since. He has filled nearly all the various 
township offices, having served as Commissioner of 
Highways a number of terms, and been three times 
elected as Supervisor, and each of these places of 
trust he has filled with such honesty and ability 
that great satisfaction was given the people. Mr. 
Earp is a man of very generous impulses, and has 
made it a practice throughout life to assist all 
worthy persons who applied to him for aid. Being 
a firm believer in pure Christianity and apostolic 
simplicity, his inclinations are toward the Christian 
Church. Charles Earp, a brother of Samuel, was 
in the Union army during the war, and served 
under Gen. Sherman, taking part in that memora- 
ble march from Atlanta to the sea. In that cam- 
paign he contracted consumption, from which he 
never recovered, and died soon after 'returning 
from the army. 

On the 13th of May, 1858, Mr. Earp was mar- 
ried to Caroline Earp, daughter of Charles Earp, 
of Livingston County. She is a cousin, and was 
born on the 18th of February, 1834, in Norwalk, 
Ohio. Her mother was born on the 26th of Feb- 
ruary, 1811, in England, and during the first five 
years of her life lived in Derbyshire, and at that 
age accompanied her father to the United States, 
landing in Baltimore, and going directly to Co- 
lurnbiana County, Ohio, by wagon. Her mother 
had died shortly before. John Morledge, the 
grandfather of Mrs. Earp, was born in England 
about 1774, and was a blacksmith by trade, but 
after he removed to the United States and settled 
in Ohio he became a farmer, and bought a half- 
section of land, which he cleared and improved, 
and which is now owned by John Morledge, a son 
by his second wife. John Morledge was a member 



248 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of the Church of England, but his daughter Esther 
has never been a member of any church, but be- 
lieves that pure and simple religion consists in vis- 
iting the widow and fatherless in their affliction, 
and keeping unspotted from the world. Mrs. Earp 
is a member of the Episcopal Church. 



J^ AMES W. EISENHOWER, farmer and mer- 
chant clerk, is splendidly situated on sec- 
I tion 20, Rook's Creek Township. He is the 
' eldest son of John F. and Catherine J. (Mil- 
ler) Eisenhower, and was born on the 8th of No- 
vember, 1835. in the State of Pennsylvania. He 
made the most of what common-school advantages 
there were in Newburg, Cumberland County, and 
remained with his father, who was at that time a 
merchant, until he was about twenty years of age, 
when he was married to Caroline Harlin, on the 
13th of December, 1855. For two years after his 
marriage he was engaged as a clerk in his father's 
store. A son was born to him and his wife on the 
29th of October, 1856, and was named Theodore 
B. In February, 1859, his wife died, and he 
moved to McLean County, 111., leaving the child 
in the care of his parents. After locating in Mc- 
Lean County, he rented a farm for one year, at the 
end of which time he sold what property he pos- 
sessed, and engaged to work by the month for nine 
months, but before the contract expired he enlisted 
in August, 1862, in the 1st Marine Artillery of 
New York. 

During its service the regiment was mostly em- 
ployed in the coast defenses, and Mr. Eisenhower 
was actively engaged in three battles; the first at 
Kingston, on the Neuso River, near Newbern, N. 
C., in which the Union side was successful in capt- 
uring 600 prisoners. Mr. Eisenhower thinks one 
incident of the battle is worthy of mention. When 
part of the men who were doing patrol duty began 
to see shot and shell coming near they concluded 
they had better be getting out of there, and so ex- 
pressed themselves. Capt. Smith, of the 17th Mas- 
sachusetts, reassuringly said, "Oh, no; those are 
from our cannon, and they won't hurt us;" but 
when the next one came near, pressing his head 



against the side of a house which stood near, he 
remarked that "we had better be getting out of 
here." The second battle was what is known as 
Dudley Halls, in which the Union forces were suc- 
cessful. Soon after they were in the battle of 
Goldsboro, where they burned a bridge on the 
road leading from Weldon to Richmond, and de- 
stroyed a portion of the track in order to shut 
supplies out of Richmond. Mr. Eisenhower went 
through the service without receiving a scratch, 
and was honorably discharged in April, 1863. 

Upon his discharge from the army, Mr. Eisen- 
hower returned to his home in Pennsylvania, where 
he again married, taking for his wife Miss Susan 
Gunkel (now spelled with a K instead of a G), on 
the 17th of September, 1863. He then came back 
to Illinois and farmed in McLean Count}' until the 
fall of 1865, when he moved to Marshall County, 
where he carried on farming until the fall of 1867. 
In that year they moved to AVoodford County, 
where he purchased eighty acres of land and re- 
mained there two years, sold out, and moved back 
to Marshall County, and from there to Livingston 
County, in the fall of 1 869, where he farmed for 
two and one-half years on land belonging to his 
wife's brother. He then purchased a farm of 120 
acres, which he now owns. His land was unim- 
proved when it came into his possession, but he 
worked upon it industriously, and soon brought it 
to a fine state of cultivation. It is honeycombed 
with tiled ditches, and where trees never grew be- 
fore he has planted them, and they now afford an 
abundance of shade. He has an excellent set of 
farm buildings, and all necessary implements and 
machinery required for the carrying on of agricult- 

ure in a first-class manner. The homestead pre- 
i seuts one of the attractive points in the landscape 

of Rook's Creek Township. 

Mr. Eisenhower's eldest son, Theodore B., is 
married, and lives in Albion, Boone Co., Neb., and 
is a traveling express messenger on a branch of the 
Union Pacific Railway. By the second marriage 
there have been born the following children : 
George A., born Aug. 1, 1864, married Lucy Ben- 
son, and lives in Rook's Creek Township; William 
A., born Aug. 27, 1865, lives in the same township; 
Edwin K., born Nov. 1, 1867, is single and lives at 



i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



249 



home. Mr. Eisenhower's sous are now conducting 
the farming operations, and he devotes his time to 
the management of Dr. J. Allen's general store in 
Graymont, of which he has complete control. 

Mrs. Eisenhower was born on the 15th of Febru- 
ary, 1839, and is the daughter of George and Bar- 
bara (Houser) Kunkel. Her parents were natives 
of Lancaster County, Pa. Her brothers and sis- 
ters were as follows : The eldest, Martin, died in 
infancy; John, William, Elizabeth, Edwin, George, 
Israel, Catherine and Martin. 



yiLLIAM F. COOK. One of the younger 
men and farmers who is destined to make 
his impress upon the history of Livingston 
County is the subject of this sketch, who has a 
farm of 100 acres on section 28, in Pontiac Town- 
ship. He is a native of Butler County, Ohio, 
where his birth took place on the 4th of July, 
1853, and consequently has the rare privilege 
each year of celebrating the anniversary of his 
birth and the birth of the Nation simultaneously. 
He is the son of Eli and Almeda Cook, who were 
both natives of the State of Ohio, and were pio- 
neers of Butler County. The father, during most 
of his life in Butler County, was a grain dealer, 
and from him his son inherited considerable busi- 
ness tact. They had a family of four children 
William F., Charles F., George C. and Frank J. 
The father died in Ohio on the 22d of June, 1885, 
and after his death the mother came to Livingston 
County and resided with her sons un'til the summer 
of 1887, when she went to Pueblo County, Col., 
and there resides. They both were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were very 
much devoted to the welfare of that organization. 
So far as political matters went the father was an 
ardent supporter of the Republican party, and as 
such was widely and favorably known throughout 
Butler County, while the opposition in that Demo- 
cratic stronghold have cause to remember the blows 
he struck in defense of his party. 

The years intervening between the birth and 
manhood of Mr. Cook of our notice were spent in 
Butler County, where he attended the common 



schools regularly and pursued his studies so assidu- 
ously that he received more than an average edu- 
cation. Having an inclination for the business 
affairs of life he took a thorough course in book- 
keeping at the Hamilton Business College, of 
Hamilton, Ohio, in the year 1 870, and was graduated 
from that institution with great credit to himself. 
For several years afterward he was associated with 
his father in the grain trade, and had entire charge 
of the books of the firm, while he became an ex- 
pert grain buyer. In the fall of 1873 he came to 
Livingston County, where for the first year of his 
residence he engaged in work on a farm in the em- 
ploy of John A. Knapp, of Pontiac. For the next 
three years he rented farms which he managed suc- 
cessfull.y. In 1882 he purchased the farm on which 
he now lives, on section 28, Pontiac Township, 
and his 100 acres are as fertile and productive as 
any similar body of land in Livingston County. 

On the 21st of March, 1878, Mr. Cook was mar- 
ried to Rosalind Knapp, daughter of John A. 
Knapp, the gentleman for whom he worked during 
the first year of his residence in Livingston County. 
They have two children: Emma A., born Dec. 
22, 1879, and Edna B., born May 3, 1881. Mr. 
Cook has made a success in his farming operations 
unusual with men who are not bred to farm life. 
Ever since he became a voter he has cast his ballot 
with the Republican party. He and his wife are 
respected members of society, and are active in all 
things intended to benefit the community. 




UGH D. MACK. This gentleman, who lo- 
cated in Avoca Township eleven years ago, 
purchased a quarter of section 30, where he 
has since been engaged in farming and stock- 
raising, and is accounted one of its most enterpris- 
ing citizens. He has been a resident of the Prairie 
State for a period of thirty-four years, having 
located in McLean County, near Bloomingtou, in 
1853, whence he removed to this county in 1876, 
taking possession of his present farm. 

Mr. Mack is a native of the Buckeye State, and 
was born in Harrison County, June 7, 1827. His 
parents, Samuel and Margaret (Carnes) Mack, were 




1 250 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



natives of Ireland, who emigrated to the United 
States early in life. Their household included 
eleven children, of whom the following are living: 
Isabella, Hugh D., John, David, Ellen, Lizzie, 
William, George and Robert. Some of these are 
located in Kansas, others in Ohio, where the parents i 
are now living. 

Our subject remained a member of his father's 
household until considerably past his majority, and 
after passing his thirty-fifth year, was united in 
marriage, on the 10th of May, 1863, to Miss Sarah 
A. Fosset, a native of his own State, who came to 
Illinois in 1853. They have three children Edith, 
Robert and Edna. The youngest is now six years 
of age. Mr. Mack, struggling through the disad- 
vantages of a limited education, has by his own ef- 
forts acquired sufficient knowledge of business mat- 
ters to invest his money in a judicious manner, and 
has attained to a good position, both socially and 
financially. He and his estimable lady are mem- 
bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and are valued in the community. His 
land has been brought to a good state of cultivation, 
and the farm buildings, neat and substantial, are 
kept in good order, while everything about the 
place wears the air of comfort and plenty. 




~~ AMES L. ROBERTS, the well-known and en- 
terprising dealer in merchandise, and grain 
buyer and shipper, of the town of Graymont, 
Livingston Co., 111., is the son of John and 
Katherine (Henkins) Roberts, and was born in 
Greene County, Pa., on the 31st of August, 1847. 
In 1851 he accompanied his parents to Bureau 
County, 111., where they rented ground and farmed 
four years. In 1855 they moved to a farm in 
Putnam County, where the father bought ten acres 
of land, which he sold in 1858, and then moved to 
Davis County, Mo., where they farmed, rented 
ground until the fall of 1861, when they returned 
to Illinois and located in De Witt County. After 
remaining in this county until 1869 they came to 
Livingston County, where the father bought forty 
acres on section 28, Rook's Creek Township, one 
mile south of where the town of Graymont now 



stands. In 1869 the subject of this sketch bought 
forty acres of land, and in 1874 still another forty 
adjoining on section 28. He continued to make 
his home at his father's and assisted on the farm 
until 1 880. During this period he was elected Com- 
missioner of Highways. 

On the 6th of September, 1880, Mr. Roberts was 
married to Miss Rachel Jane Lillie, daughter of 
John and Mary (Smith) Lillie, at the residence of 
W. F. Brydia, in Saunemin Township, Livingston 
County, Rev. G. W. Gue officiating. On the 23d 
of October, in partnership with Henry Pample & 
Co., he opened a stock of general merchandise un- 
der the firm name of Roberts, Pample & Co., in 
Graymont. This was among the first establish- 
ments for the sale of general merchandise opened 
in that town. This partnership continued until 
June, 1882, when Pample sold out to B. S. Lillie, 
a brother-in-law of Mr. Roberts. The firm then 
became Roberts & Lillie, who continued the busi- 
ness until February, 1884, when Mr. Roberts 
bought out Mr. Lillie's interest, and has since con- 
tinued the business by himself. In the fall of 1885 
he added the buying and shipping of grain to his 
regular business, and was the prime mover in secur- 
ing the location of Graymont at its present site, 
assisting also very materially in obtaining the right 
of way for the Kankakee Line of the Middle Divis- 
ion of the Illinois Central Railroad. Mr. Roberts re- 
ceived a very fair common-school education, and 
in addition to that he has further qualified himself 
for business affairs by learning book-keeping and 
mastering its various complications. He has al- 
ways been a man of public spirit, assisting in the 
building of churches throughout the surrounding 
country. 

Mr. Roberts' parents were born in Pennsylvania, 
on or near the line of Greene Township, the father 
Nov. 27, 1811, and the mother on the 13th of July, 
1820. They were married in Pennsylvania about 
the year 1838. The subject of this sketch is the 
fourth in a family of six children: the oldest, Eliza 
May, died in infancy; Lucretia was born July 4, 
1842, is unmarried, and lives with her parents in 
Milford, Montgomery Co., Iowa; Elijah Peter was 
born on the 14th of July, 1844; he enlisted in 
August, 1862, in Company G. 107th Illinois In- 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



251 



fantry, and was wounded in a skirmish, dying 
soon after in a hospital at Baltimore, where he was 
buried. James L. ; Margaret Susannah, born Aug. 
20, 1863, and Marion Morris, born April 23, 1859, 
are unmarried and live with their parents. 

Mr. ^Roberts' paternal grandfather, James Rob- 
erts, was born in Pennsylvania on the 30th of July, 
1787, and his grandmother, Lucretia Morris, on the 
30th of April of the same year. They were mar- 
ried on the 15th of May, 1807, and moved to Han- 
cock County, 111., where they died. The great- 
grandfather was born in New Jersey and moved to 
Pennsylvania when a young man ; his father was a 
native of Wales. The maternal grandparents were 
born in or near Greene County, Pa., the grand- 
father, Elijah Henkins, on the 22d of May, 1791, 
and the grandmother, Elizabeth (Brown) Henkins, 
July 1, 1787. They were married about 1814. 
The "grandmother died on the 12th of August, 
1875, and was buried in the Lone Tree Graveyard, 
Bureau County, 111. The grandfather served as a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and died Aug. 6, 1887. 
Mr. Roberts remembers seeing his maternal great- 
grandmother, and says she lived two or three years 
at their home in Illinois, where she died and is 
buried in the Lone Tree Graveyard. He thinks 
her name was Lucretia Brown, and he says he car- 
ries scars which he received by falling on her iron 
kettle. 

The wife of James L. Roberts was born at 
Noblesville, Ind., on the 6th of September, 1851, 
and moved with her parents to Bloomington, 111., 
when about five years of age. They remained 
there but one year when they removed to Living- 
ston County, where the father bought 1 20 acres of 
land on section 22. She attended the district school 
during her girlhood, and received a very fair edu- 
cation. She is the seventh in a family of twelve 
children, all of whom are still living; their names 
are: Margaret, born on the 7th of November, 
1839, married to William T. Brydia Dec. 7, 1863, 
lias two children, and lives in Livingston County; 
Letitia, born Nov. 29, 1841, married R. M. Hop- 
kins, has five children, and lives in McLean County, 
111. ; Joseph, born July 2, 1843, married and has 
three children, lives in Stephenson County, 111.; 
Eliza B., born April 25, 1845, married Robert Shields 



Nov. 4, 1883, has five children, and lives in Liv- 
ingston County; James W., born March 4, 1847, 
has one child and lives in Nebraska; Benjamin S., 
born March 25, 1849, married Sept. 14, 1886, has 
one child and lives in Broken Bow, Neb. ; Rachel 
Jane ; Leonidas L. H., born Oct. 5, 1854, is unmarried 
and lives in Williamsport, Dak.; Elvira, born April 
1, 1857, married Oscar Pickering March 17, 1886, 
and lives in McLean County ; Effle K., born July 23. 
1861, married Charles Hopkins Aug. 6, 1879, has 
three children, and lives in McLean County; Mary 
Eudena, born June 15, 1865, is unmarried and lives 
at Lexington, 111., with her sister; Williamette, 
born May 13, 1869, is unmarried and makes her 
home with her sister in Graymont. 

The father of Mrs. Roberts came from Delaware, 
where he was born on the 30th of May, 1815; the 
mother was born in Ohio on the 22d of February, 
1821. They were married Dec. 9, 1838. The 
father died April 2, 1883, and the mother Feb. 16, 
1885; they are both buried at Pleasant Hill Ceme- 
tery, McLean County, 111. Her maternal grand- 
father, Benjamin Smith, was born Feb. 3, 1782, 
and the grandmother, Rachel Smith, was born in 
1786. 




COLLINS, an old and respected 
citizen who, besides displaying much enter- 
prise in his business affairs, has been largely 
instrumental in building up the schools and ad- 
vancing educational interests where he has lived, is 
a farmer and stock-raiser on sections 17, 29 and 7, 
Union Township. He was born in County Ros- 
common, Ireland, on the 19th of February, 1819, 
and was the sixth child in a family of seven chil- 
dren born to Patrick and Delia (Eagan) Collins, 
natives of Ireland. The paternal grandparents 
were Mark and Ellen (Dowd) Collins, the former a 
prominent politician connected with the Rebellion. 
The maternal grandparents were Patrick and Julia 
(Regan) Eagan. Mr. Eagan was a soldier in the 
war at the time the French invaded Ireland. The 
father of Mr. Collins was a farmer by occupation, 
and died in Ireland. 

The subject of this sketch was reared a farmer 
lad and was educated in the public schools, where 




252 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



such fair opportunities were afforded that he ob- 
tained a good education. At the age of nineteen 
his school life ended, and at the age of twenty-five . 
he was married, on the 30th of June, 1844. to Em- 
ma W. Burke, who was born in County Galway, 
Ireland, in 1825, and was the sixth child in a family 
of eleven born to James and Delia (Barlow) Burke, 
nativeslof Ireland. As soon as they were married, 
Mr. Collins and his wife prepared to come to 
America, and in August of that year sailed from 
Liverpool in the "New Hampshire," an American 
sailing-vessel, when after a stormy voyage of nine 
weeks and three days they landed at New York on 
the 13th of November. They lived in New York 
the first six months after their arrival, where Mr. 
C. was engaged as assistant book-keeper. They 
then moved to Orange County, N. Y., where he 
engaged in farming, and remained for nine years. 
At the end of that time they started for the West, 
where they first located in Kendall County, 111., 
and engaged in farming on rented land for twelve 
years. In 1865 they moved to Livingston County, 
where they had purchased 160 acres of partly im- 
proved land the year before, and they began to 
make for themselves a home. The township was 
not yet divided into districts, and Mr. Collins was 
largely instrumental in the advancement of the 
schools, in which work he entered with enthusiasm. 
During the time which has elapsed since Mr. Col- 
lins' settlement in Union Township he has added 
forty acres to his original purchase, besides im- 
proving the older portion of the farm, and now 
has 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in the 
county, which he has stocked with fine Durham 
cattle and Norman horses. He has a thoroughbred 
Durham registered as Hibernia, and a large stock 
of well-bred Poland-China hogs. Mr. Collins al- 
ways takes an interest in politics and is now 
identified with the Democratic party, although he 
was formerly a Republican. It lias devolved upon 
him to assess the township for seventeen years ; he 
has been Commissioner of Highways for nine years, 
Collector for one year, and School Director for 
eighteen years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Collins are the parents of eight 
children, all of whom are living Patrick B., Ellen, 
Mary A., Margaret, James E., Edward R., Sarah 



J. and John C. Ellen is the widow of George 
W. Bradley, and lives in Emington, this county; 
Patrick married Emma Decker, and lives on a 
farm in Odell Township; Mary, Mrs. John Kemp, 
lives in Kempton, this county; James is unmarried, 
and farming in Odell Township; Sarah is teach- 
ing school in Emington; Mary was also a teacher; 
Edward and John are unmarried and live at home. 
The family are members of the Catholic Church in 
Odell, and are regular worshipers with the congre- 
gation there. 

^*"**~ a, A 




HOMAS TALBOTT, a worthy English far- 
mer of Belle Prairie Township, owns a quar- 
ter of section 1, which constitutes one of 
the finest bodies of land in the county, prolific of 
the best crops of the Prairie. State, and brought to 
a high state of cultivation. He has been promi- 
nent in township and county affairs, is a Deacon in 
the Christian Church, and a Republican who has 
exercised no small influence in his party in this 
section. His industry and energy are proverbial, 
and of which a forcible illustration is presented in 
the handsome home which he has built for himself 
and his family. The residence, with its surround- 
ings, invariably attracts the admiring observation 
of the passing traveler, and the farm with its beauti- 
ful fields and well-kept stock is creditable alike to 
the proprietor and the township which he has 
chosen for his abiding-place. 

Our subject was born in Somersetshire, England, 
April 12, 1836, and is the son of Henry and Ann 
(Stuckey) Talbott, also of English birth and par- 
entage. They emigrated to America with their 
family in 1857, and coming to this State located in 
Cook County, where the father engaged in farming, 
and where the mother died in 1880; the former is 
now living in Newton County, Ind. Their four 
children are all living, and Thomas was the eldest 
of the family. The others were James, Caroline 
and Christopher. Thomas remained with his par- 
ents until twenty-one years of age, then rented a 
tract of land in Cook County, upon which he 
operated five years. He was married in 1865. and 
then coming to Livingston County, purchased 







RESIDENCE or Gco.W. 





*:/* it tt 




~S' 



RESIDENCE, STORE AND MILL or DAVID HOOBLER.MANVILLE.ILL. 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



255 



eighty acres of uncultivated prairie land which is 
now included in his present farm. This amount he 
afterward doubled, and has since devoted his entire 
attention to its cultivation and improvement. He 
received no assistance whatever from his father 
or anyone else, and has the satisfaction of knowing 
that his possessions are the result of his own in- 
dustry. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- 
ried Feb. 7, 1865, was formerly Miss Mary Stuckey, 
a native of Somersetshire County, England, and 
was born March 18, 1840. She came to America 
with her parents when seventeen years of age, in 
1857, the same year that her husband came, and 
formed his acquaintance in Cook County, where her 
people had settled. Of this union there have been 
born six children Hattie, Nettie, Burt, Edward, 
and two who died in infancy. 




IPENETUS DIXON is quite an extensive 
stock farmer on section 5, Newtowu Town- 
ship, where he owns 200 acres under a good 
state of cultivation, and raises stock- in sufficient 
quantities to consume the entire grain product of 
the farm. Mr. Dixon was born in Marshall County, 
111., Feb. il, 1845. He is the son of Charles and 
Sarah (Hodges) Dixon, natives of England. The 
father was born in 1800 and lived in England, 
where he followed the business of brick-making 
until after marriage. The maiden name of the 
mother was Ann Whitaker, and she was born in 
England, and came to America soon after her son 
Charles emigrated, her husband having died in En- 
gland. Of their children one is buried in England, 
one in Marshall County, 111., James lives in Kansas, 
and Charles, the father of our subject. The mother 
lived to be about ninety years of age, and is buried 
in Phillips Cemetery in Newtown Township. 

Charles Dixon and wife came to America in 
1835, arriving at New Orleans, from which place 
they ascended the Mississippi River to St. Louis, 
and then settled at Magnolia, Marshall Co., 111., 
where they lived until about October, 1847, and 



during the time were engaged in farming. In that 
year they moved to Livingston County, and pur- 
chased land on section 5, in Newtown Township, 
which is a part of the land the subject of this sketch 
now owns. The father died on the 21st of April, 
1879, and is buried by the side of his mother. His 
wife, Sarah, died on the 21st of September, 1871, 
and is buried in the same place. To them were 
born the following-named children : George, born 
in May, 1840, died in 18G8, and is buried in the 
same cemetery as his parents; Richard was still- 
born; Joseph, born on the 14th of September, 
1843, is engaged in farming in Iowa; Epenetus is 
the subject of this sketch; Wilbur, born about 
1847, died when eight years old; William, born on 
the 16th of November, 1850, is a Presbyterian 
minister, and lives in Illinois; Albert, born on the 
18th of May, 1852, is now the owner of the home- 
stead of his father in Newtown Township; Sarah 
Ann, born on the 29th of August, 1860, died in 
January, 1881 ; she was the wife Of William A. 
Mason, who is now living in Nebraska. 

The father and mother of the above-named chil- 
dren were members of the United Brethren Church, 
and during their connection with that denomina- 
tion were active in the duties of membership. 
Epenetus Dixon lived at home until twenty-three 
years of age, and attended the district schools of 
his township. He has been a resident of Newtown 
Township ever since he was two years of age, ex- 
cepting the year 1870, which would give him a resi- 
dence of thirty-nine years in the township. 

Mr. Dixon was married on the 3d of February, 
1870, to Mary M. McCandlish, who was a native 
of Ohio, and was born May 1, 1848; she was the 
daughter of George P. and Catherine McCandlish. 
Robert McCandlish, the grandfather, was born in 
Scotland, and immigrated to America, where he 
spent his last days. His wife, Mary Black, was 
born in Pennsylvania, and died in Ohio in the year 
1855. They were the parents of eleven children, 
three of whom survive : Nancy Sammis was born 
on the 10th of November, 1817, and lives in Wes- 
terville, Ohio; Jane McCandlish, born April 24, 
1814; Sarah Pyle, born Aug. 20, 1830, resides in 
Nevada, Vernon Co., Mo. The names of the de- 
ceased children are as follows: Martha Sammis, 



4=. 



256 



1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



horn May 1, 1828; Elizabeth Emrich, Sept. 5, 
1823; Mary Ann Lamb, Nov. 20, 1819; Emily, 
born Dec. 9, 1834, died at the age of nineteen 
years; Margaret, born Sept. 25, 1825, died when 
twelve years old; Anthony S., born Aug. 25, 181, 
died in 1860; William, born Oct. 4, 1812, died 
June 4, 1865; George P. was born Jan. 1, 1816, 
and died Aug. 13, 1875, in La Salle County, 111. 

Catherine Deenis, the mother of Mrs. Dixon, was 
the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Rodehafer) 
Deenis, natives of Virginia. To them were born 
seven children, of whom the living are Catherine, 
the mother of Mrs. Dixon; Nancy McGee, in Os- 
borne County, Kan., and Mary A. Heart, in Ge- 
neva, Neb. Catherine, the mother of Mrs. Dixon, 
makes her home with the latter, and is sixty-one 
years of age. The father was born Jan. 11, 1816, 
and died Aug. 13. 1875. George P. and Catherine 
McCandlish were married on the 17th of June, 
1847, in Fairtield County, Ohio, came to Illinois in 
the fall of 1856 and settled in La Salle County. To 
them were born four children: Mary M., the wife 
of our subject; Sarah J., born April 28, 1850, is 
the wife of James II. Mason, and lives near Man- 
ville; Robert II., still-born Aug. 4, 1853; Emily 
Frances, born Oct. 15, 1855, died April 9, 1863. 
Mrs. Dixon's father enlisted in the army Aug. 14, 
1862, in Company F, 104th Illinois Infantry, in 
which he served two years and eleven months. He 
was in the battle of Hartsville, Tenn., Dec. 7, 1862. 
During the latter part of the war he was in charge 
of a boat on the Mississippi River and the Gulf 
coast. Since his death his wife Catherine draws 
a pension of $12 per month from the Government. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have been born the follow- 
ing-named children: Sarah Catherine, born Nov. 2, 
1872, died March 2, 1874; Nora Louise, born June 
26, 1875; Georgia Idella, born June 3, 1877, died 
May 29, 1879; Nellie Mabel, born Sept. 26, 1880. 

Grandmother Black, the mother of Mary Black, 
was one hundred and four years old when she died 
at the home of Nancy and Smith McCandlish, near 
Rushville, Ohio. She left Ireland during the time 
of the trouble between the Catholics and Orange- 
men, and on leaving entrusted the care of her babe 
to her sister, expecting to return soon. The name 
of this child was William Black, and he grew to 



manhood and was married before coining to this 
country. He located in Ohio, where he died in 
1870. 

Mrs. Dixon is a member of the United Brethren 
Church. When the Dixon family first came to 
Illinois, Livingston County was a wilderness, and 
to show what straits people were put to we have 
only to mention that buckwheat was ground in a 
coffee-mill with which to make flour for bread, and 
at one time corn was taken to a feed grinder, in 
which it was cracked and then used as food. 



fACOB COX, who is a representative farmer 
and stock-raiser, located on section 19, 
Pontiac Township, is a typical Ohio man, be- 
ing a native of Adams County, that State, 
where he was born on the 9th of May, 1838. He 
is the son of James and Nancy (Summers) Cox, the 
former being a native of Ohio, and the latter of 
Virginia. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch 
descent. The grandfather, Jacob Cox, was a Vir- 
ginian by birth, who settled in the State of Penn- 
sylvania at an early date in its history, and subse- 
quently in Adams County, Ohio, where the father 
of our subject was born and reared. His parents 
had nine children, of whom four survive Jacob; 
James G., Andrew D. and Mary C., of Ft. Scott, 
Kan. Two of Mr. Cox's brothers, John S. and 
Henry C., were soldiers in the Union army, and 
gave their lives that the nation might live. In 
1853, with his parents Mr. Cox came from Ohio to 
Livingston County, and settled in Pontiac Town- 
ship. At that time Livingston County was very 
sparsely settled, and this family was one of the 
first to make their home there. They remained in 
Livingston County until 1869, when the parents 
moved to Ft. Scott, Kan., where the father died on 
the 22d of December, 1884; the mother still sur- 
vives, and resides at Ft. Scott, in the seventy-fifth 
year of her age. 

During almost all his entire life Mr. Cox has 
been accustomed to living on a farm, and during 
bis boyhood he received a very fair English edu- 
cation in the public schools; for a short time he 



t 



t. 

t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



257 



attended Eureka College at Eureka, 111. During 
twenty years of his life he devoted the winter 
months to teaching school, being employed both in 
district and graded schools. When the war broke 
out in 1861 he enlisted in the three months' serv- 
ice in Company D, 20th Illinois Infantry, and 
was with that regiment during the preliminary 
skirmishes and incidents at the beginning of the war. 
On the 14th of February, 1868, Mi-. Cox was mar- 
ried to Clara A. Syphers, a native of Pennsylva- 
nia, and daughter of Prof. J. and Sarah (Kent) 
Syphers, of Greene County, that State. By this 
union there are four children Clara N., Beatrice 
C., Clemeth J. and Clifford E. Mr. Cox is now 
the owner of eighty acres of excellent land, to the 
cultivation of which he devotes his entire time, 
displaying unusual ability in farm management and 
the raising of stock. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican. He alone is entitled to all the credit that at- 
taches to his success in life, as what fortune he has 
was carved by his own hands. He is in the fullest 
sense of the word a self-made man. Everything 
which pertains to the good of the community re- 
ceives his liberal and hearty support, and in all 
these things he is cheerfully seconded by his esti- 
mable wife. 



>. 

ft -.. 



J~ OHN M. WINCE, of Owego Township, is 
one of the pioneers of the county, and dur- 
ing his long residence here has secured for 
himself the profoundest respect of his fellow- 
citizens. He is a native of Loudoun County, Va., 
and was born on the 15th of March, 1828, being 
the son of Philip and Catherine Wince, the former 
a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Vir- 
ginia. The paternal ancestors were of German de- 
scent, some of whom are supposed to have been 
soldiers in the Revolutionary AVar, as they lived in 
America at that time, and a vein of patriotism has 
run through the family since its earliest existence. 
To his parents were born seven children, of whom 
the following are the survivors: Sarah, Catherine, 
Lut-inda, Eliza A., Henry L. and John. 

Mr. Wince grew to manhood in Loudoun County, 
which is located in the northern part of Virginia, 



bordering on Maryland, which in 1870 produced 
more wheat and corn than any other county in the 
State, but which during the boyhood days of our 
subject was neither highly cultivated nor far ad- 
vanced in educational facilities. Under these cir- 
cumstances Mr. Wince received but a limited edu- 
cation, the greater part of his studies being prose- 
cuted by the light of pine knots after night, but 
having obtained the rudiments of an education, he 
has been a constant and diversified reader all his 
life, and keeps posted upon all the general topics of 
the day. 

In 1856 Mr. Wince left Virginia and emigrated 
to Livingston County, where he devoted the next 
ten years of his life to work upon the farm for 
monthly wages. In this manner he succeeded in 
accumulating sufficient money to start him in busi- 
ness, and located on his present farm on section 34 
in Owego Township, in the year 1864, where he has 
resided ever since. This farm consists of eighty 
acres, which was composed entirely of raw prairie 
at the time of his purchase, but by hard work and 
good management he has reduced it to such a state 
of cultivation that it is now considered one of the 
best in the township. Mr. Wince can look back 
upon his past efforts with great satisfaction, for 
when he reached Illinois he was without money 
and among strangers; he now has a good farm, is 
comfortably surrounded, and enjoys the esteem and 
respect of the people among whom he lives. 

On the 13th of December, 1868, our subject was 
married to Mary Keith, a native of Maine, daugh- 
ter of Howard C. Keith, who at the time of the 
marriage resided in the northern part of Living- 
ston County, of which he was one of the original 
settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Wince have had two chil- 
dren : Ida M., born June 9, 1873, and Lillie D., 
Nov. 7, 1875. While Mr. Wince has never identi- 
fied himself with any particular religious denomi- 
nation, he takes an active interest in church matters, 
and was largely instrumental in organizing the first 
church and Sunday-school located in the southern 
part of Owego Township. His political proclivi- 
ties are Democratic, and he is a strong advocate of 
temperance principles. His office-holding experi- 
ence has been somewhat limited, having held the 
office of Justice of the Peace one term, the duties 




- . 258 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of which he discharged with credit to himself and 
satisfaction to his constituents. On account of the 
warm interest which betakes in educational matters 
he was appointed to the position of School Director 
in his district, which position he held four years, 
and that of School Trustee two years. 



i AMES D. SIDLE, hotel-keeper and assistant 
grain buyer at the Graymont Elevator, is the 
son of Daniel and Catherine (Zorn) Sidle 
(formerly spelled Seidle), and was born on the 
3d of May, 1 850, in Somerset County, Pa. When 
he was about five years of age his parents came to 
Illinois, locating in Stephenson County, where his 
father bought a farm in 1857, procuring the money 
to make the first payment from Benjamin Snyder, 
and with the help of his son carried on farming and 
blacksmithing, having learned the latter trade in 
Pennsylvania. 

On the 24th of March, 1864, Mr. Sidle, at four- 
teen years of age, ran away from home, and after 
making seven efforts, at length was sworn into the 
service as drummer to the 93d Illinois Regiment. 
He soon threw away his drum and took a gun. 
The regiment to which he was attached was as- 
signed to duty at Camp Fry, Chicago, guarding 
prisoners, and at about the end of four months it 
was sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, 111., where it 
remained in the same duty. About the 18th of 
February, 1865, the regiment was sent to Memphis, 
Tenn., but it was not needed there and returned to 
Springfield. Mr. Sidle received an honorable dis- 
charge, being mustered out on the 26th of March, 
1865. After his return from the army he once 
more joined his father and assisted him in farming 
until he was eighteen years of age, when he worked 
by the month in Livingston County until he was 
twenty -one years of age, at which time he had ac- 
cumulated enough money to buy a team of horses, 
harness and wagon. 

It was in Livingston County that Mr. Sidle be- 
came acquainted with Mary J., daughter of John 
Crow (who is mentioned in the biography of 
William Crow), whom he married on the 6th of 
August, 1871. In the fall of that year they moved 



to Stephenson Count}', and farmed for one year, 
during which time the oldest child, John Henry, 
was born on the 18th of September, 1872. In Feb- 
ruary, 1873, they started for Nebraska, making it 
convenient to visit some friends on the way, and 
arrived at Palmyra, Otoe County, the latter part 
of March. Here he devoted the first summer to 
farming and raised a fine crop, of which, however, 
100 bushels of wheat were stolen. In February of 
the following year he suffered a paralytic stroke 
which disabled him from work for four years. 
They returned to Stephenson County, where his 
father started him with a small stock of confection- 
ery, which business he carried on until he became 
so disabled that he was not in a condition either 
physically or mentally to attend to it, and his 
father closed up the business for him. During this 
time the second child, George Burtin, was born, 
June 9, 1874. In 1875 Mr. Sidle removed his 
family to Livingston County, where they resided 
with his wife's father, John Crow, until April, 1876, 
when they moved into a little log hut on section 
21, where he undertook to earn something by cob- 
bling. The neighbors gave him their work to do, 
and they remained there about one year, when they 
moved to section 32. The people elected him to the 
following offices : Constable, Town Clerk, Collector, 
Pathmaster and Township Treasurer. During this 
time his third child, Harry Watson, was born, on 
the 15th of November, 1878. 

While here a very important incident in the life 
of Mr. Sidle occurred, which was that in answer to 
prayer he was instantaneously cured of his afllic- 
tion, so that he was immediately able to go to 
work. They remained on section 32 until the spring 
of 1880, when they moved to Pontiac, where he 
worked on the railroad about five months, and then 
went to cobbling through the winter, as he was not 
yet able to bear exposure to the inclement weather. 
While in Pontiac his wife look in boarders in order 
to assist in the support of the family. After re- 
maining in Pontiac about one year he returned to 
section 32, where he engaged in farming for about 
two years. At the end of that time he moved to 
Graymont, where he has since resided. In 1885 
he was again elected Township Collector. In po- 
litical matters he always acted with the Republican 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



259 



party until two years ago, when he became an ad- 
vocate of prohibition. In 1875 Mr. Sidle was con- 
verted to religion and joined the United Brethren 
Church. While a member of that church he was 
granted a license to preach, and in that capacity he 
served the Master for four years. About this time 
his attention was called to sanctification by the 
preaching of B. F. Goodwin, and under the teach- 
ings of J. S. Allison he accepted that doctrine and 
has since held no membership with any sect. The 
fourth child, Jesse Daniel, was born on the 14th of 
July, 1883. 

Mr. Sidle was the yonngest child in a family of 
nine children, all of whom grew to maturity: Erne- 
line first married Mr. Berkebill, by whom she had 
one son, and is now the wife of William Bon- 
acker, by whom she has six children; Sarah mar- 
ried first Solomon Lohr, by whom she had thirteen 
children, and is now the wife of Joseph Lilly; they 
have three children. Julia Ann married Benjamin 
Snyder; they have four children and live in Ste- 
phenson County. Henry is married and lives in 
Arizona; F. A. is married, has three children, and 
lives in a Otoe County, Neb. ; Charles married, has 
eight children, and also lives in Otoe County ; Mary 
married Jacob Andrew, has four children, and lives 
in Stephenson County; James D. is the subject of 
this sketch, in which the details and events of his 
life are chronicled. 



1LLIAM JONES, who stands as one of the 
leading and representative farmers and 
stock- raisers of Owego Township, located 
on section 14, is a native of Worcestershire, En- 
gland, where he was born on the 21st of February, 
1826. He is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Bil- 
lingsley) Jones, both of whom were natives of En- 
gland. To his parents were born seven children, as 
follows: William; Benjamin, of England ; John, of 
Saunemin Township, Livingston County; Eliza- 
beth, Mrs. Robert Bolton, of Peoria; Sarah, Mrs. 
Thomas Murphy, of the Island of New Zealand ; 
Esther, Mrs. George Vincent, of San Francisco, 
Cal. ; Frederick, of New Zealand. Mr. Jones re- 
ceived an English education in his native country, 




where he remained until he grew to manhood, 
learning also the boot and shoe business, in which 
his father was then engaged. 

Mr. Jones was married in England, on the 29th 
of July, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Cox, daughter of 
Samuel Cox, of Shropshire, an inland county of 
I England, bounded on the north by Wales, and 
through which the Severn flows. Mr. and Mrs. 
Jones have seven children, six of whom are living: 
Nellie, Mrs. James Roberts, of New Zealand; Orin 
W., a farmer of Owego Township; Benjamin F., 
grain dealer and buyer of Eylar, Livingston 
County; Albert, a grain-buyer of Cullon, this 
county; Edward G., a real-estate dealer in Kansas 
City, Mo.; Laura, at present attending Lincoln 
University, at Lincoln, 111. 

Mr. Jones emigrated to America in 1852, taking 
passage at Liverpool, and landing in New York. 
He spent about three and one-half years in Leroy, 
N. Y., coming to Illinois in 1856. His first ten 
years' residence in this State was in Peoria County, 
when, in 1866, he came to Livingston County, and 
settled on a farm in Owego Township, where he 
now resides. When he acquired this land by pur- 
chase, it was composed of what is known as raw 
prairie, and not a foot of it had ever been culti- 
vated. But nothing daunted he went to work upon 
it with a will, enduring all the hardships incident 
to pioneer life, and in the course of a few years 
had transformed it into a finely cultivated farm. 
As the years went by his successes were most pro- 
nounced, and he has been able to afford all his chil- 
dren ample facilities for procuring a good educa- 
tion. One of his daughters, Nellie, now living in 
New Zealand, was a public school teacher for many 
years. Although he bas frequently been solicited 
to become a candidate for public office, he has in- 
variably declined, excepting in the case of the of- 
fice of School Director, which he has filled for a 
number of years, and which he consented to accept 
simply because it would enable him to labor more 
effectively for the advancement of education, of 
which all his life he has been a friend and promoter. 
As a political thinker, he does not confine himself 
to the narrow rut in which machine politicians run, 
but takes a broad and liberal view upon all ques- 
tions of public policy, and votes for the men who 



f 



260 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



suit him best regardless of their party affiliations. 
He is to all intents and purposes, a self-made man, 
so far as his career in this country is concerned, 
and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor, both in 
the substantial comforts of life, and the satisfaction 
of having contributed to society respected and 
honorable members in the persons of his children. 



eHARLES W. ROLLINS. One of the most 
substantial homesteads in Owego Township, 
lying on section 19, is occupied by the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-raiser. 
The family residence, which is splendidly located, 
is one of the neatest and most tasteful in that lo- 
cality, and the barn and other necessary farm 
buildings are handsome and substantial structures 
calculated alike for beauty and utility. The fences 
and farm machinery are kept in good repair, and 
the stock and other accessories of the estate testify 
in a silent and forcible manner to the intelligence, 
industry and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. 
Rollins is a native of Livingston County, and was 
born on the 23d of January, 1840. He is a son of 
Philip and Martha Rollins, who were among the 
very first settlers of Livingston County, and a 
sketch of whom appears in another portion of this 
work. His early days were spent upon the farm 
assisting in the work, and during the school term 
attending school. 

On the 15th of June, 1862, Mr. Rollins was mar- 
ried to Maria Stiuson, also a native of Livingston 
County, born on the 21st of February, 1844. She 
is a daughter of James L. and Mary Stinson, na- 
tives of Ohio. The parents came to Livingston 
County about 1839, and settled upon the farm 
which is at present occupied by the subject of this 
sketch. James L. Stinson, in connection with a 
brother, pre-empted 200 acres of land, which was 
composed entirely of raw prairie, not a furrow hav- 
ing been turned in it at the time they became pos- 
sessed of it. He resided on this land until his de- 
cease in 1845; his wife survived him, and died in 
1853. They were the parents of four children, 
three of whom are living: Letitia, widow of the 
late Willard Foster, of Livingston County; Mar- 



tha, the wife of G. W. Ferris, of Pontiac, and 
Maria, now Mrs. Rollins. To Mr. and Mrs. Rol- 
lins but one child has been born, a son, Charles A., 
whose birth took place on the 2d of February, 
1869. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rollins are members of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as 
Steward and Trustee. He is exceedingly inde- 
pendent in his political belief, and does not attach 
his faith to either of the old parties, but makes it a 
point to vote for the men whom he believes will 
best discharge the duties of the offices to which 
they are elected. For five years he has served as 
Supervisor of Owego Township, and for a term of 
one year as Road Commissioner. Mr. Rollins has 
been exceptionally successful in his business enter- 
prises, and now owns 250 acres of as good land as 
is contained within the borders of Livingston 
County. 



ARTIN M. SPENCE. Illinois is a State 
of largely diversified opportunities for the 
industrious and enterprising citizen. In 
an agricultural sense it is one of the best 
in the Union, and its vast prairies, which produce 
wonderful crops of corn and excel in the raising of 
hay, make the industry of stock-raising one of the 
most important and profitable in which the people 
engage. Very many of the farmers of Livingston 
County engage more or less in stock-raising, and 
instead of depending on uncertain markets for their 
grain, feed their entire crop to horses, cattle and 
hogs, which always find a ready market at any time 
of the year, and they thus have a sure thing in dis- 
posing of the products of the farm. One of the 
men who thus combines farming and stock-raising 
is the subject of this sketch, whose fine stock farm 
is on section 4, Belle Prairie Township. This gen- 
tleman is a native of Livingston County, where he 
was born on the 22d of August, 1844, his parents 
being William and Mary (Darnell) Spence, who 
were natives of Kentucky. When Mr. Spence was 
a boy, he worked on a farm in summer and attended 
the district school in the fall and winter, in which 
he made such progress in his studies, thtit without 




=4- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



261 



difficulty he was admitted to Eureka College, and 
afterward attended college at Monmouth, Warren 
Co., 111. After passing through these educational 
institutions with great credit to himself, he returned 
home and engaged in work upon the farm. 

September 19, 1881, Mr. Spence was married to 
Miss Jennie Darnell, who was born in Johnson 
County, Mo., on the 26th of July, 1857, and is the 
daughter of William and Eliza (Coffman) Darnell. 
Of this union there are two children, William and 
Hazel May, who are exceptionally bright for their 
age. Mr. Spence is the owner of 300 acres of as 
flue land as the sun shines on, which he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation, and which yields 
crops ample to feed a large number of domestic 
animals. Mr. Spence's stock operations are princi- 
pally confined to horses, and he makes a specialty 
of breeding heavy and light draft, and saddle 
horses. This business he conducts in such an in- 
telligent manner that his profits are certain and 
satisfactory. 

Mr. Spence is an ardent member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and a member in good standing of Tar- 
bolton Lodge No. 357, and also a member of the 
Chapter. In politics he is an advocate of the prin- 
ciples and measures of the Greenback party, and 
while that party is not numerically strong, he ad- 
heres to its doctrines regardless of the fact of its 
being in the minority. Mr. Spence has been very 
successful in his occupations, and has shown rare 
judgment and good management in his business, 
farm and stock operations. In the various rela- 
tions of life, he sustains the character of an estima- 
ble citizen, neighbor and friend, and enjoys the 
full confidence and regard of those who know him. 
His excellent wife is a member of the Christian 
Church, and takes great interest in the affairs of 
that organization. 



LBERT J. MORRISON is one of the young 
men engaged in agricultural pursuits, who 
can claim Livingston County MS the place 
of his birth, and who has been a witness of 
the wonderful improvements which have been made 
and developments that have taken place during the 




past thirty years. He comes upon the stage of ac- 
tion at a time in the history of the county when the 
work of opening and bringing it to a state of culti- 
vation has all been performed, and the benefits of 
the work of the pioneers are to be gained. He is 
truly one of the representative farmers of Avoca 
Township, and is pleasantly situated on section 9. 

Mr. Morrison was born in Livingston County 
on the 6th of August, 1854, and is the son of Joseph 
C. and Naomi Morrison, the latter of whom is de- 
ceased. His father is a native of the State of New 
York, and his mother was born in Ohio. Joseph 
C. Morrison, the father, is the gentleman who has 
gained such a large reputation as an importer and 
dealer in Norman horses at Pontiac, 111. His im- 
portations of fine horses average about thirty 
animals every trip he makes to Europe, and his 
visits are made several times a year. He hails from 
the State of New York, and came to Illinois about 
the year 1840, settling in Avoca Township when 
the prairie was yet unbroken and no signs of cul- 
tivation were visible. He is one of the early pio- 
neers to whose energy and enterprise can be credited 
the work of developing the county. He had prac- 
tically no means when he arrived here, and his 
splendid stock farm, elegant residence and commo- 
dious farm buildings, are evidences of his industry, 
good management, and close attention to business 
all through an active life. Besides being one of 
the heaviest farmers and largest dealers in expen- 
sive stock, he is a leading citizen in all the affairs 
of the town and county. In political matters he 
acts with the Republican party, and his influence is 
a power in that section of the county. Mr. Morri- 
son is the father of nine children, eight of whom 
are living, as follows: Jasper N., Lotta, Samuel L., 
Addie; Delia, the wife of Ns. T. Green, of Pontiac 
Township; Alta I.; John W. and Albert J., the lat- 
ter the subject of this sketch. 

Albert J. Morrison has been a citizen of Living- 
ston County all his life, and during his boyhood 
days was afforded all the advantages for obtaining 
a good education, of which he availed himself. On 
the 27th of November. 1879, our subject was mar- 
ried to Violetta Augustine, daughter of John Au- 
gustine, of Owego Township, of whom a sketch 
appears in this ALBUM. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have 



f 



262 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



three children: Roy A., born Jan. 14, 1881 ; Stan- 
ley A., Nov. 4, 1882, and Feme I., Aug. 12, 1887. 
The farm of Mr. Morrison consists of 120 acres of 
as good land as can be found in Livingston County, 
and it is all well drained and fenced. The residence 
he and his family occupy is one of the snuggest and 
best appointed in the township. Like his father, 
Mr. Morrison is an enthusiastic Republican, and he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church; he is one of the Trustees of the church 
at McDowell. 

At the time this sketch is written, Mr. and Mrs. 
Morrison are virtually in the first stages of their 
life's work, but their beginning is under the most 
favorable auspices, and the future undoubtedly has 
in store for them great and grand successes. Their 
little family is one of which they may well be proud. 
They take an active interest in all matters for the 
weal and welfare of the society in which they move, 
and to all good works they are liberal contributors, 
both of time and money. 



J~~) OSEPH HARRISON MORRIS, widely and 
I favorably known as one of the most success- 
ful farmers and stock-raisers of Rook's 
Creek Township, arrived in Illinois on his 
eighteenth birthday, having journeyed from Wash- 
ington County, Pa., where he was born March 16, 
1848. He consequently became a resident of the 
Prairie State in the spring of 1866, and since that 
time has dwelt within its borders. He had at that 
time no possessions except his resolute will and 
strong hands, and with this excellent capital cour- 
ageously commenced life for himself, determined 
to secure a good home and a good position among 
his fellow-citizens. He began first as a farm la- 
borer, and has gradually climbed up until now he 
is the owner of a good property, and is a man of 
no small importance in his community. 

The parents of our subject, Samuel and Nancy 
Elizabeth (Swagler) Morris, were natives respect- 
ively of New York ancTOhio. Samuel Morris was 
born in 1800, and departed this life in Washington 
County, Pa., Sept. 2, 1857. The mother who was 



born in 1812, is still living upon the old homestead 
in Pennsylvania. Their family included eleven 
children, of whom our subject was the seventh in 
order of birth, and seven are still living, as follows: 
John M., a resident of Washington Count}', Pa., 
married, and the father of several children; Jona- 
than, Sarah M., Mary, Cyrus and Isaac N. Those 
deceased are James L., Samuel, Susan and Nancy E. 

J. H. Morris received a fair education in the 
common schools of his native State, and after he 
found that his prospects would justify him in the 
undertaking, was married, in Pontiac Township, 
Feb. 21, 1878, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Reason 
and Mary (McMillan) Brown. The young people 
located on section 28, where Mr. Morris had pur- 
chased eighty acres of land, and commenced house- 
keeping in unpretending style, suitable to their 
means and station. Four and one-half years later 
Mr. M. sold this property and purchased eighty 
acres on section 12, where he now resides. 

Mrs. Morris was born in Rook's Creek Township, 
March 16, 1860, and is the eldest of five children 
who comprised the parental household. Her 
brother, William Allen, and her sister, Nancy E., 
the wife of John E. Blake, are also residents of 
Rook's Creek Township; Sarah E., Mrs. Brown, 
lives on her father's homestead in Pontiac Town- 
ship, with her brother, Jesse S. Reason Brown, 
her father, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Sept. 
4, 1838, and the mother in Pontiac Township, this 
county, Dec. 25, 1841; they were married in June, 
1859. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. M. was 
Andrew S. McMillan, who married Miss Maria 
Springer, of Illinois. 




C. BALL. The law has always been con- 
sidered as one of the highest of the profes- 
w sions. The honest and conscientious law- 
yer is one of the necessities of the age, and 
the best friend of the people in the matter of se- 
curing their rights under the law. A. C. Ball, one 
of the leading younger attorneys of the Livingston 
County bar, is a native of Bureau County, where 
he was born on the 24th of June, 1858, and is a 
son of James M. and Hannah M. (Frink) Ball, who 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



265 . > 



were natives of New York. The father of James 
M. was John M., a native of New York, who was 
engaged in farming and went to Michigan in the 
early settlement of that State, where he settled at 
Parma, and where he is now living. His family 
consisted of nine children, seven of whom are liv- 
ing. Hannah M. Frink's parents were Hiram and 
Malinda (Ogden) Frink, who were natives of New 
York. 

The father of A. C. Ball was reared on a farm 
until he was eighteen years of age, and during that 
time attended the common schools, and then learned 
the trade of a carpenter in Illinois, where he had 
come in 1855. He followed contracting and build- 
ing until he was about thirty years of age, and then 
for a number of years was a traveling man, and 
about the year 1855 engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness in Bureau County, 111. In 1881 he moved to 
Normal, McLean County, where he engaged in the 
business of publishing. His family consisted of 
three children: A. C. ; Ella M., Mrs. Burt, of Nor- 
mal, McLean County, and Minnie H., Mrs. Taylor, 
of McLean County. 

Our subject attended and taught school until he 
was twenty-six years of age. He is a graduate of 
a Normal School, and also of the Bloomington Law 
School, class of 1885. After graduating from the 
law school he came to Pontiac, and began the prac- 
tice of law, in which business he has been success- 
ful, and his practice is continually increasing. He 
is independent in political matters, not having 
identified himself closely with either of the old 
parties, although heretofore acting with the Repub- 
licans. He is more of a lawyer than a politician, 
and will doubtless devote his life to the profession, 
allowing politicians to take care of the offices. He 
has one child, a son, named John D. 



1 



AJOR MARTIN DARNALL, whose por- 
trait is shown on the opposite page, has 
the distinction of being the earliest settler 
of Livingston County, and a full and de- 
tailed history of his life could not be written with- 
out writing that of the county, for one is almost 




identical with the other. He now resides on sec- 
tion 4, in Belle Prairie Township. He was born in 
March, 1798, in Old Virginia, and is the son of 
James and Massey (Martin) Darnall, natives of the 
same State, and both of whom died some years ago. 
Major Darnall was reared on a farm, where he be- 
came accustomed to hard work, and was educated 
in the common schools of those days, which af- 
forded very limited facilities for obtaining an edu- 
cation. He arrived in Illinois on the 27th of Oc- 
tober, 1830, making the journey overland in a 
wagon with the old-fashioned scooped bed, which 
had a wonderful capacity for carrying household 
goods. This wagon was drawn by four horses, 
which were frequently almost inadequate to haul 
it through the deep mud caused by the rains at 
that season of the year. His first year's residence 
in Illinois was in a log cabin which he built him- 
self, the only tool used being an ax, for he had no 
saw. This house was raised on the 1st of Novem- 
ber, 1830, and he occupied it that same winter. 
In 1832, on account of the breaking out of the Black 
Hawk War, he found it necessary to remove his 
family to Mackinaw, McLean County, for safety. 
After peace was declared, he returned to the house 
he had built, where he resumed his residence. A 
tract of 160 acres of Government land which he 
entered at that time, is still in his possession, and 
the title which was vested in him by the Govern- 
ment remains just as it was written at that time. 

Major Darnall has been married twice, the first 
time in 1817, when he took Miss Rachel Steers for 
his wife: She was born in Indiana, in 1793. Her 
parents moved to Kentucky when she was but a 
child, and early in their residence in that State, the 
father was captured by the Indians, and was held 
in captivity for seven years, during which time he 
suffered almost untold hardships, and twice came 
very nearly being killed. Upon three separate oc- 
casions he was compelled to run the gauntlet, and 
upon one occasion was blackened and condemned 
to be burned, but while pinioned, a few moments 
before the fire should have been lighted, there 
stepped forward a man who offered a price for his 
life, and he was released from the stake. He died 
a natural death in Boone County, Ky., in 1848. 
By his first marriage, Major Darnall had six chil- 



266 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



dren Jonathan, Mary, Alvira M. ; Malvina F., de- 
ceased ; Nancy Ann and Minerva A. Major Dar- 
nall's second marriage occurred in 1 880, the name 
of his wife being Mrs. Francis Cummings, a native 
of Kentucky, who died at Hutchinson, Kan., while 
on a visit, on the 29th of May, 1883. 

Alvira M., one of the children by the first mar- 
riage, married Benjamin Hieronymus, in 1839, who 
was born in 1818, and died in Illinois on the 31st 
of December, 1885. He was a native of Boone 
County, Ky., emigrated to Illinois in 1829, and 
settled in Tazewell County. He was a farmer by 
occupation, and a cooper by trade. He was a very 
hard-working man, and at the time of his death, 
which occurred in Livingston County, he owned 
500 acres of land. He and his wife were the par- 
ents of eight children, three of whom, William, 
Jasper and Elizabeth, are living, and two, Martin 
and Emma, died after they grew to maturity; three 
died in infancy. 

Major Darnall was the first Township Supervisor, 
in which capacity he served two terms, and in 
early times was a juror for many years; on account 
of there being no jury room in which to meet, the 
jury were obliged to sit on logs in the open air. 
All the early settlers of Livingston County remem- 
ber the deep snow of 1830-31, when the snow fell 
continuously for three daj r s, and became so deep 
that it was impossible to travel, even on horseback. 
The day before this snowfall commenced, Major 
Darnall went to Mackinaw to procure a supply of 
meat for his family, going in a wagon, and although 
the town was but eight miles from his residence, 
on account of this extraordinary snowfall he was 
prevented from returning home for nearly a week, 
and then he did so on horseback. Although ninety 
years of age, Major Darnall is a fine specimen of 
manhood, being five feet ten inches in height, and 
weighing 180 pounds, with health much better than 
could be expected. His first Presidential vote was 
cast for Gen. Jackson, and he has remained a Hick- 
ory Democrat all through his life. Being a man 
of large intelligence, and a close observer of the 
events which have transpired since the first white 
man settled in Livingston County, it is well worth 
any man's time to listen to his reminiscences of the 
settlement and growth of the count}-. 



PR AN CIS D. JOHNSON, of Indian Grove 
Township, is one of the most energetic 
farmers of Livingston County. He has, 
without doubt, done as much, if not more, hard 
work than any other man of his age in the county, 
and being in the prime of manhood, has a bright 
future before him. Mr. Johnson is the son of 
PYanklin I. and Mary A. (Wightmau) Johnson, 
whose biographies may be found in another place 
in this work. 

The subject of our sketch was born in Hastings, 
N. Y., May 2, 1854. When two years of age his 
parents moved to Vermont, Fulton Co., 111., where 
they lived until 1861, when they moved to Peoria, 
and there young Frank received his first schooling, 
working also in his father's stoneware pottery in that 
city. When the family came to this county and 
located on their 160-acre farm, south of Fairbury, 
our subject was of sufficient age to take a full-hand 
share in the work. He took hold with his father 
and brother, and together they worked early and 
late to improve the place and to replenish the pa- 
ternal exchequer. During this time he improved 
what opportunities presented of attending the dis- 
trict school, and remained with his parents until 
after he had reached his majority, giving to their 
service his best energies. 

On Dec. 24, 1874, Mr. Johnson was married to 
Lucena M. Odell, who was born in the State of 
New York on the 26th of August, 1853, and is the 
daughter of James H. and Mary (Straight) Odell. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born five chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows: Birdie R., born 
Feb. 15, 1876, died in infancy Oct. 4, 1876; Carrie 
M., born Aug. 2, 1877; Addie M., born Aug. 2, 
1879; Lottie M., born Aug. 2, 1882, and Vinnie 
L., born March 17, 1884. In the year 1876 Mr. 
Johnson moved upon the farm on which he at ' 
present resides, consisting of 120 acres, and began 
the work of improvement, which he has carried 
forward so energetically and systematical^' that he 
now has one of the best conditioned farms in the 
county. The soil is of a fine quality, and the drain- 
age is perfect, so that productiveness is much en- 
hanced. During most of the time he has resided 
upon this farm Mr. Johnson has made a specialty 
of raising fine horses, meeting with excellent suc- 



fr- 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



267 



cess. During the year 1886 he was so unfortu- 
nate as to lose seventy-three head of fine Chester- 
White hogs. Although it was quite a severe finan- , 
cial loss, his courage was not diminished in the 
least, but he immediately began, with renewed en- 
ergy, to maintain his business up to the standard, 
and at the same time to regain what had been lost. 
Politically, Mr. Johnson is an advocate of the 
principles of the Democratic party, and has been 
called upon to discharge the duties of many of the 
various township offices. He is a member of the 
lodge of Knights of Pythias, in which he has held 
the various offices, and filled them with credit to 
himself and satisfaction to the fraternity of that 
lodge. 




1 



ILTON KELLEY, an intelligent and well- 
educated young bachelor of Indian Grove 
Township, is operating the farm of his 
father, on section 27, and engaged in the 
breeding of fine stock, including Norman horses 
and Chester-White swine. The estate is one of 
the most valuable in the southern portion of Liv- 
ingston County, the farm having been opened up 
mainly by the father of our subject, who migrated 
to Illinois from Pennsylvania in 1864. 

Our subject was born in Greene County, Pa., 
May 23, 1854, and was consequently a lad ten 
years of age when he came to this State with his 
parents. The latter were Jacob C. and Martha 
(Gosline) Kelley, the former a native of Virginia 
and the latter of the Keystone State. Jacob Kel- 
ley was born June 20, 1815, and died at his home 
in Indian Grove Township on the 23d of June, 
1881. He located in this township March 10, 
1864, and became one of its most prominent and 
well-beloved citizens. A thorough and progressive 
fanner, he was a man prompt to meet his obliga- 
tions, and took a genuine interest in the welfare of 
the people around him, encouraging and sustaining 
those enterprises calculated for their well-beingand 
improvement. Although never identifying himself 
with any religious organization, he illustrated in 
his life and character the principles of true Chris- 
tianity, and no man enjoyed in a warmer degree 



the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 
Upon coming here, he at once purchased the land 
upon which our subject now operates, where he 
built up a fine home and reared his children to 
habits of industry and principles of honor. 

Mrs. Martha Kelley, who was born in 1821, was 
a lady in every respect the suitable companion of 
her husband, and the possessor of all womanly vir- 
tues. She looked well to the ways of her house- 
hold, and is yet affectionately regarded as a tender 
.friend and counselor, kindly and charitable, ever 
lending a ready ear to the tale of distress and her 
aid to the unfortunate. She resides with her son 
on the old homestead. The three children of the 
parental household were: Milton, our subject; 
James, who died in February, 1881, aged twenty- 
six years ; and Mary, who resides with her mother 
and brother. The daughter is finely educated, and 
possesses more than ordinary intelligence and re- 
finement, and is in all respects an ornament to the 
home circle. 

Mr. Kelley cast his_ first Presidential vote for 
Peter Cooper, and has always been a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party. He identified him- 
self with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1883, 
and is one of its most valued members. 



x AVID G. LEWIS, a representative young 
farmer and stock-raiser of Owego Town- 
ship, occupying 117 acres on section 10, 
has spent his entire life in the Prairie 
State, having been born in Fulton County April 
25, 1851. He came to this county soon after his 
marriage, which took place in 1874, and located on 
his present farm in 1887. He has been remarkably 
successful thus far 'in his agricultural operations, 
and is keeping pace with the methods of modern 
and progressive farming. 

The parents of our subject were George W. and 
Abigail Lewis, who were of New England birth 
and parentage, and settled in Illinois during the 
pioneer days, more than thirty years ago. George 
Lewis for many years conducted an hotel at 
Fail-view, where his death took place March 16, 
1886. The mother passed to her rest in 1865. 



r 





^208 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



There had been born to them seven children, four 
of whom are now living, namely, Andrew V., 
John G., Frank, and David G., our subject. The 
parents were widely and favorably known through- 
out Fulton County as representing its most sub- 
stantial and reliable elements. Their children re- 
ceived careful home training and a good common- 
school education, and imbibed those principles of 
morality and sentiments of honor which have ren- 
dered them worthy to bear the name and mantle 
of the authors of their being. 

David G. Lewis was reared and educated in his 
native county, where also he took unto himself a 
wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Mary 
Vanostrand, of Fulton County. Mrs. L. is the 
daughter of Jacob W. and Phoebe M. Vanostrand, 
and was born in B^ulton County, 111., in 1856. Of 
this union there are two children: George, born 
Aug. 15, 1875, and Carrie, Feb. 13, 1886. The 
family residence is a neat and comfortable structure, 
and the barn and out-buildings are in keeping with 
the general air of thrift and comfort which pre- 
vades the premises. Mr. Lewis is a steady and 
persistent worker, and his labors in due time will 
bring him his just reward. 



~1OHN WHALEN, who has a stock farm on 



Ind. ; Mary and Fannie both attended St. Mary's 
Academy at^Morris, 111., where the former still re- 
mains; the latter has returned home. James died 
May 1, 1877, in Livingston County, at the age of 
seventeen years. 

John Whalen, our subject, was educated in the 
High School in Pontiac, and afterward attended 
the Jacksonville Business College, where he took a 
thorough practical course. Although he is a farm- 
owner and stock-raiser, he devotes most of his 
time to teaching, in which profession he has been 
eminently successful. 



section 30, Amity Township, devotes a 

I 



^_ N ^ I large proportion of his time to school teach- 
(Wgj^/ ing, for which profession he is peculiarly fit- 
ted, not only by education, but by natural inclina- 
tion. Mr. Whalen is a native of Livingston 
County, and was born Feb. 15, 1847. He is the 
son of Patrick and Mary (Foley) Whalen, who 
were natives of Ireland, and emigrated to America 
when they were about twenty years of age. His 
father was the son of Michael and Mary (Doran) 
Whalen. To Patrick Whalen and wife a family 
of five children were born, namely, Jerome M., 
John, James, Mary and Fannie. John Whalen 
now owns 160 acres of fine farm land, all under a 
good state of cultivation, which is ditched and well 
drained; Jerome Whalen was educated in the col- 
lege at Valparaiso, Ind., and at Notre Dame Uni- 
versity, located near South Bend, St. Joseph Co., 




i>ILLIAM W. SKINNER, whose early life 
was characterized by energetic and indus- 
trious farm employments, in which he was 
remarkably successful as an agriculturist and stock- 
dealer, has now wisely retired, and is spending his 
declining years in the ease and comfort of a hand- 
some home in Fairbury. He is a native of Devon- 
shire, England, and was born May 5, 1828. His 
parents, William and Grace (Leeworthy) Skinner, 
were of pure English blood, and emigrated to 
America in 1834, when their son William was but 
a child six years of age. After landing in New 
York City they proceeded to Sangerfleld, Oneida 
County, which remained their residence twelve 
years thereafter, and during which time the father 
was engaged in farming. In 1846 they all came 
to Illinois, and the father purchased land in Ken- 
dall County, where he built up a fine homestead, 
and cultivated the soil until departing from the 
scenes of his earthly labors. He was .born in 1803, 
and died in 1855. The mother, born in 1799, 
passed away three years before her husband, in 
1852. The household included nine children, 
namely : Mary and Jane, now deceased; William, 
our subject; Henry; Elizabeth, deceased; John, 
Eliza, Morgan and Martha. 

Mr. Skinner was educated in the common schools, 
and remained under the parental roof until after 
reaching his majority. lie then purchased eighty 
acres of land in Kendall Count}', and began the ca- 
reer which subsequently proved so prosperous. 
His property includes 480 acres of some of the 
finest land in Forest Township, a handsome and 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



269 , ,1 



substantial farm dwelling, with its necessary adja- 
cent buildings, and an acre of land within the limits 
of Fairbury. After reaching his thirty-second year 
he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah F. 
Alford, the wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride, in November, 1860. Mrs. S. was born 
in Clinton County, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1844, and is the 
daughter of Wesley J. and Cornelia B. (Randall) 
Alford, also natives of the Empire State. Her fa- 
ther was born Aug. 17, 1820, and her mother in 
1823. They are both living, and residents of Belle 
Prairie Township, this county, where for many 
years Mr. A. followed farming. The parents were 
married in 1839. and the familj' circle was com- 
pleted by the birth of nine children, namely, Lu- 
cina R., Hannah F., Seth 11., Emeline, Lorenzo 
W., Louisa, George, Allie and Warren L. 

Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have two sons only : Rod- 
ney C. was born May 12, 1863, and married Miss 
Ella Evans, of Chenoa; he is farming in Forest 
Township. William was born Sept. 1, 1870, and 
is reading medicine in the office of Dr. C. G. Lewis, 
of Fairbtiry. Mr. Skinner, politically, uniformly 
votes the Republican ticket, and is greatly inter- 
ested in the success of the temperance movement. 
Mrs. S. is a worthy member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. 




E B. FOSTER, one of the oldest living 
pioneers of Livingston County, was born 
in Tioga County, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1825, the 
son of John and Susan (Shephard) Foster, the for- 
mer a native of Vermont, and the latter, who it is 
known was of New England birth, was probably 
reared not far from the birthplace of her husband. 
The Foster family is of English ancestry, and was 
first represented in this country in the Colonial days. 
The mother of our subject was of Scotch descent, 
and her great-grandfather settled in New England 
probably before the commencement of the Revo- 
lutionary War. The Fosters were largely repre- 
sented in New England, and the father of our 
subject was one of a numerous family whose father 
had been married several times. The children now 
living are: Edward, of Denver, Col.; Robert, of 



Kansas ; James, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Frank, Charles, 
and George B. of our sketch. 

In 1837 John Foster, with sixteen others of the 
same patronymic, including the family of the 
maternal grandfather, started West, making their 
way to Cleveland. Ohio, by lake and rail, then 
engaged teams and proceeded overland, locating 
first at Dayton, Ohio, on account of the cold 
weather, which interfered with their comfort while 
camping out at night. They remained there three 
months, when they continued their journey, finallj' 
settling in Pontiac. Here our subject was reared 
to manhood and trained especially to habits of in- 
dustry and economy while receiving a limited edu- 
cation in the pioneer school. He took kindly to 
labor, and at an early age became initiated into the 
secrets of successful farming, which he naturally 
chose as his future vocation. He was married, Dec. 
21, 1852, after reaching his twenty -seventh year, to 
Miss Martha Jones, who was born in Indiana, Feb. 
25, 1834. Mrs. F. was the daughter of Henry and 
Emily (De Moss) Jones, natives of Kentuck} 7 , who 
emigrated to Illinois about 1846, and settled in 
Owego Township. They afterward removed to 
California, where the mother died about 1863, and 
where Mr. Jones is still living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Foster became the parents of six children, of whom 
the record is as follows: Agnes, the first born, died 
when one year old; Henry obtained a fine educa- 
tion and is now Principal of the Pontiac High 
School, and numbered among the efficient popular 
educators of the county; Emily is the wife of 
William Decker, a prosperous merchant of Owego 
Township; Susan married Charles Grandy, who is 
farming in Pontiac Township, where Nathan also 
pursues the same calling; Clarence is a resident of 
Owego Township. 

In 1852 Mr. Foster purchased the land compris- 
ing his present farm, which was then an unculti- 
vated tract of prairie, distant from markets and 
even from the traveled highway. Scarcely a fur- 
row had been turned, while deer and other wild 
game were plentiful in that vicinity. Mr. Foster, 
being quite a marksman, kept his family supplied 
with the finest of wild meats, and if at times they 
lacked flour they were seldom without the impor- 
tant article of meat. He commenced farming with 



T 



270 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




an ox-team and a few rude implements which would 
be regarded with ridicule at the present day. He 
set out, however, with the resolution of making the 
best of circumstances, gaining a little each year 
until he had turned the sod upon the greater part 
of his possessions and brought the soil to a good 
state of cultivation. It is now considered one of the 
finest farms of its size in Owego Township, and 
although consisting of but eighty acres is more 
valuable than many occupying a larger area. 

Mr. Foster, while having an abundance of labor 
on hand in connection with his own interests, has 
deported himself unselfish!}' and given whatever of I 
his time and attention that was needful in subserv- 
ing the welfare of his community. He has been 
School Director for many years, and sought by 
his influence, and more substantial methods when 
necessary, to encourage those enterprises tending to 
the welfare of the people. He uniformly votes the 
Democratic ticket, and with his estimable lady is 
numbered among the valued residents of Living- 
ston County, who have assisted in the development 
of its resources, rejoiced in its prosperity, and con- 
tributed their quota toward its moral welfare. 



/NDREW J. BROOKS, of Rook's Creek 
Township, owns a fine farm of 160 acres 
on section 26, of which he has been in pos- 
session since the spring of 1 874. This he 
has brought to a high state of cultivation, using 
considerable tiling, and purposes draining the land 
still further in this manner. His farming opera- 
tions have been conducted with industry and good 
judgment, and he has in all respects performed his 
part as a useful citizen and a skillful agriculturist. 
He has attended principally to his own concerns, 
but has kept himself posted upon current events, 
and is always pleased to note the progress and ad- 
vancement, both morally and financially, of the 
people around him. 

As far back as he has any record, the ancestors 
of Mr. Brooks were of American birth and parent- 
age, and mostly residents of New York State. 
His paternal grandfather, John Brooks, served in 
the Revolutionary War. and spent his last days in 



New York State. The parents, Martin and Han- 
nah (Appleby) Brooks, were natives of the Em- 
pire State; the former was born in Greene County. 
In 1853 they came to Illinois and located in La 
Salle County, where they spent the remainder of 
their days. Their household included twelve chil- 
dren, ten of whom lived to become men and 
women. Andrew J., our subject, was the youngest, 
and was born in Greene County, N. Y., March 12, 
1850. He received a common-school education, 
and when twenty years of age commenced farming 
for himself. A year later he was married to Miss 
Sarah E. Hornbeck, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride, Dec. 1, 1870. The young 
people commenced life together on a farm in La 
Salle County, whence they removed three years 
later to Streator, 111., renting land, which they tilled 
one year, when he purchased eighty acres of his 
present farm. He was prospered in his labors, and 
invested his surplus capital in another eighty acres 
on section 35, all of which he has brought to a good 
state of cultivation. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brooks became the parents of six 
children, all living, with one exception, and at 
home with their parents. Viola, who was born 
Jan. 3, 1872, died June 12, 1884, when an inter- 
esting child of twelve years; Howard was born 
May 10, 1874; Bertie, Sept. 26, 1876; Henry, Jan. 
1, 1879; Ina, April 21, 1881, and Ralph, May 16, 
1883. They form a bright family group, <>f which 
the parents have reason to be proud. 

Mrs. Brooks is the daughter of Henry and Deb- 
orah (Kimball) Hornbeck, natives of New York, 
who came to Illinois and located in La Salle 
County in 1855. The household included seven 
children, of whom Mrs. B. was the third. Four 
are now living, namely: Newton J. is married, a 
resident of Kansas, and the father of six children; 
Sarah, wife of our subject; Clara married Albert 
Davis, and became the mother of two children ; she 
is now a widow and lives in Streator. Ida H. is 
the wife of Dr. William Sheppard, of Chicago, and 
is the mother of one child. A. Lincoln died 
June 8, 1886, unmarried, when about twenty-six 
years of age. The parents of these children were 
married June 14, 1843. The father was born July 
10, 1822, and the mother July 20, 1817. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



271 



The brothers and sisters of Mr. Brooks are as 
follows: Lawrence is married and a resident of 
Ford County; he has no children. Harriett is 
married to her third husband, Jackson Whittaker, 
and is the mother of two children by her first mar- 
riage ; her first husband was Peter Alson, and her 
second, John Hogaboom. Burgess, married, is a 
resident of Nebraska, and has five children; Sa- 
rah, Mrs. Peter VanValkenburg, is the mother of 
live children, and a resident of New York State; 
Edwin is married, and has seven children ; he is a 
resident of Adair County, Iowa. Andrew J., of 
our sketch, was the youngest. 




FORDYCE, one of the most exten- 
sive farmers, stock-raisers, and breeders of 
Short-horn cattle and Hambletonian horses, 
as well as general dealer in stock, in Reading Town- 
ship, where he lives on section 21, is a native of 
Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 5th of 
December, 1834. He is the son of Corbley and 
Jane (Bailey) Fordyce, also natives of Pennsylva- 
nia. The father was born June 7, 1807, and died 
Nov. 13, 1862, at the age of fifty-five years- 
The mother was born June 16, 1811, and is now 
seventy-six years of age and residing in Pennsyl- 
vania, in the county in which she was born. 

The father of our subject was a farmer, stock- 
raiser and feeder, and in this business met witli 
good success. His political affiliations were with 
the Whig and Republican parties, and he, as well as 
his wife, was a member of the Methodist Protest- 
ant Church. To them were born the following- 
named children: Kliza Ann, born Feb. 15, 1830, 
and married John Smith, a fanner and merchant; 
they have had a family of seven children, one de- 
ceased, and now reside in Greene County, Pa. 
Elizabeth, born Feb. 28, 1832, married John 
Church, has had three children, one deceased: they 
reside in Greene County, Pa., where the husband is 
engaged as a farmer and stock-breeder. Girard is 
our subject: Mary, born Jan. 17, 1836, married 
Thomas B. Smith, a farmer by occupation, and a 
local minister in the Methodist Protestant Church; 



they have seven children and reside in Ohio. Joab 
B., born March 27, 1838, married Eliza Garrison, 
and has had three children, of whom two are de- 
ceased ; the family reside in Greene County, Pa., 
where Joab is a farmer and stock-dealer. John G., 
born Feb. 14, 1841, is a farmer in Greene County, 
Pa. ; he first married Jennie Huffman, who died after 
the birth of two children, and he afterward married 
Mary Phillips, by whom he has had one child. 
Corbley, born Aug. 30, 1843, died July 10, 1845. 
Hattie, born March 3, 1846, married Joshua Rice, 
a farmer, and has had six children, one of whom is 
dead; Ellen, born Oct. 20, 1850, died in infancy; 
Jennie, born April 9, 1848, married Peter Huffman, 
a farmer, and resides in Greene County, Pa.; Jo- 
seph B., born Feb. 9, 1852, died May 3, 1857; 
Homer C., born July 3, 1855, married Elizabeth 
Huffman, has three children, and resides in Greene 
County, Pa., where he is engaged in farming. 

On the 18th of July, 1853, Mr. Fordyce was 
married to Joanna Coe, a native of Pennsylvania, 
born on the 26th of March, 1839, and the daughter 
of Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe. The marriage 
occurred at the residence of the bride's father, at 
Waynesburg, Pa., the Rev. William C. Leonard 
officiating. To her parents were born the follow- 
ing-named children: William, born Jan. 28, 1837, 
and died Oct. 4, 1864, in Pennsylvania; Joanna, the 
wife of our subject: John, born June 12, 1842, mar- 
ried Jennie Knight, now deceased, and afterward he 
married Annie Keith; they have had six children, 
two of whom are deceased. John is a farmer by 
occupation and resides in Ancona; Henry, born 
Feb. 14, 1845, married Maria Fry on the 13th of 
September, 1864, and died Feb. 7, 1865, in Greene 
County, Pa.; Joseph, born Dec. 25, 1847, married 
Prude Barackman, and resides on a farm in Read- 
ing Township. (At the time of the writing of this 
sketch Joseph and his wife are sojourning in Cali- 
fornia with the hope of restoring the health of the 
latter.) Sarah, born Nov. 2, 1850, and married 
George W. Mathis, a merchant and publisher of 
Ancona, whose biography will be found in another 
part of this book; Cephas, born Nov. 14, 1853 
married Carrie Barackman, and has three children 
living; he is a farmer and resides in Reading Town- 
ship. Lile Ann, born Feb. 31, 1857, married James , , 




t . 272 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



P. Mathis, and has had three children, one of whom 
is dead ; her husband is a merchant, and stock and 
grain dealer at Rutland. Robert G. resides in 
California, where he is engaged as a clerk in a 
bank. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Girard Fordyce eight children 
have been born: Mary L., in Pennsylvania, on the 
25th of May, 1865; she is now a student in Eureka 
College. Joseph C., born Feb. 1, 1867, died April 
1, 1868; Franklin, born June 23, 1869; Charles J., 
March 21, 1872; John G., July 19, 1874; Harry S., 
Ojt. 16, 1876; Nellie R., Dec. 28, 1880, and C. 
Roy, Jan. 27, 1885. Mr. Fordyce now owns 207 
acres of land, located on sections 21, 28 and 33, seven 
and one-half of which are covered with timber, 
while all the remainder is susceptible of high culti- 
vation. A good class of improvements, including 
suitable buildings, has been made by Mr. Fordyce. 

In his youth Mr. Fordyce received an excellent 
common-school education, and afterward graduated 
from the Waynesburg College, located in Greene 
County, Pa., after which he attended medical lec- 
tures in Cleveland, Ohio, and then practiced medi- 
cine for two years. In 1863 he responded to his 
country's call by enlisting and recruiting a com- 
pany of which he was appointed Lieutenant. After 
going into camp he was notified by telegraph that 
his father was fatally ill and could not live long, 
and upon his arrival at home he found the truth of 
the summons verified. His father exacted a prom- 
ise from him to resign his commission in the army 
and return home for the purpose of settling up the 
estate he might leave. He considered that his ob- 
ligations to his father and his family preceded his 
duty to his country, and heeded the call made upon 
him by his father. 

Mr. Fordyce is a member of the Republican 
party, in which he takes an active interest. He 
has been School Director for four terms, 1 and has 
also served to the satisfaction of the people in the 
office of Justice of the Peace. He is a member in 
good standing of the Masonic Lodge at Long 
Point, and cheerfully engages in such works of 
benevolence as the conditions of the case. may war- 
rant. He is a business man of rare ability, and of 
pleasant social address, progressive in his ideas and 
energetic in whatever he undertakes. 




ICHAEL D. PETERS is farming on section 
1, Newtown Tp.. and coal mining in Shaft 
No. 3, of the Vermillion Coal Company, 
and has been a resident of this locality for 
sixteen years, during which time, for about four 
years, he operated a small shaft of his own on his 
farm. Mr. Peters is one of the oldest employes in 
the shaft, and has always been constant and faith- 
ful in his work. When not engaged at the shaft, 
he devotes his time to his farm. 

Mr. Peters was born in Ireland in the year 1841, 
and is the son of Patrick and Mary Peters, natives 
of Ireland, who came to America in 1849, at which 
time they had six children. They left Waterford 
in April, and landed at New York City on the 9th 
of June, after a long and tempestuous voyage. 
From New York City they went to Troy, N. Y., 
where they remained about two months, and then 
moved to Blossburg, Pa., where they remained, 
the boys engaging at work in the coal mines at that 
place. The father was then too old to work, but 
remained there until his death, which occurred in 
1866. Our subject's mother died in 1851, soon af- 
ter settling in Pennsylvania. To the parents were 
born eight children James, Patrick, Dennis, John, 
Michael, Mary, Sarah and Bridget. Of these, three 
are now living: John, married, has three children, 
and is engaged in the coal mines at Houtzdale, Pa. ; 
Bridget, the wife of Michael Eagan, who has been 
engaged as watchman for the New York & Erie Rail- 
road at Corning, N. Y., for twenty-five years. Of 
the others, two died in Ireland, two died in Penn- 
sylvania, and Sarah, Mrs. James Lacey, died in Mor- 
ris, Grundy Co., 111. Michael, our subject, lived at 
home until sixteen or seventeen years of age, when 
he devoted several years to traveling from one 
place to another, nearly all over the United States, 
and has been in most of the principal cities of the 
North and South. He was near Chattanooga at 
the time of the breaking out of the war, and en- 
listed in the 6th Alabama Regiment for one year. 
About the expiration of his term of service he ran 
away and crossed tbe line into McCIelland's camp, 
where he surrendered himself and then returned to 
Pennsylvania. 

On the 15th day of January, 1867, Mr. Peters 
was married to Ann Lonergon, of Bellefonte, Pa., 




STORE AND FARM PROPERTY OF HENRY RINGLER,STRAWN, ILL. 




^.^^^'^fl^^^V'^'^i^'^^^^^^-^^^^^W' 

v '^-.fcMi%N&*^0^ 



RESIDENCE OF D. F SMITH, SEC. 3. INDIAN GROYETOWNSHI p. 




RESIDENCE or HENRY U LBRIGHT, 5EC.9. FOREST TOWNSHIP. 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



275 




where she grew to womanhood. She was the daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Mary (Murphy) Lonergon, na- 
tives of Ireland, who came to this country at an 
early day, and were married in Pennsylvania. 
They reared a large family of children, of whom 
our subject's wife was the third. Soon after mar- 
riage, Mr. Peters came to Pontiac, and engaged in 
coal mining in the Pontiac mines, where he re- 
mained for about one year, and then mined coal in 
La Salle for about the same length of time. From 
La Salle he went to Streator, remaining one year, 
and then to his present location. Ten children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peters, four of whom 
died in infancy: Sadie was born Jan. 15, 1875; 
Annie, Feb. 8, 1878; Michael and Katie, twins, Jan. 
6, 1881. These four are all living at home, the | 
rest are dead. Mr. Peters and his family are de- 
vout members of the Catholic Church, and attend 
services at Streator. 



-#- 



j)ILLIAM A. LATHAM, a representative 
farmer and stock-raiser of Owego Town- 
ship, is a native of New Hampshire, and 
was born on the 12th of December. 1837, and is 
the son of William H. and Eliza Latham, both New 
Englanders by birth. When an infant he was 
taken by his parents to Fayette County, Ohio, 
where he was reared. He received a fair English 
education, and after having reached years of ma- 
turity came to Illinois and resided in McLean 
County a number of years. He removed from 
Kankakee to Livingston County in 1885, and has 
resided here ever since. He owns 400 acres of land 
in Livingston County, and also an interest in a 
large stock ranch in Colorado. 

In Blooinington, 111., on the 5th of February, 
1874, his marriage was celebrated, at which time 
Miss Frances J. Wej'and, an accomplished lady of 
Bloomington, 111., became his wife. She is a daugh- 
ter of William and Catherine Weyand, they having 
been among the worthy and esteemed pioneers of 
McLean County, who settled in Bloomington at an 
early day. The mother is deceased. The union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Latham has been blessed with 
seven children, four of whom are living Florence, 



Arthur W., Mary C. and John H. Mrs. L. is a 
member of the Christian Church, and an active and 
influential member of society. 

The subject of this sketch has been successful in 
business affairs, and is a public-spirited man, being 
in favor of all things which tend to elevate society 
and improve the community. He is a Republican 
in politics and a leading citizen in all public affairs. 
None are more worthy of a place in this ALBUM 
than Mr. and Mrs. Latham, who enjoy the esteem 
and confidence of the entire community in which 
they live. 



[} OSEPH R. PLOWMAN. Whatever a man 
may own of this world's goods, it is some 
satisfaction to himself, and certainly a credit 
readily conceded to him, when they are ob- 
tained through his own efforts, as the reward that 
comes of industry and prudence. The greatest ac- 
complishments are those made by men who are 
thrown entirely upon their own resources, and carve 
out the fortunes of which they become possessors, 
and when these men succeed in their efforts, they 
seldom fritter away their holdings, for they know 
under what difficulty they were obtained. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is a self-made man, and his ex- 
cellent farm in Pontiac Township, with all its be- 
longings, stands as the evidence of hard work 
through life. 

Mr. Plowman was born in Huntingdon County, 
Pa., on the 4th of July, 1838, and is the son of 
Edward L. and Sarah L. Plowman, the father a na- 
tive of Maryland, and the mother of Mifflin County, 
Pa. His paternal ancestors are of German descent, 
and the maternal of English descent. His fore- 
fathers were among the pioneers of Huntingdon 
County, Pa. His parents settled in La Salle County, 
111., in the year 1854, and were among the pioneers 
of that county, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives, the father dying on the 29th of March, 
1884, and the mother on the llth of September, 
1876; they had two children, named Joseph R. and 
Apollos F. 

Mr. Plowman married on the 3d of April, 1868, 
Martha E. Cays, daughter of Conrad Cays, of La 
Salle County, 111. They have four children : Dora, 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



t 



wife of H. F. Davis, of this count}'; Arthur, Elmer 
and Minnie. Mr. Plowman removed to Living- 
ston County in the fall of 1880, and thence upon 
his present farm in the spring of 1887. He owns 
120 acres of land, which is known for its fertility 
and fine location. On the 1 4th of August, 1 862, 
he enlisted in Company D, 104th Illinois Infantry, 
under Capt. W. II. Collins, and was attached to the 
14th Army Corps, Arm}' of the Cumberland, and 
participated in many engagements and skirmishes 
in Kentucky and Tennessee, the principal field of 
operation of that army corps. After serving nearly 
three years, he was honorably discharged on the 
5th of July, 1 865, when he returned to peaceful pur- 
suits in Illinois. 

Mr. Plowman is a Republican in politics, a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and a comrade of 
the G. A. R. In each of these organizations he 
takes an active interest, and occupies a prominent 
position. While a citizen of La Salle County, he 
served as Collector and Assessor of Reading Town- 
ship. Although comparatively a new citizen of 
Livingston County, he has already formed very 
pleasant social relations with the older citizens, and 
it is very probable that his conditions and sur- 
roundings will prove very pleasant and profitable 
in the future. 



AMUEL M. PRICER, Supervisor of Avoca 
Township, and the representative of a fine 
old Pennsylvania family, is one of the most 
prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of this 
township, to which he came in 1873 and settled on 
his present farm, which embraces 460 acres on sec- 
tion 1, and to the management of which he gives 
his attention. The land was then in an unculti- 
vated state, but by the exerci>e of continuous in- 
dustry and good judgment, has become one of the 
most tiucly cultivated and fertile tracts in the south- 
ern part of Living.-ton County. Mr. Pricer. of late 
years, has taken life easier, but still extends the 
r-anie supervision as of old over hi- farm operation-, 
which are conducted after the most modern and ap- 
proved method^ 

Our Mib.ect wa> born in Ross County. Ohio, Feb. 
16, 1824, and is the >on of Jacob and Elizabeth 




(Benner) Pricer. whose birth took place near the 
city of Philadelphia. Pa. I'pon both sides the par- 
ents were of German ancestry, and their lioii-eliold 
included seven children, of whom the following sur- 
vive: Elizabeth. Mrs. Alexander Brown; Louisa. 
Mrs. David Brown: Frances L.. the wife of John 
M. Dwire: and Samuel M., our subject. With the 
exception of the last they are all iv-iilents of Ross 
County. Ohio. The parents located in that county 
during the pioneer days, where the father carried on 
farming successfully., and where his death took place 
in the spring of 1852. The mother is still a resi- 
dent there, continuing on the old homestead, near 
the town of Comstock, and has now passed her 
eightieth birthday. 

Mr. Pricer spent his boyhood and youth among 
his native hills, 'receiving a good education in a 
State renowned for its school facilities, even in the 
country districts. He was fond of his books, mak- 
ing good use of his time, and after leaving school 
was engaged for a time as a teacher. Subsequently, 
when but a youth of eighteen, he engaged as clerk 
and book-keeper in the mercantile establishment of 
Elijah Rockhold, with whom he continued four 
years. At the expiration of this time he had ac- 
cumulated sufficient capital to go into business for 
himself, and established a store of general merchan- 
dise in company with Jacob Benner, with whom he 
continued five years. He then purchased the in- 
terest of his partner, and continued there in busi- 
ness several years longer, after which he came to 
this State. 

Mr. Pricer, upon his arrival in Illinois, in 1862, 
established himself in the hotel business at Salem, 
Marion County, and thence removed to East St. 
Louis. After a year's residence at that point, he 
established himself as a general merchant at Qaincy t 
111., where he was thus occupied three years, and 
then engaged as a traveling salesman for a St. Louis 
house. In 1873 he came to this county, settled 
down upon a farm, and has since continued a resi- 
dent of the rural districts. To this latter life he 
seems more especially adapted, and nothing could 
suit him better than its employments and pleasures. 
He has been blessed with good health, the result of 
good habits, and besides his farm duties has found 
time to interest himself in the welfare of his com- 






f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



277 



munity. He first served as Commissioner of High- 
ways three years, and in the spring of 1 886 was 
elected to his present office of Supervisor, the du- 
ties of which he is discharging with credit to him- 
self and satisfaction to all concerned. He takes a 
keen interest in the success of Sunday-school work, 
as well as in that of the temperance movement, 
and is Chairman of the Blue Eibbon Society of 
Owego Township, the meetings of which are held 
regularly in the Methodist EpiscopaljClmrch. 

The marriage of Samuel M. Pricer and Miss 
Mary E. Latham was celebrated at the home of the 
bride, in Washington, Fayettc Co., Ohio, in May, 
1856. Mrs. Pricer was born in Grafton County, 
N. II., in 1835, and is the daughter of Will- 
iam H. and Eliza (Comers) Latham, the latter 
now deceased. Her father is living, and a resident 
of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. P. have no children. 




RANK RAISBECK, one of the enterprising 
young farmers of Esmen Township, is lo- 
cated near the homestead of his father-in- 
law, Amariah Bemis, on section 2, where in addi- 
tion to general agriculture he is engaged in the 
raising of fine stock, including horses, cattle and 
hogs. He is a native of a far county, having been 
born near Laxey Beach, on the Isle of Man in the 
Irish Sea, July 4, 1852. He was the eldest in a 
family of seven children, the offspring of Robert 
and Jane (Gelling) Raisbeck, the former a native 
of England, and the latter of the original Manx 
blood, and born on the Island where her son was 
given birth. The paternal grandparents of our 
subject, Frank and Betsey Raisbeck, natives of 
Yorkshire, England, emigrated to the Isle of Man 
about 1839. The mother's parents were John and 
Jane Gelling, natives of the Isle of Man. 

Robert Raisbeck, the father of our subject, was 
a silver miner in his native land and emigrated to 
America about 1856, going directly westward 
to Benton, La Fayette Co., Wis., where he en- 
gaged in farming and lead mining. About 1861, 
leaving his family in Benton. he went to Pike's Peak 
and thence, after a short stay, to Idaho, returning 
in 1865. He then removed his family to Grundy 



County, 111., where he engaged in coal mining, at 
which he still employs himself, though now a resi- 
dent of Braceville. 

Our subject was reared partly on a farm, but 
spent much of his time in the mines where his father 
was employed. He remained a member of the par- 
ental household until reaching his majority, and 
then coming to this count)' engaged as clerk in a 
general store at Odell. He remained with his first 
employer four years, and then desiring a change 
to outdoor life he went up into the lumber regions 
of Michigan, where he spent one year. He was 
married, March 23, 1876, to Miss Sarah A., daugh- 
ter of Amariah N. and Lucinda (Backus) Bemis 
(a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work). 
The young people located at Odell, where they lived 
six months, when Mr. Raisbeck made his trip to 
Michigan. Upon his return he took possession of 
a farm, but soon after resumed clerking in Odell. 
A year later he returned to farm life, and in 1881 
purchased a tract of land near the limits of Odell, 
where he combined the occupations of clerk and 
farmer. In 1883 he sold this property, and with 
his family took up his residence on the Bemis 
homestead, where he has since resided. The chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Raisbeck, six in number, 
are named respectively, Edith May; Maxwell, 
deceased ; Robert Bemis, Nellie Viola, Lila and 
Bessie. 



/p^EORGE GOSHORN, proprietor of 100 acres 
(If <=? of fine farming land on section 21, Indian 
^^4! Grove Township, is regarded as one of the 
successful stock-growers of the southern part of 
Livingston County, to which he came in February, 
1866. He is an Ohio man, and was born in Butler 
County, Sept. 25, 1835, remaining a resident of his 
native State until the outbreak of the late war, 
when he proffered his services to assist in the pres- 
ervation of the Union. 

The parents of our subject, Leonard and Ellen 
(Dorman) Goshorn, were natives respectively of 
Pennsylvania and Maryland, and neither lived to 
be aged, the mother dying in 1849. and the father 
two years later. They spent their last years in 
Ohio, where the father followed blacksmithing. 



' ' 

f 



i 



. , 278 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 ' 



The household circle included the following chil- 
dren: Mathew, John, Sarah J., George, William 
and Smith. They received a common-school edu- 
cation and careful home training. George remained 
on a farm until the outbreak of the Rebellion called 
for Union troops, and then laid aside his personal 
interests and enlisted in Company I, 39th Ohio In- 
fantry, as a private. In 1863 lie was promoted 
Corporal, and served in the army four years, partic- 
ipating in some of the most important battles of 
the war. He first met the enemy at New Madrid, 
after having been detailed to the northern portion 
of Missouri, and was afterward at the siege of Cor- 
inth and the battle of luka, Miss. In October, 
after a second engagement at Corinth, his regiment 
was assigned to quarters near Memphis, Tenn., and 
subsequently went to Chattanooga and joined Sher- 
man's army in its march from Atlanta to the sea. 

While at Atlanta our subject, on the 22d of July, 
1864, received a bad flesh wound in the right arm, 
and was confined in the hospital forty days. lie 
was granted a short furlough, upon which he re- 
turned home to Ohio, but rejoined his regiment at 
Atlanta, whence they went to Savannah and took 
steamer for Buford, S. C. Thence they marched 
across the State, and afterward engaged in the 
hard-fought battle at Bcntonville, N. C. About 
this time the war practically ended by the sur- 
render of Gen. Lee at Appomattox. Our subject and 
his comrades not long afterward entered the Na- 
tional capital for the grand review, and were mus- 
tered out at Louisville, Ky. Mr. G. received his 
final and honorable discharge at Camp Dennison, 
Ohio, about the 25th of July, 1865. Concerning 
the hardships, privations and fatigues which were 
the common lot of all who participated in that 
memorable struggle, those who were the most in- 
terested have remained for the most part admira- 
bly silent. Mr. Goshorn, likewise, bore with 
fortitude the difficulties and dangers which he en- 
countered, and is entitled to equal consideration. 

After retiring from army life Mr. Goshorn spent 
a brief time in his native State, and then set out 
for the West. After selecting his future abiding- 
place he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca 
J. Crouch, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride in Indian Grove Township on New 




Year's Day, 1867. The young people commenced 
life together in a modest dwelling, and in due time 
became the parents of one child, a daughter, Nellie, 
born Nov. 15, 1872. She is now an interesting 
young lady of fifteen years. Mis. Goshorn is the 
daughter of Richard G. Crouch, and was born in 
New Hampshire, of which State her parents were 
also natives. Her mother is deceased. 

Both our subject and wife are members in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
politically Mr. Goshorn is a decided Republican. 
Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 



IMON F. SLYDER, an aged and highly re- 
spected citizen of Owego Township, has 
been identified with its farming interests 
for over twenty years, being one of the 
earliest settlers of this section, and coming here 
when but a small portion of the Prairie soil had 
been turned upward to the sun. He was born and 
reared in the Keystone State, imbibing with his na- 
tive air those substantial qualities of character 
which were so much needed in the West at that 
period, and came here in the prime of life. With 
his strong hands and resolute will, he set himself to 
work to establish a permanent home, and has built 
up a record of which his descendants should be 
proud. He was then the possessor of but modest 
means, and the fact that he now owns 400 broad 
acres of the most valuable land in Central Illinois, is 
sufficient indication of the success which has 
crowned his efforts. The main points in a history 
of more than ordinary interest are substantially as 
follows: 

Mr. Slyder was born in Cumberland County, Pa., 
Nov. 27, 1816. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Borah) Slyder, were natives of the same State, 
and possessed all the substantial elements of their 
excellent German ancestry, the first representatives 
of whom in this country, crossed the water prior to 
the Revolutionary War. Several of them served as 
soldiers on the side of the Colonists during their 
struggle for liberty, and afterward located in Penn- 
sylvania, where the family has been largely repre- 
sented for the last century. 

The parental family of our subject included seven 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



279 



children, of whom but two are now living, namely, 
Lyclia, the wife of Joseph L. Near, of Warren 
County, this State, and Simon, our subject. The 
latter was reared to manhood near the place of his 
birth, receiving a good common-school education, 
and becoming familiar with all the employments of 
farm life. He remained under the home roof until 
his thirty -fifth year, when in April, 1851, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Beam, a na- 
tive of Franklin County, Pa., and born Aug. 7, 
1833. Mrs. Slyder, who is several years younger 
than her husband, was a daughter of A bra in and 
Margaret (Bowermaster) Beam, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and of German descent. They located in 
Franklin County soon after their marriage, and 
during its early settlement, where they remained 
until 1855, when they came to Illinois and located 
in Fulton, where they were finally laid to their long 
rest. 

Mr. and Mrs. Slyder commenced housekeeping 
in a modest dwelling at Clay Lick Hall, Pa., where 
they remained until after the birth of one child, 
and then, not quite satisfied with the results of their 
labors, decided to emigrate to the then far West. 
They came to this State in the fall of 1854, locating 
first in Fulton County, whence, in 1869, they re- 
moved to this county with the results which we 
have already indicated. In the meantime the 
household circle had been gradually enlarged until 
it included ten children. These were named re- 
spectively, William 1C. : Elizabeth M., Mrs. Charles 
Schnurr, of Owego Township; Simon F., Samuel 
D., Luther B. ; Louisa C., Mrs. D. S. Myers; Annie 
M., Jesse C., Susie A. and Delia L. All the chil- 
dren are still living, and are located in different 
parts of Illinois and Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Sly- 
der are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, in which the former has served as Deacon 
for many years, and was one of the number who 
first assisted in the organization of the society in 
Owego Township. He also contributed liberally 
to the building of their edifice, which is located on 
section 2. He has labored fifteen years as teacher 
and Superintendent of the Sunday-school, and no 
man takes more interest in the intellectual and re- 
ligious education of the people. 

Mr. Slyder has watched with unabated interest 



the growth and development of Livingston County, 
and has at all times done what he could toward sus- 
taining its reputation as one of the most desirable 
localities for the residence of an intelligent people. 
Politically, he was identified with the Whig party, 
casting his first Presidential vote for W. H. Harri- 
son, and upon the abandonment of that platform, 
he associated himself with the Democratic party, 
with which he still affiliates. He has held the 
various township offices, serving as Assessor and a 
member of the Board of Supervisors, and for the 
last nine years has officiated as Justice of the Peace. 
He is the favorite of young and old in his com- 
munity, and is held up by the elder members as a 
worthy example for imitation by the younger 
ones. 



eHARLES F. H. CARRITHERS, State's At- 
torney for the county of Livingston, has 
been a resident of Fairbury since 1 883, tak- 
ing up his residence here soon after being gradu- 
ated from the law department of the Iowa State 
University. He has already become one of the 
prominent young members of the legal profession 
in this county, and possesses in a large measure 
those elements of character which insure success. . 
Mr. Carrithers was born in Marshall County, 111., 
Dec. 6, 1854, and is the son of William P. and 
Marj r E. (Barnes) Carrithers, natives respectively 
of Indiana and Ohio. The father of our subject 
was born June 6, 1829, and during a period of 
twenty years, has officiated as a minister of the 
Christian Church. His labors have been eminently 
successful, and he has particularly distinguished 
himself in the organization of churches, and by his 
zeal in upholding the cause of Christ. He now 
preaches at Anchor, McLean County, and Kemp- 
ton, Ford County, this State, and resides with his 
family at Saunemin, 111. The mother was born in 
Januarv, 1832. Her parents were Henry B. and 
Esther (Dickinson) Barnes. They went to Mar- 
shall County at an early day, and the father served 
as a Captain in the Black Hawk War. On his jour- 
ney to Illinois he was accompanied by his brothers 
and sisters, Robert, William, Nancy and Mary, who 






*=K- 



' ' 280 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



are all married and living in this State, having ar- 
rived at a good old age. 

Our subject was the eldest of ten children born 
to his parents, namely, Charles; Jennie died in 
childhood; Fred, in the insurance business at Fair- 
bury; William died when a youth of eighteen 
years; Belle, Mrs. John AVatkins; Edmund, a far- 
mer of Saunemin Township; Barnes, Lizzie, Nellie 
and Eugene. Charles F. was reared on the farm 
with his brothers and sisters, and attended the com- 
mon school until seventeen years old. He then 
entered upon a higher course of study at Eureka 
College, Eureka, 111., and three years later com- 
menced teaching, which he followed in this and 
Marshall Counties for a period of nine years, and 
in the meantime employed his leisure hours in 
reading law. He prepared himself for the univer- 
sity course, and upon the completion of this, lo- 
cated at Fairbury and formed a partnership with 
G. W. Patton, now of Pontiac. He was afterward 
re-examined and admitted to the bar of this State, 
in June, 1884. The following August he was 
elected to the office of State's Attorney on the Re- 
publican ticket, and is discharging his responsible 
duties in a praiseworthy manner. While in school 
he distinguished himself by his close application to 
his studies, and for a long period he was President 
of his class. He has a good practice outside of his 
office, in the courts of this mid other counties of 
the State. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, has attained to the Commandery degree, 
and served as Master of his lodge two years. 

Mr. Carrithers, while a resident of Saunetnin, 111., 
was united in marriage with Miss Lucy M. Brydia, 
on the 1st of October, 1879. Mrs. C. was born in 
Kane, 111., Aug. 23, 1855, and is the daughter of 
Truman W. and Laura (Day) Brydia, natives of 
Vermont, who came to the West in 1854, settling 
in Saunemin Township, where with his estimable 
wife, he spent the remainder of his days. The 
mother departed this life in 1871, and the father 
surviving her sixteen years, passed away on the 
15th of February, 1887. Mr. Brydia followed 
farming all his life, and was a prominent and use- 
ful member of his community, where he held the 
various township offices, and represented the peo- 
ple in the County Board of Supervisors for many 



years. He uniformly voted the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket, and by his industry and good judg- 
ment, accumulated a fair competency. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carrithers have three children: 
Truman, born July 28, 1882; Mary, Oct. 9, 1884, 
and Fred, May 30, 1887. They occupy one of the 
best homes on Oak street, and enjoy the friendship 
of the cultivated and refined people around them. 




J. HANDLEY is a retired farmer of Pon- 
tiac. If there is any man who is entitled 
to ease, quiet and comfort in the twilight 
of life, it is he who sought a home in a 
new country and became a pioneer in its develop- 
ment and in the opening up of its resources. To 
this class of men belongs the subject of this sketch. 
who was born on the 7th of February, 1826, in 
Loudoun County, Va. He is the son of John and 
Hannah (Cravin) Handley, natives of Virginia. 
The father was engaged in fanning for a short time 
in Virginia, and about 1831 removed to Ohio, and 
settled in Licking County, where he purchased a 
farm of 270 acres, and subsequently another 270 
acres, which latter tract he afterward sold and di- 
vided the monej' among his children. He held 
several of the local offices of the township in which 
he lived, and with his wife was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, most 
of which time he was a Trustee. He belonged to 
the Democratic part}' until during the administra- 
tion of Martin Van Buren, when he joined the 
Know-Nothing party, which was but a step of tran- 
sition to the Republican party later. He had a 
family of ten children, eight of whom are now liv- 
ing: D. J., Lydia A., James W., Amos C., John S., 
Sarah E., George W. and Esther J. John Handley 
died in 1870, and his wife in 1882. 

D. J. Handley was brought up on a farm, avail- 
ing himself of such facilities for education as were 
presented by the common schools of those days, 
and lived at home with his parents until he was 
twenty-five years of age. For three years he en- 
gaged in sheep-raising in his native county, and 
then went to Adams County, Ohio, where he con- 
tinued the same business, having at one time a fold 



t 



fc 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



281 



of sheep numbering as high as 300. In 1855 
he removed to Macon County, 111., where he re- 
mained one year, and in the fall of 1856 came to 
Livingston County, and settled in Eppard's Point 
Township, on Rook's Creek, where he purchased 
110 acres of land. He lived on this farm until 
1884, when he moved to Pontiac. When he pur- 
chased this land not a foot of it was under cultiva- 
tion. He has transformed it into a model farm, 
and has erected thereon an excellent house, as well 
as barns and stables, while the greater portion of 
it is enclosed by a hedge feiiQe. When he first 
settled here there was an abundance of wild game, 
including deer, wolves and prairie chickens. He 
found a market for his products at Pontiac. 

Mr. H. married, Sept. 11, 1851, Miss Rebecca M. 
Griffith, a native of Licking County, Ohio, and the 
daughter of George and Margaret (Woodard) Grif- 
fith, also natives of Licking County. They have a 
family of five children Charles B., Arabelle R., 
Mattie E., George C. and Elma. Charles B. mar- 
ried Sarah E. Leedon ; they have two children, 
named Albert W. and Joanna, and are engaged in 
farming in Nebraska. Arabelle R. married John 
Leedon, a farmer, and resides in Nebraska; they 
have one child named Nettie. George C. married 
Ella Brown, and they reside at Pontiac; they have 
one child named Lulu M. 

Mr. Handley is a Republican, and takes consider- 
able interest in the welfare of that organization. 
He has held the offices of Assessor, School Director, 
Collector, and for four years the office of Town- 
ship Clerk. He takes great pride in fine stock, and 
at the present time is the owner of two imported 
Cleveland Bays, magnificent horses of the English 
coach breed, and adapted for all purposes. 




W. APPLEGATE, an intelligent 
and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, 
located on section 24 in Newtown Town- 
ship, was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, on the 
llth of January, 1832, but grew to manhood in 
Miami Count}'. He is the son of George M. and 
Margaret (La Rue) Applegate. The father was 
born in Warren County, Ky., and the grandfather, 



whose name was George Miller Applegate, was 
born and reared in the same State, where he lived 
until he was a very old man. He moved to Ohio, 
and died in that State at the age of one hundred 
years. He had been married twice, his first wife 
dying in Kentucky, and by his second marriage 
there were no children. He was the owner of a 
plantation, a steamboat and about 200 slaves. 

George M. Applegate, the father of our subject, 
was born in Kentucky Feb. 16, 1797, where he 
lived until he grew to manhood, and then moved 
to Ohio. On the 28th of February, 1820, he was 
married, and resided in Ohio until 1851, in which 
year he came to Illinois and settled on section 14, 
Newtown Township. He lived on this homestead 
for twenty years, and then removed to Blackstone, 
remaining there until his death, which occurred 
May 21, 1876. He was a fanner and blacksmith 
by occupation, following blacksmithing in the ear- 
lier days of his life, and farming until his removal 
to Blackstone, when he retired from active labor. 
During his life he was a very active man, and of 
good business habits. He was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was al- 
ways a leader. Margaret A. La Rue, his wife and 
the mother of our subject, was born in Clay County, 
N. J., Sept. 15, 1800, and died Sept. 8, 1881. She 
was a daughter of Amos La Rue, a native of New 
Jersey, who, with some of his sons, participated in 
the earlier wars. In his later life he came to Ohio 
and followed farming in Hamilton County, al- 
though he was a weaver by trade. He was the 
father of five children, whose names were Moses, 
Samuel, Frank, Margaret and Lydia. Moses was 
wounded in the French and Indian War, and died 
soon after he came home; the others settled in 
Ohio, where they reared families and died. 

To George M. and Margaret Applegate were 
born the following children : Eliza Jane, born Feb. 
17, 1822, was the wife of Henry Morter, and died 
Dec. 16, 1844; she was the mother of one child, 
named Mary J. James, born Nov. 28, 1823, is 
now a retired farmer living in Blackstone; he has 
been married twice, and by his first wife had one 
child, Albert A., and by his second the following: 
Theodore, Mary, John, Amos, Jane, Anna, Susie 
and Carrie. William, born Dec. 24, 1825, is a re- 



282 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tired farmer, and lives in Streator; he became the 
father of six children, named Flora A., George T., 
Lewis (deceased), Milton, Lizzie and AVilliam. 
Mary A., born Dec. 27, 1827, has been married 
three times, and is now the widow of AVilliam 
Pence; by her first marriage she had five children 
Lewis, Hannah, Jane, George, and Ellie (de- 
ceased) and by her last husband one child, Emma ; 
she now resides in Indianapolis, Ind. Lydia, born 
Jan. 11, 1830, is the wife of James Swartz, and 
lives in Streator; she has three children living, 
named Jane, Ettie and Nora. Margaret, born May 
10, 1836, married James Swartz, became the 
mother of one child, and died May 7, 1855. Amos, 
born May 28, 1840, is married, and lives in Esmen 
Township, and has four boys, named Irving, El- 
mer, Frank and Earnest. Amanda, born June 17, 
1843, died in February, 1869. 

George W. Applegate, our subject, lived at home 
until he was twenty-five years of age, and then be-, 
gan work for himself. On the 27th of October 
1857, he was married to Nancy C. Yale, who was 
born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., on the 5th of Jan- 
uary, 1841. She is the daughter of Reuben and 
Elizabeth (Gleen) Yale, who were natives of En- 
gland and France respectively. The grandfather 
was Reuben Yale, who was born in England, and 
came to America at an early day. To the parents 
of Mrs. Applegate were born the following-named 
children: Nancy A., the wife of our subject; 
Amos died in childhood; Sarah, born in 1844, now 
lives in Washington Territory, and is the widow of 
Samuel Olmstead, to whom she was married near 
Ottawa, this State; she has three children living, 
named Sheridan, Clara and Jackson. Eliza, born 
in 1846, died in 1866 in Streator; Laura, born in 
1851, is the wife of Alonzo Applegate, and lives in 
Blackstone; they have two children living, Charles 
ind Ira, and three dead, May and two who died in 
infancy Mrs. Applegate's father died March 31, 
1857, and her mother April 14, 1887; the latter 
was a member of the Baptist Church in early life, 
but her later years were spent as a member of the 
Methodist Church. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Applegate has been 
, blessed with four children: Addie, born Aug. 13, 
1860, is the wife of Merrit R. Swarner, and lives in 



Newtown Township; they were married on the 21st 
of Januar}', 1880, by Rev. O. M. Dunlevey, of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and have one child, 
named Elma, born April 11, 1883. Minnie, born 
Dec. 26, 1867, lola, Aug. 29, 1872, and Deamie, 
Sept. 4, 1883, live at home with their parents. Mr. 
and Mrs. Applegate are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Blackstone, with which they 
have been connected for more than thirty years. 
He is one of the Stewai'ds and Trustees of the 
church. In politics, he acts with the Democratic 
party, to which he has always been loyal. Mr. 
Applegate is an excellent citizen, and one who 
takes an active interest in everything that is calcu- 
lated to advance his township and benefit the 
people. 




T 



ENRY G. GREENEBAUM, deceased, was a 
prominent merchant and banker of Pontiac, 
who died on the 24th of April, 1887. He was 
a native of Gelnhausen, Germany, born on 
the 6th of May, 1837, and was the son of Moses 
Greenebauni, also a native of Germany. Henry G. 
(ireenebaum came to America when fifteen years 
of age, and first settled in Lexington, McLean 
Co., 111., where he engaged in the clothing business. 
He removed to Pontiac in 1856, and with his 
brother, J. M. Greenebaum, engaged in the same 
business under the firm style of Greenebauni Broth- 
ers, which they continued until 1874. Inl871 they 
established the Livingston County National Bank, 
of which J. M. (Jreenebaum was President. Henry 
('.. was Cashier, in which capacity he continued un- 
til his death. In 1882 he built a magnificent resi- 
dence east of the court-house, where "his widow and 
children now reside. 

On the 14th of August, 1864, Mr. G. was married I" 
Miss Carrie Hart, of Chicago. She was the daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Minnie (Straus) Hart, who were 
natives of Germany, and came from near the River 
Rhine. Jacob Hart came to America in 1858. and 
with liis family settled in Chicago, where he and his 
sons engaged in the clothing biisincs- and continued 
until his death in 1881. His wife died in 1887. 
They were the parents of the following-named chil- 
dren: Mary, Mrs,. Schoenberg, who died in New 




... 



1 








LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



285 




Orleans, in 1870; she was the matron of the Jew- 
ish orphan asylum. Henrietta, Mrs. Abt, of Chi- 
cago: Carrie.-, widow of our subject; Rose, Mrs. 
Frank, of Chicago'; Harry, of Chicago; Janie, 
Mrs. Marx, of Chicago; Max, Lehart and Jacob, of 
Chicago; Sarah, Mrs. Meyer, of New York City. 

Henry Greenebaum left a wife and six children : 
Moses H., who is clerking in the bank; Harry, Rosa, 
Mary, Jacob and Willie. Mr. Greenebaum was a 
stockholder in the Metropolitan, and the American 
Exchange Bank, of Chicago, also in the Pontiac 
Coal Company. He was a self-made man, the archi- 
tect of his own fortune, which was quite considera- 
ble at the time of his death. He had the reputation 
of being one of the best business men of Living- 
ston County. 



IIILIP ROLLINS, the oldest living pio- 
neer in or about Pontiac Township, was 
born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 
1813, and lias consequently'" passed more 
than the allotted threescore years and ten. His life 
has been marked by honest}" and uprightness, and 
he consequently enjoys the friendship and respect of 
a large circle of acquaintances, some of whom, like 
himself, came to this section at an early day, and 
shared in the hardships and vicissitudes common to 
life in a new settlement. 

Our subject is the son of William K. and Su-an 
Rollins, natives of Virginia, and of French and Ger- 
man ancestry respectively. Mr. Rollins served in 
the War of 1812. In their youth they removed 
from their native State to Coshocton County. Ohio, 
and became the parents of six children, of whom 
only three survive, namely: Nancy, Mrs. John Stur- 
ni.-m. of Wood ford County, 111.; Hannah, wife of 
William Xeal. a prominent attorney of Hamilton 
County, lud., and Philip, of our sketch. Philip 
was reared to manhood in his native State, receiv- 
ing a rudimentary education in the log-cabin r-chool- 
honse. and spent most of his youth in farming pur- 
suits, employing his leisure time at carpenter work. 
In the latter he became e.-pecially skillful, and dur- 
ing the present year (1887) he has superintended 
the erection of the residence of his son, William II., 



located on the old homestead. In addition to farm- 
ing and carpentering, he also developed talent as a 
natural machinist, and without effort became fully 
acquainted with the duties of a millwright, in which 
he became an expert. His energy and industry met 
with ample reward, and he was at one time the 
owner of nearly 500 acres of land, which he divided 
among his children. He has always taken a lively 
interest in the welfare of his community, being an 
active supporter of those measures that tend to ben- 
efit society at large. He has served as Justice of 
the Peace eight years, represented Pontiac Town- 
ship in the County Board of Supervisors several 
terms, and was School Director in his district a num- 
ber of years. Politically, he votes the straight 
Democratic ticket. 

Mr. Rollins was married in Indiana, March 8, 
1 839, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha De- 
Moss, a native of his own State, and born in Hamil- 
ton County Jan. 23, 1812. Her parents, James and 
Nancy DeMoss, were natives respectively of Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky. In 1841 they removed from 
Indiana to Livingston County, and settled in Avoca 
Township, where they spent their last years. The 
father had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and upon coming to Illinois they endured, in com- 
mon with the settlers of that period, the hardships 
and privations which were the distinctive features 
of pioneer life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rollins became the parents of eight 
children, six of whom are now living, namely : Pe- 
ter, Charles, William II. ; Nancy, widow of the late 
George Hamstreet, who was killed in the late Civil 
War; Matilda, Mrs. Reuben Liddel, and Emeline, 
widow of Harry Hill, late of this county. In mak- 
ing the journey from Indiana to this county Mr. R., 
with his family, spent one week upon the road, 
sometimes sleeping at night in the open air. Upon 
arriving here he had the sum of $1.25 in his pocket, 
besides his team and household goods. He took up 
a tract of 160 acres in Pontiac Township, for which 
lie contracted to pay $3 per acre, and after liquidat- 
ing this indebtedness he pre-empted forty addi- 
tional acres. The first dwelling of the family was 
a rude log cabin, which they occupied a few years 
until it could be replaced In' a more convenient and 
commodious dwelling. Deer and wolves wereplen- 






286 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tiful, and Mr. Rollins has killed as many as seven 
deer in one day. He prided himself upon his 
marksmanship, and seldom failed to bring down his 
game. The change from that time to the present 
IIMS been remarkable, and Mr. Rollins lias watched 
the growth and development of his adopted State 
with more than ordinary interest. He has also con- 
tributed his full share toward its prosperity, having 
characterized himself as a valuable citizen, liberal- 
minded and generous, and the encourager of tho-e 
enterprises that tend to the best welfare of the com- 
munity. He and his good wife an- regarded with 
that reverence and respect accorded those who 
braved the dangers and difficulties of the early 
times, and the publishers have much pleasure in be- 
ing enabled to place their portraits on another page 
of this ALBUM. 



J~j OHN H. COLEHOWER, favorably known 
throughout Long Point Township, owns 
I forty acres of land on section 27, and the 
' same amount on section 34, the whole of 
which has been carefully cultivated, and yields 
each year to the hand of industry an abundance of 
the best products of Central Illinois. Aside from 
his importance as a skillful fanner, Mr. C. has been 
School Director in his district, Commissioner of 
Highways, and has occupied other positions of trust 
among his fellow-townsmen. He is a stanch Dem- 
ocrat, and a member in good standing of the 
I. O. O. F. 

Like many of the early settlers in Livingston 
County Mr. Colehower was born in Pennsylvania, 
June 22, 1830, and is of German descent. His 
parents were Conrad and Rachel (Garner) Cole- 
hower, the former of whom was born in Germany 
and emigrated to this country while a young man. 
His death was the result of an accident, which oc- 
curred at the corner of Third and Chestnut streets 
in the city of Philadelphia, where in alighting from 
a street-car upon the icy ground, he slipped and 
fell under the car, which ran over him, producing 
instant death. The mother continued with her 
young family in Pennsylvania, where she died in 
the city of Harrisburg, Oct. 23. 1887, at eighty 



years of age. The parents joined the Presbyterian 
Church in their youth, and the father, politically, 
was decidedly Democratic. He possessed more 
than ordinary ability, and had he lived would have 
become prominent in the affairs of his township, 
where he had already held the position of Super- 
visor and was held in universal esteem. 

Our subject remained with his mothef in Penn- 
sylvania until twenty-two years of age and then 
started for the West, which at that time was at- 
tracting so many young and enterprising men 
within its borders. He located first in Peoria 
County, where he resided for a period of thirteen 
years, and then took up his abode in Livingston. 
He was married, Dec. 1, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth 
A. Ramsey, who was born Oct. 15, 1831, and who 
by her union with our subject became the mother 
of six children, of whom the record is as follows : 
Benjamin F., born Sept. 23, 1854, developed into 
a promising young business man, and is now carry- 
ing on merchandising in Long Point; his biography 
appears elsewhere in this volume. Martha R., born 
Aug. 4, 1858, became the wife of J. H. Reed, 
whose biography will be found elsewhere; Thomas 
C., born Feb. 5, 1863, officiates as clerk for his 
brother in a store at Long Point; Henry R. was 
born Feb. 28, 1865, and died Feb. 16, 1870, when 
a bright little lad less than five years old ; Lydia F. 
was born May 9, 1867, and died Feb. 8, 1870; 
Emma was born Nov. 26, 1869, and lives at home, 
pursuing her studies in the district school. 

The parental family of our subject included 
twelve children, namely, Henry, Mary Ann, John 
H. (our subject), Washington, Harris, Conrad, 
Martha, Rebecca, Samuel, Hannah, besides two 
who died unnamed in infancy. Henry was killed 
by being run over by a railroad train, and left a 
wife and four children ; Mary Ann is the wife of 
Joseph Free, of Philadelphia, and is the mother of 
three children; Washington died in Philadelphia, 
leaving a wife but no children; Harris, also a resi- 
dent of the (Quaker City, is married and has three 
children: Conrad, who resides in Marshall County, 
this State, is married and has four children ; Martha 
died when about four years of age; Rebecca is 
married, a resident of Harrisburg, Pa., and the 
mother of four children; William died of consump- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



287 



tiou about 1877, leaving a wife and one child; 
Samuel was married, but his wife died leaving one 
child ; Hannah is married and has four children. 
These three last were residents of Philadelphia, 
where the two living now reside. 

The parents of Mrs. Colehower, Thomas B. and 
Rebecca (Carnog) Ramsey, were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and their household included nine chil- 
dren. The mother died in June, 1884. The father 
is living and is a resident of Long Point Township. 
Her brothers and sisters were John, Walter S., Sa- 
rah B., all deceased ; Isaac T., who has a family and 
lives in this county, is one of its prosperous farmers 
and stock-raisers; William B., deceased; Charles A., 
who is farming in Missouri, and has a wife and six 
children ; Mary J., the wife of F. L. Saxton and 
the mother of five children, and Walter S., Post- 
master of Long Point, where he is also carrying on 
a hardware store; he has a wife and three children. 




TEPHEN JOHNSON. There is something 
about the place of one's birth which acts 
like a mag-net during life, and it is as nat- 
ural to be drawn back to the old home- 
stead after years of absence as it is for the needle 
to seek the pole. The bard sang, "Be it ever so 
humble there is no place like home," and around 
the parental hearth cling a multitude of pleasant 
associations. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Living- 
ston County, a man to the manor born, who after 
years of residence in other localities made up his 
mind that there was no place like Livingston 
County, and no other township that possessed so 
many endearing memories as Rook's Creek. Mr. 
Johnson is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 10, 
Rook's Creek Township, the son of John and Nancy 
(Bloyd) Johnson, and was born on the home farm 
on the 14th of September, 1843. His father was 
born in New York on the 14th of February, 1804, 
and died on the 9th of April, 1887. The mother was 
a native of Maryland. The paternal grandparents 
came from Ireland shortly after the great Irish 
Patriots' war, in which the great-great-grandfather 



lost his life. The grandfather, who was the only 
representative of the family, settled in New York, 
and about 1821 moved to Sangamon County, 111., 
where he purchased a farm on which he lived and 
died. He was born Sept. 16, 1774, and his wife, 
Miss Betsy Sacket, was born May 19, 1777. They 
were married on the 17th of June, 1796, and to 
them were born nine children, as follows: Eliza- 
beth, born April 28, 1797; Maria, Feb. 24, 1799; 
Lydia, Oct. 13, 1801; John, Feb. 14, 1804; Na- 
thaniel P., July 30, 1806; Royal S., Oct. 28, 1808; 
Oliver P., Oct. 21, 1813; Lucretia, Oct. 11, 1816; 
Melvine A., April 30, 1820. Oliver Johnson, the 
grandfather, died on the 6th of August, 1835. 

Mr. Johnson's father came to Livingston County 
about 1823, and was the second man to settle in 
Rook's Creek Township. He at first bought 160 
acres of land, and afterward added to it until he 
had 240 acres. He was married, on the 17th of 
March, 1825, to Nancy Bloyd, born Oct. 25, 1806. 
They were the parents of ten children, all of whom 
grew to maturity except two: William, born Jan. 
2, 1826; John, born Sept. 1, 1827, died Jan. 30, 
1855; Lydia, born Oct. 6, 1829; Elizabeth, Dec. 
19, 1831 ; Henry, Jan. 5, 1834; Eleanor, born Sept. 

9, 1836, died Nov. 14, 1837; Oliver, born Aug. 30, 
1838; Amanda, April 5, 1841; Stephen, our sub- 
ject; Lucinda, born March 4, 1846, died Aug. 25, 
1848. 

Stephen Johnson was married, on the 17th of 
June, 1866, to Miss India Ann Sellman, and they 
are the parents of the following-named children : 
Oliver E., born Feb. 9, 1868, on the Little Sioux 
River, Cherokee Co., Iowa; John Henry, born Oct. 

10, 1869, in Cherokee County, Iowa; Stephen, born 
Nov. 15, 1871, in Lawrence, Kan.; Sherman, born 
Nov. 2, 1875, in Rook's Creek Township; Sharon 
Perry, born June 8, 1885, in Esmen Township. Mr. 
Johnson lived on the home farm while a bo3 - , and 
divided his time between work on the farm and 
learning the trade of a carpenter from his father. 
Shortly after his marriage he moved to Cherokee 
County, Iowa, where he followed both farming and 
carpentering. He lived in that State for three 
years, when he moved to Lawrence, Kan., where he 
worked on the Kansas Pacific Railroad as a bridge 
carpenter, and served two years as foreman. He 





288 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



then returned to Livingston County, and now lives 
on the old homestead where he was born, and where 
his father died. 




t 



UKE JORDAN. There 'are no people on 
earth who have a greater love and af- 
fection for their native land than the Irish. 
No matter what their condition is or may have 
been in the land of their nativity, they look upon 
it as the most favored spt on earth, and the 
oppressions and abuses which have been heaped 
upon them by English landlords have only served 
to intensify their love for the old sod. This 
oppression and proscription in years became so in- 
tolerable that thousands upon thousands have emi- 
grated to other countries, the largest proportion of 
whom have sought homes in this country, where 
they have become useful and prosperous citizens. 
The laws and customs of this country permit the 
largest liberty and freedom, which is especially en- 
joyed by a people who have been trampled upon 
for centuries. 

Among those who came to this country at an 
early date is the subject of this sketch, a represent- 
ative farmer and stock-raiser in Pontiac Town- 
ship, who was born in Ireland in the year 1823, be- 
ing the son of James and Catherine Jordan, also 
natives of Ireland. They were the parents of seven 
children, four of whom are now living; Michael, 
James, Luke and Catherine. Luke spent the days 
of his boyhood in his native country, securing a 
very fair education in spite of the fact that at that 
time the schools were of very inferior quality and 
widely separated, and in order to obtain an educa- 
tion at all it was necessary for him to walk miles 
each day to and from the nearest school. In the 
year 1851 he made up his mind that he would emi- 
grate to that country of which he had heard so 
much, and took passage on a ship at Liverpool, 
when after spending seven weeks upon the Atlan- 
tic Ocean, he landed in the city of New York. 
where he remained for about four years, and then 
came to Livingston County, where he resided at 
Pontiac for two years. 

Mr. Jordan was married to Miss A. Nevalle, 



with whom he lived happily until her death on the 
18th of September, 1872. She was a woman of many 
estimable qualities, and her death caused a gloom 
not only within the household but throughout 
her entire circle of acquaintances. She was the 
mother of six children, four of whom are now liv- 
ing Thomas, John, James and Anna. Mr. Jor- 
dan's farm is located on section 1 8, Pontiac Town- 
ship, and contains 232 acres of well-drained land, 
which under the intelligent manipulation of Mr. 
Jordan produces excellent crops. He is consider- 
ably interested in the raising of stock, and in this 
line of business has been very successful. He 
deserves a very large measure of credit for his 
success in life, as he began without means and has 
succeeded in accumulating property sufficient to 
make him independent, and have no fear of want 
during the remainder of his days. Having been 
one of the early settlers of this county, he has 
long since established himself in the affection and 
esteem of his fellow-citizens, whose confidence he 
enjoys to a large degree. 



ILLIAM RUTZ bears the reputation of be- 
ing one of the most thorough and skillful 
farmers of Eppard's Point Township. He 
deals largely in live stock, fattening each year from 
fifty to 100 head of cattle, and fully the same num- 
ber of swine. He owns 400 acres of finely culti- 
vated land, and for the last six years has bent his 
energies to the establishment of a good home, while 
at the same time keeping in view those matters per- 
taining to the general welfare of the community, in 
whose advancement he takes a lively interest. 

The early years of Mr. Rutz were spent in the 
Empire of Germany, where his birth took place 
March 31, 185C. His parents, John and Minnie 
(Bung) Rutz, were natives of the same Province, of 
pure German ancestry, the father born in 1836, and 
the mother a year later. They emigrated to the 
United States after their marriage, and subsequent 
to the close of the late war, in 1865, and after set- 
ting foot upon American soil, proceeded directly 
to the West, locating in Peoria County, 111. Three 
or four years later they came to this county, and 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f\ 



the father purchased a tract of land in Pike Town- 
ship, where he engaged in farming, and now re- 
sides. He has been a hard- working and industrious 
man, commencing here with little means, but is now 
the owner of a comfortable home. The parental 
household included three sons only, namely, Charles, 
who was born in Germany and died about 1876, in 
this county; John, a resident of York Count}', Neb., 
and William of our sketch. 

Mr. Rutz continued with his parents until reach- 
ing manhood. He was but a lad of eleven years 
when he crossed the ocean, and remembers that the 
voyage consumed nine weeks and three days, be- 
sides being stormy and dangerous. They set out 
on the 26th of November, 1865, and landed in New 
York City on the 1st of January following. In the 
meantime the father had been taken ill with small- 
pox on shipboard, and was confined in the hospital 
in New York City six weeks after landing. The 
mother was afterward stricken with the same terri- 
ble disease, and died on the farm in Peoria County. 
The memory of that time still brings to Mr. Rutz 
the shadow of the affliction with which he was then 
visited. The father subsequently married Mrs. 
Rynsta Chanabeck, a native of his own country. 
She came to America in 1867, and by her first mar- 
riage had become the mother of two sons and a 
daughter. 

William Rutz continued with his father and step- 
mother until twenty years of age, and then started 
out for himself. He had little capital to commence 
with, but by living economically, and saving his 
earnings, found himself in due time enabled to pur- 
chase eighty acres of land north of Chenoa, in the 
cultivation of which he was engaged fora time, but 
which he afterward sold in order to remove to 
Wood ford County. After a residence there of one 
year, during which time he was married, he came 
to this county and first purchased a quarter section 
in Eppard's Point Township. His industry and 
perseverance met with their legitimate reward, and 
he wisely invested his surplus capital in additional 
land. He is now the proprietor of 400 acres, finety 
stocked with excellent grades of cattle and swine, 
and supplied with good buildings. 

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Katie 
J. Altaian, of Woodford County at the time of 




their marriage, but who was born in Tazewell 
County, July 21, 1862, and became the wife of our 
subject Dec.. 29, 1881. They have two children: 
I Minnie, born Nov. 18, 1882, and Freddie, March 4, 
1884. Mr. Rutz meddles very little with political 
affairs, but performs his duties as a good citizen at 
times of general elections, and votes the straight 
Republican ticket. He and his estimable lady are 
members in good standing of the Brethren Church 
at Ocoya. 



MANUEL SWYGERT, who is numbered 
among the representative farmers of Owego 
Township, is pleasantly located on section 
9, where he owns 156 acres of improved laud, of 
which he took possession iu 1869. During his resi- 
dence here of nearly twenty years he has fully 
established himself as a reliable and valued citizen, 
and has attended strictly to the farming pursuits which 
he commenced in his boyhood. He was c< miparati very 
without means when he started out for himself in 
life, but is now enjoying the ample rewards of in- 
dustry and frugality. He is public-spirited and 
liberal, and nothing pleases him better than to note 
the prosperity and advancement of the people 
a i ( mud him, both morally and financially. He is now, 
with his aged and estimable wife, passing quietly 
down the sunset hill of life, comforted with a good 
conscience and the satisfaction of feeling that they 
have done what they could in exerting a good in- 
fluence around them, and setting an example worthy 
of imitation by the rising generation. 

Mr. Swygert forms an important member of the 
colony which, in the early days, emigrated in small 
detachments from Penns3 T lvauia, he having been a 
native of that State, and born in Franklin County, 
Jul}- 14, 1814. His parents were John and Susan 
Swygert, natives of the same State, where his pater- 
nal grandfather. George Swygert, had located at an 
early day. after serving as a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary War. When the struggle ended he took up 
bi- abode in Franklin County, where he was married, 
and reared his family, whose descendants are largely 
represented in that section of country. His SOU 
John, the father of our subject, was there reared to 
farming pursuits, which he followed all his life, and 



I 



290 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



when 1 ho was married and became the father of 
seven children. Of these four survive, namely, 
William. Henry, John and Emannel. In middle life 
John Swygert came to the West with his family, lo- 
cating in Fulton County. 111., aliont 1842. where In- 
resided with his estimable wife until called from the 
scenes of earth. 

Our subject spent several years in Fulton County 
with his parents, and was there married, in 1844, to 
Miss Catherine Hawker, who has remained his elo>i- 
friend and companion for over forty years. Mrs. 
S. is a native of the same State as her husband, and 
they became the parents of two children : Charles, 
now deceased, and Matilda, the wife of James Lowe, a 
prosperous farmer of Owego Township. They re- 
moved from Fulton to Livingston County in 1869, 
where Mr. S. had purchased the land which he has since 
transformed into a valuable farm. It had then but a 
small frame dwelling upon it, with a poor excuse for 
a barn, which the family took pos>cion of until 
they could afford something better. In due time 
the first humble residence was replaced by a more 
modern and convenient structure, and a good barn 
stands in the rear. Adjacent is a fine orchard of 
apple and other choice fruit trees, and the live stock 
and farm machinery combine to give the premises 
a substantial and homelike appearance which is 
pleasant to the eye. Mr. and Mi's. Swygert number 
their friends by the score in Livingston County, and 
enjoy the distinction of lie ing numbered not only 
among its first, but among its best residents. 



J~j OSEPH BRADSHA W. When one has per- 
formed all the duties devolving upon him 
I in rearing a family of children to manhood 
' and womanhood, he deserves the ecomium, 
"Well done, thou good and faithful," and is enti- 
tled to pass the sunset days of his life in rest and 
quiet. The subject of this sketch, now a retired 
farmer living in Fairbury, was born in Washington 
County, Pa., on the 9th of July, 1821, and is the 
son of Edward and Nancy (Patterson) Bradshaw, 
natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, where they 
were married. [Before emigrating to this country 
they had one child, Anna, now Mrs. William Brock. 



They came to America in the year 1811, landing 
at New York, and proceeded at once to Washing- 
ton County, Pa., where he followed the occupation 
of a weaver, a trade which he had learned in his 
native country, and in which he had become very 
proficient. From Pennsylvania he removed into 
Ohio, where he died on the 31st of December, 1875, 
aged eighty-three years; his wife died on the 22d 
of November, 1803. They were the parents of ten 
children Ann, Sarah, David, Mary, Joseph, John 
W., Margaret, William, George and Catherine. 

At the age of sixteen years, the subject of this 
notice was apprenticed to a millwright, which trade 
he learned and followed for about fifteen years, 
when he concluded to engage in the occupation of 
a farmer. In 1859 he moved to Buchanan County, 
Mo., but not being favorably impressed with the 
country there, he remained but five months, when 
he went to Pike County, 111., and rented a farm on 
which he lived for six years. At the end of that 
time he came to Livingston County and purchased 
eight}' acres of land, which he successfully managed 
until 188b, when he discontinued farming, and re- 
moved to Fairbury, where he will reside in the 
future, enjoying the fruits of a long life of success- 
ful labor. 

On the 23d of December, 1842, Mr. Bradshaw 
was married to Miss Dorcas Arnold, a native of 
Jefferson County, Ohio, who was born Sept. 13, 
1823, and was the daughter of Solomon and Bar- 
bara (Stonebrook) Arnold. The father was born 
in Pennsylvania, in 1791, and died on the 15th of 
May, 1846. He was a farmer by occupation, and 
by trade a cabinet-maker. The mother was a na- 
tive of North Carolina. To them eleven children 
were born Hickman, Dorcas, Rebecca. Prue, Bar- 
bara E., Mary A., Sarah Jane, David, Eli, Drusilla 
and Jacob S. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw have had seven children: 
Barbara, now Mrs. William Rutledge, living in 
Linn County, Kan.; Edward IL, born Oct. 22, 
1846, died Dec. 31, 1875; Nancy J., now Mrs. 
Michael Morris, living in this county; Mary, Mrs. 
Darius Vail, living in Joplin, Mo.; William T. niar- 
I ried Miss Sarah E. Cox: David W. died in infancy; 
Harriet E., Mrs. Barklcy Connor, living in Wichita, 
Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw are active and inllu- 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



291 



ential members of the Christian Church, of which 
lie lias been an Elder for the past seven years, and 
a member for nine years. The wife has been a 
member of that church for over fifty years; they 
are botli much devoted to their chinch. Mr. Brad- 
shavv has been a great observer of political events 
all his life, and very early in the career of the Re- 
publican party became one of its enthusiastic adher- 
ents, remaining so up to the present time. 



1 



fifi OSIAH M. FETZER. Many of the earlier 
settlers of Virginia came from Germany, 
and they were among the most thrifty far- 
mer.s and tradesmen of the Old Dominion, 
although for a great length of time they labored 
under many disadvantages unless they were well 
enough off to own slaves, which few of them de- 
sired to, even had they been able. Many Virgin- 
ians of German ancestry are now scattered 
throughout the West, and among her best citizens 
Illinois can claim a multitude of them. In Liv- 
ingston County there are quite a number of fami- 
lies who are natives of Virginia, and they are all 
thrifty and prosperous people. The subject of 
this sketch, who is a representative farmer and 
stock-raiser on section 28, Avoca Township, is a 
native of Shenandoah County, Va., and was born 
on the 17th of January, 1848. 

Mr. Fetzer is the son of George and Catherine 
Fetzer, the latter deceased, who were Virginians by 
birth, and the father was of German descent. To 
them were born eight children, five of whom are 
living: John W. ; Eliza, wife of L. T. Courtney; 
James B., George and Josiah M. When our sub- 
ject was about four years of age his parents emi- 
grated to Illinois and settled in Vermilion Town- 
ship, Ln Salle County, where the mother died in 
the month of June, 1881. The father, who is 
nearly seventy years of age, resides in that county, 
an honored and respected citizen. He has always 
been identified with moral reforms and movements 
for the betterment of the people. For a consid- 
erable time he served as School Director in La 
Salle County, and during his administration the 



affairs of the schools were well and judiciously 
managed. 

Mr. Fetzer was reared to manhood on a farm in 
La Salle County, where he received a good educa- 
tion in the district schools. On the 18th of March, 
1874, he was married to Mary F. Scott, a native of 
La Salle County, and a daughter of John Scott, a 
pioneer of that county. Of this union there are 
three children : Cora E., born on the 2d of May, 
1875; Charles R., May 4, 1879; Pearl, Sept. 30, 
1884. Mr. Fetzer came to Livingston County in 
the year 1886, and settled upon the farm which he 
now occupies in Avoca Township. This farm con- 
sists of 100 acres of well-improved land, which has 
been thoroughly drained and made exceedingly 
productive. lu connection with his farming oper- 
ations he devotes considerable attention to the 
raising of stock of all kinds, and in this has been 
quite successful. He is a Democrat in his political 
affiliations, but does not engage in politics for the 
purpose of securing office. He has served for 
several years as School Director, to the duties of 
which position he has given close and careful at- 
tention. He is a'friend of education and pro- 
gressive in his ideas of the management of schools. 
He and his wife occupy an enviable position in the 
society of Avoca Township, and are highly re- 
spected and esteemed for their many good qualities. 



ERMAN GIRARD, one of Long Point's 
thorough-going and progressive farmers and 
stock- raisers, located on section 13, was 
born in Prussia, Germany, Dec. 23, 1836. 
He is the son of Frederick and Dorothea Girard, 
who are natives of the same country, and came to 
America in July, 1856, landing at Castle Garden, 
N. Y. From New York they proceeded to Chi- 
cago, where they remained two weeks; thence they 
went to Ottawa, and from there to Livingston 
County, where Frederick purchased ninety acres of 
land, twenty of which were heavily timbered. 

On the 16th of February, 1868, Herman Girard 
was married to Mary Zeilman, daughter of Corne- 
lius and Betsy (Hall) Zeilman. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Girard have been born eight children, seven of i 





292 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



whom are now living. Olive was born Dec. C, 
1868; Dorothea, Sept. 4, 1870; Adolph, Nov. 25, 
1872 ; Philo Wesley, Nov. 5, 1874 ; Marian Blanche, 
born Feb. 20, 1877, died July G> 1880; Mabel Lu- 
cinda, born Jan. 11, 1880; Mamie Bell, April 5, 
1882, and Hilda Melvina, Dec. 31, 1884. 

Mr. Girard enlisted in Company C, 39th Illinois 
Infantry, which was organized at Poutiac, but his 
enlistment was at Chicago in August, 18(51. The 
regiment went to St. Louis and from there to Will- 
iamsburg, Md., arriving there Nov. 2, 1861, at 
which time and place they received their first guns. 
Mr. Girard received a flesh wound on the knee at 
Morris Island, S. C., on the 9th of October, 1863, 
while he was on duty rebuilding the old fort. He 
was discharged from the hospital Jan. 1, 1864, and 
was afterward wounded at Drewry's Bluff, Va., 
May 1 6 of that year. At the battle of Petersburg, 
Va., he was again wounded in the left leg in the 
charge on Craig, April 2, 1865. He is now receiv- 
ing a pension of $10 per month on account of these 
last two wounds. Mr. Girard was promoted Cor- 
poral, and Sept. 1, 1863, was promoted to the rank 
of Sergeant. He was in the battle of Petersburg, 
and on the 20th of March, 1862, was in the engage- 
ment at Winchester, and afterward was continu- 
ously under fire while on guard duty along the 
river. At Ft. Waggoner he helped to dig up to 
the fort, and the night the fort was taken he was 
one of the twenty men who first entered it as vol- 
unteers. After the Union troops had taken pos- 
session the Johnnies tried to blow it up by setting 
fire to a fuse leading to the magazine; this was first 
noticed by Mr. Girard. He was in the engagement 
at Folly Island, after which he was engaged in 
scouting and skirmishing until his discharge from 
the army. 

After his return from the army Mr. Girard en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, although lie was a 
cooper by trade. He now owns 120 acres of fine 
farming land under a high state of cultivation, 
which is well improved, fenced, and drained by 400 
rods of tiling. Politically, Mr. Girard is a Repub- 
lican, having grown up in that faith. His service 
in the army strengthened it, and his mature judg- 
ment, formed by close observation of men, and the 
course of political parties, has given a still more 



stalwart character to his political belief. He does 
not, of course, carry his politics into his business, 
nor, on the other hand, does he allow his business 
to enter into his politics. He is a Comrade of Post 
No. 223, G. A. R., at Cornell, in which he takes a 
leading and active part. He was brought up in 
the faith of the Lutheran. Church. He is one of 
Long Point's most progressive citizens, and enjoys 
the confidence anil esteem of all who know him. 
His family occupies an enviable position in that 
section of the county, and deservedly so. 



J~ OHN HARRIS. Some of the best citizens 
now residents of the United States were con- 
tributed by England, not only in Colonial 
days but in later years. They arc nearly all 
men of intelligence, because of the advanced jxisi- 
tion of Kngland in educational advantages and also 
of the innate aptness of the English ]>eoplc for getting 
on in the world. A large j>er cent of the English- 
men now in the United States are skilled mechanics, 
and they have been indispensable aids in assisting 
American manufacturers to occupy the leading posi- 
tion they do in the markets of the world. The En- 
glish farmer displays as much tact and aptness in his 
special calling as does his brother in the manufact- 
uring world. The subject of this sketch, who is 
one of the wealthy and respected fanners of Living- 
ston County, residing in Belle Prairie Town>hip. 
\\.-i~ horn in North Devonshire, England, on the 30th 
of March, 1832, and is the son of William and Mary 
(Bennett) Harris, both of whom are of pure Engli.-h 
blood. The father was by occupation a gentlemanV 
footman. His death occurred in 1881. and the 
mother's in 1848. They were the parents of seven 
children Jeremiah. William. Elizabeth, John, Sn>an. 
Thomas and Mary J. 

John Harris came to America in 1855, landing at 
(Juebee, Canada, from which place he proceeded to 
Genesee County, >". Y. There he remained for 
live years engaged at work by the month. He then 
came to Illinois and located at Shirley, a place 
south of Bloomiiigton. where he worked by the 
month for the same man. a Mr. Uaird. for the next five 
years. At the end of that time he purchased a piece 



T 




Vs*iiS. 



RESIDENCE OF JOHN H ARRIS ,SEC.18. BELLE PRMRIETOWNSHIP. 



SEC.S.FONTIACTOWNSHIF. 



SEC. 3 PONTI AC TOWNSHIP. ^ 




RESIDENCE AND FARM PROPERTY OF J.S.FINLEY , 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



295 



of laud hi Forest Township, Livingston County, 
where he remained onefyear, and sohHhis and rented 
land for two, years Jof Dr. Bartlett. He then came 
to Belle Prairie Township and purchased 130 acres 
of unimproved prairie land, which he immediately 
set to work to transform into a productive farm, 
in which enterprise he succeeded so well that he now 
owns 380 acres of as good land as can be found 
anywhere. During hisj-esidence in this township lie 
has devoted considerable attention to the raising of 
hogs, and_also in this particular branch has been 
eminently successful, and now is looked upon as one 
of the wealthiest men of the township. 

In May, 1852, Mr. Harris^ was married to Miss 
Mary Cooper, who was born in Devonshire. En- 
gland, 011 the 27th of October, 1830, and to them 
have been born eight children : John C., who mar- 
ried Miss Mary A. Weeks, Nov. 9, 1881, and they 
have two children, Blanche and Mabel; Frank ,1., 
who married Hattie K. Knight, and they have one 
child named Roy;-, Walter W., William, Emanuel, 
Mary J., Lydia A.\and James A. Mr. Harris is a 
leading and prominent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, to which he contributes liberally 
of both time and money. He is a straight Repub- 
lican in politics, and takes an active part in the cam- 
paigns of his party. In business affairs he is prompt 
and reliable, and faithfully keeps all his obligations. 

Among the numerous farm homesteads shown in 
this volume as specimens of what Livingston County 
affords may be found Mr. Harris' place. 



JOSEPH S. FINLEY, an^extensjve farmer 
and stock-dealer of Esmen Township, is the 
owner of 600 acres of land on section 34, 
which comprises one of the finest estates in 
Livingston County. His land is under good cul- 
tivation, and the farm buildings are of a handsome 
and substantial style of architecture, and admira- 
bly adapted to the purposes for which they were 
intended. The live stock includes some fine spec- 
imens of Norman and Cleveland Bay horses, 
Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Mr. 
Finley has attained a fine reputation as a breeder, 
and in his business has been remarkably successful, 



and exhibits some of the finest animals in this part 
of the State. 

Our subject was born in Delaware County, Ohio, 
Oct. 1C, 1830, and was the eldest of a family of 
nine children, the offspring of Robert and Eliza- 
beth (Riley) Finley, natives respectively of Vir- 
ginia and Pennsylvania. The paternal grand- 
parents were John and Nancy (Moore) Finley, of 
the same States. Grandfather Finley was a farmer 
by occupation, and served as a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary War. He possessed a fine constitution 
and was of excellent habits, and rounded up the 
good old age of ninet}' years before he was gath- 
ered to his fathers. The parents of the mother of 
[ our subject were Joseph and Mary (Smith) Riley, 
of Pennsylvania, where Joseph Riley followed farm- 
ing all his life. His father was a native of Ger- 
many, and emigrated to America at an early period 
in its history, starting with his parents from his na- 
tive land. They, however, did not- live to behold 
the shores of the New World, as both died on the 
voyage and received an ocean burial. Their son 
Joseph was then a mere babe, and was adopted by 
an Irish gentleman named Riley. He was too 
young to tell his own name, and consequently never 
knew it, and was never able to communicate with 
friends or relatives of his parents. 

Robert Finley, the father of our subject, was 
reared in Delaware County, Ohio, and followed 
farming there until 1839. He then sold out and, 
migrating westward, purchased a tract of land in 
Kane County, this State, where he established a 
comfortable home and spent the remainder of his 
days. He was a man of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence, became active in political affairs, and during 
the time of the slavery agitation was one of the 
most active Abolitionists of the country. All the 
strength of his manhood was thrown into the bal- 
ance on the side of freedom and humanity. His 
name is familiarly known throughout the central 
part of this State, and he was a strong foe of his op- 
ponents, the most of whom were his inferiors in in- 
telligence and general information. lie is remem- 
bered as a gentleman of kind impulses, and was an 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
After a useful life, during which lie had endeavored 
to build up a worth}' record for his children to re- 



, > 296 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



fleet upon in after years, he folded his hands for his 
finnl rest in 1877. The mother departed this life in 
1875, at the homestead in Kane County. 

Our subject was edueated in the snl)seri])tion 
schools of Central Illinois, and trained exclusively 
to fanning pursuits. After reaching his majority 
he commenced cultivating a tract of land on his 
own account, and on the 18th of April, 1855. took 
to himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss 
Mary J. Campbell, who was the second child of 
James and Sarah (Graham) Campbell, native.- of 
Ireland and of Scotch-Irish descent. They emi- 
grated to America early in life, and eventually 
drifted west to Marion County. Ohio, where their 
daughter Mary was born Oct. 16, 1833. That same 
year the family came to this county, locating in 
Esmeii Township, where there were at the time 
but three or four families. Mr. Campbell. h<>\ve\ er. 
only lived a short time thereafter, but many of his 
descendants are still residents of this section. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Finley came to 
this county and located u]K>n the land which is now 
included in their present homestead, taking po.-.-es- 
sion on the l()th of May, 1853. His tirst purchase 
was a quarter section, and the dwelling which he 
afterward erected was the first frame house built 
along the creek in this part of Livingston County. 
That structure, in 18G4. was replaced by the hand- 
some and commodious dwelling which they now oc- 
cupy, and which, with its adjacent buildings and 
surroundings, forms one of the most attractive fea- 
tures of the landseai>e in Ksmen Township. They 
have labored hard, hand [in hand, to build up a 
home, and it needs but a glance at this pro]>crty to 
convince the beholder that they have succeeded in 
an admirable manner, and it is with pleasure that We 
present in connection with this sketch a view of the 
homestead. 

Mr. Finley. in the fall of 1864. was drafted for 
the Union service and taken to Springfield for ex- 
amination, lie was rejected on account of physical 
disability, and consequently was not permitted to 
see any service. His influence, however, like that 
of his father, was exerted in favor of the honorable 
prosecution of the war and the preservation of the 
Union. 

The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Finley were 



named res[K'ctiveIy. Robert V. : George R.. now de- 
c-eased; Sarah H. : Mary ('.. deceased : Jennie 1'.. and 
Alice, deceased. Sarah became the wife of Ed- 
ward Whalen. and lives at home with her parent-. 
her husband assisting in the management of the 
farm: they have had three children Roy. who is 
deceased. Lulu B. and Frank F. Robert and Jen- 
nie make their home with their parents. The latter 
has been pursuing her studies in the 1'ontiac schools 
and expects to be graduated soon. Mr. Finley has 
served a> School Director in his district most of the 
time since lie first settled here, and has been School 
Trustee for the last seven or eight years, lie has 
also served as Road Commissioner. He meddles 
little with jiolitics otherwise than casting a straight 
Republican vote upon occasions of important elec- 
tions. 



J"?OHN BUFFHAM, who after many struggles 
| and much contending with adversity, is now 
I one of the leading farmers of Nevada Town- 
' ship, where he owns 1 60 acres on section 1 1 , 
was born in Lincolnshire, England, on the 21st of 
January, 1842. He is the son of John Buffham, 
also a native of P^ngland, who was engaged in farm- 
ing all his life, and died in England in 1850. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Mary A. Green, who was born in Lincolnshire, and 
lived there until 1856. In that year she was mar- 
ried to George Essington, and shortly afterward 
with him, accompanied by her three children and 
his eight by a former marriage, came to America. 
They settled in Plainfield, Will County, where they 
have since resided. Mr. Buffham has a brother and 
sister living: Joseph lives in C'alhoun County, 
Iowa, and Mary married John Stafford, who died 
at Pontiac , where his widow now lives. 

Mr. Buffham was eight years old when his father 
died, and before that occurrence he attended school 
for a short time ; afterward he had to work in order 
to procure his own living. He worked for three 
years for his board and clothes, and after that for 
eightpence per day, and boarded himself. He 
came to America with his mother and found em- 
ployment by the month during the first two years 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



297 , 



of his residence in this country in Will County. 
He then went to Kendall County, and worked by 
the month until soon after the breaking- out of the 
War. On the 16th of August, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company H, 89th Illinois Infantry, in which he 
served until the close of the war. On the llth of 
September, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Atlanta, 
after which he was confined in the prisons at Ma- 
con, Ga., Milan, and Savannah, Ga., and from the 
latter place was taken several miles into the for- 
ests, where he and his fellow-prisoners were under 
guard for two weeks. On the 24th of December, 
1864, he was taken to Andersonville, where he was 
confined until the close of the war, after which he 
was taken to Baldwin, Fla., and liberated, and with 
others made his way to the Federal lines at Jack- 
sonville, where he arrived more dead than alive. 
During his confinement at Andersonville he suf- 
fered all its tortures and horrors, and has never re- 
covered from the effects of the starvation and 
brutal and inhuman treatment there received. He 
was mustered out of the service at Springfield, 111., 
on the 29th of June, 1865, and then returned to Will 
County, where he remained until the spring of 
1866, when he went to Kendall County and bought 
eighty acres of land, which he engaged in farming 
until 1875. In that year he sold out and came to 
Livingston County, and purchased the farm which he 
now owns and occupies. This farm consists of 160 
acres, all of which are improved, and contains good 
pasture laud. 

On the 12th of September, 1865, Mr. Buffham 
was married to Sarah Ann Kirton, who was born in 
Lincolnshire. England, on the 16th of May, 1843. 
Her father, Thomas Kirton, was born in the same 
shire, where he was reared and lived until 1853, 
when he came to America with his wife and two 
children, and located in Cleveland, Ohio. They 
resided in that city for three years, and the mother 
of Mrs. Buffham died there. In 1855 her father 
moved to Illinois, and lived in Mt. Carroll until 
1856, then moved to Will County. He died at the 
residence of Mrs. Buffham in 1 879. Mrs. Buffham 
had one brother named William, who was a soldier 
in the 17th Illinois Cavalry. He died in the serv- 
ice at Glasgow, Mo. 

Mr. and Mrs. Buffham are the parents of five 



children living Joseph K., Mary E., John T., 
Willie and Fred S. They had two children who 
died in infancy, Eddie and Sadie. Our subject 
and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which they are regular attendants and 
to which they contribute liberally of their means. 
Mr. Buffham is in every sense of the word a self- 
made man. Through all trials and adversities he 
has bravely contended, and with his own hands, 
assisted by his excellent wife, has carved out a 
comfortable competency, at the same time making 
and maintaining for himself a name for strict honor 
and integrity, which after all is the best heritage to 
leave to posterity. In politics Mr. Buffham has 
always been a Republican, and though not a politi- 
cian he can invariably be relied upon to further 
the best interests of the party. As a citizen he 
stands well with all the people, and discharges faith- 
fully every obligation imposed by the law and the 
customs of his neighborhood. 



ACOB SPILLMAN, Postmaster at Swygert, 
where he is engaged in general merchandis- 
ing, is widely and favorablj' known through- 
out Owego Township as having been one of 
its most successful farmers, and who was fortunate 
in accumulating a fine property. He retired from 
active labor in 1886, and investing a portion of his 
capital in general merchandise, established himself 
in trade at Swygert, where lie takes life compara- 
tively easy, and is numbered among its most sub- 
stantial residents. He carries a good stock of 
everything required in a village or country house- 
hold, including the smaller implements of the farm. 
His straightforward business methods have com- 
mended him to the people of his community, and he 
enjoys a large patronage among its best residents. 
The early home of Mr. Spillman was in Switzer- 
land, where he was born March 15, 1825. His 
parents, John and Phrona Spillman, were also of 
Swiss parentage, and spent their entire lives on 
their native soil. Young Jacob was placed in 
school at an early age, where he pursued his studies 
from the time he was six until he was fourteen 
years old, and was afterward engaged at general 



*=* 



1 298 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



work, making his home with his father. He had 
been an ambitious boy, and was desirous of some- 
thing better than the prospect held out to him in 
the Fatherland. He remained under the parental 
roof until after reaching his majority, and in the 
spring of 1848 made his preparations for a voyage 
to the New World. Taking passage on a sailing- 
vessel at Havre he bade adieu to the friends and 
associates of his childhood, and after a voyage of 
twelve weeks, set foot upon American soil, landing 
first in the city of New Orleans, lie remained in 
the Crescent City but a short time, and thence pro- 
ceeded up the Mississippi to this State, not long 
afterward locating in this county, where he began 
the career which has since been marked with such 
success. 

The first marriage of our subject took place in 
Bureau County, 111., in 1853, the maiden of his 
choice being Miss Fredricka Dietz. They passed 
the first years of their wedded life in Bureau County, 
and became the parents of two children Albert 
and Barbara. The mother of these passed away in 
1880. The present wife of our subject, to whom 
he was married in 1882, was formerly Mrs. Rosa 
Johnson, and they began life together in a modest 
dwelling in Owego Township. Of this union there 
were born two sons and one daughter Julius, Ag- 
gie, and a babe unnamed. 

Mr. Spillman is Democratic in politics, and a 
prominent member of the Presbyterian Church. 
He has made good use of his opportunities since 
becoming a naturalized citizen, and the occasion of 
his seeking a permanent home in the New World 
has proved fortunate to himself as well as to the 
people with whom he has been associated. 




pILLIAM TAVENER is a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser on section 17, Avoca 
Township, who has been a resident of this 
country for fifteen years. He was born July 14, 
1848, in Somersetshire, a county of England, lying 
south of the Bristol Channel. The coast line and 
surface of this county are very much diversified, 
and hi ghl}' picturesque. It is watered by the Parrot, 
Axe, Avon, and Yeo Rivers, all of which flow into 



the Bristol Channel. Along the rivers are many 
marshes and tracts of high fertility, but in other 
parts are extensive wastes, as Exmoor at the west- 
ern extremity. Cheddar and other cheeses, wool 
and cider are the principal products. Coal, stone, 
calamine and fuller's earth are obtained. Woolen 
goods, silks, gloves, linens, stockings, paper, glass, 
ironwares, woolcards, shoes, leather and malt are 
manufactured. The county contains the cities of 
Bath, Wells and a part of Bristol. Antiquities of 
almost every period of British history are met 
with in this county. This is the county from which 
Mr. Tavener hails, and where he was born, the son 
of Thomas and Elizabeth Taveuer, the former de- 
ceased, and the latter still residing in England. He 
was reared to manhood in his native country, where 
he received an excellent English education. He 
has all his life been engaged in the occupation of 
farming. 

Mr. Tavener was married on the 9lh of May, 
1872, iu England, to Miss Sarah Ann Masters, 
daughter of William and Fanny (White) Masters, 
of Somersetshire, England. Her parents are both 
dead. Directly after his marriage, Mr. Tavener 
and his wife emigrated to America, and soon after 
their arrival at New York proceeded to Livingston 
County, where for nine years he engaged in farm- 
ing upon a rented farm. In the spring of 1 882 he 
settled upon the farm which he now occupies in 
Avoca Township, where he has 175 acres of excel- 
lent land, as a reward for his industry, economy 
and good management since becoming a citizen of 
this country. His surroundings attest truthfully 
the measure of success he has attained, and he is 
now considered one of the most prosperous farmers 
of Avoca Township. He and his wife are both mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their 
devotion to the church is manifested in many 
ways. 

Mrs. Tavener was born on the 4th of November, 
184C, and is the mother of seven children: Min- 
nie L., born June 20, 1875; Fannie E., Aug. 10, 
1877; Walter S., Dec. 25, 1879; Albert E., Dec. 
25, 1881; Charles E., Jan. 13, 1885; Jessie M.. 
March 13, 1880, and Nellie M., May 13, 1887. 
These children are all strong and healthy, and bid 
fair to grow to man and womanhood in vigorous 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



299 



health. Mr. and Mrs. Tavener have become 
thoroughly identified with American life and cus- 
toms, and have no cause of regret for having left 
the land of their nativity to make their homes and 
fortunes in the New World, where every man is a 
peer, and there is no caste caused by landed estates 
or immense wealth, which precludes the humblest 
man in the country from becoming its chief ruler. 




>ILLIAM SMITH, who has been a resident 
farmer of Livingston County since 1859, 
and now resides on section 32, Avoca 
Township, was born in Berkshire, which is an in- 
land county in the southern part of England, on 
the 3d of November, 1834. He is the son of 
Henry and Mary Smith, botli ofjwhom were natives 
of England, and is the sixth child of the family. 
He grew to manhood in his native country, where 
he received a good English education and learned 
the rudiments of farming. He emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1859, taking passage at Liverpool in a 
steamer, and after an ocean voyage of fifteen days* 
in which the usual dangers of storm and wave were 
encountered, landed in New York City. He did 
not tarry there, but came direct to Livingston 
County, and after arriving here, for five months 
he worked by the month at $13, and afterward 
farmed as a renter for five years, and in this time 
he not only acquainted himself with all matters 
pertaining to American fanning, but by industry 
and economy accumulated enough to purchase a 
farm. He settled on his present farm in 1873, and 
has resided there since. It consists of 160 acres of 
good land, which he has improved both with good 
buildings and under-draining until it is one of the 
best in the county. ' In draining the farm he 
has consumed about 15,000 feet of various sized 
tile. All the money he has expended in draining 
is being returned to him now with tenfold profit in 
the way of increased crops. He generally keeps 
about twenty-five or thirty head of cattle of vari- 
ous kinds, and has from five to six horses available 
for any kind of work. When he made his start as 
an Illinois farmer he had a yoke of cattle, which he 
traded for a horse, and with which he tended thirty 



acres of corn. This corn when marketed only 
brought him fourteen cents per bushel, which left 
him a very small margin after deducting the cost 
of producing it, without considering his time at all. 
Mr. Smith was married, on the 1st .of March, 
1805, to Annie Rumbold, a native of Hampshire, 
England. They commenced life together on the 
east eighty of Mr. Smith's present farm, and they 
have had eight children, six of whom are living 
Mary E., Henry J., Thomas C., William E., Martha 
S. and Alfred E. Mr. Smith is a Republican in 
politics, and while he is not a politician he is loyal 
to that party to the extent of voting its tickets at 
all elections. His sympathies are with the Episco- 
pal Church, and his wife's with the Presbyterian 
Church. He has served as School Trustee for one 
term, and the people of Avoca Township remem- 
ber that the administration of school affairs during 
that term was such as to give almost universal sat- 
isfaction. Mr. Smith enjoys the esteem and confi- 
dence of his friends and neighbors, and he and his 
wife arc both active and influential members of the 
society of which they are a part. 



ENJAMIN E. HADLEY. Among the ac- 
cessions to the ranks of its citizens during 
the last eight years none have been more 
welcomed to Livingston County than the 
subject of this sketch, who is engaged in farming 
and stock-raising on section 21, Sunbury Town- 
ship. He is a native of the State of Ohio, where 
he was born in Clermont County, thirty miles east 
of Cincinnati, on the 6th of May, 1824. He is the 
youngest child in a family of nine born to Ebene- 
zer and Elizabeth (Patton) Hadley. Mr. Hadley 
was reared upon the farm and obtained a fair com- 
mon-school education under disadvantageous cir- 
cumstances. At the age of nineteen he began life 
for himself as a farmer, and followed that occupa- 
tion in Ohio until twenty-four years of age. when 
he accompanied his father to Kane County, 111. 
On the 8th of February, 184C, before coming to 
Illinois he was married to Barbara Whitmore, who 
was the fourth in a famity of eight children born 
to Conrad and Mary (Hensel) Whitmore, natives 




I 



4 




300 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



t 



of Kentucky. Her father was a farmer and came 
to Illinois in 1868, where he died in the fall of 
that year at the residence of Mr. Hadley. In 1851 
our subject went to La Salle County, and purchased 
eighty acres of wild land, upon which he lived un- 
til 1880. At that time land in La Salle County 
was very valuable, and Mr. Hadley sold his farm, 
and with the proceeds of the sale came to Liv- 
ingston County, and purchased 150 acres of im- 
proved land, which he moved upon and has since 
been successfully cultivating. Besides his agricult- 
ural business he is largely engaged in raising stock 
of excellent quality. . 

Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are the parents of eight 
children, six of whom are living, as follows: t Han- 
nah M., Ezra L., John W., Amanda M., Charles 
W. and Jennie E. Two died in infancy. Han- 
nah, Mrs. William Greenlees, lives eight miles 
north of Ottawa; Ezra L. married Clara Totnpkins, 
and lives on a farm in Sunbury Township; John 
married Ella Davis, and lives on a farm in Iroquois 
County; Amanda, Mrs. B. F. Piester, lives in 
Nebraska; Charles married Flora Cornell, and lives 
near Cornell in this county ; Jennie married 
Henry L. Davis, and lives with his parents on the 
home farm, which he assists in conducting. Dur- 
ing the time Mr. Hadley has owned this farm he 
has materially improved it in every respect. It is 
completely under-drained, and well fenced, while 
the farm buildings are models of their kind. In 
his business affairs Mr. Hadley is energetic and 
enterprising. 

Ever since the dissolution of the Whig party 
Mr. Iladley has been a Republican, and has all his 
life taken an active part in political matters, though 
he has never had any selfish motive in doing so, 
for he has never sought office, and the only ones 
he ever accepted at the hands of the people were 
those of Constable aivl Justice of the Peace seven 
years. He has been a Notary Public by appoint- 
ment of the Governor. He is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, a very ardent Sunday- 
school worker, and is at the present time Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school, and President of the 
Township Sunday-School Organization. Mr. Had- 
ley is a great lover of good literature, and devotes 
considerable time to reading. His library is large 




and varied, including works upon almost all topics. 
He is a great reader of current literature and a 
large patron of the publications of the day. 



MARIAH N. BEMIS, formerly a leading 
farmer and stock -raiser of Esmen Town- 
ship, has retired from the labors and cares 
Q-JJ incident to the supervision of a large area 
of land and now occupies an elegant and comforta- 
ble home, surrounded by the friends whom he has 
made in by-gone years and enjoying the comforts 
which he has justly earned. He is of New England 
parentage, and was born in the town of Stafford, 
Tolland Co., Conn., March 16, 1814. His parents, 
Amariahand Sally (Shurnway) Bemis, were natives 
of Massachusetts, and settled in Connecticut about 
1812, soon after their marriage. They became the 
parents of eight children, namely, Clarissa, Mi- 
randa, Araariah N., Mary, Charles, Isaac, Judis and 
Abijah. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
Abijah and Mary Bemis, also natives of the Bay 
State. His mother was the daughter of Ebenezer 
and Comfort (White) Shumway, natives of Massa- 
chusetts, and of French descent. The grandmothers 
both lived to be more than ninety years of age, 
and Grandmother Shumway died at the age of 
ninety-five. The Bemis family was originally from 
England, the first representatives in this country 
being two brothers, the great-grandfather and the 
great-uncle of our subject. The uncle never mar- 
ried, and consequently the later descendants sprang 
from one brother. The latter was the father of 
thirteen children, as follows: Alpheus, Amariah, 
Aaron, Amos, Abigail, Alice, Amos (2d), Lydia, 
Willard, Abijah, Hephzibah, Tylor and Mary. The 
second son, Amariah, married, and became the 
father of eight children, namety, Clarissa, Miranda, 
Amariah N., Mary, Charles S., Judith, Isaac and 
Abijah. The third child of this family was the 
subject of our sketch. 

Young Bemis was reared to farm pursuits and in 
the meantime was employed considerably in a 
sawmill. lie received a limited education in the 
common schools, and after reaching his majority 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



301 ' . 



left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the 
West, which was then beckoning eagerly to young 
and enterprising men. On the way, however, Mr. 
Bemis stopped for a time at Oxford, in Chenango 
County, N. Y., where he followed painting, which 
he had learned in his youth. He remained in this 
locality a number of years, and in the meantime, 
on the 9th of September, 1839, was united in mar- 
ringc with Miss Lucinda Backus, who was born in 
Oxford, N. Y., June 18, 1818. Her parents, Capt. 
John and Lucinda (Johnson) Backus, were natives 
respectively of Norwich and Canterbury, Conn. 
Her paternal grandparents were Ezra and Rhoda 
(Dodge) Backus, of Norwich, and her mother was 
the daughter of Obediah, Jr., and Lucinda (Dodge) 
Johnson, also of Connecticut. Col. Obediah John- 
son and his wife, Lucy, were the parents of Dr. 
Rufus, Obediah, Jr., mentioned above, Ebenezer, 
Nathan, John and Olive. Capt. John Backus was 
the father of four children by his first wife and five 
by his second. The first four were named respect- 
ively, Lucinda and Ezra, both now deceased; Will- 
iam and Lucinda (2d). His second wife, Abigail, 
was the daughter of Nathan and Desire (Crary) 
Glover. She became the mother of Henry, now in 
Massachusetts; John and Harriet, deceased ; Nathan 
in Dakota; and Guerdon. 

After his marriage Mr. Bemis remained a resi- 
dent of Oxford for a period of thirty-five years, the 
first fifteen of which he was employed as a me- 
chanic. A serious spell of sickness, however, 
weakened him so that he was obliged to give up 
his trade, and he then engaged in lumbering and 
freighting, carrying this on quite extensively for 
twenty years. In 1868 he came to Illinois, and 
purchased 160 acres of land on section 2, in Esrnen 
Township, which he placed in charge of his son. He 
also purchased the adjoining quarter of the same 
section which his son now lives on; he took posses- 
sion of it with his family in 1870, and built the resi- 
dence which he now occupies. He has superin- 
tended the cultivation of the land until now, with 
the aid of his son; it is all in fine condition and pro- 
ductive of the choicest crops. The residence and 
other buildings are among the best in the township, 
and the whole premises indicates the supervision of 
the thrifty and progressive modern agriculturist. 



Mr. and Mrs. Bemis, since coming West, have 
twice returned to their old home in New York to 
visit among the friends whom they had made dur- 
ing their long residence there. Two of their chil- 
dren are settled in the East, one in Connecticut and 
one in New York. They became the parents of 
five, of whom John died in 1848. when two and 
a half years old. The others are, Nelson Amariah, 
Mary Eliza, Harriet and Sarah. Nelson married 
Miss Sarah L. Shelden, and lives on a farm adjoin- 
ing that of his father; Maiy is the wife of Albert 
C. Green, and lives in Canterbury, Conn.: Harriet, 
Mrs. DeWitt A. Gleason, is a resident of Oxford, 
N. Y. Mr. Beniis has been uniformly successful 
in the cultivation of Illinois soil and is ranked 
among the representative men of this section of 
country. He votes the straight Republican ticket, 
| and has served twice as Assessor of his township. 
He is a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and was instrumental in the erection 
of their building, which is located not far from his 
home. Mrs. Bemis is connected with the Congre- 
gational Church in Odell. 



<jw)OHN D. REESE is an important factor in 
| the mining interests of Newtown Township, 
where he is engaged at Shaft No. 3, of the 
Vermilion Coal Company. He occupies 
the official position of Constable for this township, 
and is also a Deputy of the County Sheriff. He 
located in this township in 1878, and was appointed 
Mining Inspector by the Board of Supervisors of 
Livingston County. He devotes his time to min- 
ing in Shaft No. 3, except when discharging his 
official duties in one of the three capacities named. 
He is a property owner, and one of the leading and 
influential men among the miners of this section. 
He is of very industrious habits and possesses all 
the qualities of a good citizen. 

Mr. Reese was born in Pottsville, Pa., on the 
22d of February, 1837, and is the son of Daniel 
and Mary (Thomas) Reese, both of whom were 
born in Wales, the father in the year 1 804. The 
latter came to this country when a young man, but 
remained here but a few years, and then returned 



302 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



to his native country ^ where he married. He then 
remained in Wales until 1830, during which time 
several children were born, and then he returned 
to America. Of the twelve children born to them, 
four are now living: Mary is the wife of Henry 
Meadows, and they live at Streator, 111., engaged in 
the hotel business; John D. is our subject: David 
D. was engaged in the railroad business in Denver, 
Col ; Sarah married John T. Jones, who is a paper 
manufacturer in Lucas, Iowa. The mother of 
these children died in Peru, 111., on the 15th of 
March, 1880. The father is now living a retired 
life in Streator. 

Both parents were members of the Congregational 
Church, and the father was a local preacher and 
very active in church work. Many of his earlier 
sermons were preached in the Welsh language. In 
his early life he was a miner in Pennsylvania, in 
which State ^they settled when they came to this 
country. He acted in the capacity of Superintend- 
ent of Mines until he came West. After he be- 
came a citizen of Illinois he engaged in farming. 
Politically he is a stanch Republican, and was one 
of the earliest supporters of the Whig party during 
its existence; he has always been enthusiastic on 
the subject of politics, and his extensive reading of 
political literature has caused him to be one of the 
best posted men in Livingston County on political 
matters. He is now enjoying good health in all 
respects, excepting that impairment of eyesight 
consequent upon old age. 

John D. Reese was married in Swatara, Pa., on 
the 28th of March, 1861, to Mary Anderson, who 
was born in 1845, in Llewellyn, Pa. Her parents 
were natives of England, and came to this country 
in 1830. Both are now deceased, the father's 
death taking place in Peru, 111., in September, 1861. 
To them were born seven children, one in England 
and six in this country; of the five now living, all 
reside in Kansas, excepting the wife of our subject. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Reese have been born the follow- 
ing children: Lemuel, born June 5, 1862, resides 
at home, and is employed in Shaft No. 3; Sarah, 
born Sept. 3, 1864, married Thomas Pritchard, who 
died Jan. 9, 1887, and she and her two children 
reside witli her parents: Thomas, born Feb. 13, 
1866; John L., Aug. 29, 1867; Daniel B.. May 18, 



1868; Joseph, Aug. 21, 1869; Charles and Alexan- 
der, Nov. 3, 1870; the last five named all work in 
Shaft No. 3; Charles (2d). born Jan. 28, 1874; 
Mary E., April 26, 1878; Carrie, Feb. 15, 1880, all 
reside at home. During his residence five miles 
north of Peru, Mr. Reese's house was destroyed by 
fire and all his personal and household property 
was lost. At the time of the conflagration his wife 
was lying sick and helpless in bed, and within a 
moment or two after she was removed the walls 
fell in. Since that time Mr. Reese has thoroughly 
recovered from his loss, and is now very comfort- 
ably situated. 



J" 1 OHN W. SCHULZ, a properous German far- 
mer of Owego Township, became a resident 
here in 1867, locating on section 23, where 
he has since carried on general farming and 
built up a comfortable homestead. This is mainly 
the property of his estimable wife, and under his 
excellent management has become quite valuable. 
The farm buildings are substantial and comfortable 
and in every respect adapted to the requirements 
of country life. 

Mr. Schulz was born in the Province of Kur- 
Hessen, Germany, March 22, 1833, and is the .son 
of Adam and Annie P. Schulz, who were also of 
German birth and parentage, and spent their entire 
lives in their native laud. Our subject was there 
reared to manhood and received a good education, 
and after passing his twenty-second birthday was 
married, Dec. 25, 1856, to Miss Anna Elizabeth 
Holsower, a native of his own country, and born 
May 1, 1830. Mrs. S. is the daughter of Daniel 
and Ann M. Holsower, and by her union with our 
subject became the mother of eight children, seven 
living, namely, George, Katharine, William, Eliza- 
beth, Annie, Minnie and Michael. These are mar- 
ried and settled in comfortable homes of their own, 
most of them being residents of this county and 
vicinity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schulz continued in their native 
Germany for ten years after their marriage and 
then decided to emigrate to the New World. Bid- 
ding adieu to their friends and the associates of 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



305 




t 



their childhood they took passage on a steamer at 
Bremen, and after a voyage of seventeen days, 
landed in New York City with their three children. 
Thence they proceeded directly westward, and it 
was not long before Mr. Schnlz decided to take up 
his abode in this county. He has proved a valued 
addition to the community, both socially and 
financially, and with his wife is a member in good 
standing of the German Evangelical Association. 
Politically he votes the Democratic ticket. 



AMUEL HERBERT. During the last few 
years there has been remarkable improve- 
ment in the manner of gathering and hous- 
ing the winter's crop of ice, and the sys- 
tem is now so perfect that the percentage of loss by 
shrinkage is largely reduced. One of the most 
enterprising ice-packers and dealers is Mr. Herbert, 
a citizen of Pontiac, who began that business in 
1874. 

Mr. Herbert is a native of Rockland County, 
N. Y., where he was born on the 19th of March, 
1824. He is the son of Jacob and Frances (Keas- 
lor) Herbert, natives of the same county, who were 
engaged in the lumber business. The grandfather 
was Robert Herbert, a native of Nova Scotia, who 
during his life was engaged in the manufacture of 
wagons and carriages. Jacob had a family of ten 
children, eight of whom are now living, as follows : 
Samuel, Hannah J., Charles, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Cath- 
arine, Adelia and Theodore. Daniel died in 1854. 

Samuel Herbert was reared on a farm until he was 
fourteen years of age, and then for seven years as 
engaged in boating on the Hudson River. He after- 
ward worked in a gristmill in Dutches* County, N. 
Y., for six years, when in 1857 he concluded to try 
his fortunes in the West. In that year he arrived in 
Pontiac, and engaged in the business of plastering 
until 1875. In 1859 he built his first home, which 
gave place in 1872 to the fine residence which he at 
present occupies. His house, with the land on 
which it stands and other improvements, cost him 
18,000. Mr. Herbert engaged in his present business 
in 1 874, building his first ice-house on. the south 
side and near to the Vermilion River, and in 1884 



he bought his second ice-house in the eastern part of 
the city, which gives him a total capacity for 6,000 
tons. For the delivery of his crop, during the season 
he hires two wagons and four men besides himself. 

In 1848, Mr. Herbert was married to Miss Ann 
J. Lewis, of Dutchess County, N. Y. She was the 
daughter of John and Esther (Hudson) Lewis, na- 
tives of England. Her father came to America with 
his family in 1831, and settled in the city of New 
York, where he engaged in the manufacture of boots 
and shoes, afterward removing to Poughkeepsie, 
Dutchess County, and engaging in the same business, 
which [occupation he followed until he died. The 
wife died in 1881. They had a family of three 
children : Sarah, Mrs. Ward, of Pontiac, and Ann J., 
Mrs. Herbert. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Her- 
bert are recorded as follows : Daniel married Mary 
Hart, of Pontiac, and has three sons Harry, Ward 
and Hart ; Esther, Mrs. E. Wiggins, of Chicago, who 
is the mother of two children Charles and Harry ; 
Sarah J., Mrs. H. R. Davis, of Pontiac, who is the 
mother of five children William, Mary, Henry, 
Mearl and Pearl; John J. and Eunice A., at home. 
Mr. Herbert is a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. He gives his political adhesion to 
the Democratic party. He has in times past been a 
member of the City Board. 

We are pleased to present the portrait of Mr. 
Herbert on the accompanying page, together with 
that of his estimable wife. 



eLAYTON HOSKINS. One of the most 
beautiful homes in Rook's Creek Township 
belongs to the subject of this sketch, and is 
located on section 19. It comprises eighty acres 
of good land, which yields abuadantly the choice 
products of the Prairie State, with a handsome 
dwelling, a good barn, and all other out-buildings 
required by the modern farmer and stock-raiser. 
His family includes his wife and five children, the 
latter born as follows: Wesley D., May 22, 1874; 
Henry F., Nov. 1, 1875; Clarence L., March 22, 
1878; Peter N., March 22, 1881; Flora May, Oct. 
21, 1882. The head of this interesting family is 
about forty years of age, having been born Feb. 29, 



1 



306 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f 



1848. His birthplace and early home was in Mar- 
shall County, where he was reared on a farm and 
remained until manhood with his parents, Henry 
and Mary Ann (Bonhain) Hoskins, natives of Pick- 
away County, Ohio, the former born May 12, 1822, 
and the latter about 1825. 

The father of our subject came to Illinois when 
a young man about twenty-one years of age, in 
1843, and the mother came with her parents when 
a child. The grandparents on both sides of the 
house, it is supposed, were natives of Virginia. 
Grandfather Hoskins was born about 1793, and 
spent his last years in Marshall County, 111. To 
the parents of our subject there were born seven 
children besides Clayton, all living and located 
as follows; Eveline 0., born in September, 1850, 
remains at home with her parents; Clarissa is the 
wife of Henry Tarbell, of Greene County, Iowa, 
and the mother of five children; Eliza, Mrs. Clar- 
ence Jarrnin, has two children, and is a resident of 
Marshall County, 111. ; William married Miss Ida 
May Tanquarry, and is farming in Rook's Creek 
Township; they have three children. Lois is the 
wife of William Connor, a resident of Clay County, 
Neb. ; Thomas and Elmer, the youngest [sons, re- 
main at home with their father. 

Mr. Hoskins, when twenty-one years of age re- 
ceived from his father a team of horses and a por- 
tion of land, for which he was to pay a moderate 
annual rental. Upon this he remained until past 
twenty-four years of age, and in the meantime was 
married, Feb. 25, 1872, to Miss Amanda F. Ni.yhs- 
wonger. He afterward continued one year on the 
home place, and purchased forty acres of his pres- 
ent homestead. He put up his house in 1871, and 
added eighty acres to his first purchase, so that he 
now has a fine tract of 120 acres, which makes a 
good start in life, and holds out a fair prospect for 
the future. He is held in high esteem as a promis- 
ing young citizen, and is serving his first term as 
School Director in his district. Politically he is a 
stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and is a 
member in good standing of the Christian Church 
at Flanagan. The parents of Mrs. Hoskins, Peter 
and Nancy (Baringer) Nighswonger, were natives 
respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Her father 
came to Illinois with his parents when a child two 



years of age, and the mother came with a married 
sister, when a young lady, their mother having died 
some years before. The parents were married in 
Pike County, 111., and removed to Marshall County 
in 1856, where they reared their family, and 
whence, in 1876, they removed to Missouri, where 
they now reside. Charles R. Nighswonger, the 
paternal grandfather of Mrs. H., died in Pike 
County, at an advanced age. Her brothers and 
sisters, of whom there are seven, are living mostly 
in Davis County, Mo. Her sister Angeline is a 
resident of Northern Nebraska. 




ORENZO F. PRATT, a gentleman on the 
sunny side of fifty, is industriously en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising on sec- 
tion 9, Belle Prairie Township, on the southern 
line of this county. He is a New Englander by 
birth, having first opened his eyes to the light in 
Franklin County, Vt., Dec. 19, 1840. His child- 
hood and j'outh were spent in his native Stats. 
During the late Civil War he enlisted in Company 
I, 1st Vermont Infantry, but after serving four 
months contracted a disease which compelled him 
to abandon army life, receiving an honorable dis- 
charge. He remained in the Green Mountain 
State a short time afterward, and in 1864 set out 
for Illinois, in which State he has since resided. 

The parents of our subject were Allen and Ase- 
nath (Wait) Pratt, natives also of Vermont, where 
they spent their entire lives, the father passing 
away in 1854, and the mother, who survived her 
husband twenty -eight years, in 1882. They were 
most excellent people, highly respected in their 
community, and the mother a devoted member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Allen Pratt was 
a skilled mechanic, and also engaged in lumbering 
and farming. Although never becoming wealthy, 
he always provided suitably and generously for his 
family, which included twelve children, some of 
whom died in infancy. They were named as fol- 
lows: Curtis P., Lorenzo F., Sophia E., Ira A., 
Lucina W., Betsey M., Ira C. (2d), Charles J., Lu- 
cina W. (2d), Mary- J., Lorenzo F. (2d) and 
George R. Those who survived were reared on the 



f 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



307 t , 



farm, and most of them remained in New England. 
The subject of this biography received but lim- 
ited school advantages during his childhood and 
youth, but by the kindly assistance of his wife since 
their marriage, has become quite well informed, 
and by a course of general reading keeps pace with 
the events of the day. He is regarded as a gentle- 
man of considerable ability in his township, where 
he has served as Clerk, Road Commissioner and 
School Director. Upon coming to 'Illinois he lo- 
cated in Tazewell County, where he was employed 
as a laborer four years, near the town of Morton. 
He then went into the country and engaged on a 
farm two years, in the meantime living economic- 
ally and saving what he could of his earnings. In 
1874 he invested the little sum thus accumu- 
lated in 120 acres of land, which constitutes his 
present homestead, and which he has carefully cul- 
tivated and supplied with all necessary buildings 
and improvements, so that it is considered an es- 
tate quite valuable. For the last two years, in ad- 
dition to farming, he has been engaged in the man- 
ufacture of tile in company with a partner, the firm 
being Cook & Pratt Bros. He is also engaged in 
the manufacture of sorghum syrup and cider, for 
which he has some extra fine machinery, and turns 
out large quantities each year, realizing there- 
from a handsome sum of money. His cider press 
has been constructed mainly from his own plans, 
and is quite different from those in common use. 
In the fall of 1886 he turned out from this 3,500 
gallons, which commanded a ready sale in his own 
locality. Besides his other talents Mr. Pratt is a 
natural mechanic, closely superintending the erec- 
tion of all his farm buildings, and doing much of 
the work with his own hands. While all these are 
models of convenience, the corn-crib, from its pe- 
culiar arrangement, attracts the especial attention 
of the farmers of that vicinity on account of its 
system of ventilation, which prevents the corn 
from heating. 

The wife of our subject, who has proved to him 
such a valued companion and helpmeet, was for- 
merly Miss Caroline Lambkin, born in the Province 
of Quebec, Canada, Sept. 24, 1838. They were 
married Jan. 5, 1869, at the home of the bride in 
Stanbridge, Quebec. Her parents, like those of 



Mr. Pratt, were natives of Vermont. The father 
still lives in Quebec ; the mother passed from earth 
in 1 843. The result of this union was the birth of 
four bright children, namely, Clarissa, Flora, 
Charles and Howard. The children are being 
carefully trained and educated, Mr. Pratt deter- 
mining that they shall not labor under the disad- 
vantages which harassed him in his younger j r ears. 
Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for 
Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has been a 
cordial supporter of Republican principles. 




-*- 



ETER JASPERSON, one of the most peace- 
able and law-abiding citizens of Rook's 
Creek Township, owns a snug little farm of 
sixty-three acres, supplied with comfort- 
able buildings, which property he has acquired by 
his own industry. His early years were spent on 
the other side of the Atlantic, on the Island of 
Bornholin, Denmark, where his birth took place 
May 29, 1837. In 1859, when twenty-two years of 
age, he came to this country, and worked by the 
month for farmers in Putnam and La Salle Coun- 
ties, this State, about five years. During this time 
he saved what he could of his earnings, and at 
length was enabled to purchase forty acres of 
land located in this county. After some little 
time he sold out and purchased eighty acres in 
Rook's Creek Township, which he afterward dis- 
posed of, and in 1883 purchased his present home- 
stead. 

The parents of our subject were Morris Coffod 
and Christenia (Jansen) Jasperson, also natives of 
the Island of Bornholm, where the father was born 
May 29, 1818. Their family included five chil- 
dren, namely, Hans (or John) ; Peter, our subject; 
Christian, Jans (or James) and Larse. Only two 
of these came to the United States, Peter and Chris- 
tian. The latter, during the late war, enlisted in 
the 85th Illinois Infantry. He was taken ill and 
died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn. Peter re- 
ceived a good education in his native tongue, and 
after becoming a naturalized American citizen, 
identified himself with the Republican party. He 
has carefully avoided politics, however, preferring 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



to give his time and attention to his own concerns. 
He is a member in good standing of the Baptist 
Church, and has officiated as Deacon six years. 

The marriage of Peter Jasperson and Miss Jo- 
hanna S. Hendrickson took place Feb. 14, 1865, at 
the home of the bride in La Salle County.- The 
young people commenced life together on the farm 
which Mr. J. first purchased, nine miles east of 
Pontiac. They remained there until the spring of 
1869, and their subsequent changes we have already 
indicated. The household circle includes three 
bright children, namely : Hannah L., born May 5. 
1868; Henrietta, Aug. 30, 1869, and Henry, Dec. 
15, 1870. 

Mrs. Jasperson was the fifth in a family of 
seven children born to Marse and Signe (Kellar) 
Hendrickson, and her brothers and sisters are re- 
corded as follows: Charlotte is a resident of La 
Salle County, this State; Henrietta died in infancy; 
Christina lives in La Salle County; Christian fol- 
lowed the sea, and was drowned when about forty- 
nine 3'ears of age ; Henrietta (2d) is deceased. The 
parents of Mrs. Jasperson spent their entire lives in 
their native county, and died some years ago. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Hans Jasper- 
son by name, lived to be an old man, and died on 
his native island. 




( Sf% v ETER JACOBSON, a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser of Rook's Creek Town- 
ship, has a fine farm on section 13, where 
he is largely engaged in stock-raising, and 
has been one of the important factors in the agri- 
cultural interests of Livingston County. His 
early childhood was spent on the other side of the 
Atlantic, where his birth took place in Denmark, 
Feb. 22, 1836. He came with his parents, Jacob 
and Cathrena Jacobson, to this country in 1848, 
and after a brief stay in New York City, pro- 
ceeded directly westward to La Salic County, this 
State. 

Early in life our subject left tin- parental roof, be- 
ing engaged soon lifter coining to this State by a 
farmer, one William Harper, south of Peru, with 
whom he remained l\\<> years, receiving $10 pur month 



the lirst yc:iraiid$15 the second. He continued as a 
laborer another year, and then rented a tract of land 
upon which he farmed two years for himself. The 
outbreak of the Rebellion then furnished employ- 
ment for many idle hands. Our subject, however. 
me by no means of this class, but he laid aside his 
personal interests to assist in the preservation of the 
Union, and in perpetuating the institutions of his 
adopted country. lie enlisted in the 104th Illinois 
Infantry, and marched with his regiment afterward 
to Tennessee, where he was taken prisoner by Mor- 
gan, and with his comrades was marched 100 miles 
in three days without food. They were then re- 
leased on parole, when, as a natural consequence of 
this terrible experience, our subject was taken ill, 
and for three months was an inmate of the hospital 
at Cincinnati. His constitution now being under- 
mined he was discharged on account of disability. 
and returned to La Salle County. A few months 
later he purchased eighty acres of land in Sauneniin 
Township, and set himself industriously about its 
cultivation. Not long afterward he was united in 
marriage with Miss Annie Catherina llolman. the 
wedding taking place at the home of the bride in 
La Salle County, 111., in 18(53. Subsequently he re- 
moved to Rook's Creek Township, where he has 
since resided and built up one of the finest country 
homes in the western part of Livingston County. 
He has labored industriously when able, and has 
superintended his farm operations with excellent 
judgment, and invested his capital in a judicious 
manner. In common with otheis he has had much 
to contend with. Upon coming to this county after 
the war he possessed a cash capital of $5. He has 
now a quarter section of valuable land, underlaid 
with 30,000 feet of tile, and the buildings are at 
once elegant and substantial, the admiration of the 
country around. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson arc as 
follows: Ktheline, Mrs. Chapman, is a resident of 
Pontiac, III., and has two children: Henry, unmar- 
ried, is at home with his parents, as are also Lewis. 
William. Nannie. Emeline. ( 'ora, Annie. Bertie and 
Willie, the latter, twins, born March 3, 1880. Mr. 
Jacobson after becoming a Voter espoused the cause 
of the Republican party. lie identified himself 
with the Baptist Church in which he has olliciated 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



309 



as Trustee, and been one of its chief pillars. Mr. 
Jacobson was the fifth in a family of six children 
born to his parents. Five of these are .still living;, 
including our subject, and the other four having 
their home in Denmark. The mother died when 
Peter was a lad fourteen years of age. The father 
lived to be eight}' years old. 



J~ OHN W. A. LILLY has been a resident of 
the village of Cornell since the spring of 
1875, and is serving his second term as Jus- 
' tice of the Peace. He was born at Fair- 
mont, W. Va., May 25, 1834, and is the seventh 
son of John W. and Irene C. (Patterson) Lilly, na- 
tives respectively of West Virginia and Connecti- 
cut. In 1845, John W. Lilly, Sr., removed with 
his family from his native State to Sharon, Beaver 
Co., Pa., where, in March of the year following, he 
was stricken down with smallpox, and died at the 
age of fifty-seven years. Mrs. Irene C. Lilly was 
the daughter of Thomas Patterson, of Connecticut, 
and by her union with the father of our subject be- 
came the mother of nine children, seven sons and 
two daughters. She survived her husband many 
years, and died at the ripe old age of ninety-four, 
in Grafton, W. Va. 

Our subject remained with his mother until reach- 
ing manhood, and in the meantime served a thor- 
ough apprenticeship at the boot and shoe business, 
which he followed until the breaking out of the war. 
In the meantime he was united in marriage with 
Miss Rebecca A. McVay, of Greene County, Pa., 
on the 1st of January, 1859. Upon the first call 
for 75,000 troops, Mr. Lilly was among those who 
yielded a ready and cheerful response, and after 
serving three months, re-enlisted for three years, or 
until the close of the war. His company was a part 
of the 2d West Virginia Infantry, which afterward 
became the 5th Cavalry, and he served with it un- 
til being mustered out June 1C, 1864. He con- 
tinued, however, in the army, being thereafter in the 
recruiting service, until the surrender of Lee prac- 
tically ended the conflict. 

Upon retiring from the army, Mr. Lilly rejoined 
Ins family in West Virginia, where he engaged in 



merchandising until February, 1872, then started 
for the West. He tarried a few days at Cornell, 
this county, but subsequently took up his abode in 
Elm wood, returning, however, to the former place 
in 1875, of which he has since remained a resident. 
Here he is quite a prominent citizen. While in 
West Virginia he filled the office of Alderman in 
the little city of Cameron, and was afterward elec- 
ted Mayor. 

Mr. Lilly cast his first Presidential vote for John 
C. Fremont, in 1856, and has since clung with un- 
abated fidelity to the Republican party. There is 
no doubt but that he will continue to share its 
triumphs, likewise its reverses, as he is a gentleman 
of decided opinions, and it will be a remarkable 
event that will cause him to forsake his early love. 




AMUEL ALGEO, a self-made man, is to- 
day a prosperous and highly respected 
farmer and stock-raiser on section 8, Rook's 
Creek Township. He came to Illinois 
with his parents, poor in pocket and without in- 
fluential friends, but by the exercise of his native 
energy and resolution he has secured for himself a 
comfortable home and a competency, and has es- 
tablished himself in the esteem of his fellow-citi- 
zens. Mr. Algeo is the son of Robert and Martha 
(Hughes) Algeo, and was born in May, 1836, near 
Dooballa, Donegal County, Ireland. He has no 
recollection of his paternal grandparents, but can 
remember his maternal grandfather, who lived to 
be an old man. 

Mr. Algeo is the youngest of eight children, as 
follows: Eliza married Francis McDeavitt in 
Ireland, and moved to Illinois in April, 1886; they 
have seven children. John, married, and living in 
Marshall County, 111., has two children ; William, 
born in Ireland, married in the United States, lived 
in Livingston County over thirty years, when he 
moved to Iowa in 1886; he has six children. Alex- 
ander, born in Ireland, came to Illinois where he 
married and has ten children ; James, married in 
Ireland, came to Illinois thirty years ago, and has 
eight children living; Robert, unmarried, lives in 



r 



310 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






Livingston County; Joseph, married and living in 
Ireland on the old homestead as a tenant under 
Sir Samuel Hayes, has six children^and Samuel is 
the subject of this sketch. 

The subject of this biography was married to 
Miss Fannie Margaret Algeo on the 5th of June, 
1865, and on the 16th of July of that year they 
came from Ireland to the United States, making the 
voyage on the steamer Iowa, which required two 
weeks, and landing at New York, where they staid 
about three weeks. From New York they went to 
Oswego, where they remained till spring with an 
elder brother, when they came to Rook's Creek 
Township, Livingston County, where they bought 
eighty acres of land on section 14, and have since 
purchased 120 acres on section 8, on which farm 
they now live. The parents of Mr. and Mrs. 
Algeo were second cousins. There have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Algeo six children, whose names 
are as follows: Alexander, born on the 24th of 
March, 1866; Robert, born Dec. 3, 1868;Cassie, 
born Nov. 4, 1870; John James, born Feb. 
27, 1872; Fannie May, born Nov. 1, 1875; 
Sarah M., born July 13. 1879. The parents of 
Mrs. Algeo were Alexander and Fannie (Ralston) 
Algeo, both born in the year 1797 in Ireland, and 
married on the 1st of January, 1818. They were 
the parents of the following named children : 
James, born in November, 1818, married, and died 
April 24, 1887, leaving three children; John, born in 
1820, is unmarried ; William, born in 1822, married, 
and lives on the homestead in Ireland ; Alexander, 
born in 1824, married, and has two children, and 
lives in New York; Samuel, born in 1826, married, 
and has four children, and lives in Indianapolis; 
Robert, born in 1828, died and left four children 
who live in New York ; Thomas, born in 1833, 
married, has four children, and lives in Pennsyl- 
vania; Fannie Margaret was born June 25, 1836; 
Catherine, Mrs. William Ray, lives in Battle Creek, 
Mich, and has five children. 

Mr. Algeo is an intelligent member of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and has very decided opinions 
upon matters both religious and political, while he 
is especially well informed on the Home Rule and 
other questions which are agitating England and 
Ireland. He is independent in politics and is very 



decided in his opposition to the question of 
Woman Suffrage. Mrs. Algeo received a very 
fair common-school education in Ireland, and both 
she and her husband are very extensive readers. 
keeping thoroughly posted on all the current topics 
of the day. 



^ LIVER JOLLY, whose forty-acre stock farm 
is located on section 32, Waldo Township, 
was born Aug. 7, 183"), near Martinsburg, 
Knox Co., Ohio. He is the fourth in a family of 
eight children, whose names are, Sarah Jane, Mrs. 
Hiram Cawl, who died leaving one child, Sarah, 
since married; John, born Aug. 27, 1830, married, 
has one child, and lives in California; Daniel, born 
Feb. 28, 1832, lives in Nebraska Township; Oliver, 
our "subject; Mary Ann, born Oct. 15, 1837, mar- 
ried Elijah Wade, has four children, and lives in 
Ohio; Emma Eliza, born in 1840, married Charles 
Walker, and died leaving six children; Robert, 
born Aug. 15, 1842, is married, has several chil- 
dren, and lives in Ohio; Eliza E., born in October, 
1845, married James McMann, has six children and 
lives in Ohio. Our subject's parents were natives 
of Pennsylvania; the mother departed this life 
March 18, 1886; the father was born in March, 
1809, and still resides in Ohio. Daniel, a brother 
of our subject, was a soldier in the Union army in 
the war of the Rebellion, where he served for three 
years. His brother was also a soldier in the Union 
army. 

Mr. Jolly remained with his parents on a farm, 
and as opportunities presented, attended the com- 
mon schools until he was twenty-one 3 r ears of age, 
when he began to do for himself. When about 
twenty-two years old, he came to Illinois and lo- 
cated at Farm Ridge, where he worked by the 
month for several years, when he rented ground 
and began farming on his own account, and in 
about two years, in 18G7, he purchased his present 
farm of forty acres in Waldo Township. 

On the 2d of September, 1869, the subject of 
this sketch was married to Miss Susan Yaryes, 
daughter of Paul and Melinda Yaryes, natives of 
Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Jolly have been 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



born two children, as follows: Estella, on the 
26th of August, 1872, and Matilda, April 18, 1875. 
Mr. Jolly has always been a Democrat, and cast his 
first Presidential vote for James Buchanan. He is 
a member of the Christian Church, holding mem- 
bership at Gridley. While Mr. Jolly's farm does 
not comprise so many acres as some other farms in 
the township, it is equally as well cultivated. The 
improvements about the place are good and ample, 
and the buildings are both substantial and com- 
fortable. His family identify themselves with all 
matters which are calculated to benefit the com- 
munity in which they live. 



/p^EORGE H. SHERMAN. In order that a 
jl| -, community may prosper, there must be men 

<^4l competent as leaders, enterprising as citi- 
zens, and industrious as workers. \Vhile the lower 
strata are as useful in their place as the upper, just 
as the mortar is as essential as the bricks in rearing 
a building, still there must be master minds to su- 
perintend and bring each division to its proper 
place. The subject of our sketch in his community 
has acted largely as a leader, has been judicious in 
his investments, and has added greatly to the gen- 
eral prosperity of this section. Although in 
younger days he was something of a mechanic, and 
possessed naturally considerable skill in this line, 
he later determined to enter upon the more con- 
genial pursuits of farm life. The consequence is 
that he has now one of the finest country estates in 
Union Township, where of late years he has largely 
engaged in stock-raising, and has been uniformly 
prosperous. 

The interesting points in the life history of Mr. 
Sherman are substantially as follows: He is the 
eighth in a family of fourteen children born to 
Samuel and Azubah (Greene) Sherman, natives re- 
spectively of New York and Vermont. The 
youngest of the family died in infancy, but the re- 
maining thirteen lived to mature years, married, 



and had families of their own, before a death oc- 
curred among them. Eight of these are now liv- 
ing, making their homes principally in Illinois. 
The maternal grandparents of our subject, Alpheus 
and Rhoda (Pratt,) Greene, were natives of Ver- 
mont, in which State they spent most of their lives. 
Mr. Greene died in Illinois in 1861. Mrs. Greene 
died in New York State. 

Samuel Sherman was a cooper by trade, but was 
fond of country life, and purchased a farm where 
he passed his last years. Although but a youth, he 
served as a soldier during the War of 1812, and 
took part in the memorable battle of Plattsburg. 
ID early manhood he had identified himself with 
the Whig party, but after its abandonment cor- 
dially endorsed Republican principles, and later 
was quite active in public affairs. He came into 
the West in about 1850, locating in Knox County, 
and spent his last years at Galesburg, where his 
death took place in 1875. The mother, whose 
name is held in the most affectionate remembrance 
by her children, survived her husband until 1886, 
and then passed to her final rest. Both parents 
were universally esteemed in their community, as 
those whose places when they passed away it would 
be most difficult to fill. 

Our subject passed his early years after the man- 
ner of most farmers' boys, assisting in the sowing 
and reaping, and during the winter season gaining 
a knowledge of the common English branches in 
the district school. At the age of eighteen, after 
the family came to Illinois, he left home and en- 
gaged in farming at various places in Knox County, 
finally renting a tract of land and carrying on ag- 
riculture for himself. A few weeks before reach- 
ing his twenty-third year, there happened one of 
the most important events of his life, namely, his 
marriage, which occurred Nov. 27, 1855. His 
bride was Miss Charlotte M. Sherwood, who was 
born July 9, 1831, in Coeymans, Albany Co., N. 
Y., and was the second child of Stephen and Phebe 
(Ostrom) Sherwood. Her parents were also na- 
tives of the Empire State, and of Dutch and En- 
glish descent. Their family included six children. 
They came to Illinois in about 1853, settling first 
in Knox County, aad afterward became inmates of 
the home of Mr. Sherman for a period of fourteen 






312 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY 



- 



years. Subsequently they removed to Chicago, 
where they both passed away in 1884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman commenced housekeeping 
on a farm in Knox ^County, where they resided 
nine years. Mr. S. had in the meantime purchased 
a tract of land in Clover Township, which he after- 
ward sold, however, and in the spring of 1866, 
started out to hunt for a permanent location, think- 
ing probably he would go beyond the Mississippi. 
Upon his arrival in Livingston County, however, 
he found he could purchase good land at a reason- 
able price, and consequently, in company with his 
brother-in-law, secured a section in Union Town- 
ship. It was totally uncultivated, but he put up a 
small house and began the improvement of his pur- 
chase. He was prospered in his operations, and 
each year grew more attached to the place, so that 
it has become a permanent home, and has been his 
residence now for the last twenty-two years. The 
change which has been effected in this tract of land 
as well as the country around it, is ample evidence 
thai master hands have been at work. Mr. Sher- 
man has bent his energies to the building up of a 
homestead which is creditable to him as a farmer 
and a citizen, and its appearance to-day indicates 
how well he has succeeded. The soil is the most 
productive in the township, and the farm buildings 
are of the best description. The fields each year 
produce the finest corn and wheat, and his live- 
stock includes the best specimens of thoroughbred 
Short-horn cattle and Norman horses. He also 
raises a goodly number of Poland-China swine, 
and the income from these sources nets him a hand- 
some sum annually. 

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sher- 
man, but three survive : Sarah, the eldest, is the 
wife of Adolph Peterson, agent of the Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad Co., at Adeline, Ogle County; 
Cora, who possesses more than ordinary ability and 
is fond of study, is attending school at Greencastle, 
Ind.; Mary remains at home with her parents. 
Mr. Sherman votes the straight Republican ticket, 
and although no office seeker, has served as Justice 
of the Peace three terms. He is one of the most 
active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
with which he has been connected many years, and 
served as. Steward and Trustee. It will thus be 




seen that he has had little time for idleness, and 
looking back over a life which is yet in its prime, 
he may feel satisfied with the results attained, and 
hope for still better things in the future. 



AVID L. MURDOCK, attorney-at-law, 
Fairbury, 111., is among the prominent cit- 
izens of Livingston County. People al- 
ways delight to honor a self-made man, 
not alone for his success in life, but because he is 
generally a man of unselfish disposition. Lincoln, 
perhaps, is the most lofty example of the reverence 
of the people for those who have been the archi- 
tects of their own fortunes. Nearly every com- 
munity affords an example of what a humble in- 
dividual may accomplish by properly directed en- 
ergy. In the subject of this sketch an instance is 
furnished where a man began without a dollar, 
and while yet young in years has gained a compe- 
tency which will serve him through life. 

Mr. Mnrdock was born in Butler County, Ohio, 
on the 19th of November, 1836, and is the son of 
Ezekiel P. and Rachel (Taylor) Murdock, natives 
of Pennsylvania and Tennessee respectively. His 
father was born on the 10th of March, 1809, and 
is still living at his home in Chicago. The mother 
was born on the 29th of January, 1814, daughter 
of Isaac and Elizabeth (Cross) Taylor, and died in 
August, 1885. They were married in Indiana on 
the 29th of June, 1835. Mr. Murdock was mar- 
ried, on the 22d of November, 1860, to Miss Mary 
E. Pillsbury, a sister of Judge Pillsbury, of Pontiac. 
She was born on the 20th of September, 1839, in 
the town of Shapleigh, York Co., Me., and came 
to Illinois in 1855. Mr. Murdock came to Illi- 
nois in 1854 and located in Hennepin, Putnam 
County, where he engaged in farming and school 
teaching. In 1859 he came to Livingston County, 
where he farmed until Aug. 9, 1862, when he en- 
listed in the 77th Illinois Infantry and became a 
private in Company II, and was subsequently pro- 
moted to the rank of Sergeant. The service of 
the 77th Regiment was principally in the 13th 
Army Corps and the Army of the Tennessee. 



COTTAGE HOUSE\W^.COWLING,PROPR. CHATSWORTH.ILL. 



RESIQENCEOFIHEODORE WIENAND .SEC. 35. CHARLOTTEIOWNSHIP. 



RESIDENCE OF Louis M ETTE , CMATSWORTH, lu, 







LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



315 



Among the most prominent engagements he par- 
ticipated in were the siege of Vicksburg and the 
battles preceding the investment of the city, the 
siege of Mobile and the capture of Spanish Fort, 
and the siege and capture of Jackson, Miss. He 
served full three years, and was mustered out of 
the service on the 10th of July, 1865, at Mobile, 
Ala. After his return home he went to Pontiac 
and engaged in mercantile business with Mr. Pills- 
bury, in which he continued until 1869, when he 
began to read law under the instructions of Judge 
Pillsbury, of that place, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1870. At that time he took up permanent 
residence in Fairbury, and has since assiduously 
devoted his time to the practice of law and the 
prosecution of the insurance and real-estate busi- 
ness, in all of which he has been successful, and 
now owns 300 acres of good farm land, several 
pieces of town property, and his beautiful resi- 
dence, which cost $5,000. 

In 1876 Mr. Murdock was elected to the office 
of State's Attorney, in which position he served 
four years with much credit to himself and honor 
to the State. He was a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture for two years. The children who 
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Murdock are : Ste- 
phen D., who married Miss EmmaSpence; Clarence 
J. and Charles B., twins, the latter dying in in- 
fancy; Rachel I. and Nellie E. Mr. Murdock is a 
member of the order of Odd Fellows, and is Grand 
Patriarch in the State organization; he is also a 
member of the G. A. R., and was the first Com- 
mander of Post No. 75, at Fairbury. He is one of the 
stanch and reliable Republicans of Livingston 
County, and has frequently served as a delegate to 
State conventions. He can always be depended 
upon for active and energetic work in behalf of his 
party. 



L. FRISBIE, of Pontiac, is the Division 
Superintendent of the Illinois Central Rail- 
road. He is a native of Branford, Conn., 
where he was born on the 1st of September, 
1835, and is the son of Hervey and Betsy (Shel- 
don) Frisbie, who were also natives of Branford. 
His father was in early days a sailor, and later in 




life a ship-builder. He became a citizen of Illinois 
in 1857, and settled in Onarga, Iroqnois County, 
where he engaged in contracting' and building, and 
in which place he yet retains his residence. The 
grandfather was Noah Frisbie, also a native of Con- 
necticut, who was a fisherman, and was drowned in 
18*35. The Frisbies were of English descent. 

The parents of Betsy Sheldon were Jere and Katy 
(Lamphere) Sheldon, natives of Connecticut. The 
father was of English descent, and engaged during 
his life in farming. The grandparents lived and 
died in the State of Connecticut. The father of 
the subject of this sketch had a family of five chil- 
dren, three of whom are yet living: H. L., our sub- 
ject; Carrie, Mrs. J. M. Bates, of Gardner, Me.; 
Sara, Mrs. John Frith, wife of the Circuit Court 
Clerk, of Iroqnois County, 111. The father is a very 
ardent Republican. His sou John R. enlisted as a 
soldier in the 25th Illinois Infantry, a member of 
Company F, in 1861, and at Missionary Ridge re- 
ceived a severe wound from which he died one year 
later at his home. 

Mr. H. L. Frisbie attended the schools of Bran- 
ford, New Haven Co., Conn., until he w r as twelve 
years of age, when from that time until he was 
twenty-one he was engaged with his father in ship- 
building. He then followed the sea for two years, 
and in 1858 came to Illinois and settled in Iroquois 
County, where he engaged with his father in contract- 
ing and building until January, 1860. He engaged 
for two years as a brakeman on the Illinois Central 
Railroad, when he enlisted in Company D, 113th Illi- 
nois Infantry, and remained in the service about 
three years. He was appointed Second Lieutenant, 
and was, for the most of that time, on detached 
duty, as Adjutant Quartermaster, and Acting Assist- 
ant Adjutant General, and participated in the bat- 
tles of Chickasaw Bluff, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, 
and numerous skirmishes. After the war he re- 
turned to Onarga, Iroquois County, and engaged in 
business, dealing in lumber and coal, which he fol- 
lowed for five years, when in 1870 he resumed 
brc.-iking on the Illinois Central, following that oc- 
cupation one year. In 1878 he again engaged as 
freight and passenger conductor. He afterward 
went to Kankakee, and had charge of the trans- 
portation connected with the building of the Middle 



316 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Division, or the Kankakee <fe Southwestern Branch 
of the Illinois Central. Upon the completion of 
the road, he took charge of the traffic and ran :i 
train, which he exchanged in April, 1880, for a pas- 
-enger train, and held the po.-ition for one year. 
lie then went to Clinton. 111., where he was Train- 
master until the 22d of June, 1881, when he ac- 
cepted the position of Division Superintendent, 
which position he holds at the time this sketch is 
written. 

Mr. Frisliie was married in 1805 to Miss Sarah 
F. Hart, daughter of Nelson Hart, of West Cornell, 
Conn., and three children were horn to them: Ida- 
lene M., Bessie C. and Amelia T. Mrs. Frisl>ie 
died in 1870. In 1871 he married for his second 
wife Miss Charlotte M. Hart, the sister of his first 
wife. They have had three children : Charlotte F., 
Carrie L., and Lynde II., born in 1870 and died in 
1877. Mr. Frisbie is much interested in literature, 
and during his life has written a great deal, includ- 
ing many Christmas and war songs. Among these 
are "Oh, Bury the Brave Where They Fall," which is 
appropriately sung on Decoration Day; ''The Songs 
We Sang on the Old Camp Ground," "Out Wot." 
and many others. He has been a contributor to the 
Railway Gazelle and the Railroader. He occupies 
an elegant residence on Main street, and lias sin-- 
rounded himself and family with all the comforts of 
life. He and his family are attendants of the Pres- 
byterian Church. lie [occupies a prominent posi- 
tion among the citizens of Livingston County, and 
is considered by railroad men as one of the nnt 
ellicient Superintendents in the West. He has by 
his own efforts and attention to business succeeded 
in attaining a position in railroad affairs which is the 
envy of all his as.-oeiates. 



J "JOHN POWELL, of Pontiac Township, and 
who is now pa-sing down the sunset hill of 
I earthly existence, has had little to complain 
1 of in the distribution of this world'- g 1-. 

as he has been quite successful in life and is now in 
the enjoyment of its creature comforts. The prop- 
erty which he has accumulated i- the result of his 
own industry and intelligent efforts put forth in 



earlier years. He has battled bravely witli what- 
ever hardships he has had to contend, and has built 
up for himself a good record as a man and a citizen. 

Mr. Powell was born in Fayette County. Ohio. 
Feb. 21, 1814, and is the son of Philip and Isabelle 
Powell, natives of Kentucky. The Powells are of 
Knglish descent, but the mother of onr subject was 
of French-Irish ancestry. Her parents emigrated 
from Virginia to Kentucky, settling at Boone's Sta- 
tion in the pioneer days while the Indians were still 
troublesome and aggressive. Andrew Kelso, a ma- 
ternal uncle of our subject, was one of the brave 
characters Of those days, and distinguished himself 
by shooting down many a treacherous savage in am- 
bush and during the skirmishes which continued to 
prevail between the settlers and their natural enemies. 
He was a cotcmporary of Daniel Boonc and possessed 
much of the bnwery which distinguished that 
famous old Kentuckian. About 1808. the parents 
of our subject removed to Fayette County. Ohio, 
and were also among the earliest pioneers of that 
region. They remained in the Buckeye State until 
1835, then made one more removal, to Randolph 
County. Ind., where they spent the remainder of 
their days, the mother dying five years later, in 
1840, and the father in 1859. Of their children, 
eleven in number, .only two survive. These are 
John, our subject, and Harper, of McLean County. 

John Powell was reared principally to farm life 
and pursued his early studies in the pioneer log 
cabin of sixty years ago. He was united in mar- 
riage, on the 25th of December, 1848. with Mi 
Mary Miller, who was born in Montgomery County. 
Ohio, April 25, 1814. and was the daughter of 
Christian and Susannah Miller, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and of German descent. Of this union there 
were born .-even children, six now living and located 
as follows: Franklin A. is a resident of Thayer 
County. Neb.; Newman J., of Pontiac; John K., of 
( >regon : Sarah J., the wife of Samuel B. Tnrman, of 
Colorado, an engineer on the Kan-as Pacific Rail- 
road: Lamvnc is Mrs. J. D. Honeywell, of Monroe 
Conntv. Wis.. and Susannah I,., the wife of Uriah 
Springer, of Pontiac Town-hip, this county. Mr. 
Powell became a resident of Livingston County in 
1851. locating first two and one-half miles northeast 
of Cheiioa. In the spring of 1855 he removed to 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Pontiac Village, where lie resided eight years, and 
then took possession of the farm which he now oc- 
cupies on section 24. This comprises eighty acres 
of valuable land, and he also owns a half interest in 
a brickyard located thereon. The residence and 
adjacent buildings are models of convenience and 
comfort, and the resort of the many friends whom 
Mr. and Mrs. Powell have gathered about them dur- 
ing a residence here of more than thirty years. 

Mr. Powell, politically, is a stanch Prohibitionist, 
and with his estimable lady, a member in good 
standing of the Christian Church. Me has served 
several years as School Director in his district and 
was formerly a member of the Town Council of 
Pontiac. In early manhood, while a resident of 
Ohio, he served as Mayor of Ilollansburg, Darkc 
County, and has always kept himself well posted 
upon current events. 




jfelLLIAM ASKEW, who is a prominent far- 
mer living on section 34, Owego Township. 
is a native of Northamptonshire, one of the 
central counties of England, which is largely de- 
voted to agriculture and the propagation of heavy 
black horses, Short-horn cattle and sheep. He was 
born ou the 28th of October, 1828, and is the son 
of John and Charlotte Askew, who were natives of 
England. Eleven children were born to his parents : 
Fannie, wife of Thomas Southworth. of Noble 
County, Ind. : Thomas, of Oregon; John, of England; 
William: Samuel, deceased; Ketnrah. widow of 
Thomas Knight, of England ; Ann. of England ; Jona- 
than, of Livingston County; Robert, of Noble 
County, Ind. ; Ezra, of Livingston County ; Charlotte, 
wife of Mr. Wilson, in England. 

Mr. Askew remained in England until he reached 
manhood, where he received a fair education. He 
emigrated to America in 1856, taking passage at 
Liverpool on a >ailing-\cssel, and after an ocean 
voyage of thirty days landed at New York City, 
from whence he went direct to Noble County, Ind., 
where he resided for about eleven years. During 
the first eight months of his residence in Indiana he 
engaged as a farm hand at f 12 per month, and sub- 
.-cqucnUy for two years, accepted employment for 



$136 per year, at the end of which time he began 
fanning for himself in Indiana, in which he engaged 
until the spring of 1867. when he came to Illinois, 
where he remained in McLean County until 1868, 
in which year he came to Livingston County, and 
resided in Rook's Creek Township until the spring 
of 1886. In that year he settled on his present 
farm. 

On the 4th of February, 1864, while residing in 
Indiana, Mr. Askew was married to Miss Lucy 
Perks, who was horn in England in June, 1829. 
She is a daughter of George and Maria Perks, and 
in, 1861 emigrated to America with a party of 
friends and landed at Portland, Me., from which 
place she went directly to Canada, and there re- 
mained two years. To Mr. and Mrs. Askew have 
been born three children: Emma E., the wife of 
John M. Miller, of Owego Township; William P. 
and Leason M. Mr. and Mrs. Askew both hold act- 
ive relations with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which he has served as Steward and Trustee. By 
assiduously attending to business, good management 
and close economy, Mr. Askew has become the 
owner of an excellent farm of 120 acres, which 
each succeeding year he makes better than it was 
the year before. So far as public position is con- 
cerned he has served as Justice of the Peace eight 
years in Rook's Creek Township, two terms in the 
same township as School Trustee, and also as School 
Director for many years. He is a public-spirited 
man and encourages all enterprises having for their 
object the improvement of the condition of the peo- 
ple among whom he lives. Among his neighbors 
his word is considered as good as his bond. In 
business matters he adheres strictly to the Golden 
Kule. 



L. STRATTON is the possessor of one-half 
of a section in Long Point Township, lo- 
cated on sections 5 and 8, which, from little 
better than its primitive condition, he has trans- 
formed into a valuable and well-regulated home- 
stead. The fine residence is pleasantly located and 
surrounded with handsome grounds, while the barn 
and other oat-buildings, neat and substantial struct- 
ures, are highly creditable to the taste and industry 






318 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of the proprietor. Many of the fields are laid off 
with beautiful hedge, which assists greatly in em- 
bellishing the landscape of that section, and re- 
ceives due admiration from the passing traveler. 
The owner of this property is at once recognized 
as a inan of good education, agreeable and well- 
bred, and eminently fitted to move among the in- 
telligent and enterprising people who have given to 
Central Illinois its enviable reputation. 

Mr. Stratton was born near the northern bound- 
ary of Pennsylvania, in Tioga County, Jan. 12, 
1826, and is the son of Seymour and Susan (Lowns- 
berry) Stratton, the former a native of Connecticut 
and the latter of New York. Seymour Stratton 
was born in 1794, and departed this life at his home 
in Pennsylvania in 1873, after having reached the 
advanced age of seventy-nine years. The mother 
was born in 1803, and passed away several years 
previous to the death of her husband, in 1865. 
Their eleven children were named respectively, 
Lydia, Lafayette, E. L., Harriet, Dithton, Martin, 
Julia, Ruth, Josephine, Amelia and William. Six 
are living, and located in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Illi- 
nois and California. 

Our subject first pursued his studies in the com- 
mon schools of Tioga County, Pa., and subsequently 
attended the academy at Wellsboro nine months, 
lie was afterward for several years employed in con- 
nection with a sawmill, and gained a good insight 
into the lumber business. In May, 1849, after pass- 
ing his twenty-third birthday, he migrated westward 
into La Salic County, this State, and later came to 
Livingston County, where he began setting about 
the establishment of a future home. One of the 
first important steps in connection with this was his 
marriage with Miss Sarah A. Miller, which took 
place Jan. 17, 1856. Mrs. S. was born in Bradford, 
Pa., Aug. 1, 1836, and is the daughter of John 
Wesley and Eliza (Kingsley) Miller, the latter of 
whom died when a young woman at her home in 
Pennsylvania. The father subsequently married 
Miss Jane Clark, of Bradford County, Pa., and they 
became residents of Illinois, where he died about 
1865. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stratton became the parents of the 
( i children whose record is as follows: Lauretta was 
born Oct. 7, 1858, and died Oct. 5, 1860; Ilattie 



was born April '1, 1862, and remains at home with 
her parents; John, born April 29, 1864, died Nov. 
15, 1877; Burt, born May 31, 1868, with the 
younger children remains at home with his parents; 
Carl was born June 10, 1872, and Kay June 24, 
1874. Mr. Stratton in politics votes independently, 
and is a Senior Warden in the Masonic fraternity, 
belonging to Chapter No. 112, and Lodge No. 552, 
at Rutland, while also being connected with the fra- 
ternity at Long Point. 




: 



AMUEL SIMPSON, one of the old war 
veterans, and now engaged in Nebraska 
Township, on section 2, in farming and 
stock-raising, is a native of Muskingum 
County, Ohio, where his birth took place March 
29, 1824. His parents were Philip Alex and Polly 
(Inmer) Simpson, natives of Virginia, whence they 
removed to Ohio during their youth, and were mar- 
ried in the Buckeye State. Philip Simpson was a 
farmer by occupation, and continued tilling the 
soil in Mnskingum County, Ohio, until called from 
his earthly labors about 1863. 

The mother of our subject passed to her long 
home while the latter was a mere child and the 
father was married a second time. Samuel con- 
tinued in his native State until about twenty-three 
years of age, then came to Illinois with his brother, 
and locating in Tazewell County, was there em- 
ployed as a farm laborer three years. He then 
changed his residence to McLean County, where 
he worked seven years and until after the outbreak 
of the late war. In August, 1861, he enlisted in 
the 88th Illinois Infantry, and took part in the bat- 
tles of Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Dalton 
and Resaca. In the last named engagement he was 
wounded in the left side by a piece of shell. He 
was rendered insensible for a time, but after re- 
gaining consciousness, got upon his feet and with 
difficulty made his way to the hospital. He re- 
mained there about two months and although only 
partially recovered, rejoined his regiment in time 
to participate in the battles of Stone River, Nash- 
ville, and several other important engagements. He 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



319 



fortunately escaped further injury, and continued 
with the army until after the surrender of Lee at 
Appomattox. He received his honorable discharge 
in May, 1865, and returning to his old haunts in 
McLean County, entered the employ of the same 
man for whom he had worked the seven years be- 
fore. Here he remained two years, when he re- 
moved to his present home. 

On the 8th of August, 1867, Mr. Simpson took 
one of the most important steps toward the estab- 
lishment of a home of his own, this being bis mar- 
riage with the lady of his choice, Miss Almedia, 
daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Reese) Butler. Not 
long afterward he purchased the forty acres of land 
which he has now brought to a good state of cultiva- 
tion and upon which stands a neat farm dwelling, a 
good barn, and the various other buildings required 
for the successful prosecution of his labors. Mr. and 
Mrs. Simpson have one child only, a son, George 
Wesley, who was born Dec. 25, 1871. Mr. S. as 
part compensation for the injuries received in the 
army receives monthly a small pension. 




^ATHAN TALBOT, a highly respected far- 
mer of Rook's Creek Township, is a fine 
illustration of the self-made man. He was 
thrown upon his own resources very early in life, 
and has attained to his present position socially 
and financially solely through his own industry and 
good judgment. He is the proprietor of a com- 
fortable homestead on section 5, and has been a 
resident of this county since a boy nine years of 
age, receiving a fair education at the common 
school, and is quite an extensive reader, keeping 
himself well posted upon current events. 

Mr. Talbot was born in Woodford County, 111., 
April 15, 1858. After coming to this county with 
the family of his father, the latter was removed by 
death in 1871, and thereafter Nathan, as far as pos- 
sible, took his place in supporting his mother and 
the younger children. The family included nine 
children, and our subject worked by the month for 
a period of ten years, discharging his filial duties 
in a manner reflecting great credit upon himself as 
a son and brother. In due time his labors were 



rewarded, and he found himself gaining a foothold, 
and is now canning on farming with his two 
younger brothers. 

The father of our subject was of English birth 
and parentage, and emigrated to America with his 
parents when a child four years of age. They 
lived for a number of years in Baltimore, Md., and 
then emigrated to 'Illinois, locating in Woodford 
County, as we have stated. The mother was a 
native of Ohio, and carne to Illinois with her par- 
ents when a child eight years of age. They located 
in Marshall County, where she became acquainted 
with Nathan Talbot, and they were married in 
1 849. They resided in Marshall County nine years 
and then removed to Woodford County, where 
they located at Scattering Point. The father died 
in Woodford County. 



J'lEREMIAH TRAVIS. The ranks of the 
I men who settled in Illinois in the thirties 
1 are becoming perceptibly thinned, and like 
' the Old Guard of Napoleon it will not be 
many years before they will have passed to the 
unknown beyond. They will be gone but not for- 
gotten, for the deeds they have done in the body 
will live after them, and perpetuate their memories 
without the necessity of " storied urn or animated 
bust." In the sisterhood of States, Illinois stands 
peerless, and her position could not have been at- 
tained had not willing hands and stout hearts per- 
formed their duties when she was in her infancy, 
No grander duty can be performed by the histor- 
ian and biographer than to put into imperishable 
print the deeds of the pioneers who have devoted 
their lives to the development and upbuilding of 
these grand Western States. No matter how hum- 
ble the factor in these accomplishments may be he 
is entitled to a niche, and it is with such feelings 
that we record the events in the life of a pioneer, 
the subject of this sketch, who is one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of section 5, Belle Prairie Town- 
ship. 

Mr. Travis was born in Middle Tennessee on the 
24th of August, 1821, and is the son of Jeremiah 
and Margaret (Peak) Travis, who were both na- 



f 



320 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tives of Old Virginia, and have long since passed 
to their reward. Mr. Travis came to Illinois in 
the year 1834, with his parents, who located in 
Belle Prairie Township. He is the owner of 245 
acres of No. 1 land, which he entered, securing his 
title direct from the Government. In his farm- 
ing operations he has displayed great enterprise 
and has erected a splendid residence and commo- 
dious barns and out-buildings. For very many 
years he has made a specialty of fine cattle, horses 
and hogs. In 1882 he established a drain tile fac- 
tory, which has been operated with much success, 
there being a great demand for the tile of his 
manufacture. 

In 1847 Mr. Travis was married to Miss Eunice 
Moore, who was born in 1826. They have had ten 
children: Mary M. died at the age of four years; 
Jonathan died at the age of nineteen years ; Mary M., 
the second child of that name, is married to Mark 
Widowfield ; Nicholas married Miss Eliza Deford ; 
Joan, deceased, was married to Robert Widowfield ; 
Melinda, deceased, was married to John Master- 
son; Lemuel L. married Miss Emma Hanks; 
Richard lives at home, and two children died 
in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Travis are members of 
the Christian Church, she having united with that 
body twelve years ago. Mr. Travis is a believer 
in the Greenback doctrine, and on the subject of 
finance is diametrically opposed to the doctrines 
taught by the two old parties. 

Mr. Travis' early career in Illinois was begun 
under many difficulties. In 1847 he drove hogs to 
Chicago, requiring eighteen dnys to make the trip, 
most of the distance being in slush and mud up to 
the top of his boots. On these trips he frequently 
had to cut brush and lay it down for a foundation 
for a bed to keep him out of the water and mud. 
On this pile he would place his blankets, and despite 
rain and storm, slept soundly. On reaching his 
destination the hogs were slaughtered, and after 
hanging for twenty-four hours they were weighed 
and he was paid the sum of 81.50 per hundred- 
weight. In early times he also engaged in driving 
cattle and hauling wheat and oats to the Chicago 
markets, and the prices received for these products 
were in about the same proportion as that obtained 
for his hogs. Mr. Travis has lived to see a complete 



transformation of the condition of things. The 
distance which required eighteen days to traverse 
then with a drove of hogs can be made now in 
four or five hours by rail, and the city which fur- 
nished so scant a market in 1847 now virtually 
controls the markets of the world. 




UGUST _FREUDE, who owns a 160-acre 
farm on section 20, Pontiac Township, is 
a native of Prussia, Germany, where he 
was born on the 1st of April, 1854. He is 
the son of George and Mary M. Freude, both of 
whom "were born in Germany, but emigrated to 
America in the year 1859, taking passage on the 
steamer at Hamburg, and after an ocean voyage of 
two weeks landed in New York City. Hearing of 
the great advantages possessed by Livingston 
Count}' they bade good-bye to New York and came 
direct to and settled in Pontiac Township, where 
the family has since resided. The parents had two 
children, August, the subject of this sketch, and 
Otto. The father died on the 23d of September, 
1881. He was a devout member of the Lutheran 
Church, as was also the mother, and during his 
life gave that church and its ministry a hearty sup- 
port. The mother still survives, and takes great 
interest in church affairs. She resides on the home 
farm with her son. The father was a man who was 
much respected by all who knew him and lived an 
honorable and upright life, conscientious in all his 
transactions. 

The subject of this sketch received a liberal edu- 
cation in his native language, and since coming to 
this country and learning to speak English fluently 
has been a constant reader of publications in the 
English language. He was married, on the 1 4th of 
February, 1880, to Augusta Oelke, also born in 
Germany, and the daughter of Julius and Minnie 
Oelke. "Her father is a resident of Nebraska Town- 
ship. Livingston County. To Mr. and Mrs. Freude 
one child has been born, a bright little girl named 
Emma, whose birth occurred on the 31st of Janu- 
ary, 1881. 

In connection with farming Mr. Freude also en- 
gages in threshing grain for the neighboring far- 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



321 



rners. He is a Democrat in politics, although not 
excessively active in political matters. He and 
Ids family are much attached to the Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Freude's fine farm is in a high state 
of cultivation, and under his intelligent manipula- 
tion, produces excellent crops. Both in his farm- 
ing operations and the business of grain threshing 
he is meeting with the success he so much deserves. 



J"l OHN R. PORTER. There is a class of men 
and women who sustain a peculiar as well as 
important relation to society, and have much 
' to do in molding the destiny of future gen- 
erations. These are the men and women who teach 
in the schools of the city and country. They follow 
a profession peculiar in its requirements. To become 
a successful teacher, it is not only essential to have 
:i good education, but a teacher should be charac- 
terized by a fine sense of distinction hot ween right 
and wrong, a good judgment of human nature, and 
a large amount of tact and an evenly balanced tem- 
perament. The subject of this sketch, although now- 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, has devoted a large 
share of his time and attention to the school-room, 
and it has come to the knowledge of the writer that 
in the capacity of a teacher he has displayed all the 
vital requirements of a successful and popular in- 
structor, gaining the highest esteem of both pupils 
and parents. 

Mr. Porter is now a representative fanner of 
Avoca Township, and resides on section 6. He is a 
native of Ohio, and was born on the 3d of Julv, 
1834. He is the son of David and Elizabeth 
Porter, and was practically reared to manhood in the 
State of Ohio, where, by hard study, he received a 
good education and qualified himself for the profes- 
sion of school teaching. For many years he taught 
school iii Ohio and Illinois, and in that profession 
was eminently successful. His first settlement in 
Livingston County, 111., was in the year 1863, and 
he first occupied the farm on which he now resides 
in 1883. This farm consists of 107 acres of good 
land, which under the intelligent manipulation of 
Mr. Porter is made to yield very remunerative crops. 

Mr. Porter was married in Livingston County, on 



the 27th of June, 1869. to Rachel S. Scott, who was 
born on the 26th of July. 1849. She is the daugh- 
ter of John II. Scott, formerly of Muskinguni 
County, Ohio, and of whom a sketch appears in this 
ALBUM. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been born 
seven children, five of whom are living: Cora A., 
born July 2, 1870; Lillian M., born March 1, 1877; 
Iva M.. liorn Feb. 17, 1880; Claudy R., born May 
14, 1882; Estella M., born Oct. 8, 1884. The 
names of the deceased children are: Otto R., born 
April 16, 1872, and died Aug. 1, 1873; and Ar- 
thur J., bom Sept. 7, 1874, and died March 18, 
1879. Mrs. Porter had four brothers in the Union 
army, as follows : Winfield, Walter M., Wesley and 
Mahlon. 

Mr. Porter is a member of the Democratic party, 
but he is not an active politician, preferring to de- 
vote the time which politics would require to such 
matters as would better the condition of the com- 
munity in which he lives. Mrs. Porter is a member 
of the Methodist Church, as is also the daughter, 
Cora A. The family are the center of a large circle 
of warm friends and acquaintances, and they all 
take an active interest in whatever may effect the 
society which surrounds them. Mr. Porter has de- 
voted his life to the profession of teaching, and farm- 
ing, and will probably in the future confine himself 
to the latter occupation. 




ANIEL BLAKE. One of the men who 
have given Livingston County its great 
reputation as a stock-raising county, and as 
a community of the best farmers of Illinois, 
is the subject of this sketch, whose stock farm lies 
on section 1. Rook's Creek Township. Mr. Blake 
is the son of Joseph and Drusilla (Carpenter) 
Blake, and was born in Monroe County, Ohio, on 
the 16th of December, 1838. He received a com- 
mon-school education in the States of Ohioand Illi- 
nois. In company with his parents Mr. Blake left 
Ohio at the age of fourteen, and located in Ottawa, 
La Salle Co., 111., where he assisted his father in car- 
rying on the farm until about his twenty-fourth 
year, at which age he was married to Desaline Earp, 
of Amity Township, Livingston County, on the 



f 



i 



322 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



28th of May, 1862. He had purchased eighty acres 
of land, the west half of the southeast quarter of 
section 34 in Amity Township, in 1862, locating on it 
immediately after his marriage. During the next 
eleven years he sold the first eighty, and bought 
245 acres on sections 1 and 12, Rook's Creek Town- 
ship, to which he has since added until his present 
possessions comprise 315 acres. His land is all 
well drained with tile, and the farm buildings are 
creditable and pleasantly situated. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Blake have been born thirteen 
children, eight of whom are living, as follows: 
Charles W., born Jan. 18, 1863; John Ellsworth, born 
Sept. 23, 1864, married Nancy E. Brown, of Pon- 
tiac Township; Francis G., born Oct. 25, 1869; 
Theron, March 31, 1871 ; Sarah E., March 18, 1873; 
Ida Pearl, Jan. 6, 1877; Isis F., Dec. 16, 1878; 
Carrie B., Aug. 12, 1881. The father of Mr. Blake 
was born in Maine in 1811, and moved to Ohio 
when a mere lad with his parents, who were natives 
of Maine, but with their large family moved from 
that State to Monroe County, Ohio, in covered 
wagons in 1816. They began the making of a farm 
in the wilderness, constructing their house of hewn 
logs. The shoes worn by the family were made by 
the father, while the spinning and weaving of the 
goods, and the cutting and making of the garments 
were the work of the mother's hands. Mr. Blake's 
grandfather was Daniel Blake, who died in 1842, at 
the age of ninety years. The maternal grandfather 
was Robert Carpenter, who settled in Monroe 
County at a time when the Indians were very nu- 
merous. On one occasion at least, he was taken 
prisoner and wounded by these inhuman savages. 

The parents of Mr. Blake had ten children : Rob- 
ert married, and lives in Kansas ; the second brother 
died at the age of twenty-eight; Daniel married, 
and lives in Rook's Creek Township; Mary Jane, 
Mrs. Homer Earp, has two children, and lives at 
Lawrence, Kan. ; Margaret A. is Mrs. D. C. Mc- 
Clelland, has one child, and resides in Labette 
County, Kan.; Elizabeth A., Mrs. Samuel Wertz, 
has five children, and lives in Amity Township; 
AV infield S. married, and lives in Pontiac; James 
E. has three children, and lives in Amit3 r Town- 
ship; John C. married, has three children, and lives 
in Amity Township; Caroline J. married Samuel 



Reynolds and moved to Missouri, where her hus- 
band was murdered, after which she returned to 
Livingston County, and died in 1887, leaving two 
children. 

Mr. Blake was reared a Republican, casting his 
first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and voting with 
that party until 1872, when he began to advocate 
the principles of the Greenback party, to which he 
has since adhered. He has been a settler of this 
township, and has also held the office of School 
Director for eleven years, which position he occu- 
pied when this sketch was written. He is not a 
member of any church, but believes that every man 
should try to do right, living up to the Golden Rule. 
He is a man of libei'al impulses, and has donated 
lands on which to erect a school-house and a 
church, contributing freely to the support of the 
minister and for all charitable purposes. 



ATHER II. W. FINCH, the regular Catholic 
clergyman of Pontiac, is a native of New 
Orleans, where he was born on the 21st of 
November, 1853. He is the son of Michael and 
Mary (Phelan) Finch, natives of Queens County, 
Ireland, who came to America in 1831, and settled 
in New Orleans, where they remained until their 
death in 1879 and 1877. They had a family of 
twelve children. Rev. Father Finch was educated at 
the University of Louisiana, and studied theology in 
Cape Girardean, Mo., and Milwaukee. AVis. He 
was ordained on the 14th of July, 1876, by Bishop 
Foley, and served in the capacity of priest in St. 
Mary's Church, at the corner of Eldridge court and 
Wabash avenue, Chicago. He afterward went to 
( li.-inipaign, where he remained eleven months and 
then came to Pontiac. His ministrations here have 
been pleasant and exceedingly successful. Since 
August, 1883, he has constructed a large brick 
church that cost $12,000, and has also bought the 
parochial residence, and paid for it since 1877. lie 
i- the fir-t Catholic priest to reside permanently in 
Pontiac. His Congregation now numbers between 
400 and 500 members, and besides his regular serv- 
ice in tills church lie preaches every two weeks at 
St. Joseph's Church, at Flanagan, 111., which has 







LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



323 





ik 



about 300 members. This church was first built 
two and one-half miles in tlie country, but he has 
had it moved into the village of Flanagan. In ad- 
dition to all these labors he also preaches to the 
Cornell Church every four or six weeks. This 
church lias a membership of from fifty to seventy- 
five. Occasionally he delivers a sermon at the Re- 
form School. 

Father Finch is a man of great enterprise and fine 
executive ability, and is building up a large mem- 
bership in Pontiac and vicinity. He is thoroughly 
devoted to his work, and greatly beloved by his 
parishioners. His influence is felt very largely 
throughout the community. He stands high in the 
t 'Mi-em of his superiors, and will no doubt reach 
great eminence in the church. 



Z^ENAS R. JONES, Postmaster, Station Agent, 
Justice of the Peace, and a large grain dealer 
at Smithdale, is one of the self-made men of 
Livingston County, who from a humble beginning 
in life have fought their way up to an enviable 
position, socially and financially. Besides his trade 
transactions which yield him a handsome income, 
he is the owner of 108 acres of good land, twenty- 
eight of which form a part of his homestead, while 
the remainder is farmed by his son. 

The town in which our subject resides received 
its name from John Smith, a farmer of large means 
who came here in the pioneer days. Mr. Jones 
located here in April, 1870, in which year he was 
appointed Postmaster and Station Agent. He was 
born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1831, and was 
brought by his parents that same year to Marshall 
County, this State. They made the journey over- 
land with teams, camping and cooking hy the way- 
side, and after their settlement in Illinois experi- 
enced the hardships and privations incident to 
pioneer life. Zenas R. received a limited educa- 
tion, and at an early age was made acquainted with 
the various employments connected with farm life, 
and continued with his parents until they passed 
away. In the meantime he had been married in 
Marshall County, and carried on farming on the 
homestead until after the division of the estate. 



The father of our subject, Justice Jones, was a 
very prominent man in his day, and the son of 
Daniel Jones, who owned a fine property in the 
Buckeye State, but died when his son was a small 
child. The latter upon coming to the West served 
as the first magistrate of Evans Township, in Mar- 
shall County, which position he occupied twelve 
years, and was very popular, both in business and 
social circles. He had come to Marshall County 
before township organization was effected, and 
aided greatly in its settlement by an enterprising 
and intelligent class of people. He assisted in the 
establishment of schools and churches and was the 
first Methodist Class-Leader in Evans Township, 
which office he held until his death. He departed 
this life at his home in Marshall County, at the age 
of fifty-one years. 

The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
Miss Sarah Warner, a native of Virginia, whence 
her parents removed in her childhood to Madison 
County, Ohio, locating near Mt. Vernon. Her father, 
Joseph Warner, was a soldier of the Revolutionary 
War, and lived to the age of one hundred and four 
years. He spent his last days with his daughter 
Sarah, in Marshall County, retaining in a remarka- 
ble degree his health and activity. A short time 
before his death he walked twelve miles across the 
prairie to Long Point, and when the final summons 
came, passed away in a short time, apparently with- 
out pain. To Justice and Sarah (Warner) Jones 
there were born eight children, namely : Daniel W., 
Epinetus; Zenas R., our subject; Louisa, Mrs. Wal- 
ter Cornell, of Amity Township; Matilda, Mrs. J. 
A. Blondin, of Sedalia, Mo., and Drusilla M. The 
mother was a true Christian woman of many excel- 
lent qualities, and spent her last days at the old 
homestead. 

Our subject continued under the parental roof 
until his marriage, which took place in July, 1854, 
his chosen bride being Miss Julia E., daughter of 
Andrew and Rhoda A. Stitt, natives of New York, 
who afterward removed to Michigan, where their 
daughter, Mrs. J., was born in 1828. Upon reach- 
ing womanhood she came to this county to visit a 
friend, and formed the acquaintance of her future 
husband. Their union has resulted in the birth of 
six children: John, after reaching manhood, was 



324 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



married, and continued on the farm with his father 
until his death, which occurred Sept. 8,1886; he 
left a wife and one child. Ira and Dove died in 
infancy; Frances M. obtained a good education 
and for some years has been employed as a teacher, 
in which profession she is highly successful and 
popular; Edwin B. is at home, as is also Lewis L. 

Mr. Jones has been an ordained minister of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of twenty- 
five years, and was connected with the Illinois Con- 
ference six years, four years of this time being en- 
tirely devoted to ministerial labors. After the 
outbreak of the late war he enlisted in the 104th 
Illinois Infantry, in August, 1862, and met the 
enemy in many of the important battles which en- 
sued. At Hartsville, Tenn., he was captured by 
the rebels and taken to Murfreesboro, but was soon 
afterward paroled and rejoined his regiment. The 
hardships to which he was subjected, and the 
wretched fare a large part of the time, brought 
upon him a disease from which he suffered seven 
years thereafter and was unable to do any manual 
labor. He has not yet recovered from the effects, 
and hardly expects to. 

Mr. Jones, after his return from the army, en- 
gaged in general merchandising at Wenona two 
years, then selling out purchased his present home. 
In his grain transactions he handles from 25,000 to 
40,000 bushels per year. He is a man greatly re- 
spected by his neighbors, and with his family still 
remains connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he is now Deacon and Class- 
Leader at Manville. 



J~~] O1IN C. ANTRIM, a prominent and influen- 
I tial farmer and stock-raiser, who is well and 
favorably known as a worthy resident on 
1 section 30, Owego Township, is a native 
of Clinton County, Ohio, where he was born on 
the 14th of October, 1836. He is the son of 
Thomas and Elizabeth Antrim, the former a native 
of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The 
mother at present resides in Nebraska; the father is 
deceased. The parents were among the earl}- set- 
tlers of Clinton County, Ohio, where they under- 



went all the trials and hardships of pioneer life. 
There were born to them ten children, five of 
whom are living: John C., William, Philip II., 
George; Catherine, who is the wife of Edward Cook, 
of Nebraska. 

Mr. Antrim was reared to manhood in his native 
State, where he engaged in work upon the farm, 
cutting and clearing timber and preparing the soil 
for the growing of crops until he reached his ma- 
jority. On the 22d of February, 1857, while yet 
residing in Ohio, he was married to Annie Hallam. 
daughter of John and Jane Hallam, of Clinton 
County, Ohio. They have had born to them nine 
children, whose names are as follows: Mary E., 
Mrs. T. H. Wheeler, of Chicago; Rachel A., Mrs. 
M. T. Hyer, of Fayette County, Ohio: William J. 
married Miss Sue Carroll, of Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Rox- 
ana K., John L., Harriet E., Edward M., Carrie A. 
and Imo. In 1863 Mr. Antrim, with his family, 
removed from Ohio to Livingston County, and re- 
sided in Amity Township until 1886, in which year 
he settled on his present farm on section 30, Owego 
Township, where he owns 123 acres of well-im- 
proved land, in the cultivation of which he is meet- 
ing with excellent success. 

In the fall of 1864 Mr. Antrim enlisted in the 
Union army from Livingston County and attached 
himself to Company H, 44th Illinois Infantry, which 
regiment was a part of the Army of the Cumber- 
land. During the time of his service in the army 
Mr. Antrim participated in the battles of Spring 
Hill, Franklin, Nashville, and numerous lesser en- 
gagements. After about a year of faithful and 
conscientious service he was honorably discharged 
from the army on the 16th of June, 1865. Upon 
his discharge he returned to Livingston County, 
where he resumed his agricultural pursuits, which 
he has since industriously followed, and by work- 
ing early .and late and husbanding his resources he 
has succeeded to such an extent that he owns 240 
acres of excellent land in Amity Township, besides 
his farm in Owego Township. Both of these farms 
are very valuable, and under the intelligent man- 
agement of Mr. Antrim are very productive. He 
takes considerable interest in all matters relating 
to Jive-stock, and in this line of his business has 
accomplished much. 



4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Our subject devotes but little attention to po- 
litical matters, 'so far as the stereotyped doctrines 
of the old parties are concerned, and is independ- 
ent enough to cast his ballot for the men who will 
faithfully discharge the duties of the office con- 
ferred upon them regardless of the name of the 
party to which they belong. He is upright in his 
business transactions, meriting and receiving the 
esteem of his neighbors. 



(!fpS>HOMAS McCASHLAND, a worthy agricult- 
urist of Livingston County, which calling 
he has followed the most of his life, may be 
found on section 7, Avoca Township, where he is 
pleasantly situated. He belongs to that class of 
men who have devoted their lives to beautifying 
and turning to the use of man what Nature has so 
bountifully provided. In all respects he is a rep- 
resentative citizen, and a model of that class of 
enterprising farmers who have accomplished so 
much for Livingston County. Mr. McCashland is 
a native of Montgomery County, Va., where he was 
born Nov. 30, 1827. He is the son of Benjamin 
and Elizabeth McCashland, the father a native of 
Ireland, while the mother was born in Virginia. 
At about three years of age he accompanied his 
parents when they left his native State and emi- 
grated to the West, settling in Wayne County, 
Ind., where they were early pioneers in the White- 
water Valley. The father has been married twice, 
and of the children born, twelve in number, five 
are still living, whose names are as follows : Benja- 
min, Henry ; Mary A., Mrs. Robert Pilcher; Namon 
and Thomas. 

Thomas McCashland, the subject of our sketch, 
was reared to manhood in Wayne County, Ind., 
where he received a limited education, and was 
united in marriage, on the 30th of January, 1850, 
with Miss Rachel Thomas, who was born in Union 
County, Ind., on the 29th of August, 1827. She 
is the daughter of John and Margaret Thomas. 
natives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. 
They were early settlers in Union County, where 
they lived many years. Mr. and Mrs. McCashland 
are the parents of five living children, as follows: 



Henry M. ; Mary A., Mrs. John Morrison, of Pon- 
tiac ; Cora A., Mrs. George Tate, of Avoca Town- 
ship, and Lillie, who is now attending the High 
School at Pontiac, where she will graduate next 
June, and is an accomplished teacher of music. The 
names of the deceased children were: Roxy R., 
Florence R., Delia O. and Etta I. 

In I860 Mr. McCashland, with his family, moved 
from Indiana to Livingston County, and for a short 
time resided about four miles northwest of Pon- 
tiac. Thence he removed to Avoca Township in 
1875, and settled on the farm which he at present 
occupies. This farm consists of forty acres of 
well-improved land, on which he has erected suita- 
ble and substantial buildings. Mr. McCashland is 
in the fullest sense of the term a self-made man, 
what he has being earned by hard and persistent 
work, and retained unincumbered through economy 
and good management. In his political affiliations he 
votes with the Democratic party, although he is 
not an active politician. In consequence of the 
interest he takes in matters pertaining to educa- 
tion he has been chosen to fill the responsible posi- 
tion of School Director during the^last fifteen years. 
Mrs. McCashland is an ardent member of the Lode- 
rnia Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the affairs 
of the congregation performs her part well. The 
family occupy an enviable position in the society 
of Avoca Township, and are active participants in 
its affairs. 



C. STUDLEY, who is engaged as a merchant 
and real-estate and collecting agent at the 
village of Flanagan, in Nebraska Township, 
is the son of William and Eunice (Timberman) 
Studley, and was born in Neponset Township, Bu- 
reau Co., 111., on the 19th of December, 1855. 
His father died when he was but eight years of age, 
leaving a family of several children, who earl}' had 
to assist their mother in making a living. 

Our subject was reared on a farm until the age of 
thirteen, when he engaged with Austin Barnum, a 
cousin of P. T. Barnum, the great showman, in a 
liver}' stable, on the condition that his work should 
pay for his board while he attended school. This 
arrangement continued through three winters, and 




i 




' ' 326 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



during that time he worked one summer in a brick- 
yard, and two on Ins. uncle's farm. At the age of 
seventeen he began attending the graded school, 
where he remained for about two years, in the mean- 
time taking private instructions in order to fit him- 
self for entering college. When he was eighteen 
years of age upon a first examination he obtained a 
first grade certificate, and taught school one year. 
He then entered the University of Illinois at Cham- 
paign, where he remained one year, and then en- 
gaged in school teaching another year in order to 
provide himself with means for the purchase of the 
necessary books and clothing to continue his col- 
lege studies. After one more year in college, he 
again taught school one year in Livingston County, 
and the following summer began the study of 
law. In the fall of that year he went to Ann Arbor, 
Mich., and entered the law department, where he 
remained about one year, when, on account of ill- 
health, lie was compelled to retire from school. He 
then began studying law in the office of S. S. 
Lawrence, but his health continuing poor he was 
obliged to abandon the study. 

On the 7th of October. 1879, our subject was mar- 
ried at Bloomington, III., to Cora A. Herold, daugh- 
ter of Amos (Jobs) Herold. During the following 
winter he taught school, and in the spring went to 
Iowa, where he and his brother, C. M. Studley, pur- 
chased 160 acres of wild laud and made some im- 
provements on it. In the following fall he sold out 
to his brother, and went to Wright County, Iowa, 
where he purchased eighty acres of land, and taught 
school that winter. In the meantime his wife had 
returned to Illinois on account of ill-health to re- 
main during the winter. In the spring of 1881 Mr. 
Studley returned to Illinois, where he taught school 
three months. In August, 1881, he moved into 
Flanagan, where he taught the village school five 
days in the week, worked in the lumber-yard on 
Saturdays, and kept books during the evenings. 
In the following spring he worked at carpentering, 
but soon discontinued business and began clerk- 
ing for Murphy Brothers, driving their wagon a 
portion of the time. At the end of the year the 
Murphy Brothers closed out their business, and 
Mr. Studley was temporarily thrown out of employ- 
ment. At the suggestion of a friend he invested in 



a stock of flour and feed, and from this start he has 
gradually worked up a good trade. In politics Mr. 
Studley is a Democrat. He has held the offices of 
Village Trustee and School Director. When he 
was elected to the latter office, the school-house 
stood about one mile from the village, and two 
Directors were opposed to removing it, but within 
six months the location was changed, and before his 
term expired, the new house, costing about $3,000, 
was paid for. In 1885 he was elected Justice of 
the Peace with only seven opposing votes out of 
167 cast. He has been Treasurer of the village for 
two years, and holds that place at the time this 
sketch is written. 

Mr. Studley is the fourth in a family of six chil- 
dren: Clarence M. is married, is a farmer at Web- 
ster City, Iowa, and has four children ; George M., 
married, is a farmer at Webster City, Iowa, and has 
one child ; Charles M. is an Iowa farmer, and has 
no children; Maria, Mrs. Hiram Thompson, has five 
children, and lives in Iowa; William T. is unmar- 
ried and lives with his mother in Iowa. 

William Studley, Sr., the father of our subject, 
was born in Yorkshire, England, in the month of 
October, 1824, and came to America with his 
parents, William, Sr., and Ann (Chapman) Stud- 
ley, when he was about seven years of age. The 
father located near Jacksonville, III., where he 
followed farming, and at which place he enjoyed an 
intimate acquaintance with Abraham Lincoln. 
Leaving Jacksonville they moved to Stark Count}', 
which was then a wilderness, and "squatted" in 
Osceola Grove at about the close of the Black Hawk 
War. In about one year they sold their property, 
and moved into Bureau County, and were the first 
settlers in the township, their nearest neighbors be- 
ing eight or ten miles distant. The farm on which 
they M'tiled in Bureau County is still owned in the 
Studley family. The father of our subject was 
married in 1848. In August, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company H, 93d Illinois Infantry, and was under 
(Irani at Vieksburg, where he contracted a disease, 
and after returning home, was discharged and died 
on the 2d of May, 1864. Our subject's paternal 
grandfather, William Studley, Sr., was born in York- 
shire, England, Dec. 1, 1788. He was in the Brit- 
ish service fourteen years, and was a member of the 



i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



327 ' ! 






Home Guards at the time of the war with Napo- 
leon. He was married about 1820, came to this 
country in 1831, and died in October, 1878. Our 
subject's great-grandfather, George Studley, mar- 
ried a Miss Coultis, during the war of the Revo- 
lution. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Studley have been born two 
children : Leora Ethel, at Webster City, Iowa, Aug. 
17, 1880; and Claude Melville, in Flanagan, Aug. 
2, 1883. So far as home surroundings are con- 
cerned, Mr. and Mrs. Studley are very pleasantly 
situated. His business affairs are in such a pros- 
perous condition that the}' are enabled to live com- 
fortably, and provide liberally for those dependent 
upon them. Besides merchandising, Mr. Studley is 
largely engaged in buying and selling real estate, 
and acting as collecting agent, in all which lines of 
business he has been successful. 



H. JENKINS, Supervisor of Pontiac Town- 
ship, Deputy County Clerk, Notary Pub- 
lic, and Insurance Agent, it will readily be 
surmised is one of the wide-awake and enterprising 
citizens to whom Livingston County is indebted for 
its present status in one of the most prosperous 
commonwealths of the West. He is a native of 
Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1859. He was born 
in Miami County, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1846, and is the 
son of Samuel R. and Mary (Frederick) Jenkins, 
also natives of the Buckeye State, where they 
ranked among the most desirable members of the 
farming community. The father of our subject, in 
September, 1859, left his native State and migrat- 
ing westward settled in Esmen Township, this 
county, where he purchased eighty acres of land, 
and remained upon it until 1869. He then re- 
moved to Iroquois County, where he still resides. 

The Jenkins family is of Welsh ancestry, and 
came with William Penn to America, settling- in 
Pennsylvania. On the mother's side the Fredericks 
were of German descent. The paternal grandfather 
of our subject, David Jenkins, was born in South 
Carolina, whence he removed to Ohio at an early 
day, where he became a prominent citizen, and be- 
sides the duties of looking after an extensive farm, 




also officiated as Justice of the Peace for many 

years. He died in Miami County about 1856. His 

son Samuel, already mentioned as the father of our 

- subject, in middle life identified himself with the 

Republican party, and belonged, with his estimable 

wife, to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 

household circle embraced eleven children, seven 

I now living, namely, Rebecca A., Isaac R., William 

i H., Nancy E., Olive A., Samuel K. and Daniel W. 

They are considerably scattered, two living in St. 

Paul, Minn., one in Dakota and the others in this 

State. 

Our subject was reared on his father's homestead 
among the Ohio hills, and after the manner of 
most farmers' boys attended school in winter, and 
assisted on the farm in summer. He thus ap- 
proached manhood, and in the meantime occurred 
the outbreak of the late Rebellion. He came with 
his father to Illinois, and on the 30th of December, 
1863, enlisted in Company C, 39th Illinois In- 
fantry, and for eighteen months experienced the 
vicissitudes of a soldier's life. He met the enemy in 
many important engagements, namely, Drewry's 
Bluff, Strawberry Plains, Darby Town Cross Roads, 
and in various minor engagements and skir- 
mishes. At the first mentioned place he was shot 
through the neck and shoulder, and after two 
months' confinement in the hospital received a thirty 
days' furlough. Oct. 13, 1864, at Darby Town 
Cross Roads he was shot through the leg above the 
knee. He received his honorable discharge May 
18, 1865, and after spending a season on the farm, 
repaired to Chicago and took a six months' course 
in Bryant & Stratton's Business College. His leg 
by reason of the wound had continued troublesome, 
although he hoped to save it. He suffered with it 
until the 18th of May, 1868, when he gave up all 
hope of recovering from the wound, and ampu- 
tation was accordingly performed by Dr. Charles 
M. Clark, of the Soldier's Home, in Chicago. 

In December following, Mr. Jenkins was ap- 
pointed Deputy County Clerk, and remained in the 
discharge of his duties at Pontiac until 1874. For 
two years afterward he was engaged in keeping 
hotel, and then in T876 was elected Circuit Clerk, 
which position he held four years, and was then 
appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk, serving until Jan. 




328 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1, 1885, when he was appointed Deputy County 
Clerk, and the following year elected Supervisor of 
Pontiac Township. He received his commission 
as Notary Public from Gov. Oglesby in 1883. 

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Bessie 
Van Scoy, and their wedding took place at the home 
of the bride's parents, Dec. 21, 1880. Mrs. Jen- 
kins is a native of Ohio, and the daughter of James 
W. and Margaret (Wiles) Van Scoy, natives re- 
spectively of Ohio and Virginia. They came to 
Illinois in 1868, and are now residents of Pontiac. 
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have one child only, a son, 
Charles L. They occupy a comfortable and taste- 
ful residence at the intersection of Mill and Liv- 
ingston streets, and number their friends among the 
most cultivated people of the city. 



ED DEN M. JOHNSON is a member of the 
firm of Johnson & Renoe, publishers and 
proprietors of the Free Trader- and Observer, 
at Pontiac. Our subject was born in Monroe 
County, W. Va., May 11, 1845, and is the son of 
Morris and Minerva (Ellis) Johnson, natives of the 
same county, where the father, during his early 
manhood, was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 
1856 he disposed of his property in the Old 
Dominion, and coming to Pontiac followed mer- 
chandising, and also engaged as. a farmer and stock 
dealer. He was successful in business, and retired 
upon a competency. His death occurred May 7, 
1886. 

The father of our subject was largely connected 
with the business interests of Northern and Central 
Illinois, and a prominent stockholder in the bank 
at Bloomington, 111. He put up two store build- 
ings in Pontiac and a fine residence on the south 
side of the Vermilion River. He watched with 
unalloyed interest the growth and prosperity of his 
adopted State, and did much toward encouraging 
the various worthy enterprises which at that time 
were being instituted in connection with the build- 
ing up of Pontiac. He was Democratic politically, 
and socially w:i> a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity. The parental family included two children 
only, our subject and his sister, Eunice J. The 



latter married E. A. McGregor, of Pontiac, and 
died in 1886, leaving three children Bernice, Ellis 
and Lewis. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob 
Johnson by name, was. like his son and grandson, a 
native of Monroe County, W. Va.. whence he re- 
moved to McLean County, 111., with his family in 
1856. He continued farming, and died in McLean 
County in 1873. The maternal grandfather, Will- 
iam Ellis, was also a native of Monroe County, W. 
Ya., and a farmer by occupation. He spent his 
entire life in his native State, his death taking place 
about 1875. 

Our subject pursued his early studies in the 
schools of Pontiac after the removal of his parents 
to this State, and when eighteen years old entered 
Wesleyan University at Bloomington, from which 
he was graduated in 1867. Afterward he repaired 
to Ann Arbor, and entered the law department of 
Michigan University, where he took a full course 
and was admitted to the bar in 1869. He, how- 
ever, had had his attention called to newspaper work, 
and as it seemed to coincide with his tastes and 
inclinations, he purchased the Free Trader, and has 
since conducted it in a manner creditable to him- 
self and satisfactory to all concerned. He is of a 
practical turn of mind, and usually succeeds in 
whatever undertaking his judgment approves. 

Mr. Johnson has wisely invested his capital in 
real estate, which embraces farms in this county 
and property in the town, besides his office material. 
His land is cultivated by lessees. He was instru- 
mental in the organization of the Pontiac Union 
Coal Company, of which he became President, and 
which gives employment usually to sixty or eighty 
men. He is a stockholder in the National Bank, 
and has been identified with many important move- 
ments contributing to the best interests of the city. 
He was twice elected Mayor, has served as Super- 
visor of Pontiac Township, and was a member of 
the Board of Education. Politically he affiliates 
with the Democratic party, and socially is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. 

Mr. Johnson was married, Dec. 8, 1809, to Miss 
Carrie M. Saxton. Mrs. Johnson was born in 
Huntingdon, Pa., Oct. 9, 1847, and is the daughter 
of James and Elizabeth Saxton, natives of Penn- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



329 



i; 







sylvania. Of her union with our subject there 
have been born two children Mary E. and Beulah 
J. Their home, located on the South Side, is the 
resort of the intelligent people of the city, and its 
inmates are surrounded by all the comforts and 
many of the luxuries of life. 



UDOLPII WARNER. It is said that life 
is a lottery, and that all cannot draw prizes. 
Be that as it may, the man who was born 
in a foreign land and crosses the ocean 
to this country in his youth, knowing nothing of 
the language or customs of the people of America, 
casts his lot as he would invest in a lottery ticket, 
with the odds against him. And yet it is a notable 
fact that those sturdy people who emigrate from 
Germany to this country nearly always succeed in 
their undertakings. If they engage in trade and 
traffic they prosper, and if they till the soil they 
make it produce and blossom as the rose. Of this 
class of men is the subject of our sketch, a farmer 
and stock-raiser on section 3G, Rook's Creek Town- 
ship, who was born in Germany on the 18th of No- 
vember, 1844, and is the son of John and Minnie 
(Peters) Warner, who came to this country in 
1853, first locating in New York, where they re- 
mained about five years, and then moved to Chi- 
cago. From Chicago they moved to Will County, 
where they remained until 1848, and then settled 
in Rook's Creek Township. 

The subject of this notice was the sixth in a fam- 
ily of thirteen children, five of whom are now liv- 
ing: William, the eldest, is living in Germany; 
Rudolph; Albert, married, has one child, and lives 
in Livingston County; Lecetta, Mrs. George Howe, 
has two children, and lives in Livingston County; 
Emma is unmarried. The father of Mr. Warner was 
born on the 14th of March, 1811, and his mother 
\va> born on the 25th of December, 1813. They 
were married in 1836, and he died on the 28th of 
March, 1879. The early education of Mr. Warner 
was rather limited, on account of the lack of edu- 
cational facilities during his boyhood. His first 
Presidential vote was cast for Gen. U. S. Grant in 
2, and he has continued to support the Repub- 



lican ticket since. He is a member of the United 
Brethren Church, having been a leader in the class 
meetings of that denomination, and has held the 
-office of School Trustee for six years, and School 
Director for several years. 

Mr. Warner was married to Miss Caroline Fugar, 
on the 19th of February, 1874, and they are the 
parents of two children: Henry, born on the 15th 
of May, 1878, and George, born on the 16th of 
February, 1880. Mrs. Warner was born in New 
Jersey Sept. 26, 1857, and was brought to Will 
County by her parents in 1858. Her father was a 
native of Germany, born on the 18th of February, 
1829, and came to this country with his mother in 
1852, his father having died in Germany in 1832. 
The mother, Margaret Zibbet. was a native of New 
Jersey. 

Mr. Warner has been successful as a farmer and 
stock-raiser, and besides bringing his farm up to a 
high state of cultivation, has been able to construct 
commodious buildings for the accommodation and 
comfort of his family. His barns and out-build- 
ings are ample for the shelter and protection of his 
live stock. 



S DWIN V. JOHNSON, one of the pioneers 
of thirty years ago, is now the owner of 
/JL^ one-quarter of section 20, in Owego Town- 
ship, upon which he settled in 1883, having for- 
merly resided on section 16. He may properly be 
classed among the self-made men of Livingston 
County, as he commenced in life comparatively 
without means, and has by his own energy and per- 
severance, become the owner of a good property. 
He also struggled with the disadvantages of a lim- 
ited education, but he availed himself of such op- 
portunities as were afforded, to keep himself in- 
formed upon matters of general interest, and is 
numbered among those who encouraged the estab- 
lishment of schools and the other enterprises cal- 
culated for the advancement and welfare of the 
people. He was Director in his district for many 
years, and served as Road Commissioner, besides 
occupying other local offices. 

Our subject was born in Herkimer County. N. 
Y., July 28, 1824, and is the son of Dorastus and 



\ ' 

! 



i 



330 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Bethsheba Johnson, who were of New England 
birth and parentage, and reared a large family of 
children, of whom only the following now survive, 
viz., William, Edwin V., Dorus, Samuel and Ce- 
linn. This branch of the Johnson family is of 
Scotch ancestry, the first representatives of whom 
in this country settled in New England during the 
Colonial days. Dorastus Johnson, in 1834, re- 
moved from Herkimer to Cattaraugus County, and 
thence six 3'ears later to Warren County, Pa. Here 
our subject reached his majority, but he subse- 
quently returned to his native State and was mar- 
ried in Chautauqua County, in 1852, to Miss Susan 
Holtnan. Of this union there were born seven 
children, namely, Laura, Mrs. Burt Nichols, of 
Minnesota; Emma, Mrs. John Derry; Huldah, 
Mrs. John Brown, and Mary, Mrs. Kenry Finhold, 
all of this county; George E. married Miss Laura 
Phillips; Calvin and Effie are at home with their 
parents. 

Mr. Johnson came to this county in 1857, and 
since that time has been a resident of Owego 
Township. Considering the fact that he com- 
menced at the foot of the ladder, dependent upon 
his own resources alone, and that he is now the 
owner of valuable property, it is hardly necessary 
to say that he labored persistently for many years, 
and always made it a rule to live within his income. 
He possessed those qualities which at once com- 
mended him to the people around him, whose es- 
teem and confidence he has enjoyed since the time 
of his arrival on prairie soil. His children have 
been carefully reared and well educated. Those 
married are settled in comfortable homes, and the 
younger ones remaining with the parents are being 
carefully trained for their future position as mem- 
bers of an unusually intelligent community. Mr. 
Johnson generally votes the straight Republican 
ticket, but when there is a Greenback candidate in 
the field, he gives to the latter his preference. 
Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F., being a 
member of the Poutiac Lodge. 

George E. Johnson, the eldest son of our sub- 
ject, occupies the old homestead on section 16, 
which comprises ninety acres of fertile land, and 
upon which his father first settled on coming to 
Livingston County. He was born Sept. 28, 1802, 



and was reared after the manner of most farmers' 
sons, becoming useful upon the farm at an early 
age, and during the winter seasons pursuing his 
studies at the district school. Not long after pass- 
ing his twenty-first birthday, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Laura Phillips, who is the daugh- 
ter of William R. Phillip*, a pioneer of Livingston 
County. Her mother was formerly Miss Mary 
Rusk; both are now deceased. George Johnson 
bids fair to follow in the footsteps of his father, 
possessing the same qualities of thrift and industry, 
and is carrying on his agricultural operations after 
the most approved modern methods. He has al- 
ready attracted considerable notice as one of the 
most promising young men of his community. 
He affiliates with the Republican party, and is 
School Director in his district. 



eHARLES YOUNGER. Among the younger 
farmers and newer citizens of Livingston 
County, none have made a fairer start than 
the subject of this sketch, and his prospects for the 
future are bright indeed. An eighty-acre farm, 
well managed, and cultivated with method and sys- 
tem, is as profitable as one of double that size that 
is conducted in a haphazard manner, and it is need- 
less to say that Mr. Younger's farm is one of the 
most productive in the county. Everything about 
the place denotes system and regulation, there be- 
ing a place for everything, and everything in its 
place. Since his advent in the county the subject 
of this sketch has popularized himself with its citi- 
zens, and is rated among the enterprising men of 
the county. His farm is located on section 33 of 
Avoca Township. 

Mr. Younger is a native of Woodford County, 
111., and was born on the 8th of February, 1848. 
He is the sou of Benjamin and Lodemia Younger, 
the latter of whom is deceased. His father was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and when ten years of age 
accompanied his parents when they moved to Ohio 
and settled near Salina, where they remained until 
he grew to manhood. They then came to Illinois 
and settled near Washington, Tazewell County, and 
after remaining there for several years removed to 



RESIDENCE OF P. F. REMSBURG.CHATSWORTH.ILL. 




RESiDENCEor EMMET R.SUTTON^SEC. 34. PLEASANT RIDGETP. 




ELEVATOR OF SEARING AND MESSLER,CHATSWORTH,!LL. 



<H 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



333 



Woodfonl County, and there lived for about thirty 
years. The father now resides with his sons, in 
Belle Prairie Township. He has been married 
twice, and became the father of seven children, four 
of whom survive William, John, Franklin, and 
Charles, the subject of this sketch. The latter was 
reared to man's estate in his native county, where 
he received a fair common-school education, and 
learned the rudiments of farming, which occupation 
he has followed all his life with the exception of 
about five years, when he conducted a meat-market 
in Ainsworth, Iowa. In the fall of 1882 he came 
to Livingston Count}', purchasing eighty acres of 
land on section 33, Avoca Township. 

On the 1st of January, 1873, Mr. Younger was 
married to Phoebe Combes, a native of Woodford 
County, 111., and daughter of 'Alfred and Betsey 
Combes, of that county. To them have been born 
four children Alfred, Cora (deceased), Benjamin 
and Herbert. Early in life Mr. Younger took no- 
tice of the political events which were occurring 
throughout the country, and when he arrived at 
his majority cast his lot with the Republican party, 
with which he has affiliated ever since. He has 
never been a seeker after office, and the only one 
which he would consent to accept was that of 
School Director, for which he is peculiarly fitted on 
account of the interest he takes in educational mat- 
ters. Mrs. Younger is an active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and both identify 
themselves with all social and moral matters. 




RS. FRANCES McDOWELL, Fairbury. 
This lady is the widow of the late James 
McDowell, a well-known business man of 
Livingston County, who was the possessor 
of a fine propert}', which he accumulated partially 
in mercantile pursuits, and for maiy years was occu- 
pied as an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. The 
valuable estate left to his family embraces 1,700 
acres of land, embellished with fine buildings, besides 
the residence which Mrs. McDowell occupies in the 
village of Fairbury. 

Mr. McDowell was a native of Wayne County, 
lncl., and was born Jan. 28, 1824. He was reared 



to farm life, and pursued his early studies in the 
district schools. lie came to Illinois with his fa- 
ther's family in 1832, and his home for several years 
afterward was in Avoca Township, this county. 
His marriage to Miss Frances Wilson took place 
Dec. 11, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell lived in 
Avoca Township until June, 1873, during which 
time he held the position of Postmaster nine years. 
After locating in Fairbury he officiated as School 
Treasurer many years, and represented Indian 
Grove Township on the County Board of Super- 
visors. He had identified himself with the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church during his early manhood, 
and was prominent in its councils for thirty-five 
years. He officiated as Steward most of this time, 
and contributed largely to the maintenance and 
advancement of the society. Politically, he was 
strongly Republican. In his family he was kind, 
generous and indulgent, and in the community no 
man was held in higher esteem. 

The death of Mr. McDowell occurred under very 
painful circumstances. In December, 1879, he was 
greatly injured by a runaway team, and suffered a 
fracture of one of his limbs, which resulted in his 
death five weeks later, Jan. 12, 1880. The be- 
raved family included his widow and five children. 
Of the latter the eldest son, Jason L., married Miss 
Florence Wilson, and is a resident of Kansas; John 
W. married Miss Luella Tanner; Sarah J. is the 
wife of Hiel Ramsey ; Grant Yates and Lillie E. are 
unmarried and at home with their mother. 

Mrs. McDowell's parents, John and Mary (Will- 
iams) Wilson, were natives of North Carolina, the 
father of English and the mother of German ances- 
try. John Wilson followed farming all his life, and 
died in Carroll County, Ind., in 1843, aged fifty- 
two years. The mother had died in 1829, leaving 
seven children, namely, Isaac, Sarah, Rachel, 
Thomas, Jacob, Frances and William. After the 
death of Mr. McDowell, his sou assisted in the ad- 
justment of the estate and the carrying on of the 
farm; this included a tile manufactory, from 
which each year is derived a fine revenue. The 
hind is mostly devoted to pasture, and the raising 
of grain and hay for the consumption of the flne 
stock which is raised upon it. This includes En- 
glish and Norman horses, which are held for sale at 



i ' 

r 



334 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 







Avoca. Grant McDowell has inherited largely the 
business capacities of his father, and will keep up 
the reputation of the estate in the same admirable 
manner as he who projected and established it. He 
is a strong Republican, politically, and bids fail- 
to become prominent in the local affairs of his 
township. 



ENRY' J. DEMOSS, who ranks among the 

O 

pioneers of Avoca Township, began life 
among the hills of Highland County, Ohio, 
on the 28th of June, 1830. His parents, 
James and Margaret (Nace) DeMoss, were also na- 
tives of tho Buckeye State, the father of French 
ancestry and the mother of German. His paternal 
grandfather, James DeMoss, Jr., was born in France, 
and when a child two years of age was brought by 
his parents to the United States, where they settled 
near the town of Cicero, Ind. Ten years later 
they came to this county, arriving in the spring of 
1840. They located about six miles southeast of 
Pontiac, and from there, a few 3 r ears later, removed 
to a point one mile north of the old town site of 
Avoca, where the father of our subject passed his 
last years on the farm now owned by Daniel Street. 
The death of James DeMoss took place in the 
spring of 1852, and that of his wife eleven year> 
later. Their household included eleven children, 
of whom the. following survive, namety. Henry J., 
of our sketch; John, a resident of Highland 
County, Ohio; Alexander, who is farming in In- 
dian Grove Township, this county; Eleander, of 
Sunnier County, Kan.; Maria, the wife of Daniel 
Street, of Avoca Township, and Emma, Mrs. Wile3 r 
Sparks, also of Avoca Township. 

The father of our subject was a millwright, a 
trade which he followed all his life, allowing his 
boys to do most of the farming. He put up the 
machine^ 7 in the first mill built at Pontiac, and 
built the seats^of the first court-house there. He 
possessed great energy, and was a man of integrity 
and one in whom the people had entire confidence. 
In his death Livingston County lost one of her 
most worthy pioneers and public-spirited citizens. 

The subject of our sketch was reared to man- 
hood in this county, receiving the meager advan- 



tages of its common schools. He remained under 
the parental roof until his marriage, which took 
place in the spring of 1851, his bride being Miss 
Mary J. Popejoy, who was born in Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., Sept. 27, 1832. Mrs. DeMoss is the 
daughter of Nathan and Mary (Gregory) Popejoy, 
natives respectively of Kentucky and Ohio. When 
six weeks old she was brought by her parents 
to this county during its early settlement. They 
resided for two years on the farm now owned by 
Philip Rollins east of Pontiac, and thence removed 
to section 25, in Avoca Township, where the 
mother died in 1846, and the father the year fol- 
lowing. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. DeMoss, six in 
number, were named respectively, Levi L., Theo- 
dore M., Edward W.. Henry B. ; Margaret M., the 
wife of Lewis Carter, of Pleasant Ridge Township, 
and Isadora, Mrs. Edward Skinner, of the same 
township. Mrs. DeMoss was the fourth of ten 
children, of whom four are living, namely, John 
W., Theodore M., Hiram G. and Mary J. 

The property of our subject includes 106 acres 
of good land with a comfortable residence and all 
other suitable farm buildings. He has been prin- 
cipally employed in attending to his own concerns, 
and has, therefore, uniformly met with success in 
his farming and business affairs. He supports the 
principles of the Democratic party, and has served 
us School Director in his district several years. 
He also occupied the same position while in Pleas- 
ant Ridge Township. 




BRAHAM H. STATES, a resident of this 
county for the past nine years, is carrying 
on the manufacture of tile at Long Point, 
where he has all the buildings and machinery 
necessary for the successful prosecution of this in- 
dustry. He probably operates on a larger scale 
than any other gentleman in this section, and turns 
out an excellent product which obtains ready sale 
throughout the county and elsewhere. His factory 
buildings and his residence, with its surroundings, 
occupy nearly six acres of ground. The dwelling 
is a neat and substantial structure, and with its out- 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



335 , , 



buildings forms a complete home, which in all its 
appointments suggests the outlay of ample means 
and the exercise of refined tastes. 

Our subject, who is the son of Daniel and Ann 
(Krews) States, was horn in Bucks County, Pa., 
Jan. 19, 1833. His parents were also natives of 
the Keystone State. The father was a farmer by 
occupation; the mother died early in life, in 1839, 
when our subject was a lad but six years of age. 
He was afterward taken to Maryland to live with 
an uncle, with whom he made his home five years, 
and then, on account of ill-usage, ran away and 
went to sea. He was a sailor for twelve years 
thereafter; has twice crossed the ocean, and been 
the witness of strange sights and strange peoples, 
thereby gaining a rich experience and a close in- 
sight into the manners and customs of people in 
various portions of the globe. 

After Mr. States had resolved to settle down on 
terra firma, he first located in Ohio, where, in 1856, 
he became a resident of Clinton County. He there 
made the acquaintance of Miss Louisa Johnston, 
the result of which was his marriage, Oct. 27, 
1857. Mrs. States is the daughter of Stephen 
and Jemima Johnston, and was born in January, 
1838. The young people began life together in 
Libert}', where they remained until the outbreak of 
the late war. Soon after the first call for volun- 
teer troops, our subject enlisted in Company B, 
149th Ohio National Guards, being stationed for a 
time at Ft.^McHenry, Baltimore, and thereafter go- 
ing to the front. He was at the battle of Fred- 
erick, Md., and at Charleston, and in the engage- 
ment at Frederick, Aug. 17, 1864, was captured by 
the rebels. Four days later, ^owever, he made 
his escape by crawling into a ditch, and secreting 
himself until they took their departure from that 
region. He was ten da}'s in reaching his regiment 
which was quartered at Snickers' Gap, and in the 
meantime was kept alive by the kindness of negroes 
who supplied him with food. The leaden bullets 
afterward whizzed by his ears at Strasburg, Va., 
but he escaped unharmed and received his honor- 
able discharge at the close of the war. 

Upon his return from the army Mr. States lo- 
cated in Clinton County, Ohio, and engaged for a 
time in the manufacture of tile and brick, when 



he came to this county in 1878. To himself and 
his estimable lady have been born the following- 
named children: Stephen E., a stenographer and 
type- writer in the office of the S. F. 11. R. at Strea- 
tor; Amie L., wife of Daniel Mills, formerly of 
Long Point, and the mother of two children Roy 
and Glenn; they are now residents of Barton 
County, Mo. Louis A., an engineer and machinist, 
makes his home with his parents. The younger ones 
are Mary A., George E., Maude S. and Aerl H. 

Mr. States with his wife and their two eldest 
daughters and one son, are members in good 
standing of the Christian Church at Long Point. 
Mr. S., politically, is one of the most reliable mem- 
bers of the Republican party, and greatly inter- 
ested in the success of the prohibition movement. 
He possesses all the elements of good citizenship, 
and has contributed no little toward building up 
the business interests of his community. 




AMUEL SCHLOSSER. Illinois is indebted 
for her grand and rapid development very 
much to natives of Pennsylvania, who had 
the courage to settle here while it was a 
wilderness inhabited by Indians. Wherever a nu- 
cleus of Pennsylvanians were gathered the country 
has been made to approach very near to perfection, 
so far as improvement of the land and its cultivation 
is concerned. 

Although the subject of this sketch did not be- 
come a citizen of Illinois while yet the Indians 
held possession of a large part of the State, he be- 
came a citizen early enough to be a pioneer in 
every sense of the word. He was born on the 6th 
of September, 1820, in Adams Count}', Pa., and 
is the son of John and Mary Schlosser, also na- 
tives of that State. The grandfather, Conrad 
Schlosser, was a soldier in the American Revolu- 
tionary army and fought under Gen. Washington. 
The grandfather was the progenitor of the Schlos- 
ser family in America, and after the close of the 
Revolutionary War he settled in Adams County, 
Pa., and afterward in his declining years removed 
to Preble County, Ohio, where he died. There 
were born to John and Mary Schlosser seven chil- 



< * 



336 



LIVINGSTON Cor NT Y 



dren, four of whom are living Moses, Jonas, Sam- 
uel and John. The parents were pioneers of Preble 
County, Ohio, where they both died. 

Mr. Schlosser spent his boyhood days in Preble 
County, attending the district schools as opportu- 
nity permitted, and succeeded in securing an 
average education. lie was married, on the 16th 
of May, 1839, to Eliza Ebersult, who was a native 
of Ohio. To them eight children have been born, 
five of whom are living, as follows: Elijah; Sarah, 
wife of James McCoy; Thomas; Mary, Mrs. Eben- 
eztT Colkins, and Emeline, Mrs. Wilber Tallman. 

Mr. Schlosser came to Livingston County in 
1854 and settled in Pontiac Township, where lie 
still resides on section 6. His excellent farm con- 
sists of 126 acres, and is cultivated in such a man- 
ner as to produce very remunerative crops. What- 
ever Mr. Schlosser can call his own has been 
secured through his own unaided efforts. His polit- 
ical proclivities are Republican, and he gives the 
men and measures of that party a cordial support. 
He is liberal in his views on all questions of local 
concern, and takes an active interest in everything 
that will benefit and elevate the members of the 
community. 




ber. 



RS. ELIZABETH (KOMER) FROBISCH, 
who resides on a farm on section 31, 
Rook's Creek Township, was born near 
Bern, Switzerland, on the 14th of Novem- 
1824. The canton of Bern, in which she 
was born, is the most populous in the Confedera- 
tion, and the city of Bern, near which her birth- 
place lies, is the finest in all Switzerland, and one 
of the most handsome cities in Europe. It is built 
entirely of freestone, and is remarkable for the ar- 
cades formed by the houses in all its principal 
streets, and for its numerous fountains, many of 
which are ornamented with curious sculpture. !t 
has a Gothic cathedral, a university, an observa- 
tory, a public library, a musfiim, an arsenal and a 
mint. In all its aspects it is one of the most inter- 
esting of European cities. 

Mrs. Frobisch is the daughter of John Koim-r 
and Elizabeth (Matthias) Komer, the youngest 



of their five children; her sisters and brothers 
are Barbara, John, Farina (now called Fannie) and 
Mary. Barbara was married twice, her first hus- 
band being George Cook, and her second John G. 
Frobisch; she lives in Monroe County, Ohio. John 
married Susan (Josser, and lives in Belmont County, 
Ohio; they are the parents of four children. Fan- 
nie married Jacob Steiner, and lives in Butler 
County, Pa. ; she has nine children. Mary married 
John G. Frobisch, and had one child, William, 
who has been twice married and lives in Monroe 
County, Ohio; she died in Ohio in 1862. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Frobisch carneto this country with 
her parents in 1831, and settled in Belmont County, 
Ohio. She was married, at Steubenville, Ohio, to 
John M. Frobisch on the 1st of February, 1849, the 
Rev. Dr. Holmes, officiating. There they farmed 
until 1863, when they moved to Marshall County, 
111., where they lived about five years and then 
moved to Livingston County, and bought a half 
section of land on which she now lives, with 
those of her children who are not married. Her 
father was born in 1776; her mother in 1786. Both 
died in 1861. John M. Frobisch, the husband of 
our subject, was born in November, 1823, and died 
Oct. 24, 1869. He was born in Saxony, and 
came to the United States when he was about 
twenty-one years of age. His father was John G. 
Frobisch, who made two visits to this country, but 
died in Saxony. 

Mrs. Frobisch is the mother of a large family, as 
follows: Mary R., born Nov. 5, 1849, in Monroe 
County, Ohio, is unmarried and lives with her 
mother; James, born Jan. 16, 1851, in Monroe 
County, Ohio, was united in marriage with Caro- 
line Pampel, April 1, 1874, lives in Livingston 
County, and has six children living: George, 
born Aug. 8, 1853, in Monroe County, Ohio, is 
unmarried and lives in Colorado: Michael, born on 
the 5th of April, 185"), died on the 20lh of Novem- 
ber, 1881, in Adair County, Iowa; Fannie, born 
Feb. 4, 1857, married George W. Anderson, Feb. 
10, 1878, lives in Pike Township, Livingston 
County, and has three children; Louis, born March 
25, 1859, is single and lives at home; Charlotte, 
born April 2, I860, married Lucas H. Brown on 
the 29th of September, 1882, lives in Rook's Creek 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



337 



Township, and has two children ; Jacob, born Feb. 
10,1862; John, born March 10, 1864, in Marshall 
County. 111.; Edward, born Oct. 24, 1866, in Mar- 
shall County, 111. The last three mentioned arc 
living at home. 

The religious belief of the ancestors of Mrs. 
Frobisch was according to' the doctrines of the 
Lutheran Church, but in later life her brother was a 
Presbyterian and her mother became a Methodist. 
The children differ in their religious belief, and all 
the political parties are represented among the 
boys. 



^^. EORGE B. KOONTZ, a most thorough and 
skillful young farmer of Reading Township, 
owns one of the best conducted farms in 
that locality, consisting of eighty acres on section 7. 
This he has brought to a high state of cultivation, 
and has a beautiful residence, flanked by a good 
barn and other convenient out-buildings. He keeps 
a choice assortment of live stock, and his farm 
machinery comprises implements of the latest im- 
proved pattern. In connection with his farming 
operations he runs a threshing-machine, and is a 
wide-awake business man, always willing to add to 
his income either by downright hard labor or any 
other honest means. He is unmarried. 

Mr. Koontz is a native of Westmoreland County, 
Pa., and was born March 3, 1862; he is the son of J. 
C. and Martha (Weaver) Koontz, who were also na- 
tives of the Keystone State. The father was born 
in 1830, and came to the West in 1866. His death 
took place in La Salle County in 1881, in a most 
distressing manner, he being run over by a train 
of cars. The mother of our subject is the daugh- 
ter of David and Mary Jane (Dougherty) Weaver, 
and became the wife of J. C. Koontz June 23, 
1857. 

The parental household included the following 
children: Margaret, now the wife of A. Cossel, is 
the mother of nine children, and now a resident of 
Reading Township ? Susan, who has been twice 
married, is now the wife of William McGraw, 
of Pennsylvania, who is a machinist and foreman 
in a car manufactory; Martha is the mother of our 
subject; Sarah married Jacob Chain, a stock dealer 



of Collinsville, Pa., who is now deceased; Albert 
died in Ottawa, La Salle Co., 111., Nov. 18, 1866, 
when a young man twenty-three years of age; 
Nicholas, a resident of Cloud County, Kan., is mar- 
ried and the father of five children ; Rebecca, the 
twin sister of Nicholas, lives in Pennsylvania. Mrs. 
Mary Jane Weaver died in 1852, and Mr. W. was 
married again and became the father of two more 
children. To J. C. and Martha Koontz there 
were born seven children: William, born July 24, 
1859, died in this county Nov. 7, 1875; George B. 
is our subject: A. Weaver, born Aug. 30, 1866, is 
farming in Buena Vista County, Iowa; Charles was 
born Nov. 10, 1868; Lura, Sept. 6, 1871; Harry, 
Dec. 20, 1874, and Grace, June 23, 1880. These 
remain at horiie with their mother. 

Our subject, although a public-spirited citizen, 
takes very little part in politics, further than to at- 
tend the general elections and cast his vote in sup- 
port of Democratic principles. 




ERRITT R. SWARNER, an energetic and 
enterprising stock farmer, who operates 
eighty acres of land on section 25, New- 
town Township, is a native of Indiana, 
and was born in Warren County on the llth of 
December, 1855. He is the son of William and 
Rebecca (Spinning) Swarner, the former of whom 
was born in Perry County, Pa., Oct. 13, 1826, and 
went to Indiana in 1847. He is the son of Henry 
Swarner, who was born in the year 1793. The 
mother of our subject is the daughter of Isaac and 
Elizabeth Spinning, and was born in Fountain 
County, Ind., on the 7th of October, 1827. They 
were married in the latter-named State on the Gth 
of December, 1849. In 1851 the father took a 
trip to California, and was gone about one year. 
He went by the overland route across the plains, 
and returned on a vessel by the way of New York 
City. 

To William and Rebecca Swarner were born nine 
children : Mary E., born Aug. 30, 1850, married 
E. C. Campbell, and lives in Iowa; Charles H.. 
born April 15, 1853, lives in Holt County, Neb. ; 
Bfcines, born Jan. 20, 1854, died in infancy; Mer- 



338 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ritt R. i* the subject of our sketch; Sarah A., born 
Sept. 1, 1857, is the wife of Virgil Waldron, and 
lives in Blackstone, this county; William E., born 
Sept. 18, 1859, resides in Colorado; Milton F.. 
born Oct. 20, 1861, lives in Livingston County; 
John L., born Nov. 29, 1863, lives in Nebraska; 
Frank, born May 18, 1866, died in infancy. The 
father and mother now reside on the home place 
with our subject; both belong to the Christian 
Church, and are sincere and earnest in their re- 
ligious professions. The father came to Illinois 
from Indiana in 1868, and located in this township, 
where the subject of this sketch has resided all his 
life and where he received his education. 

On the 2d of January, 1881, Merritt R. Swarner 
was married to Miss Addie Applegate, the cere- 
mony being performed by Rev. R. Dunlevey. 
They have had one child, named Elma M., who 
was born April 11, 1883. Although Mr. Swarner 
is yet a young man he has made excellent progress 
in his business, and stands to-day as one of the 
most enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of 
Newtown Township. The farm is under a good 
state of cultivation, is well fenced and drained, 
and is above the average in productiveness. 



E WITT C. STOCKHAM. "Peace hath its 
victories no less renowned than war," 
and the subject of this sketch has achieved 
victories both as a private citizen in peace 
and as the valiant soldier in war. One of the por- 
tions of this sketch of which our subject can justly 
feel proud, is that which records the part he took 
in the war for the preservation of the Union, and 
which resulted, not only in maintaining the Union 
intact, but in destroying the curse of human slav- 
ery in this Republic. 

The subject of this sketch, a model farmer and 
stock- raiser on section 30, Avoca Township, is a 
native of LaSalle County, 111., and was born on the 
5th of June, 1842, and is a son of Joseph Stock- 
ham, a native of Lake County, Ohio. His mother 
died when he was but eighteen months old. Ills 
great-grandfather was of Welsh descent, and lived 
to the extraordinary age of one hundred and six 




years. The father of our subject settled in LaSalle 
County in 1826, being one of the early pioneers of 
that county, and there resided until 1861, when he 
removed to Nebraska, and soon after died. 

DeWitt C. Stockham spent the days of his bo3'-' 
hood in LaSalle County, and in the common schools 
obtained what education he could. When about 
twenty years of age the war between the States of 
the Union was inaugurated by the secession of 
nearly all the Southern States. On the 29th of 
August, 1861, when the people began to realize 
that the war would be a long one, and the struggle 
between the North and the South a desperate one, 
young Stockham saw that his duty lay in the 
direction of the army. He enlisted in Company 
K, 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served faithfully and 
honorably until every soldier of the Confederate 
army was either killed or surrendered as a prisoner 
of war. During his term of service he was mostly 
in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in 
all those campaigns which have become as world 
famous as the campaigns of Napoleon. The list of 
engagements in which his regiment participated 
shows at once the proud position it occupies in the 
history of the grand Army of the Potomac. The 
list is as follows: Malvern Hill, Gettysburg (which 
battle was opened by his regiment, the subject of 
this sketch being one of the front line of skirmish- 
ers in the beginning of the battle), Antietam, 
Sharpsburg, the noted cavalry fight at Fredericks- 
burg, and many others of equal magnitude in the 
number of men engaged and lives lost. He was 
honorably discharged July 18, 1865, and imme- 
diately after returned to Illinois, when in the win- 
ter following he came to Livingston County, and 
settled in Avoca Township shortly after. He now 
owns a good farm of 120 acres of well-improved 
land. 

Mr. Stockham was married in Fairbury, on the 
12th of March, 1868, to Sarah J. Zook, a native of 
Montgomery County, Ind., born May 28, 1840. 
She is the daughter of Solomon and Clarissa 
Xook, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey re- 
spectively, both of whom are dead. They have 
two children: Thomas E., born Dec. 31, 1S72. and 
Edward. Dec. 21, 1877. Mr. Stockham is a Re- 
publican in politics, and through the respect of his 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



339 



fellow members of that party, and the citizens 
generally, he was elected for a term of two years 
as Road Supervisor of his district, and is now 
serving his second term as School Director, for 
which position he is peculiarly fitted, on account 
of his interest in the welfare of the schools. He 
is a self-made man, and whatever he possesses of 
this world's goods has come to him as the result 
of industry, perseverance and good management. 
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
and engages actively in church work, having 
served as Sunday-school Superintendent and Class- 
Leader for a considerable time. Whatever has 
a tendency to better the condition of the com- 
munity or forward the progress of the county and 
township, meets with his warmest approval and 
support. 




\ERNHARD STROBEL. Among the many 
citizens of Livingston County who have 
been contributed by Germany, none stands 
fairer in reputation, nor has been more suc- 
cessful for the opportunities enjoyed than the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who is a farmer on section 19, 
in Avoca Township. He is a native of Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, born on the 20th of August, 1820, 
and is the son of Jacob and Laura Strobel, who 
were also natives of Germany. Of the five chil- 
dren born to his parents the following named are 
now living: George, in Germany; Clara and Bern- 
hard. The last was reared to manhood in his na- 
tive country, and received, as do most of the chil- 
dren of that country, a good education in his na- 
tive language. In 1850, at the age of thirty, he 
concluded to emigrate to America, and after land- 
ing in New York, proceeded to the State of Penn- 
sylvania, where, for nearly eight years, he was em- 
ployed in the iron-ore mines, in which occupation 
he earned the money' which gave him his start in 
this country. 

On the 10th of April, 1855, our subject was 
married to Theresa Miller, who was born in Ger- 
many on the 25th of February, 1825. She was the 
daughter of Sebastian and Victoria Miller, both of 
whom were German by birth. Her parents hud 



seven children, six of whom are living: Anthony, 
in Baltimore, Md.; Theresa; Pauline, a teacher 
in the public schools of Livingston County; Min- 
nie, wife of W. W. Wagner, of Eppard's Point 
Township, also a teacher; Maggie, a public-school 
teacher; Emma, at present attending the Normal 
School at Valparaiso, Ind. 

In the spring of 1857, with his family, Mr. Stro- 
bel came to Livingston County and settled on his 
present farm, which consists of ninety acres, eighty 
of which are under a high state of cultivation, and 
on which he has erected appropriate buildings for 
the comfort of his family, the protection of the 
products of the farm and shelter of domestic ani- 
mals. He is eminently a self-made man, as what- 
ever he has accumulated has been through his own 
industry, perseverance and economy. He is a Re- 
publican in politics, and does what he can in a 
humble way to further the interests of his party. 
For the past fifteen years he has served in the ca- 
pacity of Director of Schools, and in that position 
has done much to elevate the educational standard 
of his district. He has always been a friend of 
educational interests, and believes in the most lib- 
eral management of the schools. He and his wife 
are both members of the Catholic Church, and are 
constant in their devotion. They are honored 
members of society, and enjoy the confidence and 
esteem of the entire community in which they re- 
side. 



CR FOTHERINGHAM. This enter- 
terprising young farmer of Union Town- 
ship is starting out in life under the most 
favorable auspices. He is the only son 
of a prosperous citizen, and the owner of a fine 
tract of land given him by his father. This is 
located on section 14, and is embellished with a 
neat residence, a good barn and other out-build- 
ings. Mr. F. was reared to habits of industry, 
and is looked upon as one of the future agricultur- 
ists of this section, who is bound to make his mark. 
Our subject was born in LaSalle County, this 
State, Dec. 6, 1857, and is the eldest of two 
children, the offspring of David and Alice (Scott) 
Fotheringham, natives of Scotland. They emi- 




t. 



340 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



grated to America in 1851, settling at once on a 
tract of land in La Salle County, where the father 
opened up a good farm, and where they still re- 
side. The paternal grandparents of our subject 
were Peter and Marion (Anderson) Fotheringham, 
also of Scotch birth and parentage, who spent .their 
entire lives upon their native soil. On the 
mother's sfde his grandparents were James and 
Mary (Atchison) Scott, of the same country, where 
they lived and died, and the male members of 
which family were for generations back tillers of 
the soil. David Fotheringham is largely engaged 
in farming and stock-raising, and possesses all the 
substantial and reliable traits of his ancestors. 

Our subject spent his boyhood and youth after 
the manner of most farmers' sons, becoming famil- 
iar with the various employments of rural life and 
receiving his education in the district school. He 
continued under the home roof until twenty-seven 
years of age, and then, as a first step toward the 
establishment of a home of liis own, was united in 
marriage with Miss Jane Wyllie, the wedding tak- 
ing place at the home of the bride in Union 
Township, March 7, 1884. 

Mrs. Fotheringham was born in La Salle County, 
Sept. 3, 1864, and is the fourth in a family of 
six children belonging to John and Margaret 
(Hamilton) Wyllie. Her parents were also natives of 
Scotland, and are numbered among the well-to-do 
and reliable citizens of this county. Their names 
will be found as subjects of a biography pre- 
sented elsewhere in this ALIII M. 

Our subject and wife began life together upon 
the farm where they now live, and in addition to 
the quarter section here, Mr. Fotheringham oper- 
ates eighty acres belonging to his wife. Their 
union has been blessed by the birth of one child, 
a son, David H., who came to the household Sept. 1 8, 
1887. Mr. F. votes with the Republican party 
although not particularly interested in political 
matters. He is willing, however, to give his at- 
tention to important matters respecting the welfare 
of his community, and lias consented to serve as 
School Trustee in his district. He takes pride in 
his farm and stock, and his homestead forms one 
of the most attractive spots in the landscape of 
Union Township. 



JnOHN N. WOLF. Following is given a 
j brief sketch of a representative of a class of 
i foreign-born citizens who brought the thrift 
1 and energy, which were their only heritage 
in their native land, to this country of great possi- 
bilities, and have accomplished so much under the 
influence of the institutions of America. This 
gentleman, besides coming to a country where the 
language and customs were wholly different from 
those of his native land, was deprived of the ten- 
der attentions and care of parents in his youth. 
Thus early left dependent upon his own resources, 
he has made a gallant struggle, and it is a pleasure 
to record in this ALBUM, which contains the biog- 
raphies of so many of the good people of Living- 
ston County, the events which have led up to his 
success. 

Mr. Wolf is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 
16, Owego Township, and is a native of Germany, 
where he was born on the 28th of March, 1829. 
When eight years of age he became an orphan, and 
was early thrown upon his own resources. His ed- 
ucation was obtained in his native country, and in 
his native language, and included all the ordinary 
branches taught. In his younger days he followed 
the occupation of a cooper for a time. At the 
age of twenty-seven, in the year 1856, he emi- 
grated to America, taking passage at Bremen in a 
sailing-vessel, and after an exceedingly rough voy- 
age of forty-two days, landed in New York City. 
He did not linger there, but proceeded at once to 
the West and located near Peru, La Salle Co., 
111., where he engaged in farming until 1864, in 
which year he settled in Livingston County, locat- 
ing on the farm he at present occupies on section 
16, Owego Township. He first bought eighty 
acres of land, which he improved, and which is now 
one of the model farms of the township. 

In October, 1856, Mr. Wolf was married to Mar- 
garet Apel. a native of Germany, who was born on 
the 20th of January, 1839, and is the daughter of 
Henry and Christina Apel, with whom she came to 
America in 1857. To them have been born eleven 
children, ten of whom are living: Henry; William; 
Charlotte, Mrs. W. Ellis; Minnie, Mrs. Robert Al- 
geo; John; Gustena; Christopher; Mar}' ; Eliza- 
beth and Clara. The name of the deceased child 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



343 



1 




was Michael. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are both mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church, in which he has served 
as an Elder. They both take an active interest in 
church matters, and are generous in their contri- 
butions to aid and encourage all moral and relig- 
ious agencies. Mr. Wolf acts with the Democratic 
party, but is not an active politician. For several 
years he served as a School Director, and whether 
as an officer or a citizen, takes great interest in ed- 
ucational matters. He is a progressive man in his 
ideas, and a citizen of which any township may 
well be proud. 



EORGE W. PATTON, attorney at law, of 
the firm of Strawn it Patton. located at Pon- 
tiac, in 1883 moved from Fail-bury to Pon- 
tiac, and at once became associated with his pres- 
ent partner. The partnership has proved a MTV sat- 
isfactory one. and almost inimediati'ly the firm took 
a front rank in the profession, us represented in this 
rounty. Mr. Patton possesses those qualities of 
mind which eminently fit him for the business he has 
so aptly chosen for a life calling, and within the 
comparatively short time since he was admitted to 
the bar has secured for clients some of the most 
prominent citizens of this county, and largest corpo- 
rations of the State. He is a close student, care- 
fully looks up his cases, and works conscientiously 
and with all his ability in the interest of his client. 
Being an excellent judge of human nature he is sel- 
dom placed at a disadvantage in any legal couU->t in 
this essential particular. He is likewise an enter- 
prising and valued citizen of Poutiac, and has the 
interest of the public at heart. Such men are in- 
valuable to any community. 

Our subject is a native of Greene Count}'. Pa.. 
and is a sou of Samuel R. and Jane Patton, nee 
Haines, also natives of the Keystone state. Samuel 

R. located in Green Township. W Iford Co., 

111., in 1S/S4. where he carried on farming success- 
fully for many years and then retired from active 
labor. The paternal grandfather of our subject, 
Rev. James Patton. was a native of Maryland and 
the son of Rev. John Patton of the xnne State, a 
dived descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. 



Patton's great-grandparents on the maternal side 
were from the Emerald Isle, and settled in Pennsyl- 
vania in the Colonial days, the great-grandfather 
serving six years as a soldier under Gen. Washing- 
ton. 

The subject of this sketch has five sisters living 
Elizabeth Moms, Lueinda Cams, Margaret Edwards, 
Catharine Barnard and Martha E. Taylor and one 
brother, John L., a successful farmer and stockman 
residing on the old homestead in Woodford County. 
Mr. Patton was reared on the farm until he attained 
to his majority, receiving a good common-school 
education, and subsequently attending the State 
Normal University at Bloomington for three years. 
Afterward he engaged in teaching school at Secor 
and El Paso. 111. He read law with Hay. Greene & 
Littler, at Springfield, 111., and was there admitted to 
the bar b_y the Supreme Court. 

Mr. Patton was married, Sept. 20, 1877, to Miss 
Flora E. Cook, a native of Wayne County, Ind., and 
a daughter of James and Lueinda Cook. They 
have one child, Marie Patton, born July 7, 1883. 
Mr. Patton is a strong Republican in politics, and 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he is a 
Knight Templar. He is attorney for the C. & A., 
the I. C., and the C., S. F. & C. R. Rds., the Pontiac 
Union Coal Company, and also for the Board of 
Supervisors of Livingston County. Among his rel- 
atives now living and bearing his patronymic, there 
are three ministers, two physicians and three lawyers, 
one of the latter being now a Republican Member 
of Congress from Pennsylvania. 

It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. 
Patton in this work, knowing that it will be highly 
appreciated by his many friends. 




Q- TANQUARY, attorney-at-law, Pontiac. 
In Mr. Tanquary we find an excellent ex- 
ample for young men just embarking in the 
field of active life, of what may be accomplished by 
energy, prudence and industry. He relied almost 
entirely upon his own efforts for an education, and 
up to his seventeenth year had only such ad- 
vantages as were offered by the common schools of 
the neighborhood in which he lived. He com- 
menced teaching when eighteen years of age, tcaeh- 



f 



i 






344 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ing in the winter terms, and attending school and 
working on the farm the remainder of the year. 

The subject of our sketch is a native of Mar- 
shall County, 111., and the only child of James and 
Lucinda C. (Watkins) Tanquary, natives of Ohio, 
who were married in Marshall County in 1853, 
where N. CJ. was born in 1854. He has two half- 
brothers, William R., and David R., children of his 
mother by a former marriage. James' parents were 
William and Elizabeth (Shackeford) Tanquaiy, na- 
tives of Ohio. The Tanquarys are of French de- 
scent; his great-grandfather came from France in 
the early settlement of Maryland and took a grant 
of land, partially surrounded by the Chesapeake 
Bay. This land is still known as Tanquary's Neck. 
The father of Lucinda C. Watkins was David, a 
native of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish descent, who was 
engaged in farming. James came to Illinois in 1853, 
settling near Lacon, Marshall County, and is one of 
the extensive farmers and substantial men of the 
county. He and his wife are members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and he has been a Class- 
Leader for many years. In politics Mr. Tanquary 
has always affiliated with the Republican party. 

The subject of this sketch lived upon the farm 
with his parents until he was twenty-three years of 
age, attending the common schools in his early 
youth when not engaged in working on the farm. 
He commenced teaching at a very early age, at the 
same time studying law, beginning when in his 
eighteenth year. In 1881 he took one year's course 
in the law school of Iowa City, and was graduated 
in the spring of 1882. In the fall of the following 
year he located at Pontiac, Livingston County, and 
has since been engaged in the practice of law. Like 
his father he is a Republican, and in 1885 he was 
elected City Attorney, and is now serving his sec- 
ond term, the last time being elected on the Tem- 
perance ticket. 

Mr. Tanquary was married in 1878 to Miss Lil- 
lian Neal, daughter of Samuel and Asenith (Malh- 
ews) Neal, natives of New Hampshire. Her an- 
cestors were Scotch and came from the mother 
country early in the settlement of New Hampshire, 
bringing with them a grant to land, on which land 
they settled. Her great-grandfather was born on 
the ocean while his parents were en route for 



America, and was called Moses. Moses Neal gave 
his attention to the study and practice of the law 
and took an active part in politics; he was for 
thirty years Speaker of the House in the State of 
New Hampshire. The parents of Mrs. Tanquary 
settled in Peoria County in 1830. 

Mr. Tanquary has three children Gracie, Ru- 
berta and Neal. He and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Aside from be- 
ing one of the most successful attorneys of the 
Livingston County bar, our subject has accumu- 
lated considerable property, being mostly real estate 
located in Livingston and Marshall Counties. 



Jl ACOB DOWHOWER, who occupies a prom- 
| inent position among the agriculturists of 
j Livingston County, is comfortably located 
I on section 24, in Owego Township, where he 
took up his abode in the spring of 1884. Here he 
has eighty acres of good land, and is numbered 
among the skillful and progressive farmers of Cen- 
tral Illinois. 

Our subject was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, 
May 8, 1838, and is the son of Jacob and Mary 
(Shire) Dowhower, natives of Pennsylvania. The 
paternal ancestors were of German descent. To 
the parents of our subject there was born a large 
family of children, of whom but two are now liv- 
ing, namely, Jacob and David. Jacob was a youth 
of sixteen years when his parents removed from the 
Buckeye State to Wisconsin, where they resided 
until about six years ago, when they returned to 
Ohio, where the mother departed this life in 1880 ( 
and the father in 1881. Our subject upon coming 
to Illinois located first in Bureau County, where he 
resided until 1867. Thence he removed to a point 
near D wight in this county, where he engaged in 
farming a year, and after a short sojourn in Saune- 
min Township, where he owned eighty acres, came 
to Owego, which he purposes making his permanent 
home. 

Mr. Dowhower, while a resident of Bureau 
County, was united in marriage with Miss Eliza 
Rider, their wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride, in September, 1861. Mrs. Dowhower was 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



345' 






born in New York State, July 3, 1844, and is the 
daughter of John and Kate Rider, who came to 
Bureau County, this State, when their daughter 
Eliza was a child eight years of age. They were 
among the earliest settlers of that region and ex- 
perienced all the vicissitudes of pioneer life ; they 
are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dowhower are 
the parents of one child only, a daughter, Hattie, 
who was born Feb. 17, 1877. Our subject is Re- 
publican in politics and has served as Director 
in School District No. 6 for a period of three 
years. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
Although receiving but a limited education himself, 
he stoutly maintains that the establishment of schools 
is a matter which should receive the first attention 
of any community. To this end he has been will- 
ing to give his time and attention, and has in other 
directions indicated the bent of his mind in regard 
to the general welfare of society. He and his estim- 
able lady number their friends by the score in 
Owego Township, of which he is destined to become 
one of the leading men. Mr. Dowhower since com- 
ing to Livingston has been very successful in all 
his undertakings, and promises to be one of Living- 
ston County's solid men in the near future. In 
religion he is liberal in his views, attending and as- 
sisting all the -Evangelical Churches. 



(7 INCOLN HAMLIN TUTTLE, farmer and 
I (fjt school teacher of Rook's Creek Township, 

jiLW. 



owns and occupies a good farm on section 
20, and is numbered among the wide-awake and 
representative men of that locality. He is a native 
of this State, having been born in Sparland, Mar- 
shall County, Sept. 6, I860. Seven years later his 
parents removed from town to the farm but he 
pursued his education in the Sparland High School, 
lacking one year of finishing the full course. 

Mr. Tuttle when fourteen years of age removed 
to Livingston County with his parents, who lo- 
cated on a farm in Rook's Creek Township, where 
he was employed in rural pursuits until 1878. He 
then entered the State Normal University, spending 
several terms in study, and upon returning home 
prepared to follow the profession of a teacher. His 



first experience was in Pike Township, District No. 
3, and he was thus occupied until 1883, in different 
places in this county. He then took up the study 
of law in the office of H. H. McDowell, and in due 
time was fully qualified for admission to the bar. 
His inclinations, however, lay in other channels, and 
he consequently did not apply for permission to 
practice as an attorney. Mr. Tuttle when a boy 
nine years of age met with an accident which nearly 
proved fatal. While riding on horseback he was 
practicing on a peculiar halter knot which his father 
had taught him, and had fastened the strap about 
his leg. The horse became frightened and starting 
suddenly threw him, and dragged him through the 
timber until the strap was broken by the horse go- 
ing on one side of the tree and throwing the boy the 
other side. He was considered beyond recovery 
when picked up, but under good care he survived. 
Subsequently, on the 21st of June, 1887, while 
endeavoring to board a moving train,, he fell and 
his right femur bone was broken in two places. 
From this he has recovered very slowly. 

. Our subject is the eldest of a family of four 
children. The names of the other three are : Lois 
S., born Feb. 2, 1868; William A., Aug. 5, 1872; 
Carrie E., Aug. 20, 1875; the three eldest were 
born in Sparland and the youngest in this county. 
The father. Samuel B. Tuttle, a native of Steuben 
County, N. Y., was born Feb. 25, 1832, and was 
the youngest of his parents' family. When he was 
a mere child they left the Empire State and located 
on a farm in Monroe County, Mich. He received 
a good education, completing his studies in Hills- 
dale College, and for ten years thereafter followed 
the profession of a teacher in Michigan, Ohio, Indi- 
ana and Illinois. In 1856 he went to Kansas, and 
was associated with John Brown in the troubles 
brought on by the agitation of the slavery ques- 
tion. This over, he returned to Illinois, locating 
first in Peoria, whence he removed to Sparland, 
Marshall County. In the latter place he was united 
in marriage with Miss Emma Swift, Dec. 25, 1859. 
Mrs. Tuttle was born Jan. 20, 1839, and like her 
husband was also a native of New York State. Her 
father, Philander Smith, was born Feb. 7, 1800, and 
married Miss Arzilla Agbert, born July 11, 1802. 
They emigrated from New York to Illinois in 1844, 





LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



and located in Marshall County, where they spent 
the remainder of their lives. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John 
Martin Tuttle, was born near New Haven, Conn., 
in 1788, and when quite young removed with his 
parents to New York State, where he afterward en- 
gaged in Itiraberipg, and participated in the War 
of 1812. He was first assigned as a scout to the 
Middle Division, and was afterward transferred to 
the Western Division which was under the com- 
mand of Gen. Harrison. At the battle of the 
Thames he was appointed messenger to carry 
orders from Gen. Harrison to Col. Johnson, or- 
dering the charge upon Tecumseh. Grandfather 
Tuttle was present at the charge and witnessed the 
death of the great chieftain. He married Miss 
Rhoda Palmer, daughter of Gideon Palmer, of 
Greene County, N. Y., whose family was largely 
represented in that part of the State. John Tuttle 
subsequently removed West to Michigan and served 
as Sheriff of Monroe County two terms. Our sub- 
ject took possession of his present homestead in 
1875. 



SULLIVAN, since the spring of 1876, 
has been a resident of Cornell, where he 
owns a snug home and an acre of land. He 
is spoken of as an honest, energetic, hard- 
working and highly respected citizen, and ranks 
among the representative business men of the 
town. He possesses inventive genius, and has a 
patent on a novel wagon-box catch, for which he 
has refused the sum of $7,000 from an Eastern 
capitalist. Aside- from perfecting his invention he 
has been principally engaged in blacksinithing. 

Our subject was -born in Lucas County. Ohio, in 
1839, and is the son of Daniel and Mary (Dugan) 
Sullivan, who were natives of Ireland. When 
he was quite a boy, John came to Michigan with 
his parents, and served a thorough apprenticeship 
at blacksmithing. He is an expert workman and a 
natural mechanic, and has. worked at his trade in 
Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and New York. The wife 
of our subject was formerly Miss Phebe, daughter 
of Dennis and Wilis Heath. She was born Oct. 
14, 1844. They were married in Oil City, Pa., 



July 2, 1865. After marriage they located in 
Venango County, Pa., where Mr. Sullivan followed 
his trade until becoming a resident of Cornell. 

Our subject and his wife have become the parents 
of five children living, named respectively, Burton 
C.. Winnifred C., Kate, Franc and Edward. Two 
little ones were laid away in early graves, namely, 
Mary Alberta, who was born Sept. 26, 1867, and 
died April '.), 1868, and Nellie, who died when two 
years and eleven months old. 

-><>C^ iiS~ *- 



I AMES P. MORGAN, one of the most hon- 
ored pioneers of Livingston County, came 
to Illinois in the spring of 1854, and for a 
period of more than thirty years has tilled 
the soil and watched with intense satisfaction the 
development of Central Illinois. He comes from a 
race of people renowned for their courage and en- 
terprise, being the son of James and Elizabeth (Rob- 
erts) Morgan, natives of Carlisle, Pa., the former 
the first white settler who crossed the Allegheny 
Mountains to the West. He located at a point not 
far from where now stands Morgan town, in Virginia, 
and which was named after the family. James 
Morgan first purchased a tract of land near Olli- 
pliant's Iron Works, where he resided for a time, 
then removed to Greene County, Pa., of which 
he was a resident many years. He subsequently 
settled across the line in Virginia, six miles below 
Wheeling, where the death of both parents took 
place, the mother passing away in December, 1856. 
James Morgan survived his wife nearly thirty years, 
and died in 1885. . The father of our subject was 
one of a family of six children, three boys and three 
girls, who were named respectively, Nathan, James, 
William, Polly, Ruth and Sarah. He became fa- 
miliar with farm pursuits early in life, which he was 
content to follow until its close. 

The parental family of our subject included eight 
children, only three of whom are now living. 
James P. was born in Fayctte County, Pa., Sept. 
30, 1802. He spent his early life amid the quiet 
scenes of farm life in Pennsylvania. Branching out 
somewhat from the regular routine, and having a 
taste for books and newspapers, he in 1827 became 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



347 



connected with the printing business at Waynes- 
burg, Pa, and continued a printer thereafter for 
a period of about twenty years. He understands the 
business of conducting' a first-class country newspa- 
per, having officiated as both compositor and editor, 
and still retains his interest in the "'art preserva- 
tive." He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. 
Jackson, and voted for the old hero for President 
three times afterward. When Mr. Morgan came to 
this section of country in 1854 wild game of all 
kinds was plentiful, and he has seen as many as 100 
deer in a herd. The pioneers usually set aside 
Saturday as a general hunting daj r , when they went 
out and secured their game for the week. These 
occasions were the source of considerable hilarity, 
and the hunters uniformly met with success and 
kept their families supplied with the finest of wild 
meats. 

.lames P. Morgan was married in 1834 to Miss 
Nancy Bradley, daughter of William and Mary 
(Gorman) Bradley, natives of Ireland. Of this 
union there were the following children: William 
was born July 5, 1835; Elizabeth, Sept. 80, 1837; 
James P., Jr., Oct. 30, 1838; Ann Eliza, Nov. 28, 
1840: Charles, Jan. 5, 1843; Thomas, Sept. 21, 1844; 
Nathan, July 26, 1846; Margaret, Oct. 19, 1847; 
Rebecca, Dec. 27, 1848, and John, Nov. 10, 1850. 
William is married and has a family of twelve 
children; he is farming in Cowley County, Kan. 
Elizabeth died when young; James P. is married, 
and a resident of Crawford County, Kan., where 
he is engaged in mercantile business; Ann Eliza is 
the wife of Charles Lonsberry, of Long Point Town- 
ship; Charles resides in Independence, Montgom- 
ery Co., Kan., is Marshal of the city, and one of the 
respected business men of the place; he is married 
and has three children. Thomas died when about 
four years old. Nathan located in Stonewall, Col., 
where he engaged as a merchant, and was shot 
on the 2('ith of December, 188(!. The assassin was 
a young man who went into the store where he 
was and ordered him to hold up his hands. Al- 
though the destined victim had a revolver, the 
young man fired before he could use it. The thief 
and murderer was afterward captured, but had re- 
ceived a fatal wound and died in a short time. 
Nathan Morgan left a widow and two children to 



mourn their loss. Margaret became the wife of 
Jerome Blair, of Michigan, and they located in 
Cowley County, Kan, where they are farming, and 
are the parents of two children; Rebecca died 
when an infant; John is farming in Long Point 
Township; he married a Miss Wheeler, of Long 
Point Township. 

James P. Morgan, our subject, is the owner of 
eighty-two acres of fine farming land, besides town 
property at Long Point, which includes thirteen 
lots, in the midst of which he resides in a handsome 
and comfortable home. The residence is not far 
from the Chicago, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad 
depot. It is supplied with all the modern conven- 
iences, and both within and without gives evidence 
of cultivated tastes and an ample supply of this 
world's goods. Mr. Morgan has been quite promi- 
nent in local affairs, and was one of the first County 
Supervisors, which position he occupied six years. 
He was County Judge from 1857 to and including 
1858, and has been Justice of the Peace for twenty 
years or more. In early life lie identified himself 
with the Democratic party and has stoutly main- 
tained its principles since that time. Socially he 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity. As a citizen he 
has contributed his full quota toward the building 
ui> of Long Point Township. He is held in the 
highest regard, and is particularly noted for his 
kindly disposition, while his ample fund of inform- 
ation constitutes him a most intelligent gentleman 
with whom to converse. 




i ICHARD STBATTON has been a resident 
of Avoca Township for the past twelve 
years. He is in possession of 179 acres of 
Jland on section 29, and besides general 
farming, is largely engaged in stock-raising, in 
which he has met with more than ordinary success. 
He has been a resident of the Prairie State for nearly 
a half century, having been brought here by his 
parents when a child three years of age. 

Our subject was born in New York City, Dec. 
30, 1835, and is the son of William and Sarah (Clay- 
ton) Stratton. natives respectively of Ireland and 



'348 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



New Jersey. The mother was of excellent German 
ancestry, her grandparents who emigrated to the 
United States, being among the prominent and 
substantial settlers of New England. William 
Stratton departed this life at his home in Peoria 
County about 1877. The mother is still living on 
the old homestead there. 

Richard Stratton was the third son of his parents, 
whose household included eleven children. lie was 
reared to manhood on the farm in Peoria County, 
and received his education in its pioneer schools. 
Upon coming to this county in 1870, he resided 
about five years in Eppard's Point Township, and 
thence removed to his present farm. The improve- 
ments which we see around him to-day, the finely 
cultivated fields and substantial buildings, are the 
result of his own industry and perseverance. He 
has labored early and late in the effort to construct 
a desirable homestead, and the passer-by will con- 
cede that he has succeeded in a manner which should 
be entirely satisfactory to all interested. He was 
thrown upon his own resources early in life, and 
may consequently be termed a self-made man, 
while he is certainly a member of his community 
of whom his fellow-townsmen have the best opinion. 

The lady who has been the close companion of 
our subject for a period of fifteen years, was for- 
merly Mrs. Mary Wagenseller, of Juniata County, 
Pa., whom he married Feb. 7, 1873. They have 
no children. By her first husband Mrs. Stratton be- 
came the mother of two children Harry W. and 
Juniata W. Our subject, politically, is a reliable 
Democrat, and in the pleasant home which he and 
his wife have together labored to build up, they dis- 
pense a generous hospitality to a large number of 
friends. 




ORGAN THOMAS owns 160 acres of land 
on section 17, Newtown Township, but, af- 
ter a long and busy life, he has retired from 
active work, and is now enjoying the fruits 
of his labor. He was born in Wales Sept. 13, 
1812, and is the son of Jenkins and Mary (Williams) 
Thomas, also natives of Wales. The father lived 
until he was eighty-four years of age, and the 



mother died when she was eighty-seven. They 
were the parents of four children, whose names are 
as follows : Thomas, Eleanor, Rees and Morgan. 

Morgan Thomas lived in Wales with his parents 
until 1840, receiving such education as the ordinary 
schools of that country afforded, and also learning 
the rudiments of farming, and the practical details 
of coal mining. In the year 1840 he came to 
America, landing at New York City, -from which 
lie proceeded to Pennsylvania, where he engaged 
in sinking and superintending coal shafts. He 
remained in Pennsylvania engaged in that busi- 
ness, excepting while on a trip to St. Louis, Mo., 
and to Leavenworth, Kan., for about ten years. 
Upon his return from the West, he remained but a 
short time in Pennsylvania, and then came to Illi- 
nois, where he settled in La Salle County, near the 
town of Streator. Removing thence in 1868, he 
came to Livingston County, and settled upon the 
160-acre farm which he now owns. In March, 
1850, Mr. Thomas returned to Pennsylvania, where 
he was married to Mrs. Margaret Cozad, formerly 
Miss Margaret Moore. She was the daughter of 
James and Jane (Johnson) Moore, natives of Scot- 
land and England respectively, who came to Amer- 
ica after their marriage, and were early settlers in 
Pennsylvania. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren, named Hugh, Margaret, James, Sarah and 
Matilda; they are all living. James is residing in 
West Virginia, and the others in Pennsylvania, ex- 
cepting Margaret, the wife of our subject. Margaret 
first was married to Jacob Cozad, and by this union 
were born three children Mary Ann, Thomas and 
Leonard. Mary Ann lives in Minnesota, Leonard 
in West Virginia, and Thomas in Streator, 111. Af- 
ter the death of Mr. Cozad, Margaret became the 
wife of our subject. Of the marriage of Mr. 
Thomas and Mrs. Cozad have been born two chil- 
dren Ellen and Elmer. Ellen is the wife of Sam- 
uel Tidabeck, a native of New York State; they 
have four children John, William, Margaret and a 
baby unnamed. Elmer resides at home with his 
parents, and is crippled in one knee, caused by a 
cut with an ax when he was a child. 

Mr. Thomas has retired from active life, and his 
! :i nn is managed by his son-in-law and son. Dur- 
ing his entire life Mr. T. has been an active man, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



319 , J 



and has been measurably successful in all his un- 
dertakings. He has been a citizen of Livingston 
County for about twenty years, and during that 
time has firmly established himself in the confidence 
and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 



i 



REX. Ten years is a tender age at 
which to commence buffeting one's way 
through life, and where one succeeds who be- 
gins at that nge hundreds fail and fall by the 
wavside. The boy who is then thrown upon his 
own resources and reaches anything like independ- 
ence bv the time he arrives at the prime of man- 
hood, is deserving of much commendation for his 
pluck and perseverance. While the writer does not. 
desire to be fulsome in any sense he can commend 
to boys and young men the career of the subject of 
this sketch, who was left an orphan at the age of ten 
years. 

Mr. Rex, who was a farmer for many years, but 
now a resident of Fairbury, was born on the 6th of 
April, 1844, in Greene County, Pa., and is the son 
of Charles and Mary (Hickman) Rex, natives of 
Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occu- 
pation, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
an old-line Whig. During his life he accumulated 
considerable property, which included about 600 
acres of land. He was "born in Pennsylvania in the 
year 1800. and died in that State in 1854. There is 
a remarkable coincidence of dates in the birth, life 
and death of the parents of Mr. Rex. The mother 
was born in the same year as the father, and they 
both died in the same minute and hour, of the same 
disease, and are botli buried in the same grave. At 
their death they left five children Margaret, Eliza- 
beth, Peria, George, and John, who was the young- 
est of the family. 

Mr. Rex was married on the 31st of December, 
1865, to Miss Mary A. McMinn. the daughter of 
Thomas R. and Elizabeth (Pollock) McMinn, who 
were natives of Pennsylvania. The father died in 
1886, and during his life was a saddler by trade; 
the mother is Still living. Mr. Rex received a tol- 
erably fair education in the common schools, but at 



the age of ten years began to support himself, and 
for a considerable time earned what money he could 
at working by the month on the farm. In 1862, 
when eighteen years old, he enlisted in the loth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he was assigned as 
a private to Company C, and with which he served 
for three years, participating in the battles of An- 
tietam, Md., Stone River, Tenn., on the march from 
Nashville to Atlanta, was with Gen. Stoneman in 
his raid through Virginia, Tennessee and North 
Carolina, and marched through Alabama to Nash- 
ville. His discharge from the army bears date July 
3, 1865. Upon his discharge from the army Mr. 
Rex returned to Pennsylvania on a visit. In 1880 he 
came to Livingston County, and moved upon the 
farm which he now owns, consisting of 1GO acres on 
section 17. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rex have five children Lizzie M., 
Willie M., Annie M., Maggie and Tressa. In 1886 
Mr. Rex moved to the town of Fairbury, where he 
has been engaged in the dairy and creamery busi- 
ness in connection with his farm operations. He is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
the only interest he takes in politics is in the cause 
of prohibition, of which he is an earnest and ener- 
getic advocate. In his business affairs he has been 
eminently successful, and in his later venture, in 
Fairbury, especially so. There have been wonder- 
ful improvements in the dairy and creamery busi- 
ness within the' past few years, and Mr. Rex has 
kept abreast of the times in all of them. His farm 
furnishes him ample facilities for feeding and car- 
ing for cattle, and the products of his dairy can be 
relied upon as coming from healthful sources. 



[?AMES TAPPER, a thrifty English farmer 
of Owego Township, owns a fine property 
on section 22, including 280 acres of valu- 
able land, a substantial residence with a 
good barn and other suitable out-buildings, a goodly 
assortment of live stock, and the extensive mod- 
ern machinery required by the progressive agri- 
culturist of this day and age. Mr. T. has willingly 
availed himself of whatever would tend to beau- 
tify and increase the value of his country home. 




350 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY 



which has now become one of the most attractive 
spots in the landscape of Livingston County. 

Our subject, a native of Devonshire, England, 
was born March 10, 1835, and is the son of John 
and Sarah (Casey) Tapper, also of English birth 
and parentage. He had three elder brothers, and 
was reared with them in his native country until 
nineteen years of age, when he set out alone on a 
voyage to the New World, where he hoped to bet- 
ter his condition in life. After landing in New 
York City he made his way to Albany, where he 
was employed as a laborer one year, then came to 
Illinois, and for two years afterward was a resident 
of Grundy County. His next abode was in Peoria 
County, where he resided several years and thence, 
in 1867, migrated to Livingston, which has been his 
home now for a period of twenty years. He had, 
during these years, lived economically, and landed 
here with a snug little sum of money which he in- 
vested in a quarter section of uncultivated land, 
from which he at once proceeded to build up a 
permanent homestead. The dwelling which first 
constituted a shelter for his family was a small 
frame structure, which they occupied for a few 
years, and which then gave place to their present 
more modern residence. He afterward added 120 
acres of land to his first purchase, which he has 
brought to a fine state of cultivation, and which 
produces in abundance the choicest crops of the 
Prairie State. He can look around upon his pos- 
sessions with the satisfaction that he owes no man 
anything, and that he has received few favors and 
no assistance financially. 

Mr. Tapper's early education was extremely lim- 
ited, but he has kept himself well posted upon mat- 
ters of general interest, and is in all respects an in- 
teresting man to converse with. He believes in 
the establishment and maintenance of schools, and 
all the institutions which will give to the young 
those advantages which will enable them to become 
useful and intelligent members of the community. 
Upon becoming a voter he identified himself with 
the Republican party, whose principles he has uni- 
formly sustained since that time. He is a member 
of the Presbyterian Church and recognizes the im- 
portant influence of Christianity upon a people 
and a community. 



Mr. Tapper, after reaching his twenty-fifth birth- 
day was united in marriage with Miss Jane Ander- 
son, in 1860, at the home of the bride in Akron, 
111. Mrs. T. is a native of this State, and the 
daughter of William and Jane (Hull) Anderson, 
the latter of whom is deceased, and the former re- 
sides in Peoria County, 111. Of this union there 
have been born four children, three living, namely, 
Sarah, who married Byron Ocean, and resides in 
Owego Township; Charlotte and Susan, who re- 
main at home with their parents. 




LBERT FRANCIS, a highly respected 
member of the farming community of 
Forest Township, and located on section 
10, has been a resident of Livingston 
County since a boy twelve years of age. He is 
now a gentleman in the prime of life, of excellent 
habits and good business education, and is the 
owner of a good homestead comprising 1 47 acres 
of land, with neat, suitable and convenient build- 
ings. He keeps good horses and cattle, and avails 
himself of all the modern methods of agriculture, 
in order to preserve his record as an enterprising 
and valued factor in a community of more tliau 
ordinary progress and intelligence. 

Our subject is the youngest son of John and 
Margaret (Ross) Francis, natives of Ireland and 
Ohio respectively, who located after their marriage 
in Brown County, Ohio, where Albert, 'our sub- 
ject, was born Aug. 1, 1848. The elder Francis 
operated a farm in that county until 18<>0, when he 
determined to try his fortunes in the West. He 
came directly to this county and took up a tract 
of land on section 10 in Forest Township, where 
he built up a comfortable home. Young Francis 
continued with his parents, becoming thoroughly 
familiar with the intricacies of farming, which he 
chose for his vocation in life. 

After passing his thirtieth year, July 11,1 883, Mr. 
Francis was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia, 
daughter of James F. and Eda (Moore) Earnheart. 
Mrs. F. was born in Avoca, this county. Dec. 25, 
1 sf)U. Her parents, who were respectively natives of 



f 



ts 

RESIDENCE OF ALBERT FRANCIS, SEC. 10. FOREST TOWNSHIP. 






KELLOGG BRO'S STOCK FA RM.SEC.fi. PON TI AC TOWNS HI P. 




t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Ohio and Tennessee, came to Illinois in the pioneer 
days, and located in Indian Grove Township, where 
they were married and lived a number of years; 
they are now living in retirement in Fairbury, 111. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Francis re- 
paired to their present home, where they have since 
remained, and where their two children, Irma 
Mildred and Howard Milton, were born. They are 
members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church at Forest, with which they have 
been connected for several years, and are among 
its most liberal and cheerful supporters. Mr. Fran- 
cis is a strong Republican, and has held the local 
offices of his township. His wife is a most esti- 
mable and amiable lady, highly intelligent and 
well educated. She taught school for a period of 
eight years in Fairbury, and one year at Forest. 

Mr. Francis, in partnership with his brother 
Joseph, from 1876 to 1886, engaged quite exten- 
sively in the manufacture of brick and tile, their 
factory being the first of its kind established in 
Livingston County, Much of the land in this sec- 
tion having now been drained and fitted for the 
raising of crops, the demand for this product has 
decreased in a proportionate degree, and they 
have, during the past year, done but little in this 
direction. A handsome lithographic view of Mr. 
Francis' residence is shown on another page of this 
work. 



tRUMAN M. KELLOGG, of the firm of Kel- 
logg Bros., prominent stock-traders of Pon- 
tiac Township, who have a fine tract of land 
on section 8, where he has been operating suc- 
cessfully for about nineteen years, is recognized at 
once as a gentleman of good business capacities 
and excellent education, and with his brother, is 
the proprietor of 320 acres of land, well stocked 
with good grades of cattle, horses and hogs, prin- 
cipally, however, of the former. 

Our subject is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., 
and was born Oct. 7, 1835. His parents, Truman 
and Melinda (Marsh) Kellogg, were natives of the 
same county, of which his paternal grandfather, Tru- 
man Kellogg, was a pioneer settler. The family is 




of English origin, the first representatives in this 
country being three brothers who crossed the ocean 
about 200 years ago, and located in New England. 
Their descendants have mostly lived there, a few of 
them, however, going into the Middle States and to 
the South. Truman, our subject, was the fourth in 
a famil3' of four children, three of whom survive, 
namely, himself, his brother, Nathan N., and a sis- 
ter, Cornelia, the wife of D. C. Mason, of Joliet, 
111. 

Mr. Kellogg was reared in his native county, 
where he remained until a youth of seventeen years, 
in the meantime receiving his education under care- 
ful instructors. Upon leaving the parental roof, 
he migrated to Chicago, 111., and was a resident of 
that city for about twenty years, following the pro- 
fession of a civil engineer. He was assistant civil 
engineer of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, 
located at Chicago as division engineer, and super- 
intended the construction of the Lake Shore Harbor, 
which is connected with the road, and was one of 
the important enterprises of that day. In the spring 
of 1872, determined upon a change of location and 
occupation, he came to this county, and invested a 
part of his capital in a stock farm in Pontiac Town- 
ship, which he and his brother Nathan have man- 
aged very successfully for the last fifteen years. 
Their stables include Hambletonian and Kentucky 
horses, and some of the finest specimens of the kind 
sold in this county have passed from their hands to 
purchasers from all points of the compass. 

Nathan M. Kellogg, a brother of our subject, was 
also born in Oneida County, N. Y'., June 24, 1829. 
He was there reared to manhood, and received a 
good education. From his early boyhood he 
seemed content with the employments of the farm, 
lie came West in 1868, and in 1871 settled per- 
manently on the farm which is now the property of 
Kellogg Brothers. He has for many years been an 
excellent judge of live stock. He has been quite 
prominent in local affairs, serving as Commissioner 
of Highways, and voting the straight Democratic 
ticket at general elections. The farm is supplied 
with a comfortable residence and other good build- 
ings, and the brothers dwell together, their house- 
keeping being done by hired help. 

We have pleasure in presenting on another page 



' 354 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




of this ALBUM, a view of their residence, as repre- 
sentative of the buildings of this section of the 
country. 



AMUEL L. MORRISON. The subject of 
this sketch is an illustration of the wide 
difference between the beginning in the 
lives of the fathers who were the pioneers 
in the early settlement of Illinois, and that of the 
sons who are now taking their places. The father 
of Mr. Morrison came to Illinois ata time when the 
wild prairie grass grew everywhere, and when the 
rude cabins of the inhabitants were few and far be- 
tween. With his own hand he helped to break the 
prairie and make corn grow where grass had held 
sway for centuries. In this work he persevered, ss 
did others, until Illinois has become a great agri- 
cultural State. His sons, who are now all settled in 
life, know nothing by actual experience of the hard- 
ships of the pioneers, but they have inherited the 
energy and enterprise of the pioneer fathers, which 
they display in the prosecution of their farming 
operations. Although the young farmers find farms 
already improved for them, they do not relinquish 
their efforts to further improve and utilize the re- 
sources so bountifully bestowed by nature. Fol- 
lowing in the footsteps of a father who became 
famous in the same vocation, the subject of this 
sketch is a progressive farmer and stock-raiser of 
Avoca Township. 

Mr. Morrison is a native of Livingston County, 
where he was boru on the 1 8th of December, 1 860, 
and is the son of Joseph C. and Naomi Morrison. 
Further mention of the father is made in the biog- 
raphy of Albert J. Morrison, of Avoca ^.Township, 
and the mother is deceased. The subject of this 
sketch has always lived in Avoca Township, where 
he attended the schools until he became of age, and 
received a good education. With the exception of 
being engaged with his father in importing and 
dealing in Norman horses at Pontiac, he has always 
been occupied in agricultural pursuits, in which he 
has displayed considerable enterprise, and avails 
himself of modern and progressive methods. His 
farm consists of eight}' acres of well-improved land, 



on section 5. Avoca Township, on which he has 
erected an excellent class of buildings. 

On the 4th of September, 1884, Mr. Morrison was 
married to Miss Jessie E. Ferris, daughter of Prof. 
G. W. Ferris, the present efficient Superintendent of 
Public Schools of Livingston County, a sketch of 
whom appears in this Auiru. Mr. and Mrs. Mor- 
rison have been blessed with one child, a bright- 
eyed baby named Claude H., born July 10, 1887. 
Mrs. Morrison is a lady of excellent education, and 
much culture and refinement. During a consider- 
able time she attended the Normal School located at 
Morris, 111., and for six years was engaged in teach- 



Mr. Morrison is an enthusiastic 3 - oung Repub- 
lican, to which party he contributes both of his time 
and means, when they are necessary to secure its 
success. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and he and his wife are active members 
of society, in which they are general favorites. Mr. 
Morrison identifies himself with the material affairs 
of his township, and encourages and supports every 
measure calculated to advance its prosperity. 




E KERR, a prominent and influential 
member of the farming community of Pon- 
tiac Township, has in a great measure re- 
tired from active labor, and is enjoying the compe- 
tency which he has accumulated and the comforts 
of a beautiful homestead on section 2. His prop- 
erty includes 330 acres of good land, with suitable 
farm buildings, a choice assortment of live stock, 
and all the necessary implements for the successful 
prosecution of agriculture. 

Mr. Kerr was born in Miami County, Ohio, Dec. 
2,0, 1824, and is the son of James and Sarah 
(Thompson) Kerr, natives respectively of Virginia 
and Pennsylvania. The Kerr family is of Scotch 
ancestry, and on the mother's side our subject is of 
English descent. His grandfather, George Kerr, 
fought during the early troubles with the Indians, 
and James, the father, participated in the struggle 
of 1812, and was one of those who were surren- 
dered under Gen. Hull at Detroit, Mich. The par- 
ental household included twelve children, five now 



t 

i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



355 



surviving, namely: Hanford N., of Wyandotte, 
Kan.; George, our subject; Rebecca A., the wife 
of Harry Houston ; John and Perry ; the latter 
three are residents of Miami County. The parents 
of our subject were early pioneers of this region, 
where they spent the remainder of their lives. They 
built up a home in the wilderness, and endured all 
tin- hardships and privations incident to settlement 
in a new country. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
county, and received a limited education, but being 
fond of his books he pursued his studies during his 
leisure hours after leaving school, and has always 
kept himself posted upon all matters of general in- 
terest. He is one of the best natural mathematic- 
ians to be found, which talent has been of great 
service to him in his busy career, and in which he 
has been obliged to depend upon his own sound 
sense and good judgment. 

Mr. Kerr was married in Miami County, Ohio, 
Nov. 26, 1844, the lady of his choice being Miss 
Susanna Kessler, who was also a native of that 
county, and born March 1, 1825. Her parents 
were John B. and Susanna (Fiece) Kessler, the for- 
mer a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsyl- 
vania. Her maternal grandfather was of Holland 
descent, and after emigrating to this country, 
served as a soldier in the War of 1812, being under 
tin- command of Gen. Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kessler settled in Miami County at an early period 
in its history, and there became the parents of 
twelve children. 

Our subject and his wife became the parents of 
eight children, three now living, namety: Eliza- 
beth, the wife of C. D. Withrow, of Kansas City, 
Mo.; Heni'3' M. and John B., who are located on 
the homestead. Mr. Kerr came to this county in 
the spring of 1856, but eight months later returned 
to Ohio and remained six years. In the mean- 
time, however, lie had not abandoned his original 
intention of locating in Illinois, and now came back 
and secured possession of his present farm, where 
he has resided the greater portion of the time since. 
In the meantime his children surviving him have 
grown up around him, and he has given each a 
good education and a fair start in life. He has 
always been a hard worker, and owes his present 



position, socially and financially, to his own efforts. 
Politically, he votes the Democratic ticket, and has 
always been the encourager and supporter of those 
measures calculated for the advancement of his 
fellow-citizens. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. K. are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church, in which our subject has officiated 
as Elder for more than thirty-five years. He has 
been frequently solicited to accept official positions, 
but has invariably declined, preferring to confine 
his attention to his family and farm. 



RIN W. JONES. If the character of the 
country which has attained so high a standard 
during the past few decades is to be main- 
tained, a great responsibility devolves upon the 
young men who must take the place of those whose 
hands have shaped and molded affairs. Owing to 
the intelligent and advanced education of the par- 
ents of to-day, a generation of worthy successors 
to them has been raised up and is ready to take 
their places. In the hands of the young men of to- 
day the future of the country will be safe, and par- 
ticularly will this be so because of those who are 
natives and to the manor born, for they are more 
intimately acquainted with the requirements of the 
times. When the exercise of citizenship is coupled 
with intelligence, there is no mistake' in predicting 
that the future of the country's welfare is assured. 

One of the young men on whose shoulders is be- 
ginning to rest the responsibility of the present is 
the subject of this sketch, a farmer and stock-raiser 
on section 14, Owego Township, and who is a native 
of Le Roy, State of New York, where he was born on 
the 29th of March, 1855. lie is the son of William 
and Mary Jones (of whom a sketch appears in this 
work), who were early settlers of Owego Township. 
When quite young he accompanied his parents when 
they came to Illinois, and thi> State has been his 
home ever since, where his younger days were spent 
in work upon the farm, during the fanning seasons, 
and attending school during the winter months, in 
which he obtained a good education. 

On the 5th of March, 1884, Mr. Jones was mar- 
ried to Miss Jennie Kerr, of Bloomington, 111. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY". 



is a native of Scotland, and daughter of James II. 
and Sarah J. Kerr, of Hoomington, 111., who were 
also natives of Scotland. Mrs. Jones and lier mother 
eanic to America in 1872. Mr. Kerr having preceded 
them several years. This young couple have made 
an excellent start in life, Mr. Jones having purchased 
eight}' acres of land with the proceeds of his labor 
and good management, a considerable portion of 
which was accumulated before marriage. He and 
his wife are intelligent and educated people, and for 
years he has taken an active interest in associations 
for the advancement of good literature and the cul- 
tivation of literary tastes. lie is not a political par- 
tisan, and indeed politics have never interested him 
to the extent of causing him to become attached to 
either of the old parties. 




ANIKL STRKKT. If one could obtain a 
bird's eye view of Illinois before it was in- 
habited by white people and then suddenly 
look upona picture of the State, showing its 
present magnificent improvement, dotted all over 
with cities and towns, crossed and recrossed by rail- 
roads. all the land intervening between the towns 
covered with farm houses and barns, lie would real- 
ize a change in scene before which would pale into 
insignificance any transformation ever witnessed. The 
subject of this sketch has been a witness of such a 
transformation in that section of the county in which 
lie has lived, lie has seen improvements grow up 
where wild wastes of prairie existed, and spjendid 
farms made of land which from the beginning of 
time had been given over to the rank growth of 
nature, and within his experience the whole State 
has attained its splendid state of perfection. 

Mr. Street is a farmer of Avoca Township, and 
resides on section 10. He is a native of Mnskin- 
gum Comity. Ohio, where lie was born on the 13th 
of March. 1831, and is the .-on of Jacob and Tacey 
Street, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania. 
Hi- paternal ancestors were of English, and his ma- 
ternal ance-tors of (ieniian descent. In his twenti- 
eth year he accompanied his parents when Ihey re- 
moved to Putnam County, 111., and resided there 



about two years. Hoth of his parents died in Mar- 
shall County. 111. To them were born eight chil- 
dren, live of whom are living: Daniel: Robert M.. 
in Iowa: Ann. Mix Aaron Axline. of Wenona, 111.; 
Ile.-ter. Mrs. Chauncy Claylord. of Missouri County. 
Kan.: Amanda. Mrs. (leorge Dean, of Maryland. 
When a boy Mr. Street learned the trade of a potter. 
which occupation he followed for about live years, 
and has devoted the remainder of his time to farm- 
ing. He came to Livingston County in the spring 
of 1857, where he has resided ever since. lie owns 
a farm of fifty acres, which was in its primitive con- 
dition when he became possessed of it, but within a 
few years afterward he had reduced it to a condition 
of splendid cultivation. 

On the 23d of December, 1860, Mr. Street was 
married to Maria DeMoss, daughter of James and 
Margaret DeMoss, who were pioneer settlers of 
Livingston County. They have had but one child, 
a daughter named Luella, who was born on the 3d 
of August, 1863. Mr. Street has always acted with 
the Republican party, from a sense of conscious- 
ness of duty, without the expectation of ollice or 
other reward. In an otlicial capacity he has served 
the people for three years as School Director, and 

his administration gave g 1 satisfaction. He 

heartily seconds and endorses all movements for the 
betterment of society, and in such matters has been 
generally a leader. 




ARTIN M. TRAVIS. Some men there are 
whose lives cannot be written without in- 
terweaving into the storj- of their incom- 
ings and their outgoings the history of 
another life that of the wife. This is peculiarly 
and beautifully so in the instance under considera- 
tion. Here is a man nearly seventy-seven years of age 
who has been married to the woman of his choice 
nearly half a century half a century within itself 
an average lifetime. What he has accomplished 
within that time has been with and by the aid of 
her who has been the sharer of his joys and sor- 



t 



When men and women married fifty years ago , 
the surroundings were entirely different from the 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



357 



1 



weddings of to-day. There were no railroads nor 
any of the inventions that have revolutionized 
commercial as well as social affairs. Marriage 
meant hardships, denials, troubles, slow progress in 
the accumulation of wealth in an undeveloped 
country where luxury and many of the ordinary 
comforts of life were unknown. To the wife 
it meant much labor, great sacrifice of personal 
comfort, the exercise of unshrinking courage, and 
in addition it devolved upon her in the adjustment 
of the laws of nature to be a staff of inspiration on 
which the husband might lean when the clouds of 
adversity hovered over him the darkest. Mr. and 
Mrs. Travis, in the battle of life, stood shoulder to 
shoulder, and ever clasped hands in the mutual en- 
deavor to improve and elevate their condition. Mr. 
Travis met with a great bereavement in the death 
nf liis beloved wife, who passed to her reward Oct. 
27, 1887, after an illness of about four weeks. 

Mr. Travis is a pioneer of Livingston County, 
whose farm is located on section 5, Belle Prairie 
Township. He was born on the 4th of July, 1811, 
in Overtoil County. Tenn., and his parents were 
Jeremiah and Margaret (Peek) Travis, natives of 
Georgia and Virginia respectively. The father 
was born in 1788, married in 1807, came to Illinois 
in 1834, and died in 1871. The mother was two 
years his senior and died in 1872. The father was a 
chair and spinning-wheel maker by trade, but de- 
voted considerable of his life to the occupation of 
a farmer. When they removed to Illinois their 
mode of transportation was by a wagon drawn by 
oxen, which made their travel necessarily slow. 
They were the parents of eight children Susanna, 
Annie, Martin, John, Pollie, David, Jeremiah and 
Nancy. Four of these are now living. 

The subject of this sketch was married, on the 
14th of December, 1837, to Miss Eliza Thompson, 
who was born on the 31st of March, 1814, and was 
the daughter of John B. and Mary (Steers) Thomp- 
son, natives of Kentucky. The father was boni in 
1788, and died in 1882; the mother was born 
about the same date and died in 1873. They came 
to Illinois and located in McLean County in the 
year 1829, where they remained until the occurrence 
of his death. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren Eli/.a, Johnson, William, Simpson E., James, 



Lilliard, Serena, Elizabeth, Washington and Mary. 

Mr. Travis came to Illinois in 134, accompany- 
ing his parents. His boyhood days and early man- 
hood were so thoroughly devoted to the service of 
his parents on the farm that he never had an op- 
portunity to attend school for even a single day. 
At the age of twenty-three he began the struggle 
of life for himself, and entered forty acres of tim- 
ber land, subsequently purchasing forty acres and 
then 160 more. His farm now consists of 195 
acres of well-improved land, on which is a com- 
fortable and commodious residence. Although he 
is now in his seventy-seventh year, the latest 
demonstration of his astonishing vitality was re- 
covering his two-story house with shingles, entirely 
unaided. Beginning life without any means what- 
ever, through his own industry and the unflag- 
ging aid and devotion of his wife, he accumulated 
lands and means enough to make him thoroughly 
independent during the balance of his days. 
Mr. and Mrs. T. had born to them the following 
children : Mary A., Rachel, John D., Adeline and 
Francis; besides three deceased, viz: Elizabeth, at 
the age of eighteen ; Serena, at twelve, and Minerva, 
at thirty-three. 

Mrs. Travis for very many years was a de- 
voted and consistent member of the Baptist Church. 
Our subject has twenty-five grandchildren, and 
two great-grandchildren. Mr. Travis has been a 
life-long Democrat and refers with great satis- 
faction to the fact that he cast his first Presi- 
dential vote for Gen. Andrew Jackson. 



r *OSEPH J. TRULLINGER. The histories 
of Indiana and Illinois so far as they relate 
to the hardships'and privations of the early 
pioneers are so nearly identical, that a man 
born in Indiana at the beginninguf the thirties, ex- 
perienced as bard a beginning as the man who was 
born or first settled in Illinois at that time. In 
both States the conditions fifty or sixty years ago 
were such as to test the mettle and make-up of the 
men and women who cast their lot either by birth or 
settlement in either State. At that time transporta- 
tion was by wagons drawn by horses or oxen over 




4 



358 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



roads which ran through a wilderness or vast ex- 
panse of prairie, and for half the year were utterly 
impassable. Steam had not yet been utilized to 
facilitate overland travel, and the mails were few 
and far between in their arrivals and departures. 
Compared with the present era those were truly slow 
coach days, but the people were perhaps as content 
and as happy as they are to-day. 

The subject of this sketch is a representative pio- 
neer of Avoca Township, and a native of Fountain 
County, Ind. He was born on the 19th of October, 
1831, and is the son of Jacob and Mary Trullinger. 
The father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the 
mother was born in the State of Maryland. He re- 
ceived a rudimentary education in the early schools 
of Fountain County, which at that time afforded 
very limited advantages. Mr. Trullinger was first 
married, on the 5th of, December, 1852, to Mary- 
Foster, a native of Ohio, who shared the joys and 
sorrows of her husband until the 4th of August, 
1886, when she passed to her reward. On the 17th 
. of March, 1887, Mr. Trullinger was united in mar- 
riage to Mrs. Sarah C. Spencer, a native of Ten- 
nessee. 

Mr. Trullinger has always been engaged in the 
vocation of a farmer, and largely depended upon 
his own resources. His father died when he was an 
infant, and his mother in 1872. In 1856 he came 
from Indiana to Livingston County, and purchased 
forty acres of land, to which he has added forty 
acres more, making an excellent eighty-acre farm, 
which is well improved. On one of the forty-acre 
tracts there are 747 rods of tile, and the entire farm 
is enclosed with a good hedge fence. When Mr. 
Trullinger came to this county, he practically had 
nothing to begin on, and his success, which has 
been measurably good, is wholly' attributable to his 
industry and good management. 

Being Republican in politics, and one who takes 
an active part in local political affairs, Mr. Trullin- 
ger has been chosen as School Trustee of the town- 
ship for three years, and also served as School 
Director for several years. lie takes great interest 
in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he has for eight years been Recording Steward 
and for a considerable time a Class-Leader. Sun- 
day-school Superintendent and Church Trustee. 



He was one of the first to inaugurate the movement 
which culminated in building the Lodcnia Method- 
ist Church and parsonage, and to that enterprise 
his contribution was quite liberal. His course in 
this matter fully illustrates his public spirit and 
liberal mind. He is a representative citizen of the 
township, and enjoys the esteem and respect of the 
citizens thereof. His life has been a busy one, and 
its results are such as to be satisfactory to him in 
his declining years. 



eilRISTOPHER C. LEONARD is largely en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising on sec- 
tion 34 in Newtown Township, where he owns 
100 acres of good and well-improved land, besides 
forty acres in Amity Township. He was born in 
Bradford County, Pa., on the 26th of April, 1836, 
and is the son of Edmund D. and Elizabeth (Rem- 
ington) Leonard. lie lived in Pennsylvania with 
his parents until about eleven years of age, at which 
time they moved to Du Page County, 111., going 
by water to Chicago, and thence by teams. Mr. 
Leonard began to attend subscription schools at the 
age of three years, and continued until his parents 
moved to Illinois, after which he only attended dur- 
ing the winter months. The parents remained in 
Du Page County about seven years, and then came 
to Livingston County, transporting their effects in 
wagons drawn by oxen. They located on section 
33, Newtown Township, where the father entered 
land from the Government, and resided until his 
death (see sketch of Mrs. Leonard). After coming 
to this county the subject of our sketch attended 
school for three winters, when he left home at 
twenty-one years of age and lived in Amity Town- 
ship for a time, working on the land where the vil- 
lage of Cornell now stands. After living in the 
various portions of the county he permanently lo- 
cated in Newtown, in 1873. 

Mr. Leonard was married, Feb. 4, 1858, to Mary 
Mason, daughter of Enoch and Kli/.alieth (Shinn) 
Mason, native's of New Jersey. The great-grand- 
father Mason was of Irish de-cent, and Elizabeth 
Shinn's parents were German. Enoch was born in 
Galloway Township, Gloucester Co., N. J.. July 25, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



359 




1*04, mid was there man-led, Aug. 28, 1825, to 
Elizabeth Shinn, who \v.-is born June 18, 1805. To 
thi'in were born eight children, three of whom are 
living: Mary, the wife of our subject; Martha and 
George. .Martha was born March 7, 1847, and was 
married, Sept. 20, 1866, to Orlando E. Hart; he 
died in 1869, and she was married to William S. 
Brown in June, 1871, and they live in Nebraska. 
George W. was born July 11, 1845, and resides in 
Western Iowa. The deceased members of the fam- 
ily are: Hannah, bom June 29, 1829, died Sept. 4, 
1832; Naomi, born June 10, 1831, died Aug. 14, 
1832; Henry, born June 6, 1833, died Sept. 6, 
1838; Elizabeth, born Oct. 10, 1836, died Aug. 26, 
1858; Charles W., born April 5, 1843, died July 

20, 1873; he was married to Emily M. Wilbur 
March 7, 1869, and enlisted in Company A, 129th 
Illinois Infantry, Aug. 2, 1862. His health becom- 
ing impaired he was discharged at the end of the 
first year, and lived at home one year, when he was 
drafted and taken to New Orleans, where he served 
until the close of the war. After his return home 
he was married and became the father of two chil- 
dren, named Idele May, born Dec. 16, 1869. and 
Chester Allen, May 13, 1872. lie died suddenly 
at his home while walking from the pump in the 
dooryard to the house. Emily, his widow, was 
again married, Nov. 5, 1885, to Joshua A. Mus- 
grove, and lives in Kansas. The mother of these 
childreirdied Jan. 4, 1868, and Enoch Mason was 
again married Feb. 21, 1869, the woman of his 
choice being Sophia Wilbur. She died June 30 
1873, and her husband followed her Sept. 12, 1874. 
Mary, the wife of our subject, was born Aug. 6, 
1838, in Monroe Count}', Mich., and her parents 
came to Illinois in 1850, and located in Newtown 
Township, where they resided at the time of their 
death. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard were married in the 
house in which they now live, and are the parents of 
the following-named children: Olivia, born Oct. 22, 
1858: Lawrence, born Nov. 20, 1859, died Aug. 

21, 18(30; Emily A., born May 31, 1861, married 
John Weideman, of Newtown Township, and has 
three children ; Edwin, born June 18, 1866; Clora 
A., Feb. 26, 1868: Ira G., Nov. 16, 1869; Andrew, 
Jan. :, 1872: Franklin ('., Oct. 18, 187:!, and Fred- 
erick G., Dec. 12, 1875. 



Christopher C. Leonard enlisted in Company A, 
12'.lth Illinois Infantry, Aug. 2, 1862, under C'apt. 
John A. Hoskins, at Pontiac, and during his term 
of service participated in several of the larger en- 
gagements, receiving his baptism of fire at the bat- 
tle of Buzzard's Roost, in Georgia. At the battle of 
Peach tree Creek he received a slight injury, from 
which he soon recovered. He was with Sherman 
during his Atlanta campaign ami in the march to 
the sea, participating in the capture of Savannah, 
and the battle of Bentonville. He was mustered 
out in Washington City June 8, 1865, and received 
his discharge papers in Chicago June 1 7 of that 
year. He immediately returned to his home in this 
county, and resumed the occupation of farm work. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are honored members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and devote con- 
siderable of their time to matters intended to ad- 
vance the best interests of the congregation. In 
politics Mr. Leonard is a stanch Republican, and 
can always be depended upon to watch over and 
care for the interests of that party. 



LE PETERSON, of Sunbury Township, is 
one of the most enterprising representatives 
of his nationality in Livingston County. 
He bears the reputation of a praiseworthy and in- 
dustrious citizen, one who attends strictly to his 
own concerns, and has thereby made a success both 
as a farmer and business man. He has been a res- 
ident of Illinois for over twenty years, and located 
upon a tract of land which had only been partially 
cultivated, and which he has transformed into one 
of the finest homesteads in Sunbury Township. 

Mr. Peterson was born in Stavanger, Norway, 
July 4, 1830, and is the son of Peter and Anna 
Peterson, natives of the same country, who there 
spent their entire lives. He attended school dur- 
ing his childhood until fourteen years old, and at 
the same time assisted his father on the farm. The 
agricultural operations of the Norwegian farmer in 
his own country are very different from those of 
the present agriculturists of the Prairie State. The 
implements are of rude construction, and the tiller 
of the soil in a country not exceedingly fertile has 



r 







360 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



to contend with many disadvantages. The parents 
of our subject were people of modest means, and 
Ole, when a youth of sixteen, left the parental roof 
and started out in life for himself. He received, 
for hard work, rather poor fare, the munificent sal- 
ary of $10 per year, and a piece of cloth for a suit 
of clothes. 

Young Peterson had always been a serious and 
reflective youth, and not being satisfied with his 
prospects and condition in his own country, de- 
termined to set sail for the New World, stories of 
which frequently reached him from across the wa- 
ter. Accordingly, on the loth of May, 1860, he 
set sail from the port of Stavanger accompanied by 
his wife and child, he having been married in 1859. 
After a voyage of six weeks they landed in the 
city of Quebec, Canada, whence they came directly 
to the States and at once set out for Illinois. Mr. 
Peterson landed in Ottawa with $15 in his pocket, 
but soon found employment upon a farm at $18 a 
month a vast improvement upon the sum he re- 
ceived for the same labor on his native soil. He 
lived economically, and with the help of his excel- 
lent wife, in the course of two years bought a little 
herd of cattle, and hiring a cheap man to look after 
them, continued working as before until enabled 
to secure a tract of land. 

Mr. Peterson decided to locate in the northern 
part of Livingston County, which at that time was 
mostly open prairie, especially the districts including 
the townships of Nevada and Sunbury. This 
made a good range for stock, and Mr. P., bringing 
his cattle hither, still continued hiring them herded, 
and rented a tract of land upon which to raise corn 
and wheat. He operated upon rented land three 
years with excellent results, and then purchased 
eighty acres, which forms a part of his present 
homestead. For this he was to pay $1,280. He 
paid $320 cash, and gave his notes for the balance. 
One of his first duties was to put up a shelter for 
his family, and upon the completion of tin* he en- 
tered at once upon the cultivation of the land. 
He was successful from the beginning, the seasons 
proving favorable and the soil yielding plentifully 
to his worthy efforts. He invested his surplus cap- 
ital in additional land, buying eighty acres adjoin- 
ing, so that he now has a quarter section, and all 



in a fine state of cultivation. It is enclosed with 
neat and substantial fences, and the farm buildings 
will bear comparison with anything of the kind in 
this part of the county. In 1803 Mr. P. pur- 
chased a pair of colts which he has worked upon 
his farm ever since, and now, although twenty- 
seven years old, they retain many of the skittish 
ways of their 3'outh, giving evidence of the care 
and kindness with which they have been treated 
since coming into the possession of their present 
owner. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Pe- 
terson will never part with these old friends who 
have served him so long and so faithfulty. 

The wife of our subject was, in her girlhood, 
Miss Bertha Johnson, and became the mother of 
six children : Annie was born in 1861 ; Tillie, in 1863; 
Peter, in 1 865 ; Bertha, in 1 868 ; Lena, in 1 87 1 ; John, 
in 1879. The mother, after remaining the faithful 
and affectionate companion of her husband for a 
period of over twenty years, departed this life at 
her home in Sunbury Township in September, 
1881, and her remains were laid to rest in Sunbury 
Cemetery. Mr. Peterson was subsequently mar- 
ried to Miss Inger Rasmusson, of Esmen Township, 
their wedding taking place at the home of the 
bride. The present wife of our subject was born 
in August, 1835. 

Mr. Peterson was reared in the doctrines of the 
Lutheran Church, to which he still loyally adheres, 
and although interesting himself comparatively 
little in politics, uniformly supports Republican 
principles, and votes upon occasions of general 
elections. 



EMERY WESTEHVKLT, accountant, and at 
present book-keeper and assistant cashier for 
j, - Beach <fe Dominy. bankers at Fairbury, is a 

native of Franklin County, Ohio, having been born 
twelve miles northeast of the city of Columbus, 
Oct. 7, 1824. He is a gentleman of more than or- 
dinary intelligence, and forms one of the important 
f. -ic tors of a cultivated community. lie was reared 
to farming purdtiits, in which he engaged success- 
fully for a number of 3'ears. afterward obtaining 
a collegiate education, and was for two years Pro- 
fessor in Otterbein I'niversity, at AVesterville, Ohio. 



RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL MILLS.SEC.S.ESMEN TOWNSHIP 



F?ESID'ENCE or CHARLES FAUST.SEC.SS, SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP. 







RESIDENCE OFJOHN HARRIS, SECJS^AUNEMINTOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



361 



1 

i 



The parents of our subject, Mathew and Abiah 
(Leonard) Westervelt, were natives respectively of 
Dutchess County, N. Y., and Springfield, Mass. 
Matlicvv Westervelt was born June 15, 1788, and 
departed this life in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 4, 1865. 
He followed farming his entire life, and with his ex- 
cellent wife, was a devoted member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. The mother of our subject 
was born Aug. 24, 1792, and survived her husband 
twenty-two years, her deatli taking place Jan. 14. 
1887, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. 
The family included ten children. 

Our subject spent his boyhood on the parental 
homestead, pursuing his early studies at the district 
school, and after his connection with the university 
had ended, engaged in farming fivej'ears. He was 
subsequently married, April 24, 1850, to Miss Caro- 
line R. Connelly, and a few months later removed 
to Columbus, Ohio, and thence to Pittsburgh, Pa., 
where he became Superintendent of Duff's famous 
commercial college, and was thus engaged for two 
years. Afterward he was associated with the Colum- 
bia Oil Company, a wealthy and highly successful 
corporation in that city, with a capital of $2,500,- 
000, as Secretary and Treasurer, which positions he 
retained until 1868. Then, on account of failing 
health he removed, first to Philadelphia, and thence 
to New York City, finally journeying West with 
the Greeley Colony to Colorado. UIKJII his return 
eastward in 1870, he resided in Fairbury, this 
county, four months, when he returned to Pitts- 
burgh, Pa., and took a position with the firm of A. 
French & Co., extensive manufacturers of railway 
car and locomotive springs. He remained with 
this firm three years, and in 1875 returned to Fair- 
bury, where he has since resided. Besides his duties 
in the bank, he is Secretary of the Fairbury Build- 
ing and Loan Association, and is rated among the 
representative businessmen of the town. 

Mrs. Westervelt was born near Lancaster, Pa., 
Jan. 7, 1829, and is the daughter of Edward and 
Mary (Grnham) Connelly, natives respectively of 
Ireland and Scotland. They resided in Franklin 
County, Ohio, at the time of their death, which oc- 
curred many years ago. The household circle of 
our subject and his wife includes three interesting 
children, named Emery E., Carrie and George P. 



They occupy a snug home on Elm and Webster 
streets, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of a 
large circle of acquaintances. Mr. Westervelt, 
politically, is a decided Republican. 



<fl fifclLLIAM L. TATE, widely known through- 
\j\/// out Pontiac Township as one of its repre- 
J/xy sentative farmers and stock-growers, owns a 
good property of 240 acres on section 35, where 
for the last twenty years he has been engaged suc- 
cessfully in the tilling of the soil, and making a 
specialty of raising grain and hay with which to 
feed the stock, large numbers of which pass 
through his hands annually. His course has been 
"marked by- industry and good judgment, and more 
than ordinary success. He has distinguished him- 
self as a liberal-minded and public-spirited citi- 
zen, wide-awake to those measures tending to the 
welfare of the community and the elevation of 
society. 

Mr. Tate, a native of Yorkshire, England, was 
born June 6, 1837, and is the son of Henry and 
Elizabeth Tate, the former deceased and the latter 
a resident of Lee County, this State. Our sub- 
ject when a child three years of age crossed the 
ocean with his parents to America. After a brief 
stay in New York City they proceeded to Franklin, 
Mass., where they located, and where the father 
followed his trade as a shoemaker. In the spring 
of 1853 they started for the West, and located in 
Peru, 111., where the father died the following year. 
The family included nine children, all living, and 
as follows: William L., our subject, was the eldest; 
Hannah H. is the wife of F. M. Tilden, of Boston, 
Mass.; Samuel L.. a graduate of Ann Arbor Uni- 
versity, and who for some time officiated as a 
Judge of the Circuit Court at Grand Haven, Mich., 
is now a resident of Sioux Falls, Dak. ; Martha A. 
is the wife of Tracey F. Marshall, of Marshall 
Count}', Iowa; Eliza married Charles Gratz, of 
Winteriiet, Iowa; Sarah E., Mrs. E. M. Lewis, is re- 
siding in Lee Coiint3% this State; Henry W., a 
graduate of Shurtleff College, and of the Newton 
(Mass.) Theological Seminary, is now a minister 
of the Baptist Church, and located in Tiverton, R. 



i 




362 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1. ; John F. is a resident of Winterset, Iowa, and 
Eva is the wife of T. G. Smith, of Lincoln, Kan. 

Mr. Tate was reared to farming pursuits from 
his boyhood, and after passing his twenty-seventh 
birthday was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- 
beth Cade, the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride, Nov. 21, 1864. Mrs. Tate is a na- 
tive of the same country as her husband, and was 
born April 5, 1840. Her parents, Lewis and Jane 
Cade, emigrated to America when she was a young 
girl fifteen j'ears of age, and settled first near 
Philadelphia, Pa. A few years later the father died, 
and the mother with her children came to Lee 
County, this State, where her death took place in 
1867. The household included nine children, three 
living, namely, George C.; Jane, the wife of Isaac 
Mclver, a resident of Reno County, Kan. ; and 
Elizabeth, who is the wife of our subject. Mr. and 
Mrs. Tate became the parents of six children, 
namely, Alfred L., Henry A., Samuel W., Nettie 
E., William G. and Everette L. 

As stated above, the farm of Mr. Tate embraces 
240 acres of finely .[cultivated land with substan- 
tial and convenient buildings. His accumulations 
have been solely the result of his own industry, as 
he commenced at the foot of the ladder and has 
been dependent upon his own resources. He has 
been quite prominent in local affairs, serving as Road 
Commissioner and School Trustee, which latter po- 
sition he now holds. He has been distinguished 
principally by his strict attention to his own af- 
fairs, and by assisting his neighbors and fellow- 
townsmen whenever there was need. In politics 
he is an uncompromising Republican. Mr. and 
Mrs. Tate are members of the Baptist Church at 
Pontiac. 




w. STOKER. Among the weii-u>- 

do and successful farmers of Waldo Town- 
ship, and a gentleman who has attained suc- 
cess in life through industry and economy, is the 
subject of this sketch. He is at present engaged in 
the calling which he has followed the greater por- 
tion of his life, and in addition to the cultivation 
of the cereals is devoting considerable time to 



stock-raising on his farm, which is located on sec- 
tion 32. He is the son of Jehu C. and Anna 
(Nibbs) Stoker, and was born in Mason County, 
Ky., on the llth of March, 1827. His parents 
were natives of Kentucky, and of good English de- 
scent. They had six children, of whom our sub- 
ject was the second: Mary, born Jan. 26, 1824, 
married Eli Stephenson,and died leaving one child ; 
Martha E., born April 13, 1830, married Eli Ste- 
phenson, the husband of her deceased sister; they 
live in Kentucky and have several children. Cyn- 
thia A., born Feb. 19, 1833, married James M. 
Mitchel, has seven children, and lives in Gridley; 
Sarah B., born Jan. 3, 1836, married Rev. J. A. 
Windsor, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
has two children; John P., born Feb. 28, 1840, en- 
listed in the army in 1861, and lived but a few 
months, dying of measles in Bowling Green, Ky. 

Mr. Stoker was reared on a farm, during which 
time he received a fair common-school education. 
He remained under the parental roof, assisting his 
father in the management of the farm until he was 
twenty-five years of age, when he concluded to try 
his fortunes in California, and made the journey to 
that State by way of the Isthmus of Darien, which 
required about one month's time. While he was 
on board the vessel, he had an attack of measles, 
from which he recovered very slowly, and which 
left him in impaired health for about one year. 
He remained in California for about three years, 
and during that time was engaged in mining. Al- 
though he did not amass a fortune in his mining 
operations, he accumulated more-money there then 
he could have done by labor in the same length of 
time in Kentucky. In 1856 he returned to the 
latter-named State, where he remained until the 
spring of 1857, when he came to Illinois and set- 
tled in Livingston County, where he purchased 160 
acres of land, on which he lived for about three 
years. 

On the 2d of May, 1860, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary E. Jewett, daughter of Parker 
and Mary (Cochran) Jewett, of Livingston County. 
In 18U1 he sold his farm to the man of whom he 
formerly purchased it, and lived upon a rented 
farm for one year. The following year he pur- 
chased eighty acres upon which his present home 



' 





t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



363 



stands, and since then has purchased forty acres 
upon section 33. Mr. and Mrs. Stoker became the 
parents of two children George P., born Aug. 21, 
1861, and May B., May 1, 1863; both live at 
home. Mrs. Stoker was born near Belfast, Me., on 
the llth of November, 1832, and died on the 17th 
of May, 1887. The father of Mrs. Stoker was born 
at Thetford, Yt., May 28, 1807, and the mother 
June 16, 1805, in Belfast, Me.; they were both of 
English descent. Their marriage occurred on the 
27th of December, 1831, at Belfast, at which Rev. 
Ferris Fitch was the officiating clergyman. 

Mr. Stoker cast his first political vote for Frank- 
lin Pierce for President, but since the war of the 
Rebellion he has constantly voted the Republican 
ticket. Since 1863, which is now nearly a quarter 
of a century, he has been custodian of the school 
fund, and it is worthy of mention that there has 
never been a dollar of the funds gone astray. He 
is a member of the Congregational Church in Grid- 
ley, and has for man}' years served as its Trustee. 
He is a man about six feet in height, weighs about 
180 pounds, has grey eyes, and his hair was auburn 
before it turned grey. He is a man of generous 
and social disposition, and readily makes friends 
who never desert him. 



ffiOHN A. CAVANAUGH, Nevada's merchant 
prince, belongs to the nationality which has 
contributed largely to the advancement of 
the business interests of this section. He 
was born in County Galway, Ireland, Sept. 25, 1845, 
and is the son of Patrick Cavanaugh, a native of 
the same county. His paternal grandfather, John 
Cavanaugh, was born in County Wexford, whence 
he moved to Galway early in life, taking up his 
abode at his beautiful rural home, afterward known 
as Knava, near the village of Eyrcourt, where his 
death took place in 1850. 

Patrick Cavanaugh grew to manhood in his na- 
tive count} r , and in 1844 married Miss Mary, daugh- 
ter of John C'oyle, a fanner and magistrate for- 
merly of County Clare. The latter died in 1848 
at the age of sixty-eight years. In the spring of 
1852, when our subject was but a lad of seven 



years, his parents decided to seek their fortunes on 
this side of the Atlantic. They embarked on a 
sailing-vessel at Liverpool, and after a voyage of 
five weeks landed in the city of New Orleans. 
Eighteen months later they removed to this State, 
and located in LaSalle County. The father pur- 
chased a tract of wild prairie land in Eagle Town- 
ship, put up a dwelling, and entered industriously 
upon the improvement and cultivation of his pur- 
chase. As the result of industry and perseverance, 
he in due time found himself the owner of a beautiful 
farm of 400 acres, with all the appurtenances of a 
first-class country home. This he sold in 1874, 
and retiring from active labor, took up his residence 
with his son, our subject, in Nevada, where, with 
his estimable wife, he is spending his declining 
years in the ease and comfort to which he is justly 
entitled. 

Our subject, being the elder child, and only son 
of his parents, the family consisting of but two 
children, himself and one sister, now the wife of 
Thomas Scaulan, Esq., a real-estate agent and loan- 
broker of Rock Valley, Iowa, his duties in the 
building up of a new home were necessarily press- 
ing and laborious ; and hence it was that at the age 
of eighteen his education consistd of but a moder- 
ate knowledge of the rudiments acquired at the dis- 
trict schools of Eagle Township. Circumstances 
being now favorable to his aspirations, he was per- 
mitted to attend the Christian Brothers' School at 
LaSalle during a portion of the years 1864-65, still 
continuing to assist his father in the cultivation of 
the farm. In the fall of 1868, he resolved to 
abandon farming and become a merchant, and pre- 
paratory to doing so, he repaired to Chicago and 
entered Bryant & Stratton's Business College, for 
a business training, from which he was graduated 
in the spring of 1869. For nearly a year thereafter 
he was engaged in book-keeping for a wholesale 
grocery house. He then returned to the farm. 

On the 4th of October, 1870, Mr. Cavanaugh 
married Miss Kate O'Leary, the youngest daughter 
of a wealthy and respected farmer of Grundy 
County. With his bride he staid on the old home- 
stead until the fall of 1872, when he came to Ne- 
vada and engaged in the grain business, building a 
large and substantial elevator, and a handsome and 





364 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



commodious ofBce. Two years later he purchased 
a general stock of merchandise, to which he has 
been adding until he has now an immense and well- 
selected stock, that would do credit to any town in 
the county. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh are the par- 
ents of nine children, namely, Clarence Emmet, Ed- 
mund S., Clement J., Constance L., John A., Flor- 
ence Emily, Celesta A., Irene M. and Gertrude A. 
Clarence, though but sixteen years of age, is Prin- 
cipal of the town school, while the others, except 
the two youngest, are among his pupils. 

That Mr. C. is a man of but ordinary calibre, 
must not be inferred from the fact that Nevada is 
b;;t a small village, on the contrary, he is possessed 
of superior abilities, such as befit a man for the 
front rank in any community. He is considered 
an authority in educational matters, having written 
many able articles on the subject of education. 



J" OHN AUGUSTINE, Justice of the Peace, 
farmer and stock-raiser, located on section 
17, Owego Township, is the owner of eighty 
acres of finely improved and cultivated land, 
provided with a substantial residence, from which 
may be obtained a fine view of the surrounding 
country. Our subject is one of the enterprising 
and progressive farmers of Livingston County, who 
has made the most of his opportunities, and taken 
advantage of modern progress. His barn and out- 
buildings are of good description, and finely Mr- 
ranged for the shelter of stock and storing of grain. 
He has a fine lot of high-grade cattle and horses, 
and everything about the premises indicates the 
supervision of an enterprising and intelligent man. 
Mr. Augustine is a native of Lancaster County, 
Pa., the date of his birth being Jan. 27, 1833, and 
he is a son of John A. and Ann (Miller) Augustine, 
natives of Germany and Pennsylvania respectively. 
The father emigrated to America when he was fif- 
teen 'years old, and settled in Pennsylvania, where 
he married and reared a family. lie was the father 
of twelve children, nine of whom are living at the 
time this sketch is written : Martin, Andrew, Sam- 
uel, John, Henry. Susan : Mary, the wife of John 
Carson: Christie A., the wife of B. W. Benedict, 



and Mattie. Those deceased are Elizabeth, Jacob 
and Michael, the two latter having lost their lives 
in the late C'ivil War, in which they were engaged 
as I'nion soldiers. Jacob enlisted in Fulton County, 
111., went out as a C-aplain, and was killed at Ken- 
nesaw Mountain while acting in the capacity of 
Colonel, not having at that time received a com- 
mission for that rank, which had been issued by the 
Governor. The other son, Michael, also enlisted 
in Fulton County, and was killed at Mission Ridge. 
Another son, Henry Augustine, of Normal, 111., 
also enlisted in Fulton County as a private, rose to 
the rank of Captain, and served four years, contin- 
uing in the service until the close of the war. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
hood in his native county, and was given a liberal 
education, reaping the benefit of the advantages 
afforded in the admirable schools of Lancaster 
County. When nineteen years of age he began the 
trade of a blacksmith, which occupation he followed 
about eleven years. On the 14th of August, 1856, 
in Pennsylvania, he was married to Susan Duke, 
who was born in Lancaster County, that State, on 
the 19th of October, 1837; she is a daughter of 
Adam and Catherine Duke. The former is de- 
ceased; he was a soldier in the War of 1812; her 
mother at present resides in Missouri. The pater- 
nal grandfather, John Duke, was an Englishman by 
birth, and settled in Pennsylvania. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Augustine six children have been born: 
Charles F., deceased; Violetta, the wife of Albert 
Morrison ; Emma L. ; Lewis E., deceased ; Alvaretta 
and John A. 

In 1856 Mr. Augustine emigrated to Illinois, 
where he resided in Fulton County until he came 
to Livingston County in the spring of 1869, and 
located on section 18, Owego Township, where he 
remained until 1875, in which year he settled on 
section 17, where he now resides: his farm consists 
of eighty acres of land, upon which lie has intro- 
duced all modern conveniences. At present he is 
Assessor of Owego Township, in which capacity he 
has served for thirteen consecutive years. In 1880 
he was the Census Enumerator for the township. 
For many years he has been serving as Justice 
of the Peace in that township. In political matters 
I he acts with the Republican party, and is also a 



1 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



365 




strong advocate of temperance, which he enthusi- 
astically advocates. In religious matters he knows 
no creed, nor does he belong to any church ; he is a 
Free-thinker in all that the title implies, but en- 
deavors to act up to the precepts of the Golden 
Rule, lie and his family enjoy the respect and con- 
fidence of all by whom they are surrounded, and 
their friends number all who know them. 



TSSELL BROS. "Behold how pleasant it is 
for brethren to dwell together in unity." It 
is both pleasant and beautiful to see broth- 
ers dwelling together in unity, not only in 
social but business matters. The Russell brothers, 
Fra nk T. and George W., finely illustrate the amicable 
way in which brothers should stand together in the 
affairs of life when they have opportunity. 

George W. Russell, the younger brother, and a 
farmer of Pontiac Township, is a native of Greene 
County, Ohio, and was born on the 26th of Septem- 
ber, 1847. He is a son of William R. and Harriet 
Russell, both of whom are natives of Virginia. 
Adam Russell, a grandfather of George, was a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812. The Russell family is of 
Scotch descent; their grandfather settled in Greene 
County in 1810. George Russell came with his 
parents to Livingston County in 1869, and settled 
in Pontiac Township on >ection 30, on which the 
parents lived until the father's death, which took 
place in 1871, and the mother's in 1875. They had 
seven children: Jane is the wife of Harvey Strain. 
of Greene County, Ohio; Mary : Adam, of Shelby 
County, Ohio; Frank T., George W., William E.. 
of Shelby County, Ohio, and Ada. The father was 
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for forty years. 
always taking an active part in the affairs of that 
church. He was Republican in politics, and a man 
who wa> universally respected. 

George W. Russell, one of the linn of Russell 
Bros., who are now owner> and managers of a farm 
of eighty aero in Pontiac Township, was reared to 
manhood in Greene County, Ohio, where he re- 
ceived a common-school education, and then came 
to Livingston County in 186. On the llth of 
October. 1877, he was married to Jennie Living- 



ston, daughter of Isaac Livingston, of McLean 
County. They have had one child. William R., 
born July 8, 1878, and on the 17th of July, the 
same year, his wife died. Frank T. Russell, the 
older brother of the firm of Russell Bros., is also 
a native of Greene County, Ohio, and was born on 
the 7th of October, 1844. He has followed the oc- 
cupation of a farmer all his life, in which he has 
been engaged in Livingston County since 1868. 
Both of the brothers are Republican, and vie with 
each other in their devotion to that party. They 
are both public-spirited, and in favor of everything 
that will improve the county and elevate society. 



rr^5)DWARD WHALEN, successfully engaged in 
farming and stock-raising on section 7, in 
Rook's Creek Township, has been a resident 



of this county since a child not two years of age. 
He is a native of Ireland, born in County Carlo w, 
Oct. 12, 1847, and two years later his parents emi- 
grated to the United States, locating first in Ottawa, 
LaSalle County, where they remained until the boy 
was nine years old. In 1854, during the Know- 
Nothing excitement, when he was about seven years 
of age, some of his schoolmates who had heard 
their parents talk about the "hateful foreigners" 
took a rope and hung him to a stake-ancl-rider 
fence, and but for the timely interference of an 
elder brother the result would have been fatal. 

Young Whalen pursued his studies in the com- 
mon school, and after reaching his majority crossed 
the Mississippi to view the country, but staid only 
two months. In 1872 he went to Minnesota on ac- 
count of his health, remaining in the North six 
months and being greatly benefited. After his re- 
turn to Illinois he was married, April 11, 1875, to 
Miss Ellen, daughter of Felix and Ellen (Hughes) 
Sherry, the mother a distant relative of Bishop 
Hughes, of New York. The wedding took place at 
the home of the bride in Nebraska Township, the 
Rev. Mr. Handley officiating. Of this union there 
have been born three children, namely, Felix E., 
April 24, 1876; Edward J., Oct. 27, 1877, and Mary 
E.. Jan. 30, 1870. Mr. Whalen has served as 
School Director six years, and usually votes the 



i 



366 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



straight Democratic ticket, although he reserves the 
right of a free American citizen to vote otherwise 
if he considers it best. He is an active member of 
the Catholic Church, and in all respects a highly 
respected citizen. 

Mrs. Whalen was the sixth in a family of nine 
children born to her parents. The latter are both 
dead; the mother died Nov. 2, 1867, the father 
Nov. 18, 1859. Her eldest sister, Mary, was first 
married to Peter Conly, and became the mother of 
one child, a son, James, now a resident of Flana- 
gan. After the death of Mr. Conly she married 
John Flanagan, and of this union there were born 
four children. The mother died in 1872, and is 
buried at El Paso. Arthur Sherry is married and 
has six children : James is single and a resident of 
Livingston County; John remains in his native Ire- 
land, and is the father of a family; Patrick is un- 
married and a resident of this county ; and Annie, 
also unmarried, is housekeeper for her brother 
James in Nebraska Township. 



OHN J. TAYLOR, who is largely engaged 
in the real-estate, banking and milling busi- 
ness in Fairbury, was born on the 1 7th of 
July, 1818, in Melton, Saratoga Co.. N. Y., 
and comes of Scotch stock, his grandfather being- 
John Taylor, who emigrated from near Edinburgh, 
Scotland, to this country in 1785. His first loca- 
tion was at Boston. He was a ship captain and 
followed the sea for many years, eventually losing 
his life on the ocean. His widow settled near Sara- 
toga Springs, N. Y. 

The name of the father of our subject was George 
AV. Taylor, who was born in Boston, Mass., and 
was the third son of the family. He obtained an 
excellent education in his youth, and became so 
proficient in mathematics and nautical studies that 
he was able to command a vessel, and followed the 
ocean for fifteen years, but gave up that vocation 
at the earnest request of his wife, Harriet L. Du- 
persoy, and adopted farming as his occupation, 
which he made a success. He resided in the State 
of New York during his life, and died in 1881. 
Having been economical he succeeded in accumu- 



lating about $20,000. His wife was of French- 
English descent, and was born in 1795, and died in 
1837. She was the mother of three children: 
George C., who married Uretta Bentley ; John J., 
our subject, and Mary L., who married O. II. P. 
Nash. 

After obtaining a liberal education in the com- 
mon schools of his native town Mr. Taylor came to 
Illinois in 1851, and entered Lennox Academy, 
where he remained two and one-half years. He is 
a pioneer in the real-estate business, and during his 
early residence in Illinois entered about 11,000 
acres of land, and ultimately disposed of it at ft 
good profit. He has pursued this business to a 
greater or less extent ever since. In 1866 he en- 
gaged in the banking business by opening a private 
banking institution. In 1871-72 he assisted in 
establishing the First National Bank in Fairbury, 
and became one of its Directors. The capital of 
this bank is $50,000, and it has the entire confi- 
dence of the community. At the time this sketch 
is written Mr. Taylor is the possessor of 800 acres 
of the best land, which is divided into five differ- 
ent farms of 1 60 acres each, and every one is being 
placed under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Tay- 
lor has twelve acres of land in Fairbury, on which he 
has erected one of the finest dwelling-houses in the 
town. He is what might be called well-to-do, as 
his assets of real and personal property probably 
foot up to $200,000. He is very largely interested 
in the milling business at Quincy. His mills were 
destroyed by fire, but he has rebuilt them at a cost 
of about $100,000; they contain all the modern 
roller improvements, and have a c.-ipacity of 1,200 
barrels per day. 

John J. Taylor was married, on the 15th of Feb- 
ruary, 1855, to Hannah E. Cary,a native of Bruns- 
wick, Me., who was born Jan. 19, 1828, and is 
the daughter of James and Mary (Oakman) Gary. 
lies father was a manufacturer of clocks and was a 
very tine mechanic. A Mr. Dennison, an appren- 
tice of his, was the first man to make a watch by 
machinery, and during their lives they were fast 
friends. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of 
three children: Mary L. married Lester H. Strong, 
and lives in Ottawa, 111.; Alice E. and James C. 

Our subject and wife attend the Presbyterian 






f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



3(i7 



Church. He is a thorough-going Republican, and 
puts forth his best efforts in political matters for 
the success of that party, although he never neg- 
lects his business affairs for polities. Mr. Taylor 
is handling his affairs successfully and profitably. 
In his business relations he is always found to be a 
man of strict integrity, honorable and fair in all 
his dealings, doing unto others as he would they 
should do unto him, and thus merits and receives 
the approval of his friends and acquaintances. 



I NICHOLAS WEIHKRMILLER. A large 
)// proportion of Avoca Township is under 
Z&) cultivation by the thrifty and industrious 
German fanner. This nationality has had much to 
do with the building up of the great West, and the 
subject of this sketch is performing his part as an 
enterprising citizen on a snng farm on section 25 
of the township mentioned. The early part of 
his life was spent in the Province of Bavaria, 
Germany, where he was born May 4. 1856, and 
from which he emigrated to the United States in 
the spring of 1872. 

The parents of our subject, George and Maggie 
(Heinline) Weihermiller, were natives of the same 
Province as their son, and of German ancestry for 
generations back. Nicholas was the fourth of the 
family, and commenced his education when a little 
lad six years of age. At the age of fourteen he 
had completed his studies, and two years later with 
the enterprise for which he has always been dis- 
tinguished, started out by himself to seek his fort- 
unes on another continent. He embarked in a 
sailing-vessel at Bremen, and after a voyage of 
two weeks, set foot on American soil, proceeding 
at once from New York City directly for the West. 
For several years thereafter he was a resident of 
LaSalle County, this State, whence he came to 
Livingston County in 1877. 

Mr.' Weihermiller commenced life in this county 
as a farm laborer, working two years in Pleasant 
Ridge Township, after which he farmed there on 
rented land two years longer. lie took up his resi- 
dence in Avoca Township about 1880, locating on 
his present farm where he has since resided. His 



property includes eighty acres of good land, and 
the improvements which the passing traveler be- 
holds are the result of the industry and enterprise 
of the proprietor. Besides his home farm he owns 
eighty acres in Iroquois County, which is operated 
by a tenant. This also has good buildings, and 
upon his homestead is a creditable assortment of 
live stock, and all the necessary machinery for 
lessening labor in producing and garnering the 
chojcest crops of the Prairie State. Considering 
the fact that Mr. Weihermiller came to Illinois 
with a cash capital of sixty-three cents in his 
pocket, the progress which he made should be en- 
tirely satisfactory to himself and those interested. 

The lady who presides over the domestic affairs 
of our subject, and takes the warmest interest in 
his success, was in her girlhood Miss Louisa Metz, 
and she became his wife on the 2d of January, 
1878. Mrs. W. was born in Woodforrl County, 
Aug. 28, 1858, and is the daughter of Frederick 
Metz, one of the most thorough farmers and highly 
resp?ct<jd citizens of Pleasant Ridge Township. 
To our subject and his wife there were born five 
children, namely, Ida, born March 24, 1879; 
George F., Oct. 3, 1881 ; Matilda, March 14, 1883; 
Bertha, Jan. 17, 1885, and Delia, Oct. 30, 1886. 
The parents of Mrs. Weihermiller, Frederick and 
Barbara (Somer) Metz, are natives of Germany, 
whence they emigrated to the United States, and 
located in this county about twenty years ago. Of 
the large family of children born to them, the fol- 
lowing survive, namely, Frederick; Barbara, the 
wife of William Voelpel, of Tazewell County; John, 
Mary, Louisa, Samuel, Lewis, Lena, William and 
Amos. 

Mr. Weihermiller is an intelligent citizen who 
keeps himself informed upon matters of general in- 
terest, and politically, votes the straight Democratic 
ticket. 



LHANAN MORRIS, a wealthy and influen- 
tial farmer of Belle Prairie Township, is 
finely located on section 3, where he has 
eighty acres of valuable land, upon which he has ef- 
fected some of the finest improvements in the 
county. The residence is a model of beauty ami 




368 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



convenience, and is flanked by a neat and substantial 
barn, with all other necessary out-buildings. The 
fields are mainly devoted to grain and pasture, and 
the land has been thoroughly drained with about 
800 rods 01 tile. Everything is kept -'shipshape," 
and Mr. Morris is held in the highest respect, both 
as a skillful farmer and desirable member of the 
community. He has never been afraid of industri- 
ous toil and has honestly earned every dollar of his 
possessions. Of late years he has partially retired 
from active labor and is wisely spending his declin- 
ing days in the ease and comfort to which he is 
justly entitled. 

Like many of the early settlers of Illinois, Mr. 
Morris is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in 
Greene County, Nov. 1, 1824. His parents, Abner 
and Rachel (Bowers) Morris, were born and reared 
in the same county. They spent their entire lives 
in the Keystone State, where Abner Morris became 
a man of wealth and prominence, and where his 
death took place in the spring of 1869, when he was 
sixty-nine years of age. The mother had passed 
away many years previous to the death of her hus- 
band. Both were devoted members of the Baptist 
Church and numbered among its most liberal and 
cheerful supporters. Their family included three 
sons and five daughters, of whom Elhanan, our sub- 
ject, was the eldest. The others were named re- 
si>ectively, Ira, Margaret, Rachel, Mary, Joseph, 
Rebecca and Caroline. Of these Mary is deceased, 
and the others reside in Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio and 
Pennsylvania. 

Our subject remained under the home roof until 
after reaching his twenty-fourth year, and was then 
married in his native county to Miss Elizabeth Pat- 
ton, in December, 1848. The year following they 
came to Illinois, locating first in Bureau County, 
where Mr. Morris worked splitting rails, at $11 per 
month. He shortly, however, embarked in the 
same business on his own hook, continuing in Bureau 
County until the fall of the year, when he removed 
to Wood ford and farmed upon rented land for ten 
years. lie saved what he could of his income, and 
in 1*60 came to Livingston County and purchased 
eighty acres of wild land, which he in due time 
transformed into his present beautiful and valuable 
farm. It i.- in all respects a forcible illustration of 



what may be accomplished by industry and perse- 
verance. and the people around him who have 
known him long and well, all agree that he has no 
more than he deserves. 

Mrs. Morris, like her husband, is a native of 
Pennsylvania and was born Oet. 16. 1*30. Her 
parents were Samuel and Jane (Ilaynes) Patton, 
also natives of the Keystone State, whence they 
removed to Illinois in 1851. The mother departed 
this life some years ago in Woodford County; the 
father is living and resides there upon the old home- 
stead. Our subject is a valued member of the New- 
School Baptist Church, and politically is a Jack- 
son ian Democrat. 




LBERT HOFFMANN, who has traveled ex- 
tensively in this country and Europe, 
has chosen farming and stock-raising for 
his occupation, and is now located on a 
160-acre farm on section 33, Pleasant Ridge Town- 
ship. He was born in Thuringia, Germany, May 
26, 1834. When a boy he learned the trade of a 
weaver, at which he worked for a short time in the 
old country. lu 1853 he emigrated to America 
and found employment by the month on a farm in 
New Jersey. For three years he continued at this 
employment at $5 per month, and at the end of 
that time he came to Illinois and located in Bureau 
County, where he worked by the month for ten 
years. In 1867 Mr. Hoffmann came to Livingston 
County, and purchased eighty acres of laud in 
Pleasant Ridge Township, for which lie paid 115 
per acre, and to which he has since added eighty 
acres more. When he purchased this land it was 
in an unbroken state, but by diligent work he has 
put it in a condition of excellent cultivation. His 
farm buildings are of first-class quality, the barn 
being 40x60 feet in dimensions. Like very many 
of the fanners of Livingston County, Mr. Hoffmann 
is largely engaged in raising stock, and at the time 
this sketch is written has twenty-two fine horses 
and a large herd of Durham cattle on his farm. 
He takes great pride in the stock department, and 
has earned a reputation co-extensive with the 
county as a model stock-raiser. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



371 



On the 6th of March, 1864, Mr. Hoffmann 
was married to Miss Helen Stahly, who was a na- 
tive of Germany, born Oct. 22, 1844. She is the 
daughter of Peter and Kate (Gingerick) Stahly, 
natives of Germany, the former born in 1813, and 
died in 1889; the mother was born in the. same 
year, and is still living. They were the parents of 
three children Eli/a, William and Helen. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have been born six children, 
whose names are as follows: Arthur, Johanna, 
Ernest, Bertha, Edgar and Katie. 

Mr. Hoffmann is a member of the Republican 
party, which he joined upon his advent into this 
country. . He is a man who takes great interest in 
all matters relating to education, and for that 
reason has been selected as School Director for his 
district. In 1878 he made a return visit to 
Europe, taking an extensive trip through the 
greater portion of that country. He traveled ex- 
tensively in Russia, being on the road from May 
till September, and visited all places of interest, in- 
cluding the spot where Alexander the Second was 
killed in St. Petersburg, Russia. He made a trip 
up and down the River Rhine, and in the month of 
September returned to his home in Illinois, feeling 
that he had been much profited by his visit abroad. 
He is a man of extensive reading, which, coupled 
with his wide experience as a traveler, makes him 
a very entertaining man in conversation. He and 
his family occupy a prominent position in the so- 
ciety of Pleasant Ridge Township, and a visit to 
their home is always agreeable. 

We present on an accompanying page of this 
work a view of Mr. Hoffmann's residence. 



yiLLIAM F. EIKLOR, who is accredited 
with the ownership of one of the finest farms 
in Belle Prairie Township, makes a specialty 
of dealing in cattle, purchasing and shipping to the 
Eastern markets. He also breeds considerably, and 
altogether handles large numbers annually. His 
property includes 150 acres of valuable land, which 
he has brought to a high state of cultivation, pro- 
viding it with handsome and substantial buildings 
and all the accessories required by the intelligent 



farmer of the nineteenth century. As a citizen and 
member of his community he is considered one of 
the most reliable men of his township, prompt to 
meet his obligations, and possessing all the quali- 
ties which commend him to an appreciative and in- 
telligent class of people. 

Our subject was born in Erie County, Ohio, Aug. 
2, 1838, and is the son of William F. and Jeanette 
(Cane) Eiklor, natives of New York State, and the 
former of German ancestry. The father was born 
in 1815, and died in McLean County, this State, in 
January, 18GC. He spent his childhood and youth 
in his native county, whence he emigrated to Ohio 
and there learned the trade of a blacksmith and ma- 
chinist, which he followed through life, preparing 
principally the iron work for vessels, including 
schooners and steamboats. He established in busi- 

| ness for himself at Huron, and employed a goodly 
number of workmen during the busy seasons. He 
was a skilled mechanic, and although receiving but 
a common-school education, became a man whose 
influence was sensibly felt in his community, of 
which he was a highly respected member. The 
mother was born in 1818, and was married in the 
spring of 1836; she is still living, and makes her 
home with her children. Although quite aged she 
is a healthy and vigorous lady, possessing the ad- 
mirable constitution of her Irish ancestors. Both 
parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church for many years. They came to Illinois in 
1847, and Mr. E. took up a tract of land in Cropsey 
Township, McLean County, which remained in his 
possession until his decease. The home circle in- 
cluded a large family of children, of whom Will- 
iam F., our subject, was the eldest. The others 
were named respectively, James, Alonzo, Joseph 
B., Rebecca J., Louisa, Frederick B., Cecelia, John, 
Edward II., Jay and Jeanette. 

Our subject was a lad nine years of age when 
his parents came to Illinois. He remained under 
the home roof until after reaching his twenty-first 

! j'ear, when he was united in marriage with Miss So- 
phronia Olmsted, the wedding taking place at the 
home of the bride Jan. 18, 1858, Rev. John Elliott, 

' of the Presbyterian Church, officiating. Mrs. Eik- 
lor was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Feb. 27, 
1830, and is the daughter of Caleb and Samantha 



372 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



(Wagner) Olmsted, also natives of the Empire State. 
Her father was born in 1812, and came with his 
family to Illinois in 1846, locating in DeKalb 
County, where he engaged in fanning and became 
quite wealthy. His death took place at the home- 
stead there in July, 188C. The mother was born in 
1814, and survived her husband less than a year, 
her death taking place in February, 1887, at Genoa, 
DeKalb County. She is affectionately remembered 
by her children as a lady possessing nil the desirable 
qualities of a wife and mother, and was a devoted 
Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church for many years. The parental family in- 
cluded eleven children, namely: Andrew, Alfred, 
Chester, Lester, Henry, Sophronia, Caroline, Helen, 
Emeline, Ella and Emma. 

The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Eiklor are Will- 
iam A., who was born Feb. 25, 1859. married Miss 
Susan Blnndy, and is now occupied in farming in 
Cropsey Township, McLean County; and Eunice 
S., who was born Feb. 16, 1865, and died when an 
interesting child of seven 3'ears, Sept. 12, 1872. 
Our subject and his wife are members in good stand- 
ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cropsey, 
and politically, Mr. E. uniformly votes the Repub- 
lican ticket. 

As representative of this section of country we 
refer to the view of Mr. Eiklor's residence on an ad- 
joining page of this ALHUM. 



1 



IONATHAN G. MOORE, the well-known 
farmer and stock-raiser, whose farm is lo- 
cated on section 33, Indian Grove Town- 
ship, has been boy and man a resident of 
Illinois, and in fact of this township, where tie 
was born and where he has lived for over half a 
century. In that time he has seen the State grow 
from wildness to sparsely settled neighborhoods, 
which have grown to a thickly peopled common- 
wealth dotted over with populous cities, and rami- 
fied in all directions by railroads. The rise and 
progress of Illinois during the last half century has 
been one of the marvels of the West, and affords a 
gratifying comparison with the advancement of all 
other portions of the New World. No class of men 



have had more to do with this remarkable progress 
than those who transformed the vast expanse of 
raw prairie into farms many of which are beautiful 
and fertile as gardens. It happens in this instance 
that both father and son share in the honors that 
crown the pioneers, who have lived to see, on every 
side, the happy results of their handiwork. 

Richard Moore, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, residing on his farm on section 2'J, Indian 
Grove Township, is one of the original settlers of 
this State. He was born in Buford County, N. C., 
on the 31st of May. 1810, and accompanied his 
parents when they moved to Tennessee in the fall 
of the year 1818. His removal to Illinois occurred 
in 1830, and his settlement in Indian Grove Town- 
ship dates from 1832. In the year following he 
visited Chicago when the stores of that city con- 
sisted of six log structures. On the 12th of Octo- 
ber, 1828, Richard Moore was married to Perlina 
Phillips, a native of Alabama, where she was born 
on the 25th of April, 1810, but was reared to 
womanhood in the State of Tennessee. They :ire 
the parents of a large famity, as follows: Elizabeth, 
Sarepta J., Jonathan G., Sarah A., Nancy, Melinda, 
Martha, Hannah, James R., John M. He is of Ger- 
man and Welsh descent, while Mrs. M.'s ancestors 
were Irish. His father was born in North Carolina, 
and died in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for 
many years have taken an active interest in the 
congregation to which they belong. The farm on 
which they have lived so long consists of 160 acres, 
and it has been cultivated to the best advantage, 
lie gives his political adhesion to the Democratic 
party, and for years has been constant in his fealty. 

Jonathan G. Moore, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Indian Grove Township on the 2bd of 
November, 1835, and grew to manhood on his 
father's farm, sharing the hardships and privations 
incident to the primitive life of those days. He 
took advantage of such school facilities as were 
then afforded and succeeded in obtaining a fair 
education. As soon as lie was capable he took 
charge of the home farm, the father being in ill- 
health and of defective hearing, and managed the 
place so that it proved remunerative. Mr. Moore 
was married, Dec. 24, 1862, to Miss Rosann Ilight, 



T 



f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



373 



a native of Pennsylvania. She was born in 1838, 
and is the daughter of David and Catherine Hight, 
who were Germans by birth. One child lias been 
born to them, a bright-eyed girl on whom they have 
conferred the name of Laura E. Mrs. Moore is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church, and takes a 
deep interest in its affairs. Mr. Moore is independ- 
ent in his political opinions, and does not yield 
any allegiance to either of the old political organi- 
zations. He owns a farm of ninety -six acres, fifty- 
six of which are under excellent cultivation, while 
the remainder is used for pasture. 



J"?OHN M. ZOOK. Natives of Pennsylvania 
[ are numerous in Livingston County, and 
i wherever a Pennsylvania!! is found a thrifty 
' farmer can be named. The original set- 
tlers of Pennsylvania were a hardy class of men 
and women, who were not only noted for their 
thrift and excellent ability as managers, but for 
their intelligence. When one can trace his an- 
cestry back to a generation or two of Pennsylva- 
nians he can establish beyond dispute the pedigree 
of good stock. The subject of this sketch is a 
Pennsylvania!}, as was his father, which largely 
accounts for his success in life, having grown from 
a very unpromising beginning. When a man be- 
gins on nothing and attains to that point which 
makes him independent, he is deserving of credit, 
and is generally awarded it. Mr. Zook has de- 
voted himself assiduously all his life to the work 
of making a home, which should be a comfort to 
him and all those dependent upon him, and he has 
succeeded. He is now a prominent farmer and 
stock-raiser of Avoca Township, where he is lo- 
cated on section 33. He is a native of Greene 
County, P,a., and was born Aug. 17, IHijij. and 
is the son of Solomon and Clarissa Zook, natives of 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. His 
paternal ancestors were of German descent, and on 
the mother's side of German and Yankee origin. 
His maternal grandfather, John M. S perry, was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. 

When three years of age Mr. Zook's parents re- 
vcd from Ohio to Montgomery County, Ind., 



where the father engaged in farming, and died 
about the year 1849. Our subject was reared to 
manhood in Montgomery County, Ind., on a farm, 
where he received but a limited education, on ac- 
count of the inability of his parents to pay for 
tuition, and the necessity of his performing much 
work upon the farm. He came to Livingston 
County, 111., in 1854, and for a number of years 
farmed as a renter. At the time he arrived in this 
county his cash capital amounted to $1.25, and vvitli 
that small beginning he began life. He has been 
successful in his business affairs, and now owns a 
very excellent farm, the products of which yield 
him commensurate returns for the labor bestowed 
and the money invested. 

Mr. Zook was married, on the 2d of March, 1865, 
to Sarah F. McDowell, daughter of Thomas Mc- 
Dowell, of Fairbury, 111. To them have been 
born five children, four of whom are living Jes- 
sie, Edward, Harry and Roy. The name of the 
deceased was Thomas. Mr. Zook is independent 
in political matters, voting for the best man for 
the office, regardless of party. For several years 
he satisfactorily discharged the important duties of 
School Director, and in that capacity showed con- 
siderable ability. He and his excellent family 
stand well in the estimation of all their neighbors, 
and whenever occasion requires respond cheer- 
fully and promptl}' to all calls which appeal to their 
generosity. As a farmer Mr. Zook is modern in 
his methods and enterprising in his undertakings. 
His success testifies to his energy and good man- 
agement. 




ARON WEIDER, So far as relates to resi- 
dence, the man who was born in Ohio and 
re-ided there until nearing his majority, 
then became a citizen of Indiana until his 
marriage, and afterward a resident of Illinois, can 
boast of citizenship in three of the greatest Western 
States. Ohio people are good people wherever you 
find them. The adopted Indianian is distinguished 
the world over as a rugged, honest man, while he 
who has lived long enough in the Prairie State to 
lie an Illinoisan.'in fact ha.- acquired about the best 
citizenship that one can boast of. In these declara- 



t 



t 



374 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






tions we have outlined the men among whom Mr. 
Weider can be classed, as the facts of his liirth and 
life as revealed in the following sketch will show. 

Mr. Weider is a native of Ross County, Ohio, 
where he was born on the 9th of October, 1822. 
lie is the son of George and Patience (Ford) Wei- 
dcr, who were natives respectively of Pennsylva- 
nia and New Jersey, and were both of German ori- 
gin. The paternal grandfather was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War, and the father served in a like 
capacity in the War of 1812. He was the fourth 
son in his father's family, and was reared in Ohio 
until his eighteenth year, when he accompanied his 
parents when they removed to Tippecanoe Count}', 
Ind. 

On the 2d of May, 1854, Mr. Welder was mar- 
ried to Matilda Tanner, a native of Montgomery 
County, Ohio. They have had seven children, of 
whom five are living: Blanche, Mrs. A. M. Bentley, 
of Owego Township; Clara; Jessie F., Mrs. D. M. 
Phillips, of Nebraska: Metta and Alfred G. In 
1856 Mr. Weider came to Livingston Count}- with 
his -vife and one child, and after residing in various 
parts of the county finally settled on the farm which 
he is now occupying, on section 1G, Avoca Town- 
ship, in the year 1877. This farm consists of 120 
acres, every foot of which is available for cultiva- 
tion. 

The subject of our sketch is an enthusiastic mem- 
ber of the Republican party, which upon several 
occasions has chosen him to serve the people in 
some official capacity. For one year lie was Col- 
lector of Avoca Township, and is at present As.-o- 
sor. He served for many years as District School 
Director, and for four years in the responsible posi- 
tion of Treasurer of Livingston Count}', in all of 
which various positions he has discharged the du- 
ties which devolved upon him to the satisfaction 
of all the people. He is a member of Fairbury 
Lodge, A. F. <fc A. M., and takes an interest in all 
things connoted with that fraternity. He and his 
wife are highly esteemed members of society, and 
popular with all their neighbors. 

Mr. Weider has a war record of which any man 
might be proud. On the 24th of July, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company K, 3d Illinois Cavalry, and 
served until the 5th of December, 1864, during 




which time he participated in many serious engage- 
ments, and marched many hundreds of miles. He 
was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Chiekasaw Bluffs, 
Black River, Edwards Station, and the siege of 
Vicksburg. He had two ribs broken by a fall from 
a horse while participating in a cavalry charge in 
the skirmish on Red River in Louisiana. He took 
part in numerous engagements and skirmishes, 
and was honorably discharged at Springfield, 111., 
at the close of his term of service. He entered the 
army as a private soldier, and was soon afterward 
chosen First Lieutenant of the company, and for 
nearly two years, while holding that rank, com- 
manded the company, the Captain being absent on 
detached service nearly all that time. 



ON. GEORGE TORRANCE, attorney -at- 
law and State Senator, a resident of Pon- 
tiac, is a native of Fail-field County, Ohio, 
and was born on the 15th of May. 1847. 
He is the son of David and Sarah J. (Kerns) Tor- 
ranee, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They 
came to Illinois in 1863. locating in Danville, Ver- 
milon County, where the father was engaged in con- 
tracting and building, and where he still resides. 
He is a member of the Republican party, and has 
always taken great interest in the success of that 
organization. The family consists of six children 
living George, John, Elizabeth, Annie, Ellen and 
William. The ancestry on the father's side was 
Irish, and on the mother's German. 

During his residence in Ohio George Torrance 
attended the public schools until he was sixteen 
years of age, at which time he went to Danville, 
Vermilion County, with his father's family, and 
was there variously engaged as clerk in a dry- 
goods store, clothing store, and assistant agent for 
the United States Express Company. In January, 
1 si;.'), he enlisted in Company E, 149th Illinois 
Regiment, and remained in the service one year, 
the full term of his enlistment. He was on guard 
duty most of the time, and was captured at Charles- 
ton, Tenn., between Knox ,-ille and Chattanooga, but 
bis imprisonment was of short duration, as his cap- 
tors were driven away by the Union troops with- 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



375 



out being able to take their prisoners with them. 
After his discharge from the army our subject re- 
turned to Danville, and obtained employment as a 
clerk in a clothing store, where he remained until 
1869, when he came to Livingston County and 
settled at Chats worth. At that place he clerked in 
a dry -goods house, and then became an agent for a 
Chicago business house until 1873, when he pur- 
chased the Chatsworth Palladium. He edited this 
paper and did most of the work on it for sixteen 
months, when he began the study of law with 
Fosdick <fe Wallace, in Chatsworth. 

Mr. Tprrauce was elected Justice of the Peace 
in 1873, and served until admitted to the bar 
in 1875, when he resigned. He then commenced 
the practice of law in Chatsworth, and continued 
until 1881, when he came to Poutiac, where he 
continued the practice of law, and in 1884 formed 
a partnership with R. S. Mcllduff, the firm now be- 
ing Mcllduff & Torrance. In 1880 he received 
the Republican nomination for State Senator, and 
was triumphantly elected. After serving four 
years in that capacity, the people were so well sat- 
isfied that they re-elected him in 1884. He has 
always affiliated with the Republican party, in 
which he has taken an active part. He is a com- 
rade of the G. A. R. 

Mr. Torrance was married in 1869 to Miss Eliza 
M. Fenn, the daughter of E. P. and Louis (Afred) 
Fenn, who were natives of Connecticut. Of this 
union there are two children Herbert E. and 
Grace T. The family reside in a very cosy and 
comfortably appointed residence on Howard street. 



\ H0ILLIAM II. ARNOLD came to this county 
\\\ - /// ,,ver thirty-four years ago, locating in Read- 




ing Township, where hi- now lives. He 
shared in common the toils and anxieties of the pio- 
neer settlers, and with them labored long and late 
in the effort to maintain himself and his family com- 
fortably, and build up a homestead to shelter him 
in his declining years. His efforts have not been 
unrewarded, as he is now the owner of eighty acres 
of choice land, which is pleasantly located on sec- 
tion 14, east of the town of Rending, and under a 



good state of cultivation. In order to add to the 
fertility and value of this soil he laid about 800 
rods of tiling, and is now able to produce in fair 
quantities some of the best crops of the Prairie State. 
He has a choice assortment of live stock, and the 
necessary farm implements for the successful prose- 
cution of his calling. 

Mr. Arnold is an Ohio man by birth, first opening 
his eyes to the light in Fayette County, May 7, 
1844. His parents, John and Louisa (Mills) Ar- 
nold, were natives of Clinton County, Ohio. The 
former was born Dec. 10, 1816, and rested from 
his earthly labors Oct. 19, 1886, passing away at his 
home in Reading, 111. His wife, Louisa, was born 
Sept. 14, 1818. They were married in Snbina Feb. 
9, 1840, and became the parents of a large family of 
children, most of whom were born in Ohio. Daniel 
M. died when twenty years of age in Livingston 
County, 111.; William II., of our sketch, was the 
second child; Martha Emily, Mrs. Daniel Coe, is 
the mother of two children; Levi Nelson, born 
Sept. 30. 1848, and died, unmarried, April 8, I860, 
in Reading, 111., was for many years engaged in the 
mercantile business, having a store in Reading at the 
time of his death. Sarah E. married William Arm- 
strong, a farmer of Reading, in April, 1 873, and they 
have one child; Franklin W. is a prosperous grain 
dealer of Peoria, 111. ; Mary Melissa was married in 
June, 1873, to James A. Ilarley, a railroad engineer, 
who is now deceased; they had two children, one 
now deceased, and the other residing with his grand- 
mother in Reading. Anna Maria is the wife of 
John Kern, a farmer, of Reading, and is the mother 
of three children ; Luella L. married M. M. Kern, 
a teacher of Streator, and they had two children, 
the younger now dead. 

Mr. Arnold, when a youth of nineteen years, com- 
menced business on his own account, although re- 
maining under the parental roof until forty years 
of age. On the 23d of February, 1886. he mar- 
ried Mrs. Phcube (Laughlin) Arnold, the daughter 
of James and Phu-be Laughlin, natives of County 
Deny. Ireland, who crossed the Atlantic early in 
life and located in Hamilton County. Ohio, where 
they spent the remainder of their days. Mrs. Ar- 
nold was born June 2, 1860. After marriage our 
subject and his wife took up their abode at their 



f 




376 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




f:mn ni>;ir Reading, and on the 18th of December. 
1886, became the parents of a son whom they named 
Edward Nelson, and who is now a bright child one 
year old. 

About 1878 Mr. Arnold identified himself with 
the Masonic fraternity, and politically Drives his sup- 
port to the Republican party. He has served as 
School Director in his district for several terms, and 
is numbered among the quiet, steady -going citi- 
zens, with whom the interests of the community are 
always safe, and who have contributed their full 
quota toward its welfare and progress. 



RS. EMELINE QUEST. In all countries 
where men possess gallantry women play 
an important part in affairs, and in this 
country, to the honor of the laws and the 
customs be it said, women are the equal of men in 
all rights and privileges, excepting- the rights to 
vote and hold office, and it is possible that these 
rights woidd be conferred if it could be made ap- 
parent that the majority of the women so desired 
it. As it is. the influence of women as wives, 
mothers and sisters, is all potent, and wherever 
they have assayed to fill positions requiring tact 
and ability they have been successful, whether in 
professions or in the callings requiring talent of an 
executive order. Among the many biographical 
sketches found in this ALBUM space is given to 
none more cheerfully than to the subject of this 
sketch, who is an old settler of Livingston County, 
and resides on section 30, Avoca Township. She 
is a native of Vermillion County, Ind., and was 
born on the 21st of October, 1838. She is a 
daughter of Minor and Elizabeth (Lawrence) 
Rogers. Her father was born in New England 
and her mother was a native of Ohio. When Mrs. 
Quest was about ten years of age her parents emi- 
grated from Indiana to Livingston County, and 
were among the very early settlers of Avoca Town- 
ship. Her father died in July, 1886, and the 
mother still resides in Avoea Township, with Mrs. 
Armilda Carson, her youngest daughter. She has 
passed threescore years, and much of her life has 
been spent as a pioneer, enduring all the privations 



and hardships of an earl}' residence in Indiana and 
Illinois. Mrs. Quest's father was one of the repre- 
sentative pioneers of Avoca Township, and \v:is a 
man of large acquaintance. He was universally 
esteemed and respected for his many good qualities, 
and when he died his loss to the county was severely 
felt. 

Mrs. Quest was reared to maturity in Livingston 
County, and availed herself of such opportunities 
and advantages as were afforded for obtaining a 
common-school education. Her first marriage oc- 
curred on the 1st of May, 1861, her husband being 
Matthew Clark, a native of Ireland, and this union 
resulted in the birth of four children, as follows: 
Lizzie, formerly a successful school teacher, and 
now the wife of Robert Main, of Avoca Township; 
Annie, John and Fannie. Mr. Clark was a Repub- 
lican in politics, and a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and in both of these organiza- 
tions he took a deep interest and played an active 
part. He died on the 5th of December, 1878. On 
the llth of January, 1885, Mrs. Clark was married 
to her present husband, Charles Quest, a native 
of England. She is the owner of an excellent 
eighty-acre farm, which is highly improved, well 
drained and fenced, and contains good buildings. 
She is a highly respected member of society, and is 
prominent in all good works which are projected 
in her neighborhood. She stands deservedly high 
as a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who kin >\\ 
her. 




HARLES M. JOHNSON, one of the steady, 
reliable men of Indian Grove Township, has. 
by a conservative business course and econ- 
omy, surrounded himself and family with the com- 
forts of the world. He belongs to that sturdy class 
of men who accomplish their aims by substantial 
progress, always making sore of a foothold before 
taking the next step. Such men are always gain- 
ing headway, slow though it be sometimes, but 
never moving backward. Mr. Johnson has the 
care and management of a splendid 120-aere farm 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



377 



i 



on section 17, Indian Grove Township, where, in 
addition to general farming, he engages to a con- 
siderable extent in raising live stock. 

Charles M. Johnson was born in Oswego County, 
N. Y., on the 13th of August, 1848. He is a son 
of Franklin I. and Mary A. (Wightman) Johnson. 
The father was born on the 2d of December, 1 820, 
in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., his parents 
being Franklin and Hopey (King) Johnson. Our 
subject's mother was born in Oswego County, N. 
Y., Oct. 24, 1821, and was the'daughter of William 
and Hannah Wightman. To Franklin I. Johnson 
and wife were born four children: George, who 
died in infancy; Charles, the subject of this sketch; 
Frank D. and Addie, the latter dying at the age of 
thirteen years. The father now resides at Fair- 
bury, where he is enjoying his later years in the 
midst of comfort and plenty. The mother, who 
was a woman of many very excellent traits of char- 
acter, and one who led a consistent Christian life 
as a member of the Baptist Church, died on the 
21st of November, 1884. 

The subject of this history lived in his native 
State but a short time, his parents emigrating to 
Fulton County, 111., when he was quite young. In 
1861 they removed to Peoria, and there Charles 
M. attended the city schools and acquired a good 
education. Later he employed himself in his fa- 
ther's pottery, and continued to reside in Peoria 
until the family came to this county, when he ac- 
companied them. Locating with his father on the 
IGO-acre farm three miles south of Fairbury, he 
there lived, and labored early and late for the good 
of the household. Subsequently this farm was 
sold and 240 acres purchased. This was divided 
into equal parts, and our subject is now living upon 
one, and his brother Frank upon the other. Both 
farms are supplied with fine residences, and our 
subject is meeting with success in the prosecution 
of his chosen calling. 

On the 12th of February, 1878, was celebrated 
the marriage of Charles M. Johnson and Miss Dora 
Kenney. Mrs. J. was born on the 25th of October. 
1851, in the State of Maine, and is the daughter of 
Edwin and Phidclia (Baker) Kenney, natives of 
the same State, and both now living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Johnson have no children. They are - 1111-111- 



bers in good standing of the Baptist Church at 
Fairbury, and Mr. J. has held the office of Treas- 
urer in the Sunday-school for several years. He is 
highly respected in his community, and numbered 
among its reputable and worthy citizens. 



OHN II. SMITH, farmer, stock-grower and 
grain-dealer, also engaged in the manufact- 
ure of tile, is one of the wide-awake and en- 
terprising men of Pontiac Township, and the 
owner of a good property on section 24. His farm 
operations have been successfully conducted since 
he took possession of the valuable land now in- 
cluded in his homestead, and in the manufacture of 
tile he is the leader in this section of the country. 
The works are located near the city limits, and in 
the busy season furnish employment to eighteen 
men. He not only controls the local trade, but 
ships to various points outside. 

The boyhood and youth of Mr. Smith were spent 
in the State of Pennsylvania. He was born in 
Centre County Aug. 12, 1840, and when a child of 
seven years removed with his parents to Hunting- 
don County, where he was reared to manhood and 
pursued his studies in the common schools. His 
parents, Jacob and Lydia Smith, were natives re- 
spectively of Union and Centre Counties, and spent 
their entire lives in their native State, the former 
passing away Dec. 25, 1880, and the latter in 1869. 
They pursued unobtrusively the lives of peaceable 
citizens and worthy members of society, and both 
were connected with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Our subject, when a 3'outh of seventeen, began 
learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed 
eleven years. In 1863 he migrated to Oil City, Pa., 
where he operated three years, having a well of his 
own and opening up sixteen wells for other parties. 
This speculation was fairty successful, but he finally 
resolved to make his permanent home in the West. 
After passing his twenty-second year he was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary J. Duff, the wedding 
taking place at tlie home of the bride in Hunting- 
don County, Pa., Dec. 30, 1862. Mrs. Smith is the 
daughter of Charles and Eliza (Cunningham) Duff, 



t 



378 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of Huntingdon County, Pa., and by her union with 
our subject became the mother of three children 
Elizabeth. Win n if red and Charles C. Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith remained in their native State six years 
after their marriage, when they emigrated to Illi- 
nois, and Mr. Smith purchased the land included 
in his present homestead. He began life dependent 
upon his own resources, and the result is a fine illus- 
tration of what may be accomplished by persever- 
ing industry. On his arrival in this county he 
owed a debt of $62, which, however, he liquidated 
in a short time, and by the exercise of the closest 
economy, in due time found himself upon his feet 
and on the highway to prosperity. 

The parents and grandparents of Mrs. Smith 
were all natives of Pennsylvania, and her paternal 
grandfather was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her par- 
ents came to Illinois in 1866, settling in Pontiac 
Township, this county, where the father died Sept. 
12, 1873, and the mother July 13, 1887. They 
were people highly esteemed by their neighbors, 
and members in good standing of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



n- 



IMON BRINKMANN. The beautiful farm 
which occupies a quarter of section 33, in 
Rook's Creek Township, eliciting the ad- 
miration of all passers-by, is the property of 
the gentleman whose name stands at the head of 
this sketch. He has obtained it through his own 
plodding industry, as he was early in life thrown 
upon his own resources. From working as a farm 
laborer, he has become a man of property, and a 
citizen greatly respected as one of the men con- 
tributing his full share to the progress and develop- 
ment of Livingston County. 

Mr. Brinkmami spent his childhood in the Father- 
land, where his birth took place in the Province of 
Dctmold, Oct. 24, 1839. He is the son of Karl 
and Sophia (Drachmeir) Brinkmann, also natives of 
(Jermany, who emigrated to the United States in 
1853, the year following the arrival of their son 
here. Karl Brinkmann w;is born in 17KIJ, and 
died at his home in Mason County. 111., in 1863, 




being sixty-seven years of age, while his wife, 
Sophia, commenced life in the year 1806, and passed 
away in 1861. The paternal grandfather of our 
subject, Louis Brinkmann, spent his entire life in 
Germany, as also (lid August Drachmeir, the 
maternal grandfather. 

The subject of our biography was the third in a 
family of five children who all came to this country 
with their parents. He has a half-sister who was 
married and remains in Germany. His own broth- 
ers and sister were : Frederick, who was married 
but died without children; Henry, who died and 
left two children; August, a resident of Independ- 
ence, Kan., and the father of eight children; and 
Sophia, the wife of John Myers, the mother of nine 
children, and a resident of Mason County, 111. 
Simon was nineteen years of age when he came to 
America, where two brothers had preceded him. 
He joined them in Mason County, and after oc- 
cupying himself as a farm hand one 3 r ear, took 
charge of his brother's farm in that place. The 
3'ear following he was married, Nov. 18, 1862, to 
Miss Mary, daughter of Herman and Henrietta 
(Bulk) Uthmiller. The young people commenced 
housekeeping on a rented farm where they con- 
tinued seven years, when they purchased the land 
which they now occupy, and have brought to a 
fine state of improvement. The lowland has been 
thoroughly drained with tile and they have a good 
residence and all other necessary buildings for the 
shelter of stock and the storage of grain. Their 
home has been brightened by the birth of nine 
children, all at home with their parents. Sophia, 
the eldest daughter, was born Jan. 14, 1864; Loue, 
Dec. 31, 1865; Frederick, April 13, 1867; Henry, 
Sept. 21, 1871; William, May 22, 1874; Matilda, 
March 24, 1878; Simon, Oct. 21, 1880; Mary, Jan. 
30, 1883; Anna, Dec. 5, 1885. 

Mrs. Brinkmann was the second in a family of 
three children born to her parents. Her brother 
William is unmarried and lives in Mason Count}': 
Elizabeth, the wife of George Behm, has seven 
children and lives in Havana, 111. Upon occasions 
of important elections Mr. Brinkmann casts his 
vote with the Democratic party, but in local affairs 
Minis to support the man best qualified for office. 
He h;is served as School Director eight years in 



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LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



383 



this township, but further than this has steadily 
declined becoming an office-holder. He was reared 
in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, and loy- 
ally adheres to the religious faith of his parents. 




v 



FRANKLIN M. EADS is a representative 
of the family from which sprang James B. 
Eads, the noted civil engineer who has 
made his name famous in his connection with the 
navigation of the Mississippi. The subject of our 
sketch is one of the most prosperous farmers and 
stock-growers of Indian Grove Township, and owns 
a fine body of land on section 26, and also 193 
acres in Belle Prairie Township. He was born in 
Morgan County, this State, Dec. 28, 1833, and is 
the son of John and Jane (Anderson) Eads, natives 
respectively of Maryland and North Carolina. 
When but a lad John Eads removed to Lexington, 
Ky.. with his parents, and there learned black- 
smithing and followed the trade for forty or fifty 
years. He came to Illinois in 1828 or 1829, set- 
tling first in Jacksonville, Morgan County, where 
he resided until 1832, when he removed to a farm 
twelve miles southeast of the city, where, with his 
family, he spent the remainder of his life. His 
death took place about 1859, and that of his widow 
in about 1881. 

The mother of our subject, Jane Brandon An- 
derson, was born five miles from Salisbury, Rowan 
Co., N. C., Oct. 5, 1796, and died at his residence, 
five miles south of Fairbury, April 15, 1881, at the 
age of eighty-four years, six mouths and ten days. 
She was the third child of Thomas and Martha 
(Dickey) Anderson, and her paternal grandfather, 
Isaac Anderson, was one of the original settlers of 
Rowan County, N. C., and married Miss Sarah 
Farmer. The first husband of Jane Brandon was 
Ezekiel Turner, and her second John Eads, Sr., of 
Jacksonville, Morgan Co., 111., to whom she was 
married Sept. 18, 1828. 

Our subject remained under the parental roof 
until a youth of nineteen years, receiving a com- 
mon-school education and being trained to habits 
of industry and economy. Then, under the in- 
struction of an elder brother, who was located in 



the small village of Waverly, he took up the trade 
his father had so long and industriously followed. 
After an experience of about ten years in the shop 
he turned his attention to fanning, and has since 
been energetically engaged in tilling the soil. He 
has been greatly prospered in his labors, and from 
the time of his first purchase of a quarter section of 
land he has accumulated until he is now the pro- 
prietor of 515 acres, all under a good state of cul- 
tivation. His stock-raising operations have been 
extensive, and his stables include imported Clyde 
horses and Short-horn cattle. As a breeder of 
horses he has attained an enviable reputation, and 
with his cattle has followed the practice of Mr. 
Haaf, of Henry County, 111., that of sawing the 
horns off close to the head. This he esteems a 
humane procedure. He has also added sheep-rais- 
ing to his other interests, and as might be expected, 
keeps the best grades. His residence and farm 
buildings are of excellent description, and every- 
thing about the premises indicates thrift and in- 
dustry of no mean order, and we are pleased to 
present a full-page view of them as a representative 
farm estate of Livingston County. 

After reaching his twenty-third year Mr. Eads 
was united in marriage with Miss Esmeralda Pat- 
ton. The wedding took place at the home of the 
bride in Woodford County on the 31st of May, 
1857. Of this union there was born one child, a 
son, Willie E., who died when five mouths old. 
The wife was called to the other world in 1868. 
The second wife of our subject was Miss Minerva 
Travis, to whom he was married Feb. 13, 1873. 
She became the mother of three children, namely : 
Laura, who died in infancy; Dora M., who was 
born March 15, 1875, and Lester E., Jan. 22, 
1877. The mother of these children died at her 
home in Indian Grove Township in 1877. 

The present wife of our subject was formerly 
Mi's. John (Thompson) Hougham. This marriage 
resulted in the birth of one child who died in 
infancy. Mrs. Eads was born in McLean County, 
this State, Aug. 27, 1846, and is the daughter of 
Simpson E. and Narcissa Thompson, natives of 
Kentucky, and now living in McLean County. 
Mr. Eads has held the various offices of his town- 
ship and officiated as Deacon in the Christian 



t. 



^tr 

4 ;),s4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Church for eight years, and has recently been 
made an Elder. He meddles little in politics and 
is a strong Prohibitionist. Mrs. Eads united with 
the Christian Church in about the year 1864, and 
has ever since been a worth} 1 member. 

In Livingston County may be found many highly 
cultivated and well equipped farms, and some of 
the most advanced and enterprising farmers in the 
State. While it may be classed among the very 
leading agricultural counties of the Northwest it 
takes an equal rank among the counties more es- 
pecially devoted to raising fine stock. Here both 
the tilling of the soil and the breeding of farm 
animals are practiced after the most modern and 
scientific principles. The pioneers in these "ad- 
vanced methods are rendering invaluable service 
to the community about them. They are men of 
skill, foresight and enterprise. Among the leading 
men of the county in both branches is Mr. Eads, 
the gentleman whose life is briefly outlined above, 
and it is with pleasure that we present his portrait 
in this volume. 



ENRY ARTHUR SWIFT, dealer in hard- 
ware in the town of Dana, LaSalle County, 
just over the line dividing that and Living- 
ston Counties, is a native of the State of 
Illinois, and was born on the 14th of February, 
1859. He is the son of Robert S. and Sarah H. 
(Smallwood) Swift. He remained with his parents 
attending the common schools until fourteen years 
of age, where he made such progress in his studies 
that at the age of seventeen he began to teach in 
the village of Reading, Reading Township, Living- 
ston County, and alternated his time between 
teaching and going to school until July, 1885, at- 
tending school at Valparaiso, Ind., about fifteen 
months, during which time he completed the busi- 
ness course of that institution. In that month lie 
engaged in the hardware business in the town of 
Flanagan. 

On the 20th of October, 1885, Mr. Swift was 
married to Lunette Hakes, daughter of Alfred B. 
and Marion (Howe) Hakes, natives of New York. 
Mrs. Swift is a native of Illinois, and they have 
4* 




had one child born to them, 6n the 20th of January, 
1887, upon whom they have conferred the name of 
Maudie Roe. Mrs. Hakes was born on the 3d of 
August, 1835, and is the mother of nine children, 
eight of whom are living. Their names are as fol- 
lows: Jared is married to Miss Elizabeth Clcgg; 
they have a family of four children, and are en- 
gaged in farming in Livingston County. Anthony 
I. married Miss Mary Belt, and is a farmer by oc- 
cupation; they have three children, and live in 
Logan County, Kan. Lunette, Mrs. Henry A. 
Swift, was born Dec. 16, 1863; Annie M. was born 
in 1858, and died in February, 1859; Mary Jane, 
Edgar, Arthur, Cora May and Hettie, all at home. 

At the time this sketch is written, Mr. Swift is 
engaged in the hardware trade in the town of Dana, 
LaSalle County, and carries a general line of shelf 
and heavy hardware. He has been located in Dana 
since the 1st of March, 1886, and has drawn to 
himself an extensive trade from the surrounding 
country. He owns the house and lot where he 
lives, and also the business house and lot where he 
conducts his business. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Church, in which they take 
an active interest. In politics he votes and acts 
with the Republican party, and is a strong advo- 
cate of the prohibition of the manufacture and sale 
of intoxicating liquors. 

Mr. Swift is a young man who has developed ex- 
cellent business qualifications, and those who know 
him predict for him a bright future. He possesses 
the three great requisites for success honesty, in- 
dustry and economy and stands high among the 
business men of Dana, and of the two counties 
wherein lies his trade. 



"OHN VICKERY, well known throughout 
Nevada Township as one of its most exten- 
sive and successful farmers, was born on the 
other side of the water, and has traveled 
over a large portion of this continent, having so- 
journed in twenty-one different States. He pos- 
st'-ses more than ordinary intelligence, and has 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



.8854 



made the most of his opportunities for seeing life 
and becoming acquainted with the various phases 
of human nature. He has always been active, and 
known no greater pleasure than that of a stirring- 
business life, in which both hands and brain may 
be employed. 

The early home of our subject was in Devon- 
shire, England, where his birth took place Oct. 1, 
1824. He was reared not far from the vale of Ex- 
eter, noted for its rich and beautiful stretch of 
country, and which forms such a strong contrast to 
the rugged coasts of the Bristol Channel, which 
upon the contrary, is broken and diversified, being 
in some places wild and sterile, and in others re- 
markable for fertility. The famous cattle prized 
so highly in America, the red Devons, originated 
in this county, and Dartmoor, also within its limits, 
feeds large numbers of small ponies, which, accord- 
ing to their size, possess remarkable strength and 
endurance, and are used largely in the mines. 

Our subject passed his childhood and youth 
upon the farm of his father, Christopher Vickery, 
a native of Cornwall, and the descendant of a line 
of excellent ancestry who were mostly engaged in 
farming pursuits. The father of our subject spent 
his last years in Devonshire, and the homestead 
still remains in the family, being now the property 
of his grandson, Thomas Vickery. Christopher, 
although fond of country life, engaged consider- 
ably in trade, and also dealt largely in live stock. 
His wife, the mother of our subject, was formerly 
Miss Elizabeth Hodge, a native of the same county 
as her son, and the daughter of Thomas Hodge. 
She departed this life not far from the place of her 
birth, where she had always lived, in the spring of 
1828, and had been the mother of four children, 
one of whom died in infancy; Thomas still resides 
in England ; Elizabeth came to America, became 
the wife of Charles Vole, and died in Vienna Town- 
ship, Grundy County, this State, about 1850. 

Mr. Vickery attended school quite steadily dur- 
ing his childhood and youth, and subsequently em- 
ployed himself in assisting his father around the 
homestead, and also learned the butcher's trade. 
He remained in England until nearly twenty-one 
years old, but his busy brain had for some time 
been devising a scheme whereby he might better 



his condition in life. On the 12th of July, 1845, 
he proceeded to Plymouth and embarked on a sail- 
ing-vessel bound for America. After a voyage 
of six weeks and four days, he landed at Quebec, 
Canada, whence he proceeded directly to Kingston, 
and a month later to Toronto. From there he mi- 
grated first to Cleveland, Ohio, and then to Cincin- 
nati, keeping himself supplied with pocket money 
by working at his trade. We next find him in 
Racine, Wis., and in 1847 he located in Grundy 
County, this State, and for a year was engaged in 
farming. This locality pleased him better than 
anywhere he had yet be^n, and he accordingly pur- 
chased a quarter section of land in Vienna Town- 
ship. He improved this considerably, and sold 
out at a good profit a few years later. He invested 
in another quarter section in the same township, 
which he also sold, and taking up his abode in 
Highland Township, farmed there until 1872. In 
the spring of that 3'ear he came to this county and 
purchased apart of the land which he now occupies. 
Mr. Vickery has been remarkably successful in 
his farming operations, the land responding gener- 
ously to his skillful and thorough management. 
He added to his acreage until he has now 435 acres 
in Nevada and Dwight Townships, all of which is 
improved and supplied with good buildings. Be- 
sides this he has 600 acres in Grundy County. 
This furnishes employment to a large number of 
men, horses and machinery, and like other enter- 
prising citizens he has thus acted the part of a pub- 
lic benefactor. 

Mr. Vickery was married, March 22, 1854, in 
Kane County, 111., to Miss Mary Stale}', and they 
became the parents of two children : Fremont J., 
born June 19, 1856, married Miss Nettie Johnston, 
a native of Lee County, and of Scotch parentage; 
they have one child, a son, Paul B. Charles B., 
the younger son of Mr. Vickery, was born June 15, 
1871, and remains at home with his parents. Mrs. 
Vickery was born in Euphrates Township, Mont- 
gomery Co., N. Y., July 10, 1832. Her father, 
Adam Staley, was born in Johnstown, that county, 
and was the son of Abraham Staley, a native of Hol- 
land, who came to America when young, locating 
in Johnstown during its early settlement. He mar- 
i ried a lady of French birth, and both himself and 
-*. 



tin 

t 



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LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






wife spent their last years in that locality. Grand- 
father Staley was a man of great enterprise and in- 
dustry, and owned a good farm which he had 
opened up from the wilderness. 

Adam Staley, the father of Mrs. Vickery, was 
reared to manhood in his native town, and after 
his marriage purchased a small farm near Euphra- 
tes, which he occupied until 1840. He then sold 
out and started for the West, accompanied by his 
wife and four children. They proceeded by team 
to Buffalo, and then embarked, teams and all, on a 
vessel bound for Toledo. Thence they drove to 
Kane County, fording the river two miles below 
Aurora. Mr. Staley rented a farm in Aurora Town- 
ship, which he occupied a year, and then on ac- 
count of ill-health, returned East as far as New 
York State, locating in Oneida County, where he 
resided nine or ten years. Illinois in the mean- 
time had become more thickly settled, the land in 
better condition and the atmosphere purer. He 
accordingly returned to the West, and subsequently 
purchased a tract of land in Island Township, 
Grundy County, from which he opened up a good 
farm which continued his home until his death, in 
June, 1865. The mother of Mrs. Vickery was 
formerly Miss Sallie Higgins, a native of New 
York, and the daughter of Ebenezer Higgins, also 
a native of and a representative of one of the finest 
families in the Empire State. She is still living, 
and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Frances West, 
in Montgomery County, Iowa. 

When Mr. Vickery came to Illinois there was 
not a railroad in the State. His nearest market 
was at Morris, and the nearest railroad at Niles, 
Mich., from which point he went to Michigan City, 
Ind., and then to Chicago, and from there by stage 
to Grundy County. He has been the leader in the 
various enterprises for the development of the re- 
sources of Livingston County, and was among the 
first to encourage the establishment of religious 
and educational institutions. He has, since a 
young man, been connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he officiated as Class- 
Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday-school, 
and is now Trustee and Steward. He identified 
himself with the Republican party upon its organi- 
zation, and since old enough to think for himself. 



has been an Abolitionist of the strongest kind. 
While a resident of Lisbon, his house was one of 
the depots of the underground railroad, through 
which many a fugitive found his way to freedom. 
Taken altogether, his life may be written down as 
a success. He has spent few idle days and neg- 
lected few opportunities to use his means and in- 
fluence toward the advancement of mankind, and 
the dissemination of the principles of truth and 
Christianity. 

eHARLES KETTELLE, deceased, was a na- 
tive of Boston, Mass., and was born on the 
8th of June, 1 804. He was the son of An- 
drew and Eleanor Kettelle, of French descent, and 
was reared to manhood in his native city and State, 
where he received a good education. In 1831 he 
came West and located in Peoria County, 111., 
where he was one of the first pioneers of the count}', 
which then contained a population of only about 
300 people. He was one among the first Recorders 
of Peoria County, and served in that office for 
fourteen years, and afterward held the office of 
County Clerk for about twenty years, besides serv- 
ing in several minor offices. He was one of the 
pioneer business men of Peoria, and that city did 
him the honor to name one of its thoroughfares 
Kettelle street. 

On the 12th of September, 1837, Mr. Kettelle 
was married to Lucinda C. Dickenson, who was 
born on the 18th of April, 1819, in Hadley, Mass., 
and went to Peoria, 111., in 1836. She is the 
daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Stockbridge) 
Dickenson, both natives of New England. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kettelle had eight children, five of whom 
are living: George H.; Charles A., the well-known 
attorney -at-law, of Chicago; Cordelia S., Edwin S. ; 
Katie, the wife of J. W. Smith, and three deceased. 
Eleanor, Abigail and Samuel. Mr. Kettelle died 
on the 14th of March, 1882, in his seventy-ninth 
year. 

The subject of this sketch was a Democrat in 
politics, and usually took a very active part in 
local, State and National campaigns. His church 
connections were with the Swedenborgian denomi- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



nation. He was a man whose reputation extended 
beyond the boundary lines of Peoria County, and 
he enjoyed the acquaintance of most of the prom- 
inent people of the State, while all who knew him 
esteemed his friendship very highly. The citizens 
of Peoria honored him with the offer of Mayoralty, 
which he declined, and accepted a seat in the 
Board of Alderman. In his death the family lost 
a kind and indulgent husband and father, and Peo- 
ria Count}' one of her most useful and esteemed 
citizens. In the spring of 1882 he removed with 
his family to Livingston County, where he died 
within a few days after his arrival. The widow is 
now in her sixty-ninth year, and with the other 
members of the family resides on section 33, Pon- 
tiac Township. She owns eighty acres of land, and 
in her old age is enjoying the fruits of a life spent 
in usefulness and well doing. 



; UDOLPH ULFERS, of Avoca Township, a 
self-made man and a fine representative of 

\ the German element which has assisted so 
w|X) materially in the development of Central 
Illinois, is located on section 32, where he has 160 
acres of good land. This he has brought to a fine 
state of cultivation, and it is all enclosed with good 
fences. The buildings are of that substantial char- 
acter required by the progressive farmer, and the 
premises which he has built up by his own industry' 
and thrift illustrate in a decided manner his enter- 
prise and perseverance. Upon coming to this 
country he labored under more than usual disad- 
vantages, being not only poor in pocket, but $80 
in debt. This he liquidated as soon as possible, 
and before very long met with that encouragement 
which was the legitimate result of his honesty and 
industry. Ere long he found himself not only out 
of debt, but with the prospect of securing a home 
and something to lay by for a rainy day. 

Mr. Ulfers was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, 
Nov. 21. 1845, where he spent his childhood and 
youth, and received the advantages of a common- 
school education. He emigrated to America in 
the spring of 18G8, before reaching his twenty- 
third year, making the passage from Bremen on a 



sailing-vessel, and landing in New York City after 
a tedious voyage of eight weeks. He had already 
heard of the Prairie State, and without tarrying 
long in the metropolis, he started directly for Illi- 
nois and located first in Tazewell County. A year 
later he came to Livingston County, where he has 
since remained. He was first employed as a farm 
laborer, lived economically and saved what he 
could of his earnings, and will never forget the 
time when he was so happy as to be able to secure 
a quarter section of land. He has become thor- 
oughly Americanized, is a Republican in politics, 
and a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

The lady who has shared the home of our sub- 
ject for the last fifteen years and to whom he was 
married April 5, 1873, was formerly Miss Sophia 
Brown, daughter of Jacob and Rosa Brown, of 
Avoca Township. She was born in New York, re- 
ceived a fair education in the common school, and 
remained with her parents until her marriage. She 
is now the mother of five children, who were born 
as follows: Katie, Aug. 3, 1874; John, Dec. 17, 
1876; Jacob, July 11, 1879; Emma, Sept. 21, 1881, 
and Anna, Jan. 21, 1884. 




DSON L. WILDER, who is one of the most 
independent and enterprising of farmers and 
stock-raisers, located on section 19, in 
Waldo Township, was born in Oswego County, N. 
Y., on the 15th of August, 1840. His father was 
born in Townsend Township, Windham Co., Vt., 
on the 13th of March, 1809, and received a fair 
common-school education. The grandfather, Natt 
Wilder, was born in Massachusetts July 9, 1784, 
and died Aug. 24, 1839. The grandmother, Polly 
(Warner) Wilder, was born June 30, 1783, and 
died April 10, 1852. The great-grandfather, Joshua 
Wilder, was a tanner by trade, which he followed 
in Vermont. He reared a family of twelve chil- 
dren, and previous to his death he worked in a 
hay field with five generations of his descendants. 
At the age of nine years Mr. Wilder's father 
accompanied the grandfather, Natt Wilder, from 
his farm in Vermont, and settled in Oswego County, 



1 

f 



3K.S 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



N. Y. At the age of eighteen he began to learn 
the trade of a carpenter, and after working at that 
occupation for about two years, met with an acci- 
dent which unfitted him for manual labor, and the 
following winter he taught school. After this he 
worked at his trade a portion of the time as jour- 
neyman, and then as a contractor. On the 9th of 
February, 1835, he was married to Susan Titus, 
daughter of P. T. and Martha (Barnum) Titus. 
Before he was married he had purchased a house 
and lot in Washingtonville, where the parents be- 
gan housekeeping, and where the subject of our 
sketch was born. In 1837 the father began deal- 
ing in a general stock of merchandise, and fol- 
lowed that business for about three years, after 
which he resumed work at his trade. In 1856 he 
sold out in New York, and moved to Peoria 
County, 111., where he again engaged at his trade, 
leaving the sons to do the farming. He is the 
father of four living children : Marshall DeForrest, 
Malcom Dunois, Edsou Lleweltyn and Mary Alice. 
It is worthy of note that though they had been 
married fifty-two years, there had never been a 
death in the family. The mother was born in 
Oswego County, N. Y., Jan. 21), 1811, and was 
reared on a farm until eighten years of age, when 
her parents moved to Washingtonville, where she 
was married and lived until the removal West in 
1856. In Peoria County the father was Justice of 
the Peace a number of years, and in Waldo Town- 
ship, this county, he held the same office for a 
number of years, and was also Supervisor for 
eleven years. The parents are now both quite 
aged, and live in WaJdo Township with their sons, 
all of whom are settled on the same section. 

The father of our subject is the eldest in a fam- 
ily of five children: Polly, born July 15,1811, 
died unmarried; Loren, born Nov. 11, 1813, mar- 
ried Mary Hanson, lias three children, and lives 
in Medina Township, Peoria Co., Hi.; Laura, born 
July 16, 1815, married Rufus Salisbury, has one 
child, and lives in Oswego County, N. Y. ; Mar- 
shall, who was born Feb. 28, 1818, married Emma F. 
Green, and died Nov. 7, 1848, leaving two chil- 
dren. Mr. Wilder's mother is the sixth in a fam- 
ily of nine children, as follows: Sarah A., born 
March 21, 1800, married Jonathan Newton, and 



had twelve children, two of whom were in the 
Union army; Treat, born in December, 1803, mar- 
ried Iloxana Lester, and died leaving one child ; 
Lucinda married Elisha Stevens, and died leaving 
five children; Betsy, born Feb. 12, 1807, married 
David Ames, has six children, and lives in New 
York; Amos Barnum, born May 18, 1808, married 
Sophia Fitch, has one child and lives in Michigan; 
Susan is the mother of our subject; Anson, born 
Jan. 22, 1814, married Nancy Spencer, had nine 
children, and lives in Minnesota; Hannah, born 
July 29, 1817, married Robert McAdam, died and 
left one child; Martha, born March 1, 1820, mar- 
ried Alfred Welsh, has several children, and lives 
in Michigan. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in the lit- 
tle village of Washingtonville until he was sixteen 
years of age, during which time he received a 
good common-school education. In 1856 he came 
with his parents to Illinois and located in Peoria 
Count}-, where the father rented ground for the 
boys to farm. Here they remained farming in 
partnership, part of the time on rented land and 
afterward on ground which they purchased, until 
1864, when they sold their interest there, and in 
1865 joined in buying 256 acres of land in Living- 
ston County. Mr. Wilder continued farming op- 
erations with his brothers until 1880, when the 
firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and since 
that time he has carried on the business himself on 
a farm of 160 acres, which is partly tiled and un- 
der a good state of cultivation. 

Mr. Wilder was married, on the llth of April, 
1872, to Miss Jane Watson, daughter of Alexan- 
der and Isabella (Ironsides) Watson, of Waldo 
Township. She was born in Aberdeenshire, Scot- 
land, July 25, 1846, and came to this country with 
her mother and step-father, when about twenty-five 
years of age. Her father died in Scotland when 
she was about fourteen years of age, and after- 
ward her mother married Thomas Kirkton, by 
whom she had one son, John Kirkton, who married 
Carrie Nethercott, and lives in Waldo Township. 
Mrs. Wilder is the eldest of three children, born 

i of the first marriage. Isabella was born Dec. 7, 
1852, and married Malcom Wilder, a brother of 

, our subject. Alexander W. was born Sept. 13, 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



3,S!) 



1868, and lives in Waldo Township. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Wilder four children have been born, as fol- 
lows: Loren, Jan. 21, 1873; Edson A., July 29, 
1874; George W., Sept. 8, 1877, and Frances Jean- 
ette, April 24,1887. 

Air. Wilder is a Democrat and comes of Demo- 
cratic stock on his father's side. He is not con- 
nected with any church. His parents were promi- 
nent Congregationalists in New York, but on ac- 
count of there being no congregation here they 
united with the Presbyterians at El Paso. Mrs. 
Wilder belongs to the Congregational Church, but 
for the same reason attends the Presbyterian 
Church. They are both active members of soci- 
ety, and whatever is undertaken for the benefit of 
the community in which they live, is heartily sup- 
ported by them. 



OIIN F. OVERHOLT, of the town of Read- 
ing, in Reading Township, has followed the 
profession of school teaching for the past 
t wenty-five years, but is now retired from its 
active duties. He was born in Fayette County, 
Pa., on the 1st of May, 1842, and is the son of 
Jacob D. and Mary F. (Freed) Overholt, natives of 
Pennsylvania, where the father was born in Bucks 
County, in 1804, and the mother in Fayette County, 
in 1813. To them were born the following chil- 
dren: Elizabeth, born in 1831, married William II. 
Lei.ninberger, a stone-cutter, and by him had five 
children, one of whom is dead; the husband died in 
1883. Henry, born in 1834, died fn childhood; 
Martin, born in 1837, married Lizzie Patterson, of 
Reading Township, had two children, and lived in 
Strcator, where he was engaged in merchandising; 
he died in 1 877. John F. is the subject of this sketch ; 
Abraham, born in 1843, enlisted in Company E, 
155th Pennsylvania Infantry, and died at Sharps- 
burg. Md., after serving one year; Mary, born in 
1 846, died at the age of seven ; Annie E., born in 
July, 1849, was married in 1872 to Joseph R. 
Laughrey, superintendent of one of tin- coal-works 
at Dawsou, Pa.; she has four children. Joseph, 
born in 1852, now resides in Dakota: he married 



Albina Piersol, and had one child, who, with the 
mother, died of typhoid fever ; Sarah, born in 1855, 
died in infancy. The grandparents of our subject 
were Jacob Overholt and Elizabeth Detwiler, natives 
of Pennsylvania, and the mother was Mary F. 
Freed, daughter of Henry and Barbara (Newcomber) 
Freed, also natives of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. John F. Overholt, our subject, spent his 
youth and early manhood in Pennsylvania, where 
he engaged in work upon the farm and clerking in 
a store, and during the time secured a good educa- 
tion in the common and Normal schools of West- 
moreland County. He came from that State to 
Illinois in the year 1861, at the age of nineteen. 
For twenty-five years he taught school without 
intermiss'ion, during the winter seasons, also engag- 
ing in merchandising in Pontiac, and for five years 
conducted a drug business. 

On the 7th of November, 1867, Mr. Overholt was 
married to Mary E. Mathis, of Reading, who was 
bom on the 29th of November, 1846. She is the 
daughter of Jeremiah and Helen (McKinney) 
Mathis, a record of whose family is as follows: 
Maggie married George Wolverton, and died at the 
birth of their second child, in 1861; Rhuhamie mar- 
ried George Wolverton, and had three children; 
her husband is now deceased ; Charles married, and 
is engaged at hotel-keeping at Bartells, in the In- 
dian Territory ; Mary E. is the wife of. our subject; 
Seymour, born March 30, 1848, resides in Streator 
and is a carpenter by occupation; he married 
Carrie Fogler, and they have had six children, one 
of whom is dead. Oliver, a farmer in Kansas, mar- 
ried Miss Ellie Allen, and they have had five chil- 
dren, one of whom is dead ; Lucien, porter for a 
wholesale house in Peoria, married Mary Pope, and 
they have one child ; Carrie died aged four years. 
Mr. Overholt is a Republican in politics, and has 

; held numerous public positions, among which are 
Town Clerk, Justice of the Peace, Township Col- 

i lector, and for a number of years he was Notary 
Public. He discharged the duties of all the po- 
sitions with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction 
of the people. In his chosen profession he has 
been longer engaged continuously than any other 
man in the township, except one. It is a profession 
in which he has always taken much pride, and 





390 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



through it he has gained a good knowledge of 
human nature. He has displayed much energy in 
studying the most modern methods of teaching, 
and has kept well abreast of the times in the se- 
lection of text books. 



J~~ OHN W. KLYVER, merchant, Postmaster, 
Station and Express Agent at Rugby in 
Owego Township, has established his perma- 
1 nent home many miles from the place of his 
birth, as he first opened his eyes to the light, May 
2, 1841. in the Kingdom of Denmark. He is a 
gentleman of excellent education, and more than 
ordinary ability, having been carefully reared, and 
completing his studies in the university at Jonstrup, 
one of the best educational institutes in Denmark 
at that time. Subsequently he engaged as a teacher 
in his native country, and afterward became a soldier 
in the Danish army during the war between Prussia 
and Denmark. He participated in several important 
battles and was once slightly wounded. 

Our subject is the son of Frederick and Christina 
Klyver, also natives of Denmark, where the father 
spent his life and where his remains now lie at rest. 
The mother is still living in her native country. At 
the close of his military services John W., desirous 
of a career which he had no hopes of entering upon 
in his native country, resolved to emigrate to the 
New World. Bidding adieu to his friends and the 
playmates of his childhood, he embarked on a sail- 
ing-vessel at Hamburg, and after a tedious voyage 
of forty -three days, set foot upon American soil. 
He first located in Long Branch. N. J.. whence he 
started two months later for the West and was em- 
ployed for two and one-half years at Joliet. Subse- 
quently he went South, where he spent four years, 
and removed to Livingston County in the fall of 
1878. He farmed for a time on rented land and 
finally engaged in merchandising at Rugby, having 
purchased the stock of Joseph Royle, and since that 
time has conducted a successful trade. lie has 
pursued those methods which have secured him the 
confidence and esteem of the community, and be 
numbers among his friends and patrons the very best 
people of Owego Township. 



While a resident of Chicago, Mr. Klyver was 
united in marriage with Miss Maria Ericksen, the 
wedding taking place on the 20th of December. 
1877, at the home of the bride in that city. Mr. K. 
and his bride located at once in Dwight, and in due 
time became the parents of a son, William, whose birth 
took place .Sept. 27, 1880, and who still remains the 
only child. Mr. Klyver took jxjssession of his farm 
property in Owego Township in 1886. It includes 
130 acres of fertile land with all the necessary farm 
buildings, a goodly assortment of live stock and all 
the other accessories of prosperous country life. It 
is free from inciinibrance, and considering the fact 
that Mr. K. came to this county with a cash capital 
of but $6, he will not be blamed if he views the re- 
sult of his labors with considerable pride and satis- 
faction. After becoming a naturalized citizen he 
identified himself with the Republican party, whose 
principles he still maintains. 

Mr. K. is a member of Sullivan Center Lodge No. 
738, A. F. & A. M., of Sannemin, Livingston Co., 111. 
He is connected with the Danish Lutheran Church, 
and is the supporter of those enterprises calculated 
to benefit the people at large both morally and intel- 
lectually. 



OHN WILKEY, the subject of this sketch, 
and his wife, are both natives of England, 
where they spent the greater portion of their 
lives, only becoming citizens of this coun- 
try about seventeen years ago, since which time 
they have had no occasion to regret their change of 
place of residence. Mr. Wilkey is now perma- 
nently located as a farmer and stock-raiser on sec- 
tion 29, Waldo Township. He was born in Charles 
Township, Devonshire, England, on the 27th of Feb- 
ruary, 1845, and is the son of John and Mary (King- 
don) Wilkey, who were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, of whom our subject was the second. George 
died in England, and the others came to this coun- 
try. James married, but his wife died, leaving 
three children; he resides in El Paso. Mary, Mrs. 
George Gibbs, has six children, and lives in Waldo 
Township; Charles is married, has one child, and 
lives in Benson, Woodford County ; Elizabeth, 
Mrs. John Skinner, has five children, and lives 



. 











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"THE PARK* RESIDENCE or NATHAN HURT.FOREST, ILL. 



i ii IPM m\ iiiii 




RESIDENCE AND LUMBER YARD OF J.T.BULLARD,CHATSWORTH,|LL 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



393 



in Wood ford County; Henry is married, has one 
child, and lives in Benson. Wood ford County. 
Thomas is unmarried and lives in Waldo; Emma, 
Mrs. James Purkhurst, has two children, and 
lives in Benson, Wood ford County. Mr. Wil- 
key's parents came to America in 1879; the 
mother was born on the 9th of January, 1821, and 
died on the 10th of January, 1887. The father was 
born in 1814, and is now residing with his children 
at the age of seventy-three years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared as a farmer, 
and has followed that occupation during his life. 
On account of the surroundings during his boy- 
hood days he received but a limited education. At 
the age of twenty-three years he came to America, 
landing at New York City, where he remained for 
two years, engaged in work by the month. At the 
end of that time he returned to England for the 
purpose of marrying. On the 8th of March, 1870, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Web- 
ber, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Cuttland) 
Webber, of Devonshire. He and his wife then 
came to America, and at once proceeded to El Paso, 
111., where he engaged in work by the month for 
three years. He then purchased a team and oper- 
ated a rented farm of eighty acres. At the end of 
nine years he had accumulated sufficient means to 
purchase a farm of his own, and he invested in 
eighty acres, upon which he now lives, adding to it 
in 1887 forty acres more on the same section. This 
land he has put under an excellent state of cultiva- 
tion and has made marked improvements upon it. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Wilkey have been born three 
children, as follows: George Henry, Jan. 17, 1872; 
Annie, July 10, 1875; and Ida, Jan. 22, 1882. 

Mrs. Wilkey was born Aug. 23, 1849, and re- 
ceived a good common-school education. Her par- 
ents remained in England, where her mother is still 
living; the father is dead. Mrs. Wilkey is the 
fourth in a family of five living children; Jane, 
Mrs. James Grunt, has several children, and lives 
in Devonshire, England; Edward is married, has 
five children, and lives in Devonshire; Philip is 
married, has four children, and lives in Devonshire; 
Richard is married, has five children, and lives in 
El Paso, 111. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilkey deserve much credit for the 



rapidity with which they have accumulated property 
since they became residents of this country. They 
came from families noted for their thrift and en- 
terprise in England, and have well maintained the 
reputation in this country that had been gained by 
their parents in the old. They are comfortably sit- 
uated and pleasantly surrounded at their home in 
Waldo Township, and the circle of friends which 
they have gathered around them is both pleasant 
and large. 




S T HURT, proprietor of 302 acres of 
l! fine farming land, lives just outside the 
limits of Forest, where he has built a snug 
homestead in keeping with his reputation as a gen- 
tleman of cultivated tastes and ample means. He 
is principally engaged as a live-stock dealer, his 
transactions extending over a large area of territory, 
and in this department of agriculture he has been 
uniformly successful. He is highly esteemed in 
both social and business circles as one of the men 
who have assisted in developing the resources of 
Livingston County, arid building up its reputation 
as a progressive and intelligent community. 

Mr. Hurt was born in Garrard County, Ky., April 
5, 1848, and his parents, Elvin and Eliza J. (Bur- 
ton) Hurt, were also natives of the same county. 
They remained in that section until 1858, when 
they removed to Morgan County, Ind. The father, 
while visiting his former home in Kentucky, two 
years later,' was seized with an illness which soon 
terminated his life, and he was laid to rest in his na- 
tive soil. The mother continued to reside in Indi- 
ana, where her death took place at the homestead in 
1876. Of the five children included in the family 
circle, Cyrus and Sarah are deceased, while Robert 
and William are residents of Morgan County, Ind., 
and engaged in farming. 

Nathan Hurt was a lad of ten years when his 
father's family removed from Kentucky to Indiana. 
He had always been distinguished as a bright and 
ambitious boy, thoughtful beyond his years, and 
upon the outbreak of the late war, watched with in- 
tense interest the contest between the opposing arm- 
ies. In March, 1863, although but fifteen years of 
age, he .succeeded in being accepted as a Union 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



soldier, and to his great joy was permitted to enlist 
in Co. B, 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery. He marched 
bravely to the scene of conflict, and with his regi- 
ment participated in the battles of Ft. Blakesley 
and Spanish Fort, after which the regiment was 
ordered to Baton Rouge, La., and joined the Red 
River expedition. At Spanish Fort young Hurt 
was wounded by a piece of shell, which disabled him 
for a short time, but he recovered in time to partici- 
pate in the joyful congratulations of the North at 
the return of peace. 

After receiving his honorable discharge from the 
army, Mr. Hurt repaired to Tuscola, 111.,, and en- 
gaged in farming with his brothers Cyrus and Robert, 
where he continued until 1872. During the last 
year of his residence there, he was also interested 
iu the restaurant known as the Lopp & Hurt Res- 
taurant. He thence crossed the Mississippi and 
visited the mining districts of Colorado, where he 
had invested a sum of money, and also visited New 
Mexico, returning to Illinois in February, 1878. 
During 1877 he wasengaged in general merchandise 
at Ouray, Col., and from thence he came to Illi- 
nois. Not long after, iu February, 1878, he took 
up his residence in Forest Township, where he pur- 
chased land, and has since given his attention to 
agricultural pursuits and live stock. His farm is 
thoroughly improved and supplied with good build- 
ings and machinery. His homestead was a legacy 
left him by his uncle, the late Allan A. Burton, who 
was favorably known throughout this section of 
country, and comprises sixty -two acres, forming one 
of the handsomest dwelling-places in that region. 

The' lady who presides with grace and dignity 
over the home of our subject, and to whom he was 
married Jan. 14, 1885, was formerly Mrs. Lydia 
(Francis) Burton, daughter of John and Margaret 
(Ross) Francis, of Forest. She was born in Ohio, 
May 19, 1853, and of her union with our subject 
there is one child, a son, Edgar Burton, born April 
17, 1886. Mr. Hurt was reared in the doctrines of 
the Christian Church, of which his parents were 
prominent and worthy members, and with which he 
has been connected "since 1861. Mrs. H. belongs 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Forest. As 
intelligent and well-educated people, they enjoy the 
society of the best residents of Forest and vicinity. 




In our pictorial department ot this ALBUM, we 
present a view of Mr. Hurt's residence and sur- 
roundings. 



m 



AIRUSTHAYER BOLLARD, dealer in lum- 
ber, fuel, paints, oils, etc., at C'hatsworth, is 
one of the old and substantial business men 

of the place. He is a native of Bethel, 

AVindsor Co., Vt., where he was born on the -24th of 
July, 1828. His ancestors emigrated from En- 
gland, several generations back, and settled in New 
England. Mr. Bullard's father, Andes T. Billiard, 
was born in Francistown, N. II., is still living, and 
has been a minister in the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church for fifty-seven years. He is noweighty- 
four years of age, and exceedingly well preserved. 
The mother, Lydia Lincoln, a third cousin of Pres- 
ident Lincoln, was born in New Hampshire, and 
died in 1 875 at the age of seventy-seven years. They 
had four children, two boys and two girls, one boy 
dying at the age of fifteen years. The three living 
are : Rachel, wife of Thomas II. Hyde, who resides 
in Lincoln, Neb.; Lucinda, Mrs. Bailey F. Adams, 
of Randolph, Vt. ; and J. T., the subject of this 
sketch, who is the eldest of the children. 

Mr. Bullard availed himself of all the opportuni- 
ties afforded in his youth fora common-school edu- 
cation, and at the age of nineteen years he left 
home and clerked in a store at Hadley Falls, Mass. 
One year later he went to Boston, and entering the 
employ of a man who had a collecting agency, he 
engaged in collecting delinquent subscriptions for 
various newspapers in the Eastern States. In this 
capacity he served until 1853, when he accompanied 
his uncle, Benjamin Lincoln, to Illinois, and for 
several years resided in Chicago, where he learned 
the business of inspecting and dealing in lumber. 
In 1860 he moved to Paxton, where he owned a 
lumber-yard for three months, and then moved to 
Lodi, where he remained until 1864. He then re- 
turned to Chicago and became a member of the firm 
of J. H. Walker & Co., dealers in hides. In August. 
1 865, he went to Fairbury, where he carried on the 
lumber trade until 186S), and then came to Chats- 
worth and established his present business, which 
he has conducted on an extensive scale. He also 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4- 



owns a lumber-yard at Cullorn, and is a member of 
the firm of J. T. Billiard & Co., at Saiineinin, this 
county. 

Mr. Billiard has been twice married; the first 
time in 1855 to Mrs. Jane Sweetland, who was born 
in Wallingford, Vt. She died in February, 18G4, 
at Lodi, 111., leaving one son, Willie C. In May. 
18G5, he was married to Miss Mary F. Adams, of 
Randolph, Vt., near which place she was born. Of 
this marriage five children have been born, two of 
whom are living Josephine and John T. Mr. Bui- 
lard is a Democrat, and has held various local of- 
fices, serving as School Treasurer for twelve years. 
He is an intelligent member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, being a leading member of the Blue Lodge 
and a Knight Templar. He was made a Master 
Mason in DeWitt Clinton Lodge, at Northfield, 
Vt., in 1852, and has served as Master of Chats- 
worth Lodge No. 539, and as Eminent Com- 
mander of St. Paul Commandery No. 34, Knights 
Templar, Fairbury, 111. In his home surroundings 
Mr. Bullard is happily situated. His family is one 
of marked intelligence, and have had the advantage 
of refining influences. The residence they occupy 
and its surroundings is the most conspicuous in 
Chatsworth. Mr. Bullard is a genial, wide-awake 
man, who looks always on the sunny side of life, 
and enjoys his meals and a facetious story with 
equal relish. 

On an adjoining page will be found a view of 
Mr. Bollard's handsome residence and his business 
property. 



J~|OHN KELSO. When intelligently carried 
I on, the business of stock-raising has many 
pleasant features, besides being exceedingly 
' remunerative, and it is in this line of busi- 
ness that a large proportion of the farmers of cer- 
tain sections of Illinois have become wealthy. 
This is true of the gentleman who is hereby 
sketched, whose stock farm is located on section 18, 
in Indian Grove Township. Mr. Kelso came to 
Livingston County in March, 18C7, where he pur- 
chased 240 acres of land, and began earnestly the 
work of improving the same. It is now under per- 




fect and profitable cultivation, and he devotes large 
attention to the cultivation of imported horses, 
fine cattle, hogs and sheep. In the latter line he 
has some very valuable animals, among which are 
some Shropshires that cost $75 per pair. 

The subject of this biography was born in Switz- 
erland County, Ind., on the 27th of May, 1833, 
and is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Nelson) Kelso. 
The father was born in the State of New York, and 
when a child went to Indiana, where he was reared 
upon a farm, performing such work as he was able 
to, and giving as much time as possible to at- 
tendance at the public schools. He was married 
in Indiana, in 1828 or 1829, to Sarah Nelson, and 
to them were born three children while residing in 
that State. In 1834 he migrated to Illinois and 
located in Washington, Tazewell County, where he 
purchased land in a raw state and began farming. 
The home place consisted of 320 acres, on which 
he resided until his death, which event occurred on 
the 27th or 28th of October, 1884. lie was a man 
of large stature, five feet ten inches in height, and 
weighed 225 pounds. He was of an amiable tem- 
perament, a good neighbor, a kind and generous 
father and husband, and his death was a great loss 
to the community. The mother was born in Indi- 
ana on the 25th of December, 1811. and she yet 
survives. Eleven children were born unto them: 
Robert married Miss Emily J. Brown; Charles died 
in infancy; John; David died in infancy; Jane 
married Isaac McDonald; William died in infancy; 
Joseph married Mary J. Messinger, and died in 
1880; Willson married Elizabeth Day; Sarah and 
Eliza died in childhood, and Matilda married S. H. 
Payne. 

Mr. Kelso was married to Miss Melissa E. A. 
Messinger on the 14th of March, 1861, the cere- 
mony being performed by the Rev. Dr. Reed, of 
the Universalist Church of Peoria. She was born 
in Tazewell Count}', 111., on the 14th of February, 
1841, and is the daughter of Eli and Ruth A. (Mc- 
Coy) Messinger. Her father was born in Vermont 
on the 28th of February, 1815, and learned the 
trade of a millwright, which occupation he fol- 
lowed for many years. He came to Illinois in the 
year 1834, and located in Tazewell County, where 
he worked at his trade. He was married in 1839, 






y.n; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY 



and his wife died in the spring of 1857. She was 
born in Tennessee on the loth of April, 1820, from 
which State her parents moved to Kentucky, then 
to Indiana, and in 1834 to Illinois, in which State 
her death occurred, in the town of Washington. 
She was a zealous member of the Christian Church, 
and died in the full realization of that faith. Of 
the ten children born to them but two are living 
Mary J. and the wife of the subject of this sketch. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kelso have had the following- 
named children: Eloise; Mary A., deceased; Ed- 
gar L. ; Sarah L. ; Maggie M., deceased; Fred M., 
deceased; Dudley F. ; Claude L., deceased, and 
John R. Mr. Kelso is a member of the National 
Democratic party, and heartily endorses the doc- 
trines enunciated by that party through its State 
and National platforms since he became a voter. 



J~~)AMES KING. Those who arc engaged in 
works for the elevation and improvement of 
mankind are called humanitarians, and well 
' they deserve the name. Men who are en- 
gaged in improving the qualities of domestic animals, 
that are intended to draw and carry burdens, or 
those which the Creator intended for the sustenance of 
mankind, are engaged in a work of a kindred nature, 
for thereby the condition of man i> improved. The 
propagation of perfect animals for the various pur- 
poses they are intended to subserve is a business 
calling for intelligence and a line >ciisc of the econo- 
mies and purposes of nature. Such a man is James 
King, one of the representative stock-growers of 
Livingston County, who is located on section 33, 
Indian Grove Township. 

Mr. King was born in Kent, England, in 1817, 
.mil came to America along with his family in 1851. 
They landed at New York City, whence they pro- 
ceeded to Buffalo, but soon removed to Chicago. 
where they remained until 1807. he devoting his 
energies and business talent to transactions in stock. 
In the year last above named Mr. King moved to 
Livingston County, and located in the town of Fair- 
bury. where lie engaged for ten years in the lumber 
business. lie then sold out that business and mo\ed 
onto his farm, which consists of 240 acres of very 



J"~)OHN CORIUGAN, a reputable farmer on 
| section 22, Amity Township, was born in 
I the county of Cavan, Ireland, Dee. 25, 
' 1833, and is the son of Patrick and Alice 
(Conly) Corrigan, natives of the same county; the 
former's parents were Peter and Honore (Dillon) 
Corrigan, natives of Monahan County, Ireland. 
Patrick, the father of John, our subject, died in the 
parish of Dringoon, Cavan Co., Ireland, on the 27th 
of March, 184'J. He was noted for his devotion to 



- 



fertile land, where he ha- engaged largely in raising 
a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs, and has met 
with remarkable succe->. 

Mr. King was married in 18G1 to Lucy (Todd) 
Ketteringham. a native of England. Thev have 
had born to them seven children, two of whom died 
in infancy, while the survivors are George. Man. 
Benjamin, Lucy and Maria. By his lirst wife, who 
died in London in 1848. there we're four children. 
His present wife is an active member of the First 
Baptist Church. 

Although there are no better American citizens, 
Mr. King is a typical Englishman, and is as proud 
as one can well be of the place of his nativity. lie 
is an enthusiast in whatever lie becomes interested. 
and especially is this true of his attachment for the 
Ancient Order of Free and Accepted .Masons, of 
which he is, both a member of the Blue Lodge and a 
Knight Templar. lie has thoroughly studied and 
digested the teachings and doctrines of this frater- 
nity of fraternities, and is thoroughly devoted to its 
teachings. Like many enthusiastic Masons he be- 
lieves that if one lives up to the teachings and re- 
quirements of this order he is about as good a 
Christian as he well can be, for once a Mason, the 
belief in a God is acknowledged in the most solemn 
manner, and the requirements of Masonry, if ob- 
served to the letter, must make a man approach as 
nearly to perfection as it is possible for humanity to 
attain. So thoroughly impregnated i> Mr. King 
with the idea that a thoroughly good Mason is a 
thoroughly good Christian that he considers his 
lodge room his religious temple. Mr. King is a 
member of the Democratic party. 



/ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






his family and his country, and his devoutness as a 
Catholic. Alice Corrigan, his widow, came to 
America in 1865, and located h) Aurora, 111., where 
she remained until two years before her death, 
which occurred on the 10th of January, 1885, at 
her home in Cornell, Livingston County, and her 
remains were taken to Aurora for interment. She 
left four children, as well as a host of friends, to 
mourn her death. Like her husband she was a de- 
vout member of the Catholic Church. 

The brothers and sisters of John Corrigan were : 
James, who married Ann Hughes, of County 
Cavau, Ireland, and died in 1859; Alice married 
Samuel Jeno, and they emigrated to Scotland ; Mar- 
garet married Archie B. McGinnis, and they also 
went to Scotland; Peter came to America about 
the year 1856, landing at New York City, at which 
place he enlisted in a New York regiment and 
served during the war. He was taken prisoner and 
confined in Libby Prison for eight months, when 
in 1864 he was exchanged and returned to his regi- 
ment. He was again captured at the battle of An- 
tietam, and was this time sent to Andersonville 
Prison, where he died. In the order of birth John, 
the subject of this sketch, stands next; Hugh came 
to America in 1864, and lives at Ottawa; James 
was killed in an accident on the 2d of July, 1881, at 
Aurora, leaving a wife and four children; Eugene, 
now a resident of Macon County, Mo., is engaged 
in agricultural pursuits, and is the father of five 
children living, while three are dead; Michael mar- 
ried Mary Ann Nolan, of Aurora, and lives at 
Bloomington, 111.; they have had five children, four 
living and one dead; Maggie was born in 1848, and 
died in Aurora in 1868, at twenty years of age. 

Mr. John Corrigan was married, in May, 1863, to 
Miss Jemima Dunlap, at Naperville, 111., by Rev. 
Father Fisher, and they have been blessed with eight 
children: Peter was born Feb. 21, 1864, and mar- 
ried Miss Foley Feb. 23, 1887; they reside in Am- 
ity Township; Eugene was born 'March 23,1866, 
and is living at home with his parents; Mary E. was 
born on the 29th of August, 1867, received a High 
School education, and devotes her time to teaching; 
Hugh was born on the 24th of May, ISO!), is en- 
gaged at work upon the farm and attends school in 
the winter; Alice was born April 21, 1871, and 



died at the age of ten months and twenty-one days; 
James was born Oct. 25, 1873; Alice, born Sept. 
12, 1875, and Maggie, June 12, 1878. 

The parents of Mrs. John Corrigan were Wilson 
and Letitia Dunlap, who have long since passed 
away, the father dying in the fall of 1872, and the 
mother on the loth of October, 1848. Both were 
members of the Protestant Church. They became 
the parents of the following-named children: Ellen, 
who married James Richy, of Belfast; her husband 
is a manufacturer of boots and shoes, and they 
have a large family. Jane is the wife of John Camp- 
bell, who was on the police force of Ballybar, Ire- 
land; their children, seven in all, came to America. 
Mr. Campbell died in Ireland some time after the 
departure of the children for this country. William 
enlisted in Her Majesty's service when about eight- 
een years of age, and sailed for the West Indies, 
and from there to the Island of Malta, where he 
served on guard duty, and after his honorable dis- 
charge, from there to America; Wilson now lives 
in Ireland ; Sanderson came to America when quite 
young, and after living here for four years returned 
to Ireland, and the last time heard from he was in 
Australia; Mary Ann came to America, and mar- 
ried Winslow Highland, of Plainfield, 111., and now 
lives in La Grange, 111. ; she has an interest in a 
220-acre farm near Plainfield, also lands in Kansas, 
and town property, and is making good use of her 
fortune; Hugh lives in Ireland, and has a family; 
Jemima, the wife of the subject of this sketch, was 
born April 10, 1840; James died in America three 
years after landing, in about the year 1849; Mary 
married Michael McBreen, and died leaving a hus- 
band and six children. All that is known of Rosa 
is that she came to America and was married to a 
Rochester man. whose name is unknown to the 
family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan emigrated to America, 
landing at New York on the 12th of May, 1863, 
after a voyage of four weeks and two days from 
Liverpool, encountering some very stormy weather. 
They now own a fine farm of 500 acres, 400 of 
which is under cultivation, and the balance good 
pasture land. Besides being a farmer on a large 
scale Mr. Corrigan is engaged in raising thorough- 
bred Short-horn Durham cattle, blooded horses and 



f 




898 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






a high grade of hogs. The farm contains first-class 
buildings: the dwelling-house is nicely situated and 
comfortably surrounded. The family belong to 
the Catholic Church, and they are well liked by all 
who know them. Mr. Corrigan is a man who is 
alwa3~s ready to help any enterprise having a ten- 
dency to benefit the members of the community 
individually or collectively, and is one who is able 
to give ample reasons for the faith that is in him. 



"TwlOHN FIEATH SMITH (formerly spelled 
I Schmidt), is as the name indicates, of Ger- 
man ancestry, and is rated among the most 
thrifty and prosperous citizens of Nebraska 
Township, where he is carrying on general farming 
and stock-raising after the most approved methods, 
being supplied with good farm machinery and 
everything required for the intelligent prosecution 
of his chosen calling. 

Our subject was born in the little Kingdom of 
Bavaria, Dec. 11, 1835, and is the son of John 
Peter and Margaret (Grampp) Schmidt, who were 
worthy representatives of a line of honest and in- 
dustrious people. Young John was placed in 
school at an early age, where he continued his 
studies several years and was then bound out to 
learn the cooper's trade. After completing this 
and working as a journeyman a year his parents 
decided that it would be best for him to seek his fort- 
une in America. He left his father's house on the 
7th of October, 1853, and landed in New York City 
on November 11 following. He remained there 
about ten days waiting for news from his brother, 
then proceeded to Baltimore, where he secured 
employment at his trade, and ten days later his 
brother found him and took him to Cumberland, 
Md. Our subject here secured employment in a 
mill, then went into the employ of the Baltimore 
& Ohio Railroad Co., for whom he worked five 
years, and obtained a good knowledge of machinery. 
The next two years were occupied in running a 
stationary engine in an establishment at Cumber- 
land, Md., during which time he formed the 
acquaintance of Miss Margaret Wiesenmiller, who 
became his wife March 17, 1857. This lady was 



the daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Baer) Wie- 
senmiller, natives of Germany. The young people 
continued in Cumberland, Md., until March 10, 
1 860, when, having previously made their prepara- 
tions they started for the West, and coming into 
this State located in Long Point Township, where 
the father of our subject had preceded him two years. 
The latter was occupied as a farm laborer a year, 
then rented a tract of land and commenced opera- 
tions for himself. 

Mr. Smith continued on rented land in Long 
Point Township four years, and had in the mean- 
time saved a snug little sum of money, which he now 
invested in forty acres on section 6, Nebraska Town- 
ship, where he has since been located. In due time 
he added to his first purchase until he became the 
owner of 160 acres. This he has thoroughly drained 
with tile, and has erected a good set of farm build- 
ings, the last structure which he built being a fine 
barn put up in 1886. He keeps good stock and 
raises some of the best crops in the western part of 
Livingston County. 

Upon becoming a voter, Mr. Smith identified 
himself with the Democratic party, and has held the 
various township olHces, being Supervisor five, and 
Road Commissioner two terms, besides serving as 
School Director from sixteen to eighteen years. He 
also filled the office of Constable a number of years. 
He was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran 
Church, and confirmed when fourteen year- of age. 
Of his marriage there were born ten children, six of 
whom are living. Matilda, the eldest daughter, was 
born in Maryland, Jan. 23, 1859, and died in this 
county Feb. 14, 1882: her remains were laid to rest 
in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Barbara was born in Liv- 
ingston County, Sept. 15, 1861, and died in May, 
1869; Ellen Lavinia was born Jan. 26, 1864, and 
died Sept. 3, 1881; Magdalena E. was bom Sept. 
2(1, 1866; Adam Louis. March 10, 1869; Charlotte, 
June -22. 1872; Mary Christina. March 10, 1875: 
Oliver A.. Feb. 7, 1878, and Howard T.. July 6, 
1882. 

The father of our subject was born May 1. 1805, 
and is still living, being a resident of Long Point 
Township. He is remarkably strong and healthy, 
and does not wear spectacles. Tin- mother was born 
Aug. 10, 1812, and they were married in 1828. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



399 



The old people reside with their son in Long Point 
Township. John of our sketch was the third child 
inn fondly of eleven, of whom eight survive, and 
with two exceptions are all living in this State. 
During the late wnr Mr. S. served in the 77th Illi- 
nois Infantry, and with his two brothers experienced 
three years of army life. They were captured by 
the rebels at Ft. Taylor, and kept in prison thirteen 
months at Shreveport, La. Mr. Smith met and 
shook hands with President Buchanan, and saw a let- 
ter written by him, and states that the autograph 
given as his in the ALBUMS published by the firm 
issuing this volume, is exactly like that which he 
saw at the close of President Buchanan's letter. 

Mrs. Smith was the second child in a family of 
nine. Her brothel's, Conrad and Frederick, served 
as soldiers in the Union army. The former was 
wounded at Fredericksburg, and obliged to have a 
limb amputated ; he died soon afterward in the hospi- 
tal at Washington, D. C. Frederick lived to re- 
turn home, and is now a resident of Maryland, hav- ' 
ing a wife and six children. Her father was born in > 
1811, and died at his home in Maryland, in 1885. ] 
being seventy-four years of age. The mother was 
born in 1808. and is still living, making her home 
with her son in Cumberland, Md. They were of 
German birth and ancestry, and came to this country 
when their daughter, Mrs. S., was a child one year 
old. 

[ EFFERY H. REED, [a progressive young 
fanner of Amity Township, owns and occu- 
pies a neat and well-cultivated farm of 
eighty acres on section 19. He has been 
carefully reared and fairly educated, and is more 
than ordinarily intelligent, ambitious of keeping up 
with the moving spirits of the day, and in all re- 
spects a useful and valued member of his commu- 
nity. He has been School Director several terms, 
and forms one of the essential spokes in the wheel 
of progress, nothing pleasing him better than to as- 
sist in those enterprises creditable to his commu- 
nity, and which will insure its moral and industrial 
welfare. 

Mr. Reed was born in Peoria County, Oct. 15, 



1853, and spent his boyhood and j-outh under the 
parental roof, coming to this county in February, 
1881. He was married in Long Point Township, 
on the 25th of June, 187(5, his bride being Miss 
Martha R. Colehour. Of this union there have 
been born two children: Benjamin Franklin was 
born July 29, 1878, and has commenced his edu- 
cation in the district school ; Laurie Luvernia was 
born July 24, 1886, and is consequently yet a babe. 

The parents of our subject, Erastus |R. and Le- 
vira L. (Goodsell) Reed, were natives respectively 
of Ohio and New York State, and the father was a 
son of Aaron and Sarah (Goff) Reed. The mater- 
nal grandparents of our subject were Hermann and 
Lura (Hitchcock) Goodsell. Grandfather Reed 
came from Ohio to Illinois in 1830, when his son 
Erastus was a child three years of age, and located 
near Chillicothe, in Peoria County. Here Erastus 
was reared to manhood, and married Miss Goodsell 
in 1850. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 
of Chillicothe, Peoria Co., 111. In 1879 they 
crossed the Mississippi and took up their residence 
on a farm in Jefferson County, Kan., where they 
now reside. The parental household included the 
following-named children : Foster was born Oct. 
11, 1851, married Miss Charlotte Bland, and is the 
father of one child ; he is farming in Peoria County. 
Jeffery H., our subject; Milo, who was born in 
1855, died when about six months old; Benton G. 
was born Aug. 23, 1860, and married Miss Millie 
Goodman, of Kansas, of which State he is now a 
resident, and is the father of one child ; he is a 
civil engineer by profession, but is now engaged in 
farming. Hattie B. was born in July, 1862, and 
died in infancy; Emma A., born Feb. 16, 1868, is 
living with her parents; she is an accomplished 
young lady and a graduate of the Valley Falls 
School of Music. Dorcas E., the youngest of the 
family, was born April 23, 1871, and became the 
wife of Henry Miller, a farmer of Jefferson County, 
Kan. The parents are members of the Baptist 
Church, with which our subject and his wife are 
also connected. 

Mr. Reed votes the straight Democratic ticket, 
and belongs to the Good Templars of Peoria 
County. His farm operations are carried on after 
the most approved methods, and he makes a spec- 



I 

f 



400 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




i 



ialty of stock-raising. The buildings are neat and 
substantial, and Mr. Reed is adding each year to 
the attractions of his farm as a home, and to its 
value as a fertile tract of land, producing some of 
the choicest crops of Central Illinois. 



)ENJAMIN K. ROBINSON, dealer in real 
estate at Kairbury, has been a prominent 
[jy>))J|j citizen of Indian Grove Township for many 
years, and closely identified with the inter- 
ests of its people. He received but limited ad- 
vantages in his youth, and has attained to his pres- 
ent position by the exercise of his own natural 
abilities and common sense. 

Mr. Robinson spent his early life in Franklin 
County, Ohio, where he was born May 24, 1837, on 
the homestead of his parents, William and Nancy 
(Hutson) Robinson, also natives of the Buckeye 
State. They were reared and married near the 
home of their childhood, beginning life together in 
1832. Twenty -seven years later, in 1859, William 
Robinson and his family came to this State, and 
located first in McLean Count}', where they re- 
mained until 18C6. In the spring of that year the 
father of our subject disposed of his interests in Mc- 
Lean, and came to this county, where his decease 
occurred Feb. 6, 1887, when about eighty years 
old, his birth having occurred in 1807. The mother 
was born in 1812, and preceded her husband to the 
silent land in February, 1868. Of the nine children 
born of the parental household, two died in infancy. 
They were named respectively, Eleanor J., William 
IL, John H., Nathaniel, James V., Edward, David 
F., Thomas F., and Benjamin E., our subject. Of 
these, six were in the army during the Civil War; 
one of them, Edward, was but thirteen years of age 
when he enlisted. 

Our subject enlisted in the 95th Ohio Infantry as 
a private, and a few days afterward was promoted 
Second Lieutenant. He was assigned with his com- 
mand to theJArmy of the Tennessee, and they met 
the enemy first at Richmond, Ky. Upon that oc- 
casion Mr. Robinson was captured, but paroled 
four days later, and took the field in November fol- 
lowing. He was present at the siege and capture 



of Vicksburg. where he was wounded in the head, 
and subsequently, in Tennessee, was wounded in the 
leg. The next wound which he received was in the 
left arm, and he was a second time captured by the 
rebels, remaining their prisoner from June 10, 1864, 
until in March, 1865. For thirty days he experi- 
enced the horrors of Andersonville, and during the 
winter of 1865 was without shoes or stockings, go- 
ing barefoot. After leaving Andersonville he was 
taken to Macon, Ga., and thence to Charleston, S. 
C., where he was placed in the jail yard to hold the 
fire of the Union army. In 1864 he was promoted 
First Lieutenant, and was subsequently made Cap- 
tain, with which rank he was mustered out. 

Capt. Robinson upon returning from the army, 
resumed farming in Indian Grove Township, this 
county, for a time, and then established a livery 
stable which he conducted about three years. In 
1872 he was elected Sheriff of Livingston County, 
and served his term creditably and to the satisfac- 
tion of the people, as was shown by his re-election 
in 1874, and again in 1876. In January, 1882, he was 
appointed Postmaster at Fairbury, and served until 
the change of administration resulted in a Demo- 
cratic successor. During the miner's strike at 
Braidwood in 1877, Capt. Robinson served as Captain 
of a regiment which assisted in quelling the riot, 
and occupied the rank of Colonel on the staff of 
Gov. Cullom and also Gov. Hamilton. Socially, he 
belongs to the A. F. <fe A. M., Fairbury Chapter No. 
99, and St. Paul Commander}- No. 34, and is Past 
Commander in the fraternity. In the I. O. O. F. 
he is a member of Livingston Lodge No. 290, and 
St. Bernard Lodge No. 129, K. of P. He is also 
Past Commander in the G. A. R., Fairbury Post 
No. 75. Politically he is a decided Republican, 
mid was a member of the State, and Chairman of 
the County Central Committee. 

The marriage of Capt. Robinson and Miss Sarah 
E. Finch was celebrated at the Baptist parsonage at 
Bloomington by Rev. Ellis, March 27, 1867. Mrs. 
R. was born in Madison County, Ohio, in August, 
1847, and is the daughter of John and Emily Finch, 
tiie former deceased. Mrs. Finch is living, and a 
rc.-ident of Madison County, Ohio. Of this mar- 
riage there were born three children, of whom but 
one is now living, a daughter, Lucy J., born Jan. 






RESIDENCE OF PHILIP SHRIMPTON .Sec. 16 . DWIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



RESIDENCE OF G. L.TAYLOR. SEC. is. DWIGHT TOWNSHIP. 



RESIDENCEOF R.L.HOLDRIDGE, SEC. 14. SAUNEMIN TOWNSHIP 




t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



401 , 



24, 1868; Clare died in March, 1874, aged three 
years, and Charles in 1882, aged eight years. The 
family residence is pleasantly located on Elm 
street, and the Captain and his wife enjoy the_friend- 
ship and esteem of a large proportion of the resi- 
dents of Fairbury. 



--*- 



<vw?OHN B. KING is one of the enterprising 
young agriculturists of Waldo Township, 
and is located on section 2, where, besides 
general farming, he engages in stock-raising. 
He is a native of Illinois and was born near Hud- 
son, in McLean County, on the 12th of February, 
1858, and is the son of Christian R. and Mary 
(Bechler) King. He is the third child in a family 
of twelve, all of whom are still living, their names 
being as follows: Phoebe, born April 9, 1853, mar- 
ried John Stride, has six children, and lives near 
Meadows, McLean County; Joseph R., see sketch; 
John B., our subject; Lena married Christian Ra- 
ber, is a widow with three children, and lives in 
Pike Township; Catherine, Mrs. Jacob Yardy, has 
five children, and lives in Waldo Township; Daniel 
B. married Lucy King, has one child, and lives in 
McLean County; Mary, born Dec. 23, 1863, is un- 
marrried, and lives at home; Christian, born Dec. 
21, 1864, married Katie Steinman, and lives in 
Waldo Township; David, born Dec. 27, 1866: Si- 
mon, in 1867, and Ellen, Oct. 19, 1868. 

Our subject passed his boyhood da}'s on a farm, 
and during that time attended the common schools, 
where he obtained a fair education. When he was 
ten or twelve years of age his father, who lived 
upon a rented farm in McLean County, moved to 
Livingston County, where he purchased 160 acres 
of land, on which he still resides. When our sub- 
ject was twent3 r -one years of age he began farming 
on his father's land. He continued farming in that 
way until 1885, at which time he moved to his 
present home on section 2. 

When about the age of twenty-two years, on 
March 14, 1880, Mr. King was married to Miss 
Lena B. Meyer, daughter of Joseph B. and Annie 
(Fisher) Meyer. She was born in Butler County, 
Ohio, Aug. 31, 1863, and was about fourteen years 



of age when her parents moved to Livingston and 
afterward to Tazewell County. Her father was a 
blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed 
until his eyesight became impaired, and then he 
began farming. He was born in Mexico May 6, 
1833, and her mother was born in Germany July 
6,1834. She is the oldest of three children, who 
are still living, her sisters being Katie, born Dec. 
20, 1866, and Louisa, June 6, 1870. 

To Mr. and Mrs. King have been born two chil- 
dren, as follows: Minnie Alice, born May 29, 1881, 
and Austin Irvin, Oct. 21^1885. Considering the 
time they have been in business for themselves, 
Mr. and Mrs. King have made excellent progress. 
They have provided themselves with a comfortable 
home, surrounded with many of the substantial 
comforts of life, and have made a place for them- 
selves in the esteem of their neighbors. 



AMUEL G. WILCOX is a gentleman who 
operates a good farm on section 29, Ne- 
braska Township, and bears the reputation 
of being one of the most reliable citizens 
and skillful agrrculturists of this part of the coun- 
try. His early home was in the Empire State at 
Truxton, Cortland County, where his birth took 
place April 13, 1823. His parents, Jesse and Orilda 
(Harrington) Wilcox, came to Illinois in 1838, lo- 
cating in Bureau County during its early settle- 
ment, where they resided for a period of twenty 
years. 

Our subject received a common-school education 
and was particularly interested in the study of his- 
tory. He was the only sou in a family of five chil- 
dren, and on reaching manhood took care of his 
parents as long as they lived. He was married in 
Bureau County on the 27th of May, 1 854, to Miss 
Louisa M., daughter of Garland and Peachy Shiff- 
let, and they became the parents of eight children : 
Their eldest son, William G., was born May 15, 
1855; he married Miss Lucy Murray, and is farming 
in Nebraska Township: they are the parents of two 
children. Charles L. was born Feb. 3, 1857, mar- 
ried Miss Rebecca Andrews, and is carrying on 
farming in Waldo Township; Emma was born Dec. 





t 



-102 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






11, 1858, and is the wife of Russell J. Bales, of 
Kinsman County, Kan; they have four children : 
Walter A. was born March 6, 1862, married Miss 
Emma B. Mett, and has two children: he is carpen- 
tering 'in Flanagan. John S. was born March 17, 
1867, and died Sept. 23, 1868: Samuel C. was 
born April 17, 1870, George R., May 6, 1876, and 
Geneva M., April 17, 1878. 

Mr. Wilcox sold the home farm in Bureau 
County [and came to Livingston in May, 1858, 
where he purchased 160 acres of wild land on sec- 
tion 29, and since then has given his attention to 
the building up of the homestead. In this he has 
succeeded admirably, erecting good buildings, di- 
vidin r the fields with neat and substantial fences, 

O 

and bringing about all the improvements required 
by the modern and progressive farmer. 

Jesse Wilcox, the father of our subject, was born 
in Columbia County, N. Y., June 27, 1794, and at- 
tended school with Martin Van Buren at Kinder- 
hook. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. 
and participated in the battle of Plattsburg, on 
Lake C'hamplain. .Much of the time he was doing 
duty along the Canadian frontier. He was the son 
of Jesse Wilcox, Sr., who was born in 1759, and 
was of English stock. The grandfather spent his 
last years at the home of Samuel G., where his 
death took place in April, 1855. The mother of 
our subject was born in Washington County, N. Y., 
April 26, 1799, and became the wife of Jesse Wil- 
cox about 1810. She departed this life at the home 
of her son, March 17, 1868, and her husband fol- 
lowed four days afterward. The had lived har- 
moniously together for a period of fifty-two years. 

The maternal grandfather of our subject was of 
Scotch birth and parentage, and came to this coun- 
try in time to serve as a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War. He was one of the ninety picked men who 
stormed Stony Point, and was present at the sur- 
render of Burgoyne and Cornwallis. Although- in 
the thickest of the fight he was never wounded, and 
upon returning to civil life located in Cortland 
County, N. Y., where his death took place when he 
was seventy-six years old. 

Mrs. Wilcox was born in Culpeper County, Va., 
May 3, 1838, an<l was about two years old when 
her parents removed to Ohio. Five years later 



they emigrated to Bureau County, this State, where 
she remained with them until her marriage. They 
were natives of Virginia; the father born Sept. 21, 
1796, and died Aug. 10, 1859. The mother was 
born in April, 1811, and died in May, 1880. They 
were the parents of the following children, namely: 
Mitchell, now in Atchison, Kan.; Martha is 
married, and now a resident of Iowa ; Nelson and 
Charles, residents of Bureau County, 111. : Asher, of 
Brookyn, Iowa; Polly Ann, Mrs. William Headley, 
of Keokuk, and Silas, who lives in Malcorn, Iowa; 
Garland and;Amanda are deceased. 

When Mr. Wilcox first came to this State, prairie 
chickens, wild deer and turkey were plentiful, and 
he became an expert hunter. He has watched with 
great satisfaction the development of the country, 
and has contributed his full share toward its pres- 
ent condition. He is a Republican politically, and 
has served as Assessor in Nebraska Township for a 
period of ten years, which fact speaks well for him 
in a section strongly Democratic. He has been 
Road Commissioner two terms, and School Di- 
rector for a period of sixteen years. During the 
"log cabin" and "hard cider" campaigns he drove 
sixteen yoke of oxen, and owned the pair which 
headed the train. 



UILLIAM CROW is a gentleman who has 
been largely identified with the farm, 
Wy/ stock and grain interests of Rook's Creek 
Township especially, and Livingston County in gen- 
eral, lie is the son of John and Maria (Cline) 
Crow, and was born in Lyeoining County. Pa., on 
the 24th of May. 1838. whence he came to Illinois 
with his parents in the fall of 1856. when eighteen 
years of age, and located in Bureau County. 

On the 1st of December, 1859. Mr. Crow was 
married to Mi-> Mary J. Pluiinner. daughter of 
Benjamin and Klvira (Kvans) Plniinner. lie con- 
tinued to reside in Bureau County, where he carried 
on farming on rented laud until the spring of 1865, 
when he moved to Rook's Creek Township, where 
he had bought eighty acre.- of land on section 28, 
to which he has added from time to time until he 
now has a farm of 280 acres. I)nrin<r two years of 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tin- time k he has been a resident of Hook's Crock 
Township ho was engaged in buying and shipping 
grain. Mr. and Mrs. Crow liavo four children, 
namely: Elvira M., born Dec. 27, 1861, married 
Leland Alson, Dec. 27. 1883, and has two chil- 
dren, as follows: Adelbert C.. born July 28, 1884, 
and Charles. Nov. 3, 1886. Nettie L.. born July 
4, 1863. married Stephen Ewing, July 3, 1884, and 
has one child, Lester C., born June 2, 1885; William 
S., born Feb. 2, 1865, and Charles B., May 31, 
1870. 

Mr. Crow received what education he has in 
the common schools. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and gave his first vote to Abraham 
Lincoln in 1860. He has never sought any office, 
but for the past twelve years his neighbors have 
compelled him to serve as Director of their public 
schools. He is the second child in a family of six 
children, five of whom are living: James, born 
March 8, 1834, married Susan M. Welty, in Sep- 
tember, 1866; they have three children and live in 
Shelby County, Iowa. William, our subject; George 
W. married Elizabeth Hodkins, in September, 
1853, has two children, and lives in Adair County, 
Iowa ; Phoebe Ann, born in July, 1 842, married John 
II. Neff. in September, 1867, has four children, and 
lives in Shelby County, Iowa; Mary Jane, born 
Oct. 31, 1850, married James D. Sidles, in August, 
1872. and has four children. 

The father of our subject was born in Bethel 
Township, Berks Co., Pa., on the 12th of May, 
1809, and the mother in Lyeoming County, Pa.. 
Oct. 21, 1807; they were married on the 27th of 
December, 1832, and are still living. The paternal 
grandparents, John Crow and Catherine Stout, 
were born in Berks County, Pa., and both died in 
that State, the latter at the age of fifty-five years. 
The maternal grandparents, George Kline and 
Elizabeth Bowers, were born in New Jersey. The 
paternal great-grandfather was a native of Virginia, 
and the great-grandmother, Maria Spotts, was a 
native of Pennsylvania; they both lived to a very 
great age. 

Mrs. Crow is the eldest in a family of fourteen 
children, thirteen of whom lived to years of ma- 
turity, while eleven are still living: William; 
Asbury lives in Montana; Chester M. was wounded 



at the battle of Pittsburg Landing and died at 
the hospital in Evansville, Ind.; Sylvester E. re- 
ceived sunstroke while in the army, from which he 
never recovered, and died in Kewanee, 111., on the 
29th of January, 1866; Martha E. married William 
Landers, has three children, and lives in Montana; 
Samuel W. lives in Montana; Sanford P. is mar- 
ried, has three children, and lives in Rook's Creek 
Township; Benjamin A. is married, has one child, 
and lives in Page County, Iowa; Eliza M., Mrs. 
Joseph Brown, has three children, and lives in 
Princeton, Bureau Co., 111.; Amy is unmarried and 
lives in Montana; John E. also lives in Montana; 
Frank is married, has twin children, and lives in 
Kewanee; Albert D. lives in Kansas. 



t 




ARSHALL DuFOREST WILDER. Among 
the tillers of the soil of Livingston County 
who enjoyed educational advantages in 
their youth much beyond the average, is 
the subject of this sketch, who is now engaged in 
farming- and stock-raising on section 19, Waldo 
Township. He was born in Washingtonville, Os- 
wego Co., N. Y., on the 17th of May, 1836, and 
his parents were Edson and Susan (Titus) Wilder. 
Mr. Wilder had opportunities of attending school 
almost uninterruptedly until he was sixteen years of 
age. At that time he engaged to work by the 
month at Mexicoville for Levi Matthews, and con- 
tinued with him for about four months. He then 
returned home and took a clerk's place in the store 
of E. V. Robbins. After December 1st of that 
year he entered the seminary at Ft. Plain in 
Montgomery County, N. Y., where he stud.'ed 
until spring. He then returned to the store, where 
he remained until it was sold to Pruyn & Alton, 
with whom he remained until January, and then 
went to school until spring. At the close of the 
school term he procured employment as a clerk for 
I. C. & A. N. Harding, and remained with them 
for two years. In 1855, when twenty years of age, 
he removed to Peoria County, 111., where his 
father rented land, and our subject, in connection 
with his two brothers, carried on farming. In about 
two years they bought 120 acres of land in partner- 




to I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ship, which they sold in 1864, and removed to 
Livingston County in 1865, where they jointly 
purchased a farm of 256 acres. This partnership 
between the brothers continued until 1880, when it 
was dissolved by mutual consent. Mr. Wilder 
owns at the present time eighty acres of land, the 
greater portion of which is drained by tiled 
ditches. 

Mr. Wilder was married, on the 25th of May, 
1873, to Miss Frances Adelaide Dingman, daughter 
of Henry and Lavinia (Ferguson) Dingman, of 
Oswego County, N. Y. To them have been born 
four children, as follows: Nctta D., born Jan. 24, 
1874; Mary J., Sept. 6, 1875; Henry H., Dec. 6, 
1876; Cleo Pearl, Sept. 8, 1885. Mrs. Wilder is 
the tenth child in a family of eleven, and was born 
in Orwell, Oswego Co., N. Y., on the 14th of 
April, 1840. The names of her brothers and sis- 
ters are as follows: Johanna married Thomas 
Tripp, and is deceased ; Margaret married Jona- 
than Salisbury, and died leaving six children, who 
live in Iowa; James married Olive Sheldon, has 
one daughter, and lives in Oswego County, N. Y. ; 
Hannah married John Cain, of whom she was the 
second wife, the first being her younger sister, 
Mary Jane; Hannah had three children. Henry 
married Mary Smith, has three children, and lives 
in Jefferson County, N. Y. ; Laviuia married Mar- 
tin H. Thomas, has three children, and lives in 
Oswego County, N. Y. ; Samantha married James 
Kelley, and died leaving three children, who live 
at Reading, Mich.; Elvira married Newton Ames, 
who died in the army ; by him she had two chil- 
dren. Her second husband is John Raymond; 
they have two boys, and live in Canada. Annetta 
married Delos Watkins, and lives in Oswego 
County, N. Y. The father of Mrs. Wilder was of 
German descent and her mother of Scotch origin. 
The father was born in 1797, and died July 12, 
1876. The mother was born in 1800 and died 
July 12, 1864. 

In February, 1865, Mr. Wilder enlisted in the 
Union army and was assigned to Sherman's com- 
mand. He went from Springfield, 111., to New 
York, and thence down the coast to Morehead 
City, N. C. From there thej r marched to Raleigh, 
where they joined the regiment and remained with 



it until the surrender of Johnson. They afterward 
returned to Washington and took part in the 
grand review. While in Washington they re- 
ceived orders to proceed to Texas, but this order 
being countermanded they were sent to Louisville, 
Ky., where they were mustered out of the service. 
Mr. Wilder was Second Lieutenant of Company B, 
7th Illinois Infantry, and has in his possession the 
sword which was presented him by his company at 
Springfield, 111. He was honorably discharged 
from the service on the 9th of July, 18G5. 

Mr. Wilder is a Democrat and cast his first 
Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. In 
April, 1877, he was elected Township Clerk, which 
office he held continuously until 1882. In De- 
cember, 1878, he was appointed Township Col- 
lector to fill a vacancy. In 1882 he was elected 
Supervisor, and re-elected in 1883, after which he 
refused to accept that office again, but con- 
sented to become Township Clerk, and to that po- 
sition he has been elected and re-elected contin- 
uously until the present time. This long continua- 
tion in office at the hands of his fellow-citizens of 
Waldo Township, is indicative of the esteem in 
which he is held. In his intercourse with others, 
either in social or business matters, he is pleasant 
and affable, and as a citizen, in all respects, ranks 
with the best. 




HOMAS G. LYONS is one of the largest 
land-owners of Nevada Township, and also 
one of the most intelligent and enterprising 
farmers in that section of the county. He was 
born in County Longford, Ireland, Dec. 26, 1820, 
and is the eldest son of Daniel and Ann Lyons, na- 
tives of the same county. The paternal grand- 
father was also a native of that county, where he 
was a farmer, and lived and died. The father of 
our subject was reared in that county, and re- 
mained there, dying at the age of eighty-four years. 
The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our 
subject, was Ann Gilligan, a native of County 
Longford, and a daughter of Bryan Gilligan. She 
lived to be eighty-four years of age, and was the 
mother of fifteen children, eight of whom came to 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



405 



America. Their names and places of residence are 
as follows: Thomas G. lives in Nevada Township; 
Bernard in Nevada Township; John in Odell 
Township; Patrick in Brown County, Dak.; Ste- 
phen in Saunemin Township; Maria McCormick 
in Saunemin Township; Kate Dougherty in La- 
Salle County, near Ottawa. Francis came to Amer- 
ica and remained here about five years, a part of 
which time he devoted to school teaching, and then 
returned to the old homestead, in County Longford. 
Thomas G. Lyons remained in his native county 
until he reached manhood, and there enjoyed very 
good advantages for an education. While not as- 
sisting his father on the farm, he devoted his whole 
time to study, whether in the school or out. He 
remained with his parents until 1848, and on the 
5th of May of that year, left on his journey to 
America, landing at New York on the 10th of June. 
He stopped in that city, and was engaged in vari- 
ous kinds of work until 1851, and in that year he 
came to Illinois and located in Kendall County. 
There were no railroads west of Chicago at that 
time, and he went by way of the Illinois Canal 
from Chicago to Joliet, and then on foot to Ken- 
dall County. He purchased eighty acres of wild 
prairie land at $4 per acre, in that county. He set 
to work improving this land and erecting buildings, 
and it was not long until he purchased another 80- 
acre tract at $10 per acre, and upon' this farm he lived 
until 1867. He then rented this land and came to 
Livingston County, where he bought 160 acres of 
wild prairie in Nevada Township, upon which he 
has since resided. His farm is now one of the best 
improved in the county, and he has provided it 
with first-class farm buildings. From time to time 
Mr. Lyons has added to his acreage, until he has 
accumulated upward of 600 acres in one body in 
Nevada Township, and also retains the ownership 
of the splendid farm in Kendall County. 

May 10, 1854, Mr. Lyons was married to Ellen 
Murphy, who was born in County Longford, Ire- 
land, in 1833. To them have been born five chil- 
dren, all of whom are living Joseph, Stephen, 
Mary Ann, Allen and Teresa. These children are 
all bright and intelligent, and are of great assist- 
ance to the parents in prosecuting the work of the 
' farm and household. Mr. Lyons has always taken 



a warm interest in educational matters, and on ac- 
count of his enthusiasm, has been chosen School 
Director for several years, and his administration 
of that office has been marked by efficiency. He 
votes and acts with the Democratic party, although 
he is not what could be called an active or offen- 
sive politician. In the full meaning of the phrase, 
he is a self-made man, as when he came to this 
country, he found himself among strangers and 
without capital with which to begin the struggle of 
life. His success is such as surely to be very grati- 
fying to him. The wife of Mr. Lyons died Nov. 
20, 1882, and is buried in St. Paul's Cemetery in 
Nevada Township. 



C. BLACKWELL. Among the popular 
|i young citizens of Pontiac is the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch, and who is in 
the employ of the Chicago <fe Alton Rail- 
road, in the capacity of Ticket Agent. Mr. Black- 
well is a native of England, and was born in the 
metropolis of the world, on the 26th of November, 
1863. He is the son of James J. and Elizabeth 
(Cooper) Blackwell, who were also natives of Lon- 
don. James J. Blackwell was a contractor in En- 
gland, and his father, William, was engaged in 
farming during his life. The father of Elizabeth 
Cooper was James Cooper, an Englishman, who fol- 
lowed through life the occupation of a stone con- 
tractor. 

James J. Blackwell, the father of the subject of 
this sketch, came to this country in 1870, and three 
years later sent for his family to join him. On 
their arrival in America, the family settled in 
Louisiana, Mo., where he was engaged in the serv- 
ice of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, as Roadmas- 
ter, which position he held until 1880. The fam- 
ily then returned to England, where they remained 
five months, at the expiration of which time they 
again came to America, and engaged in the hotel 
business at Bowling Green, Mo.,- where they re- 
mained a short time. The} 7 afterward conducted the 
same business in Kansas City, Slater and Moberly, 
Mo., until 1 886, when they removed to Grand Island. 
Neb., where they engaged in the same business and 



I 






t , 40C> 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



have since remained. He has a family of three 
children Mollie, Mrs. William Conrad, of Mis- 
souri, J. C. and Julia. In politics, he affiliates with 
the Republican party, and is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity and an Odd Fellow. His church 
membership is with the Methodist, and his wife be- 
longs to the Episcopal Church. 

James C. Blackwell spent his boyhood days in 
the schools of England, until ten years of age, when 
he came to the United States with his parents. He 
attended school in Louisiana, Mo., until he was 
seventeen years old, and was graduated from the 
High School of that city. After leaving school he 
learned telegraphy, and occupied his first responsi- 
ble position at Bowling Green, Mo., where he re- 
mained until 1880, since when he has been with 
the Chicago <fe Alton Railroad, in the capacity 
of Telegraph Operator, Train Dispatcher and Sta- 
tion Agent. He came to Pontiac in 1885, and has 
since had charge of this company's ticket office at 
that place. 

On the 15th of June, 1885, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Minnie Naylor, of Mason City, 111., 
and they have one child, named Mary L. Their 
residence in Pontiac is on the corner of Howard 
and Walnut streets, and he is the owner of an ex- 
cellent 80-acre farm in Nebraska. He is an en- 
thusiastic young Republican, and a member in : 
good standing of the Masonic fraternity. 




ENRY DAVIS, of Germanville Township, 
has been a resident of Livingston County 
since the spring of 1871. He owns a finely 
cultivated tract of land on section 1, where 
he has carried on farming successfully for a num- 
ber of years. He served a thorough apprenticeship 
in this pursuit, beginning a mere boy, when his 
services began to be utilized around his father's 
homestead. He is a native of Switzerland County, 
Ind., and was 'born Nov. 9, 1846, but came to 
Illinois with his parents when a lad eight 3'ears of 
age. Mr. Davis is a fine illustration of the self- 
made man, who, beginning life dependent upon his 
nwn resources, has attained to a good position, so- 
cially and financially 



The father of our subject, David Davis, was a 
native of the same county as his son, and was the 
offspring of Thomas Davis, who was of German 
birth and parentage, and emigrated to America in 
time to serve as a soldier in the War of 1812. The 
mother was also born in Switzerland County, Ind., 
and was the daughter of Norman and Maria Sloan, 
natives of the North of Ireland. 

The parents of our subject, in the spring of 1 854, 
removed from Indiana to Bureau County, 111., and 
located in the town of Lamoille, where the father 
followed blacksmithing and carpentering. He is 
still living there, having arrived at an advanced 
age. The mother departed this life in 1 865. Of 
the nine children comprising the parental household 
seven are now living. They are named respective!}' 
Melissa Amanda, Henry and Mary (twins), William 
N., Sarah Elizabeth, Melita and Lyman. Those 
deceased are Anna Belle and Grace. 

Henry Davis started out in life for himself at an 
early age, and first engaged as a farm laborer. He 
was thus employed until after the outbreak of the 
Rebellion, and then, although but a youth of eight- 
een, was accepted as a recruit of Company- B, 52d 
Illinois Infantry. He served until the close of the 
war, and was present at many important battles, 
namely, Chattanooga; Bentonville, N. C. ; Atlanta, 
and joined the army of Gen. Sherman on its march 
to the sea. He, with several of his comrades, was 
captured by the rebels at Cameron, N. C., but es- 
caped three days later during the excitement of a 
heavy thunderstorm. He attended the grand re- 
view at Washington; received his honorable dis- 
charge, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in 
1865. Few of the soldiers escaped hardship, dan- 
ger and privation, and our subject shared uncom- 
plainingly with his comrades the vicissitudes of 
war. 

After leaving the army Mr. Davis returned to 
his old home in Bureau County, where he followed 
farming until the spring of 1871. He had in the 
meantime acquired sufficient means to invest in 
real estate, and first purchased land in Ford County. 
whore he is now the owner of 188 acres. That 
which he at present cultivates comprises a tract of 
320 acres, upon which he has operated for the last 
twelve years. In the meantime he has leased his 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



407 



t 



own land to other parties. He is largely engaged 
in grain-raising, and realizes from his transactions 
c>;ich year a handsome income. 

Mr. Davis, on the 12th of December, 1869, took 
unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of 
Miss Elizabeth Henderson, a native of Westmore- 
land County, Pa., but at the time of their marriage 
a resident of Chatsworth, this county. Her parents, 
William and Martha Henderson, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and are now residents of Brown 
County, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have become 
the parents of six children, three of whom were 
taken from the home circle, and their remains now 
repose in the quiet country burying-ground. Dora 
was born in November, 1879, and died at the age 
of fifteen months; Hattie passed away when an in- 
teresting child of eleven months. On the 2d of 
November, 1887, the parents were called upon to 
mourn the loss of little Maude, of whom they were 
suddenly bereft when she was only six years old. 
Those surviving are William, Zora and Eugene. 
Mr. Davis uniformly votes the straight Republican 
ticket, and as an old soldier is a member in good 
standing of the G. A. R. 



ISCOE LEONARD, one of the pioneers of 
Livingston County, located on section 33, 
in Newtown Township, at least thirty-six 
years ago with his parents. They had made 
the journey partly overland from Pennsylvania, and 
upon coming into Illinois, first located in DuPage 
County, whence five years later they removed to 
Livingston. The country at that time presented a 
wide contrast to its appearance at the present. 
There were no farms or cities which now beautify 
the landscape so plentifully only here and there 
to be seen the smoke from the cabin chimney of an 
adventurous emigrant. Deer and other wild game 
abounded. The Leonard family began life in a 
manner similar to that of their far-away neighbors, 
and our subject has reaped a rich experience from 
his observations of life in this section during its 
transformation from the wilderness. 

The father of our subject, Edmund Dexter Leon- 
ard, a native of Massachusetts, was born Jan. 24, 




1805; his ancestry for several generations had lived 
in New England. He grew to manhood under the 
parental roof in his native county, where he learned 
the tanner's trade, and acquired a fair education in 
the district schools. He was the son of Simeon 
Leonard and one of three children which composed 
the family. 

The father of our subject was married in early 
manhood to Miss Elizabeth H. Remington, who was 
born in Massachusetts, Jan. 23, 1808. They grew 
up in homes adjacent, and their wedding was cele- 
brated at the residence of the bride's parents, in 
1829. Soon afterward they located on a farm and 
in due time became the parents of ten children. 
The family, in 1832, left New England and located 
in Bradford County, Pa. Fourteen years later they 
came to this State, and subsequently to Livingston 
County, where the father purchased land and built 
up a good homestead, upon which he spent the re- 
mainder of his days. His death took place in the 
fall of 1860. He was an excellent man in all re- 
spects, and a worthy citizen, and was held in high 
esteem by his neighbors and friends. His wife, the 
mother of our subject, is still living, making her 
home in Manville, Livingston County, where she 
keeps house by herself, and does her own work, al- 
though seventy-nine years of age. 

The children of Edmund D. and Elizabeth H. 
(Remington) Leonard are recorded as follows: 
Franklin, born in 1830, enlisted in the 129th Illi- 
nois Infantry, and died of erysipelas at Gallatin, 
Tenn., sometime in 1863, and was laid to rest in 
that State by his comrades; Roscoe was born July 
5, 1832, in Massachusetts: Myra is the wife of An- 
drew Stewart, of Ford County, and the mother of 
four children ; Christopher C. is farming in New- 
town Township; Mary, now deceased, was the wife 
of Sherman Ide, and the mother of five children ; 
Sarah married A. J. Hoobler, and lives in Manville; 
Emily died in childhood; Isabelle is the wife of 
John L. Cusick, a farmer of Newtown Township: 
the next child died in infancy; Hattie N. is the 
wife of Robert Jacobs, a prosperous farmer of Ford 
County, and the mother of one child, a daughter, 
Lyda. 

Our subject remained under the home roof until 
twenty-seven years of age. lie had obtained a 



408 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



good education, and had become familiar with the 
various employments of the farm, and now felt en- 
tirely competent to carry on a homestead of his own. 
One of the first important steps toward this end 
was his marriage with Miss Sarah, daughter of John 
and Betsey (Templiu) Phillips, which took place 
Nov. 5, 1859, at Ottawa. The parents of Mrs. L. 
were natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. 
The Phillips family were among the earliest pioneers 
of the Buckeye State. Edward Phillips, the pater- 
nal grandfather, was born in Maryland, whence he 
emigrated with his family to Ohio. He was the 
father of William, James, John, Edward and Eliza- 
beth. Edward, when last heard from, was living in 
Iowa; John, who was born Feb. 23, 1808, was mar- 
ried when twenty years of age, to Miss Betsey 
Templin, who was born in Ohio, July 13, 1811. 
They wore wedded on Christmas Day in 1828, in 
Ohio. Five years later they started for the farther 
West, coming into Bureau County, 111., with an ox- 
team, after having been six weeks on the road. 
They located on a tract of wild land, and for several 
years thereafter endured the vicissitudes of pioneer 
life. The household was in due time enlarged by 
the birth of nine children. Their eldest sou, James 
E., was born July 7, 1830, is married and living in 
Missouri; Elizabeth Jane, born Sept. 1, 1832, is the 
wife of William Lemmon, of Princeton, and the 
mother of three children ; Esther is the wife of Eli 
R. Mathis, a merchant at Princeton, and they have 
four children; Sarah, Mrs. Leonard, was born Dec. 
18, 1836; William T. died when seven j'ears of age 
with scarlet fever; Martha, born July 30, 1840, 
was the wife of Uriah M. Weidman, who enlisted 
in Company G, 39th Illinois Infantry, and died Dec. 
31, 1864, in Libby Prison; she died in September, 
1860. The next child was named Isaiah; he was 
born in 1843, and died in infancy. Levi T. is work- 
ing in a tile factory at Cornell, and is the father of 
five children; Amanda died when three months old. 
The father of these children died at his home in 
Newtown Township, Jan. 7, 188C. The mother had 
passed away not quite three years before, her death 
taking place Oct. 26, 1877, at or near Streator. 

Mr. Leonard and his bride commenced house- 
keeping in a modest dwelling in Newtown Town- 
ship, where uur subject engaged in farming, and in 



due time the household circle included four chil- 
dren. Their eldest son, Milo, was born Dec. 8, 
I860, and was married in 1882, to Miss Eliza Ste- 
phenson. His wife was born in Newtown Town- 
ship, Dec. 17, 1859, and is the daughter of David 
and Maria (Rosborough) Stephenson, the former 
born Feb. 3, 1818, in Scotland. His wife, Maria, 
was born in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 17, 1818. The 
second child of our subject, Myra, w;is born July 
20, 1866, and died March 19, 1874; the third, Mag- 
gie, born Nov. 16, 1870, is attending school, and 
resides at home; Maud was born May 1, 1873, and 
died April 4, 1874. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard are prominently connected 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one 
of the Trustees, and all the children have been care- 
fully trained in the same religious faith. Mr. L. 
votes the Republican ticket, and has always been 
greatlj' interested in the success of the temperance 
movement. His farm includes seventy-seven 
acres of land under good improvement. Mrs. L. 
is in her own right the owner of forty acres. 

The mother of Mrs. Leonard was the daughter of 
James and Jane (Critzer) Templin. The latter was 
born May 20, 1787, and died in this county Feb. 
7, 1874. Mrs. L. has the Bible which belonged to 
Leonard Critzer, and which was printed in 1810. 
The father of James Templin was among the first 
settlers in Virginia, to which he and his family emi- 
grated when the country was principally infected 
with hostile savages, and they never dared venture 
out without a gun on their shoulders. Ho was killed 
by the Indians, and his body mutilated in a horrible 
manner. The son was taken prisoner, and lived 
among savages fourteen years, when he made his 
escape and returned. 



ATRICK LAWLESS is a native of Erin's 
green isle, but when a young man twenty - 
three years of age left his native soil and 
emigrated to the United States. He took 
advantage of the opportunities for advancement 
in the New World, and is now numbered among 
the most prominent and reliable farmers of Liv- 
ingston County. His property is located on sec- 




i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



411 i 



tion 12, in Chatsworth Township, and comprises a 
broad extent of land, amounting to nearly 900 
acres. A large portion of this is devoted to stock 
farming, and so wise has been his management, 
and so judicious his investment of funds, that he 
has now become wealthy, and fully able to retire 
u pon a com petency . 

Mr. Lawless was born in Louth Count} 7 , Ireland, 
in March, 1830, and is the son of William and 
Bridget (Mclnnany) Lawless, also of Irish birth and 
parentage, the former of whom spent his entire life 
upon his native soil, dying when middle aged. 
The mother subsequently emigrated to the United 
States, coming to Illinois with her son, our subject, 
and spending her last years in this county, where 
her death took place about 1860. There came 
with the mother three children our subject, his 
brother William, who resides in Marshall County, 
111., and Bridget, who became the wife of Owen 
Murty, of P\>rd County, and is now deceased. 

The early life of Mr. Lawless was passed at the 
modest home of his parents, in his native county, 
where the father was employed at farming. He 
attended school part of the time, and when of suit- 
able age was employed at farming. After reach- 
ing his majority, being still occupied in tilling the 
soil, he managed to save a little sum of money 
which he decided to invest on this side of the 
water. Upon landing with his mother and her 
children in New York City, they all came directly 
to Illinois, locating first in the city of Peoria, near 
which our subject rented a tract of land upon 
which he operated three years. His first purchase 
was a quarter section in Saratoga Township, Mar- 
shall County, which 'he afterward sold, and re- 
moved to Livingston County. Here he settled at 
once in Germanville Township, where he at once 
began to make good headway, and where he has 
wisely remained. He had a few hundred dollars 
when he came to this country, which he had 
earned in old Ireland, and his present ample pos- 
sessions are the result of his own industry. He 
possesses the generous traits of his ancestors and 
despises a mean and underhand act. He has been 
blessed with good health, the result of good habits, 
and presents the picture of a man physically strong, 
with unimpaired muscles and correct morals. 



Mr. Lawless has been particularly distinguished 
for his prudence all through life, and did not take 
upon himself the responsibilities of a family until 
he found it probable that he would be able to sup- 
port them comfortably. After coming into Mar- 
shall County he was united in marriage with Miss 
Catherine O'Neil, who also came from the land of 
the shamrock, her native county being Fermanagh, 
Ireland, where she was born in 1832. Their eight 
children were named respectively, William, Mary 
Ann, Lizzie, Maggie, Katie, Bertha, James and 
Patrick. One son died when six years of age. 
Mr. Lawless is one of the most zealous adherents 
of the Democratic party, and in religious matters 
is Roman Catholic. 

Among our list of illustrations may be found a 
lithographic view of Mr. Lawless' residence. 



^ JMLLIAM WALKER, of section 5, Fay- 
\fj// ette Township, is a native of England, and 
yfij was born on the 21st of April, 1834. 
He is the son of James and Mary (Smith) Walker, 
who were also natives of England, and lived and 
died in that country. James Walker, the father, 
learned the trade of a wool- weaver when a boy, 
and was in the employ of his father until he was 
about twenty-six years of age, and then be- 
gan to work in an iron foundry, in which he 
was known as a polisher or grinder. He continued 
in this occupation until his death in 1847, at thirty- 
five years of age. He took a very active interest 
in political matters, and during all the campaign 
was a prominent man and leader in the precinct in 
which he lived. He left a wife and two children, 
Elizabeth and William. Elizabeth married Job 
Farley, a farmer in Livingston County ,"and has five 
children. 

William Walker, our subject, at the age of thir- 
teen, began to care for himself, and for four years 
thereafter was engaged as a hostler by a prominent 
physician in England. In the year 18ol he came 
to the United States, landing in New York, jour- 
neying west to Knox County, 111., where he 
was engaged in farming for seven years, and for 
the next nine years rented different farms which 



f 



i- 



41-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



lie cultivated. In the spring of 1867 he came to 
Livingston County, and located on the farm of 
345 acres on section 5, township 25, and range 7, 
which he at present owns and occupies, and where 
he has been quite extensively engaged in fanning 
and stock-raising, making a specialty of cattle and 
sheep. 

On the 21st of January, 1861, Mr. Walker was 
married to Miss Agnes Brownlee, who was born in 
Scotland, April 14, 1838, and they have had eight 
children, as follows: James, who died when four 
years of age ; Barbara, Mary, James, Maria, Pha-be, 
John, and a babe who died in infnncj'. Since Mr. 
Walker became a citizen of Fa3 r ette Township he 
has identified himself with its best interests. Po- 
litically he is a Republican, and an active member 
of the party. He has held the following offices: 
Commissioner of Highways, Overseer of Highways, 
School Trustee. School Treasurer and School Di- 
rector, and has filled these various places with credit 
to himself, and to the utmost satisfaction of the 
people. At the present time he is not holding any 
official positions, but devotes his time exclusively 
to the details of his business affairs. 

We have pleasure in presenting on an adjoining 
page a view of Mr. Walker's residence, as repre- 
sentative of the buildings of this section of the 
country. 



'RTHUR L. KENT, of section 24, Waldo 
Township, isayonngman who has displayed 
considerable business tact and enterprise. 
Although but twenty-six years of age when 
this sketch is written, he has established himself on 
n basis seldom obtained by men at ten years later in 
life. He was born in Gridley, McLean Co., 111., in 
1861, and is the son of George W. and Mary (Paul) 
Kent. 

The father of our subject was born in Boston, 
Mass., June 2, 1820, and his mother in Dedham, 
Mass., March 24, 1824. They were married in 
Massachusetts in 1843, and removed to Illinois 
about 1850, locating at Pleasant Hill. McLean 
Count}', where the father followed farming for 
about two years. He then moved to Bloomington, 
111., where he worked in the real-estate business for 




about three years, in the employ of Gen. Gridley. 
He then moved to the town of Gridley, where 
he opened a store and engaged in merchandising 
and grain buying, until the beginning of the war of 
! the Rebellion. He then enlisted as a private in the 
I 88th Illinois Infantry, where he was promoted to a 
j Lieutenantcy, and before he was honorably dis- 
charged from the service he reached the rank of 
Captain, which was well earned by gallant and merit- 
orious conduct. Our subject is the seventh child 
in a family of nine, six of whom are still living, as 
follows: George B., born in 1844, and died in 1861 ; 
Theodore F., born May 2, 1846, was a private in 
the 88th Illinois Infantry, and received a wound, 
from the effects of which he was a cripple till his 
death, Aug. 5. 1887, and drew a pension from the 
Government. He was married twice, the first wife 
dying soon after marriage, leaving no children. His 
second marriage occurred Sept. 1, 1870, to Nellie 
Jewett, and of this marriage two children were 
born. Abby died when quite young; Edgar F., 
l)orn Jan. 26. 1852, has been married twice; by 
the first marriage there is one child living, named 
Bessie Grace; the second marriage occurred on the 
17th of May, 1887, with Mary Carson. Albert T., 
born July 10, 1854, married Belle Kerr, Jan. 25, 
1883, and they live in Gridley; Fred P., born April 
23, 185!), married Carrie Eggart in September, 
1886, and lives in the State of Nebraska; Arthur L., 
our subject; William S., born Dec. 3, 1866, and 
Margaret S., April 28, 1871. 

Our subject received a good common-school edu- 
cation, and at times, when a boy, assisted his father 
in conducting a store. When old enough to have 
some knowledge of business affairs he took charge 
of a wagon which was fitted out with merchandise 
by his father, and for six years did a general ped- 
dling and huckster business, in which he was very 
successful. In the spring of 18*.'!, when about 
twenty-two years of age, he began fanning for 
himself on the farm where he now resides. 

On the 5 til of June, 1SS-J, Mr. Kent was married 
to Miss Eva M. Freed, daughter of Henry and 
Amanda (Gihnoiv) Freed, of Gridley, McLean Co., 
111., the Rev. II. S. Pendleton. of Chenoa, officiating. 
Mrs. Kent was born July 6, 1863, in Gridley Town- 
ship, McLean County, where her father was a fanner, 






t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and she received her schooling principally in the 
common schools. When about sixteen years old 
she attended school in Peoria for about four 
months, and then began teaching, which profession 
she followed seven terms in District No. 6, Waldo 
Township, and two terms in Gridley Township. 
She is third in a family of eight children, as follows: 
James A., born Aug. 28, 1858, married Ida Barnes 
Sept. 20, 18.82, and lives in Washburn, 111.; Lulu 
B., born Sept. 5, 1800, is unmarried, and lives at 
home with her parents ; Eva M. is our subject's wife ; 
Jennie N., born Dec. 26, 1865; Orville G., Jan. 14, 
1868; Sarah M., Sept. 14, 1871; Charles E., June 
17, 1876, and Josephine C., Sept. 11, 1878. The 
father of Mrs. Kent was born at Mt. Pleasant, Pa., 
March 3, 1827, and her mother was born in Grid- 
ley Township, McLean Co., 111., Feb. 8, 1841. Her 
father was twice married, and by the last union 
there was one child, Elizabeth, who has also been 
twice married, and by the first marriage has one 
child, named Fannie Wenner; her second husband 
is William Bailey, who lives in Kansas. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kent have two children, whose 
names are: Grace May, born May 7, 1885, and Al- 
bert Elmer, Oct. 5, 1886, both in Waldo Township, 
Livingston County. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have made 
a most propitious beginning in life, and there is no 
doubt but the future has in store for them great 
successes and grand achievements. They are both 
yet young and vigorous, and have the will to ac- 
complish great undertakings. They have already 
taken their place among the good people who com- 
pose the society of Waldo Township, and are be- 
coming general favorites. 



ARTIN DETWILER. Our subject comes 
from an old Pennsylvania family, which 
has been noted for its sturdiness as far- 
mers and citizens. He was born in Frank- 
lin County, Pa., May 20, 1844. and is now engaged 
in farming and stock-raising on section 17, Sullivan 
Township. He was the ninth in a family of eleven 
children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Lehman) 
Detwiler, both of whom were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. The paternal grandfather was Joseph Det- 

~4 




wiler. The great-grandfather Detwiler was a man 
who became noted in early da\'S as a member of 
the Pennsylvania Militia. The father of our sub- 
ject was a farmer in Pennsylvania until 1852, when 
he went to Carroll County, Ind. There he remained 
until the fall of that year, when he moved to Ohio 
and remained a citizen of that State until his death, 
which occurred on the 1st of May, 1873. Our sub- 
ject's mother, who is reputed to have been a most 
excellent woman, of many Christian virtues, died 
in Ohio in January, 1854. Our subject was reared 
upon the farm and received a liberal education in 
the district schools of Pennsylvania and Ohio. He 
early determined to try his fortunes further west, 
and went to Warren, 111., in the spring of 1867, 
where he worked that season by the month and in 
the fall of the same year came to Livingston County. 
Here he purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land, 
south of where the village of Cullom now stands, 
bought a team and immediately began the work of 
opening and cultivating his farm. He remained 
here engaged in this work for three years and then 
sold this 80-acre tract, and with the proceeds 
purchased 160 acres of prairie laud on section 17, 
and immediately began the work of improvement. 
He moved onto this farm in the spring of 1871, 
and since that time has kept adding from time to 
time until his home place consists of 240 acres of 
fine, arable land, all of which is under a high state 
of cultivation, and well drained by tile ditches. It 
is stocked with high-grade Norman horses and 
graded Holstein and Durham cattle. 

On the 5th of March, 1871, Mr. Detwiler was 
married in Sullivan Township to Susan Baer, who 
was born in Tazewell County, 111., on the 26th of 
November, 1848. She was the third in a family of 
five children born to Henry and Catherine (Hart- 
man) Baer, both of whom were natives of Germany, 
but moved to this country at an early day and 
spent their last days in this township. Mr. and Mrs. 
Detwiler are the parents of two children, upon whom 
they have conferred the names of Henry and 
Samuel. The parents are giving these children all 
the advantages for obtaining an education that are 
afforded in the section of country in which they 
live. Mr. Detwiler is not very active in political 
matters, but he votes and acts with the Republican 



f 



' > 414 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



l>;irty. He is at present the efficient Road Com- 
missioner, which office he has held since 1873. He 
has served as Assessor one year, as School Trustee 
for three years, and has also served as School Direc- 
tor. In the discharge of his official duties it has 
fallen to him to organize several school districts 
in Sullivan Township, which work he performed to 
the satisfaction of all. 



f 



GEORGE DAY, who is engaged as a farmer 
. and stock-breeder, owns a snug homestead, 
including eight}' acres of finely cultivated 
land and a good set of farm buildings, on section 
0, Pleasant Ridge Township. He is of English 
birth and ancestry, and emigrated to the Uni- 
ted States in 1858, when a youth of fourteen years, 
having been born in 1844. His native county was 
Bedfordshire, and his parents were Thomas and 
Mary Day, natives of the same county, and of pure 
English blood. 

Mr. Day spent his early life alternating between 
school and farm, and upon coining to this country 
proceeded directly westward, landing first in Ford 
County, which he made his home for some years, 
although he was working in McLean County. Soon 
after the outbreak of the Rebellion he enlisted in 
the Union army, Aug. 15, 1861, becoming a mem- 
ber of Company G, 37th Illinois Infantry, starting 
from Cheney's Grove, McLean Co., 111. Not long 
afterward he was sent to the front with his com- 
rades, and participated in many of the important 
battles of the Southwest, including Pea Ridge, Per- 
ry's Grove, Boonville and Springfield, Mo., and 
was afterward engaged in the sieges of Vicksburg, 
Ft. Hudson, Island No. 10 and Ft. Brownsville, 
Tex. At New Orleans they boarded a vessel which 
was included in a fleet of twenty-seven on the 
Gulf of Mexico. A fearful storm not long after- 
ward ensued, which lasted forty-eight hours, in 
which *even ve.->els, with their crews, went to the 
bottom. The remainder safely landed, except two, 
which were wrecked on a sand-bar, but all the pas- 
sengers were saved. Our subject, afterward, was 
detailed to duty at Brownsville, Tex, where he was 
transferred to a battery, and remained until theex- 



piration of his term of enlistment. After serving 
three years and two months he received an honora- 
ble discharge, and was mustered out at Chicago. 

Mr. Day, upon returning from the arm}', located 
in McLean County, and in 1870 was married to 
Miss Sophia E. Hilton. This lady was born in 
Cliautauqua County, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1853, and is 
the daughter of Henry and Harriet Hilton, natives 
of England and New York respectively, and now 
residing in Fairbury. The four children born of 
this union were : Mary, now an interesting girl of 
fourteen years; Nellie, aged eleven; Eltie, seven, 
and Guy II., five. During a period of eight years 
Mr. Day served as Constable in Pleasant Ridge 
Township, and with his estimable wife, is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
he officiates as Class-Leader and Trustee. He is a 
solid Republican, politically, voting for the same 
side for which he fought. 



SSAAC VOORHEES, one of the most peaceable 
and law-abiding citizens of Chatsworth Town- 
ship, has for the last twenty-five years been 
pursuing the even tenor of his way, tilling the soil, 
providing comfortably for his family, and enjoying 
the esteem of his neighbors. In addition to his 
agricultural pursuits he officiates as Postmaster of 
Healey, at his residence, which office he has held 
since 1884. His property includes eighty acres of 
land, which is fairly well improved and which he has 
redeemed from its primitive condition, having se- 
cured it while it was uncultivated prairie. His farm 
buildings are of medium size, but of good quality, 
and he has in all respects deported himself as an 
honest man and a good citizen. 

Our subject was born not far from the Atlantic 
coast in Somerset County, N. J., Dec. 25, 1846. 
His parents, Christopher and Mary (Bacon) Vimr- 
hees, were also natives of New Jersey, where they 
were reared and married, and whence after the birth 
of five children, they migrated westward to Illi- 
nois. They first located upon a tract of land in 
LaSalle County, where they followed farming, and 
remained until the death of the father. The mother 
subsequently removed to this county and her death 
. 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



415 



1 ' 

1 



took place in this township in 1884. The five 
children of the parental household were John, now 
a resident of Tazewell County ; Skillman, engaged 
at farming in LaSalle County; Martha, the wife of 
C. Hodson, of Forest Township, and Mary, who 
married A. N. Opie, of Forest Township. 

Isaac Voorhees received a common-school edu- 
cation which was completed in LaSalle County, 
this State. -He came to this county with his 
mother's family, with whom he remained until after 
reaching his majority, and made his first purchase of 
land in 1864. After reaching his twenty-fourth 
year he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Ten Eyck, who was born in New Jersey about 
1 850, and came to Illinois with her parents in about 
1855. Of this union there have been born four 
children, all living and at home with their parents, 
namely, Rosa, Clara, Zilla and Tunis. Mr. Voor- 
hees, politically, votes the straight Republican 
ticket. He has uniformly declined becoming an 
office-holder, preferring to give his attention to his 
farm and his family. 



ENRY BOEHM BARNES is perhaps one of 
the oldest men of Livingston County, al- 
though he has only been a resident of the 
county since 1882. He has been a citizen 
of Illinois, however, since 1834, and has seen the 
State pass through all the stages of prosperity up 
to its grand position among the States of to-day. 
He began life without an}' resources excepting his 
own hands and determined will. His life has been 
a success, but at the beginning, as was the case 
with hundreds of others, the obtaining of success 
depended entirely upon labor, judgment and per- 
severance. It was a common saying among the 
first settlers of Illinois, that people must " work or 
starve," but the remembrance of those days is 
very pleasant, and the experiences made men and 
women noble, brave and generous. 

Mr. Barnes is a native of Sussex County, Del., 
and was born Dec. 4, 1803. He is a son of Thomas 
and Sarah (Evans) Barnes, who were natives of 
Delaware. On the paternal side, his ancestors were 
of English descent, and of Welsh on the maternal. 




When his parents, in the year 1809, removed from 
Delaware to Scioto County, Ohio, our subject ac- 
companied them. That section of Ohio was then 
upon the frontier of civilization, although it is now 
one of the most densely populated districts of the 
Middle West. The father died in Scioto County, 
Ohio, on the 19th of June, 1819, and with his wid- 
owed mother and one sister, our subject moved to 
Marion County, Ohio, in April, 1823, and there 
resided until 1834. 

On the 13th of January, 1831, Mr. Barnes was 
married, in Marion County, Ohio, to Mary Dicker- 
son, and they had one child, Mary, who was born 
Jan. 16, 1832, and who is now the wife of W. P. 
Carruthers, of Saunemin Township. This wife 
died in April. 1832. Mr. Barnes remained a wid- 
ower until the 26th of September, 1839, when he 
was married, in Marshall County, 111., to Jane M. 
Kilgore, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, 
Jan. 1, 1819, and bore him six children, five 
of whom are living: Isabella K., born Feb. 28, 
1841; Louisa, born Sept. 28, 1843, is the wife of 
W. M. Kilgore, of Sannemin Township; Dr. Sam- 
uel M., born Dec. 4, 1846. resides in Fairbury; 
Dr. Henry E. W.,born April 4, 1850, lives in Mad- 
ison County, Iowa, and Ollie S., born July 23, 
1854, is the wife of John Q. Brown, of Madison 
County, Iowa. Erastus T., born Feb. 1, 1858, 
died Dec. 6, 1858. In 1834 our subject came to 
Illinois and located in that region of country which 
is now included in Marshall County, and there re- 
mained, with the exception of five years spent in 
Whiteside County, until 1882. In that year he 
came to Livingston Count}', and settled on his 
present farm in Saunemin Township, on section 23. 
This farm consists of 200 acres of splendid land, 
which is under a high state of cultivation, and in 
the improvement of which all the best methods of 
agriculture have been adopted. 

Mr. Barnes is a veteran Republican, having 
joined that party at its organization in 1856. 
While a resident of Marshall County, Mr. Barnes 
served as Supervisor of Richland Township for 
eight years. He has been a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church for nearly half a century, 
in which he has served as Steward, Class-Leader 
and local minister, and has engaged enthusiastically 



f 



f 



11 <; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




in local ministerial work for manj- years. His sec- 
ond wife was also a devoted member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and lived and died a con- 
sistent Christian, her death having occurred on the 
19th of May, 1882. Mr. Barnes has lived a long 
and useful life, and now, surrounded by friends 
and relatives, is enjoying the fruits of a life spent 
in usefulness and well doing. Mr. Barnes has lo- 
cated each of his children on homesteads consist- 
ing of tracts varying in size from eighty to 160 
acres, and still has 200 acres left for himself in his 
declining years. 



IMLLIAM LEHMAN. A farm of 120 acres 
of land in Owego Township, no matter 
what section it is located upon, is a prop- 
erty any man may be proud of, and when it is 
owned in fee simple, without mortgage or other in- 
cumbnuice, the owner can consider himself pretty 
well-to-do. Some men spend half a lifetime be- 
fore they secure such a prize, but the subject of 
this sketch had only been a resident of this country, 
to which he came without capital, for nine j'ears, 
when he became able, with the proceeds of his la- 
bor, to purchase the excellent farm on section 29 
where he now resides. With the energy and econ- 
omy so characteristic of the German people, imme- 
diately upon his arrival in this country he set to 
work to secure a home where he might pass his life 
comfortably and independently, and the details of 
the following sketch will show how admirably he 
has succeeded. 

Mr. Lehman is a native of Mecklenburg, Ger- 
many, where he was born on the 1st of May, 1852. 
He is the son of Carl (deceased) and Hannah Leh- 
man, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this 
country when the subject of this sketch was in his 
nineteenth year. Upon their arrival in America 
they came direct to Illinois and settled in Peoria 
County, where they lived for four years. In 1876 
the family came to Livingston County and located 
in Pike Township, where the father died in Decem- 
ber, 1885. The family of his parents consisted of 
ten children, as follows: Carl, Johanna, Frederick, 
Minnie, Ricca, William, Louis, Lena, Matilda and 



August. The mother still resides in Pike Town- 
ship. The parents were both members of the Ger- 
7nan Baptist Church, of which they were regular 
attendants. 

Our subject received a limited education in the 
German language, and has always been engaged in 
the occupation of farming. On the 22d of Janu- 
ary, 1877, he was married to Augusta Ladnck, 
daughter of Louis Laduck, of Pike Township, and 
they have had five children: Caroline, born Oct. 
28, 1877; Albert, Dec. 20, 1880; Emma, Sept. 1, 
1882; William, Aug. 4, 1884, and Mattie, Oct. 4, 
1886. Mr. Lehman purchased his present farm, 
consisting of 120 acres, in 1882, and settled per- 
manently thereon in 1884; the present condition of 
the farm is the result of his industry and good 
management. The first four years after his arrival 
in Illinois Mr. L. worked in Peoria County for 
William Spiser, receiving the compensation of $22 
per month, and then, for seven years, he rented a 
farm in Pike Township, which he cultivated with 
good success. 

"Mr. Lehman's family belong to the German 
Baptist Church, in which they occupy a leading 
position, and to which they donate liberally. So 
far as political matters are concerned, while yield- 
ing true loyalty to the Republican party, Mr. Leh- 
man does not devote enough time to those mat- 
ters to be known as a politician. He is neither an 
office-holder nor an office-seeker, and attends 
strictly to his own affairs. 




LBERT DAVIS is one of the most thor- 
ough and skillful farmers of Forest Town- 
ship, where on section 34 he has been 
located many years, and has become 
closely identified with the agricultural and business 
interests of the community. He is a native of the 
wealthy and populous State of Ohio, and was burn 
in Lincoln County, April 14. 1830, at the home- 
stead of his parents, Daniel and Mary Ann (Stat- 
ler) Davis, who were also natives of the Bucke3'e 
State. 

The parents of our subject disposed of their 
property interests in Ohio in 1840, when Albert 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



417 ' 



was a lad four years of age, and coming to the | 
West located in Marshall County, this State. The 
father purchased a quarter section of land in 
Roberts Township, where he carried on general 
farming and stock-raising, becoming a useful and 
valued citizen, and died eighteen .years later, Nov. i 
21, 1858, when fifty years of age. The mother is 
still living, making her home in this township, and ! 
has now reached the advanced age of seventy-six 
years. The parental household included eight 
children, two sons and six daughters. Of these 
three are deceased, namely: Clara Ann, Laura 
(both of whom died young), and John A. The lat- 
ter during the late war enlisted in the 1 1th Illinois 
Infantry and served until near the close. During 
one of the most important battles he was captured 
by the rebels and taken to Andersonville Prison, 
where he languished two years and was finally ex- 
changed. The privations and hardships, however, 
which he endured had undermined his health, and 
he died before reaching home, at the age of a little 
past twenty-one years. The other children were 
Malinda, Eliza, Charlotte and Amanda. 

Mr. Davis became familiar with farm employ- 
ments during his early youth, and still finds his 
greatest pleasures in a country life. He established 
his first home in Marshall County in 1858, having 
been married March 18 of that year to Miss 
Emily E. Malone, who was born in Ohio, Jan. 5, 
1835, and at the time of her marriage was a lesi- 
dent of Marshall County, 111. Mrs. D. was the 
eldest child of her parents, Hartley and Julia Ann 
(Trout) Malone, of Irish ancestry, and natives of 
Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and 
died some years ago. The mother is still living, 
making her home in Marshall County. They had 
two children, namely, Emily E. and William S. 
Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of eight 
children, comprising three sons and five daughters, 
namely, Elma, Laura, Merissa, William Sherman, 
Katie, Minnie. Charles and Hartley Elmer. Laura 
is the wife, of Charles Dixon, a highly respected 
farmer of Forest Township, and is the mother of 
two sons and two daughters; Mr. Dixon is the 
son of Springer Dixon, a wealthy farmer and stock- 
raiser of Forest Township. Merissa and Katie 
died in Forest Township, the former when an in- 



teresting little girl of eight years and the latter at 
sixteen. The remaining children are at home with 
their parents. 

Mr. Davis uniformly votes the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket, and in 1885 was elected Road Com- 
missioner, of which office he still retains possession. 
Mr. Davis farmed in Marshall County for a period 
of ten years and then, in 1869, purchased 160 
acres of his present farm. It was then raw prairie 
and required the outlay of years of labor and hun- 
dreds of dollars to bring it to its present fertile 
condition. He also owns 160 acres on section 33 
and 160 acres on section 5, Fayette Township. He 
has made good improvements, and of late years is 
giving his principal attention to stock-raising, 
dealing mostly in cattle and swine, keeping of the 
former from twenty to twenty-five head, including 
Short-horn and good grades of common blood. 
He has pursued the even tenor of his way as a 
peaceable and law-abiding citizen, taking a kindly 
interest in the welfare of the people around him 
and enjoying in a marked degree their esteem and 
confidence. 




OLOMON E. KENT, farmer and stock- 
raiser, on section 17, Belle Prairie Town- 
ship, does not confine himself exclusively 
to either farming or stock-growing, but 
owns a large meat-market and slaughter-house in 
the town of Colfax, McLean County, where the 
stock product of his farm finds a ready market. 
Mr. Kent was born in Greene County, Pa., on the 
l!)th of September, 1831, and came to Illinois in 
1 868, and located on the farm named above. He 
remained in Pennsylvania on his father's farm un- 
til he attained his majority, in the meantime avail- 
ing himself of the advantages afforded by the com- 
mon schools of that State. His parents were 
Thomas and Sarah (Ingersoll) Kent, natives of 
Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and in his business affairs was successful. 
For twenty years he was a Deacon in the Christian 
Church, and was a prominent member nearly all 






f. 



IIS 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 









his life. He was born in 1801, and died in 1876, 
in LaSalle County, 111. The mother was born in 
1 KOI, and was an active and faithful member of 
the Christian Church. She died in 1872, after hav- 
ing become the mother of nine children, seven of 
whom grew to manhood and womanhood : George 
married Miss Deba Eagon ; Abraham ; Mordecai 
married Susan Fry; Susan married Harvey Fry; 
John married Elizabeth Fry: Thomas married Eliza 
Ingersoll; Elmer and Martha died in infancy. 

Mr. Kent was married to Miss Mary A. White, 
Nov. 23, 1853. She was born in Greene County, 
Pa., Oct. 8, 183G, and is the daughter of David and 
Leah (Strosenider) White, natives of Pennsylvania. 
The father was born in 1794, and is still living and 
in vigorous health, which is demonstrated by the 
fact that not many years ago, without any assist- 
ance whatever, he reshingled his own house, which 
is one and one-half stories high. For sixty-five 
years he has been a minister in the Christian Church, 
and during that time has refused to receive any 
pay for his services in the pulpit. In his boyhood 
days he attended a college presided over by Alex- 
ander Campbell, a man of whom Henry Clay said, 
he was the profoundest theologian in the world. 
He has perhaps traveled more miles on horseback 
than any other man of his age now living. The 
mother, who was also a member of the Christian 
Church, was born in 1708, and died in Pennsylva- 
nia in 1866. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Kent have been born seven 
children, named as follows: David W. married 
Miss Emma Jones; Thomas J. married Annie t'as- 
sidy: M. L. married Miss Grace Taylor; George B., 
Larry 8., Cora L. and Albert E. George, the 
fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Kent, was educated at 
the schools of Fairviewand Colfax, and for several 
years has been teaching in District No. 4, Lawndale 
Township, McLean County. Four other members 
of the family have taught school, and one took a 
law course in Blooinington, 111., and is now practic- 
ing his profession with success in Hutchinson, Reno 
Co., Kan. Mr. and Mrs. Kent have a family of 
children of whom they may well be proud. They 
are all naturally bright, and were very ambitious in 
availing themselves of the opportunities afforded 
by their parents for obtaining good educations. 



Taken all in all, it is one of the model families of 
Belle Prairie Township. Mr. and Mrs. Kent are 
both members of the Christian Church, in which 
the former has served for many years as Deacon. 
In his political affiliations Mr. Kent is in harmony 
with the Democratic party, at the hands of which 
he has held various township offices. 




ETER LAUBENHEIMER, who for many 
years was engaged in butchering and deal- 
ing in meat, but is now occupied in farm- 
ing near Fairbury, was born in Dexheim, 
the Empire of Germany, on the 24th of February, 
1834. He is the son of Philip and Gertrude 
(Schtark) Laubenheimer, natives of the same Prov- 
ince. The father was born in 1803, and died in 
Wisconsin in 1878. Most of his life he was in the 
grocery business. The mother was born in 1805, 
and died in December, 1842. She only lived two 
months after going to Wisconsin. Their family 
consisted of seven children : Clara, the wife of Ja- 
cob Breifogle, lives in Wisconsin; Elizabeth mar- 
ried Antone Walderbach; of Philip no trace has 
been had for over thirty years; Peter, the subject 
of this sketch, was the fourth child ; Frederick, of 
whom all trace has been lost, was a soldier in the 
Civil War; Gertrude, Mrs. G. H. Shape, lives in 
Milwaukee, Wis. 

On the 10th of December, 1N72, Mr. Lauben- 
heimer was married to Annie Billhartz, who was 
born in Baden in 1852, and came to this country 
with her parents when she was one jear old. Mr. 
and Mrs. Laubenheimer have had five children, 
four of whom are living, namely Annie, Harry P., 
Golda and William P. Hattie died at the age of 
five months. The parents of Mrs Laubenheimer 
were Henry and Annie (Zane) Billhartz, natives of 
Germany. The father was a harness-maker by 
trade, and came to America in 1H54, landing at 
New York City, from whence he proceeded to Ot- 
tawa, LaSalle County, where he died in 1*57. The 
mother died in April, 18(51. They were both de- 
vout members of the Catholic Church, and the 
parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to be- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4-21 



come men .and women. They were named respect- 
ively, Henry, Otto, Mary, Benjamin, Annie, Louisa, 
Caroline and Amiel. 

Mr. Laubenheimer came to Illinois in the fall of 
18(i2, and located in LaSallc, where he engaged in 
the butcher business for three years, and then came 
to Fairbury, March 31, 1865, and entered into 
partnership with Louis Werling, continuing in the 
same business. This partnership existed for eight- 
een years, and during that time the firm never had 
a settlement, and dissolved with the best of feeling 
on the part of each member. After discontinuing 
this business Mr. Laubenheimer purchased 480 
acres of land and a fine residence in the village of 
Fairbury. This land is all under cultivation and 
is very productive and valuable. Mr. Laubenhei- 
mer's long business career in Fairbury established 
for himself an enviable reputation for integrity and 
uprightness, and he now enjoys the confidence of 
the citizens of that section of the county. He is a 
member in good standing of the Masonic frater- 
nity, and of the Blue Lodge in Fairbury. Relig- 
iously, he belongs to the Lutheran Reformed 
Church; his wife for many years has been a Cath- 
olic. In politics Mr. Laubenheimer is a liberal 
Democrat, but does not take a very active part in 
public affairs. 




ARON BECKER. The raising of blooded 
y /7j|[ cattle and hogs has grown to be one of the 
greatest industries of Illinois, and growers 
differ as much in their choice of breeds as 
woman do in their notions of the fashions. The 
subject of this sketch in his choice of cattle has cer- 
tainly made no mistake, for there is no breed more 
popular than the Durham, not only in Illinois but 
in every section where cattle connoisseurs live. Of 
Durham cattle Mr. Becker has made a specialty, and 
his experience with them convinces him that that 
breed will do to tie to. He is a large farmer and 
stock-breeder on section 17, Belle Prairie Town- 
ship, and was born in Lancaster County, Pa., on the 
18th of June, 1834. His mother died in 1875 at 



the age of sixty-four years. Of her family of five 
children three are now living Aaron, Annie and 
John William. 

Mr. Becker was married on the 27th of August, 
1862, to Fannie Austin, a native of Virginia, who 
was born on the 20th of January, 1846. By this 
marriage four children were born : John and Martha 
J., both of whom died in infancy; Sarah A., Mrs. 
W. L. Tarr. and Mary. Mr. Becker was a second 
time married, to Miss Sarah E. Wilhour, on the 
29th of February, 1872. She was born in Lancaster 
County, Pa., on the 13th of November, 1845, and 
is the daughter of Peter and Susan (King) Wilhour, 
natives of Lancaster County, Pa. The father was 
of English descent, born in 1822, and is a farmer by 
occupation and a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church ; he is now living in Kingman County, 
Kan., to which place he went in 1883. The mother 
was born in 1824, of English descent, and has nearly 
all her life been a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. They are the parents of five chil- 
dren: Sarah E., Mrs. Becker; Martha A., deceased, 
was married to Daniel Humphrey ; Mary E. died at 
the age of two years, eleven months and thirteen 
days; William H. died at the age of two years and 
nine days; Eliza C. married John W. Patterson, 
who is now deceased. By Mr. Becker's second 
marriage there have been two children : Gertie A., 
born June 16, 1876, and Jessie B., Feb. 1, 1884. 

Mr. Becker came to Illinois in 1858 and engaged 
at work by the month for five years, when he pur- 
chased a team of horses and went to work for him- 
self. In 1863 he paid $1,000 for a substitute in the 
army. His first purchase of land was eighty acres 
of unbroken prairie, and he now owns 160 acres of 
highly cultivated land, well tile drained and hedge 
fenced, and well equipped with buildings, including 
the fine residence, barns, etc. Besides this farm he 
owns 320 acres of excellent land in Kingman 
County, Kan. For several years he has been exten- 
sively engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty 
of Durham cattle and high-grade hogs, and in this 
business has been highly successful. He and his 
wife are both active members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, to which they contribute liberally 
of their time and money. Mr. Becker acts with 
the Republican party and votes a straight ticket. 
. 



t 



1-2-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



As illustrative of the progress of this community 
we exhibit on another page of this work a view of 
the residence of Mr. Becker. 



ARTHUR, a native of the Buckeye 
State, has been identified with the agricult- 
ural interests of Pleasant Ridge Township 
since the spring of 1868. He then took possession 
of 160 acres of land on section 28, where he has 
since carried on farming and stock-growing, erected 
a set of fine buildings, and brought his land, natur- 
ally fertile, to a high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Arthur was born in Brown County, Ohio, 
June 13, 1836, and remained a resident of that 
section until nineteen years of age, when he set 
out to seek his fortunes in the West. He located 
in LaSalle County, where he was employed as a farm 
laborer, and supplemented his somewhat limited 
education by futher attendance at the public school 
at his old home. His parents, James and Margaret 
(Reed) Arthur, people of modest means, were 
natives of Kentucky, the father born June 12, 
1797; he is still living, and a resident of Brown 
County, Ohio. The mother was born in March, 
1798, and died at her home in LaSalle County, 111., 
in January, 1879. The household circle included 
eleven children, who were named respectively, 
Elizabeth, Margaret, William, John, Sarah, Melinda, 
Mary J., Albina, Ohio, Rachel and Augustus. The 
elder Arthur was a farmer by occupation, and the 
early life of our subject, like that of his brothers 
and sisters, was spent in the quiet retreat of their 
country home. Upon reaching manhood and while 
a resident of LaSalle County, he was married to 
Miss Mary E. Braden, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride, Feb. 10, 1863. 

Mrs. Arthur was born in Greene County, Pa., 
Nov. 17, 1844, and is the daughter of Robert and 
Nancy (Johns) Braden, natives of Pennsylvania. 
The father is still living in Bureau County, 111. : 
the mother died in December, 1857, in LaSalle 
Count}', 111. Of this union there have been born 
six children, namely ; Walter A., Howard D., Anna 
B., Fannie R., Cora M. and Charles A. Of these 
two were laid away in early graves, Howard D., at 



the age of three years, and Anna B., aged three 
years and eight months. 

Mr. Arthur in early life was independent in poli- 
tics but of late years has given his support to the 
cause of prohibition. He has served as Road Com- 
missioner in his township sixteen years and been 
School Director eleven years. Religiously he and 
his excellent lady are Second Adventists. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country, we present on an adjoining page of this 
ALBUM a view of Mr. Arthur's residence. 




^ AVID RICE, located on section 20, Read- 
ing Township, is a native of AVestmoreland 
County, Pa., and was born Feb. 18, 1834, 
His parents were Henry and Shebby (Re- 
gior) Rice, natives of the same county as their son; 
the former was born in 1794, and lived to be sev- 
enty-eight years of age, his death taking place at 
his home in his native county in 1872. The pater- 
nal grandfather of our subject, John Rice by name, 
together with his wife, was also a native of Penn- 
sylvania, in which State they spent their entire 
lives. Mrs. Shebby Rice was born in 1800, and 
died in her native State in 1879. 

David Rice was the fifth in a family of ten chil- 
dren ; the record of the others is as follows : Sarah 
continues in her native State, occupying with her 
husband the old homestead in Westmoreland 
County; John died in infancy; Nancy lives with 
her sister Sarah; Barbara is the widow of John 
Mumaw, and the mother of seven children ; they 
also reside near the old homestead. Hannah is the 
wife of John Wright, a Pennsylvania fanner, and 
is the mother of five children; Abram died in child- 
hood, and Mary when eight years old ; Henry mar- 
ried Miss Mary Al.nndus. and is the father of ten 
children: lie is fanning in Westmoreland County, 
Pa. Daniel died of smallpox when sixteen years of 
age. 

David Rice remained a member of liis father's 
household until reaching his majority, and then de- 
termined to seek his fortune.- in the farther West. 
Coming directly to Illinois he took up }ii- resilience 
in this county, and for the first three or four months 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



423 



i 

! 



was employed on a farm in Reading Township. He 
was subsequently engaged at Boyd's until his mar- 
riage, which occurred in Reading Township, Feb. 

24, 1860, the maiden of his choice being Miss 
Louisa Ammons, who was born Sept. 1C, 1842. The 
parents of Mrs. Rice were natives of Pennsylvania 
and are now in Reading. Of her union with our 
subject there were born seven children : The eldest, 
a daughter, Shebby A., died on the 7th of March, 
1864, when less than a year old; Nancy A., born 
Dec. 20, 1864, is the wife of Albert Tellis, and the 
mother of two children ; they reside on a farm in 
Reading Township. John H. A. was born Oct. 1 9, 
1866, and lives at home; Elizabeth A., born Dec. 

25, 1869, is the wife of William Devine, an express- 
man, and the mother of one child ; they reside in 
Joliet, 111. Mary A. was born Sept. 11, 1871, and 
died May 8, 1877: Sarah Bell, born Dec. 29, 1876, 
lives at home with her father, as does also David S. 
A., who was born April 3, 1879. Mrs. Louisa Rice 
departed this life at her home in Reading Township, 
on the 16th of August, 1885. She was a lady 
greatly respected in her community and a consis- 
tent member of the Church of God, with which Mr. 
Rice also became identified many years ago. 

The farm of our subject comprises 1 60 acres of 
choice laud, with suitable buildings, a goodly as- 
sortment of live stock, and all the other appliances 
which constitute the model country homestead. Mr. 
Rice, although taking a genuine interest in the wel- 
fare of the people around him and always willing to 
contribute to public enterprises, meddles with polit- 
ical affairs very little otherwise than to cast his vote 
with the Democratic party. 



ffiACOB S. TUCKER. While the late Civil 
War was very disastrous in the matter of 
loss of property and the sacrifice of human 
life, it had redeeming features in many re- 
spects, one of which was that it offered the boys of 
the North an opportunity to become acquainted 
with the customs and manners of a large section of 
country which could not have been presented them 
in any other way. It also made the men who were 



participants self-dependent, for in the army it was 
pretty generally every man for himself. To the 
man who went through safely, the experience has 
been and is worth much, in that it begat a spirit of 
independence which is valuable under all circum- 
stances and in all the relations of life. The subject 
of this sketch had large experience as a soldier, 
and in that capacity traversed an extensive section 
of the country. He is now a prominent farmer of 
Avoca Township, located on section 18. 

Mr. Tucker is a native of Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., and was born on the 26th of January, 1837. 
He is the son of Joel and Sallie A. Tucker, natives 
respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. His ma- 
ternal uncle, Perrin Stull, was a soldier in the 
Mexican War, and was wounded three times during 
that service. In the fall of 1851 Mr. Tucker's par- 
ents emigrated to Livingston County, settling on 
section 16, in Avoca Township, where the father 
died on the 10th of April, 1885. During his thirty- 
four years' residence in Avoca Township, the people 
became much attached to him on account of his 
many excellent qualities, and his death was sin- 
cerely mourned by all who knew him. He was an 
enterprising and representative citizen, and during 
his life engaged in many enterprises for the wel- 
fare of the people, which largely redounded to his 
credit. 

The subject of this sketch has been a resident of 
Livingston County since 1851, with the exception 
of four years when he lived in Ford County, 111., 
and during his service in the army. On the 19th 
of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 3d 
Illinois Cavalry, in which regiment he served for 
over three years, during which time he was engaged 
in the following battles: Trot Hill, Pea Ridge, 
Ark., Cotton Plant, Ark., in all the battles preced- 
ing and during the siege of Vicksburg; Jackson, 
Port Hudson, a cavalry charge on Bayou Teche, 
and was present at the surprise of Gen. Forest at 
Memphis, Tenn. While on picket duty at Helena, 
Ark., he was^captured by the enemy, and was con- 
fined as a prisoner of war four weeks at Little 
Rock, Ark., at the end of which time he was pa- 
roled. Besides those named above, which are well 
known as engagements in which large bodies of 
troops participated, he was in many other engage- 



124 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ments and skirmishes. He was honorably discharged 
from the service at the expiration of his term of 
enlistment, Sept. 5, 1864, and immediately returned 
to Livingston County. 

On the ICth of February, 1865, Mr. Tucker was 
married to Louisa M. Langworthy, of Chautauqua 
County, N. Y., and they have had four children, 
three of whom are now living Alta, Florence E. 
and Ira J. Mr. Tucker settled on his present farm, 
which consists of eighty acres of good and product- 
ive land, in 1880. He has made a success in his 
undertakings as a farmer, and is now very com- 
fortably situated. He is one of that large number 
of men who hold that the Greenback should be 
the only circulating medium among the people, and 
on account of his views upon financial questions he 
has long been attached to the Greenback party. He 
has served the people as a member of the Board of 
Supervisors for Avoca Township, and has held 
other minor official positions. He affiliates with 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in religious mat- 
ters, and socially is an ardent Comrade of Post No. 
75, G. A. R., of Fairbury, 111. 



L. WESTERVELT, of the firm of Easton & 
Westervelt, proprietors of the leading livery, 
feed and sale stable at Fairbury, is one of 
the young and energetic business men ot 
that place. What he possesses of this world's goods 
he has secured through incessant and well-directed 
work, and has been the recipient of no legacy what- 
ever. Our subject is the son of James L. and Mary 
A. (Conley) Westervelt, and was born in Franklin 
County, Ohio, Aug. 19, 1860. 

James L. Westervelt, Sr., was born June 1, 1819, 
in Ohio, where he was reared to the calling of a 
farmer, and followed that vocation through life. 
Sept. 22, 1840, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary A. Conley, and continued to reside in 
that State until all their children were born. Hop- 
ing to better their financial condition, he emigrated 
to Illinois in 1860, and settled in the eastern part of 
McLean County, about four miles from Fairburv. 
The country was new at that time, but the father, 
with his good wife and a family of boys, set to work 



with a will to improve the laud, and ere many years 
had passed away, had a well-improved farm. He 
lived and labored on this farm for eighteen years, 
and then in 1877 disposed of it, and purchased a 
residence in Fairbury. Moving into the latter place, 
he retired from the active labors of life, and there 
lived 'until the Master called him to a better home, 
"a home not made with hands, eternal in the heav- 
ens," his demise taking place in 1880. He was 
known far and wide as a man whose word was as 
good as his bond, and one who never turned a deaf 
ear to the call of charity. He was a consistent 
Christian man, holding fellowship in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and respected by all who knew 
him. 

Mary A. Westervelt, the mother of our subject, 
survives her husband. She was born in Pennsyl- 
vania Dec. 10, 1820, and lived with her parents un- 
til her marriage. By her union with Mr. Wester- 
velt nine children were born, six of whom are yet 
living, and all are residents of this county, with one 
exception. Mrs. Westervelt with her husband 
passed through all the trials of an early settlement 
in a new country. Nobly she did her part, and 
the respect in which her children are held to-day, 
attests the gentleness and kindness with which 
she treated them, and the Christian teachings re- 
ceived from her. She is one of those good old Chris- 
tian women who have a heart as big as a mountain, 
and it is full of love for all humanity. She is living 
in Fairburv, near to her children, and none are 
more highly respected than Grandma Westervelt. 

Mr. Westervelt of this sketch was an infant when 
his parents came to Illinois, and was reared until 
his eighteenth year on the old homestead in Mc- 
Lean County, where he attended the common 
schools, and assisted in the labors on the farm. 
When the father moved to Fairbury, our subject 
engaged in clerking in a grocery store, in which his 
brother Oscar was interested. He was married to 
Miss Ella, 3'oungest child of Hon. Amos M. and 
Melissa II. (Kinney) Johnson, Feb. 19, 1882. 
.Miss Johnson was born in Fulton County, 111., in 
18fi2, and by her marriage with Mr. Westervelt has 
become the mother of one child, Roy D., born April 
2, 1883. 

In 1886 Mr. Westervelt severed his connection 

I 



-i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 

! i] 



with the firm of Wcstervelt & Co., and removed to 
Chicago, where he engaged in the grocery business 
at No. 507 Western avenue, and for five months con- 
ducted the same with considerable success. Then 
disposing of his stock, Mr. Westervelt returned to 
Fairbury, and associated himself with Alexander 
Eastern in the livery, sale and feed business. Politi- 
cally he is a red-hot Republican, and trusts the time 
will speedily come when that party will incorporate 
Prohibition views in its platform. 




QUIRE LINSCOTT, a native of the Buck- 
eye State, and scion of an excellent family, 
who, on the father's side were Vermonters, 
and on the mother's Virginians, being of 
an enterprising disposition, and desirous of seeing 
something of the farther West, removed from his 
native State, first to Indiana and then to Illinois, 
and is now one of the most prosperous and promi- 
nent citizens of Avoca Township. His early yean 
had been spent in the agricultural districts, and he 
has shown himself peculiarly adapted to the em- 
ployments of home life. lie commenced poov in 
pocket and at the foot of the ladder, and is now 
the owner of 680 acres on sections 18 and 19, 
which comprises one of the finest farms in Central 
Illinois, and yields in abundance the richest crops 
of the Prairie State. He is thoroughly acquainted 
with the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life, 
and knows all about the disadvantages which the 
early settlers were obliged to contend with. He 
possessed, however, in a marked degree a large 
share of the resolution and perseverance common 
to the men of those days, and entered upon the 
cultivation of the soil with all the determination 
with which he was so largely supplied, and the re- 
sults of which he has reason to be proud. The 
main points in a career more than ordinarily inter- 
esting, an- a* follows : 

Our subject, a native of Greene County, Ohio, 
was born Feb. 12, 1821, and is the son of Benja- 
min and Polly (Jarrett) Linscott, whose ancestor." 
emigrated from Wales to the United States in the 
Colonial d.'iys. His parents each removed from 
their native Stale early in life. They were mar- 



ried near Cincinnati, where the father engaged in 
shoemaking for a time, and afterward located upon 
a farm in Greene County. They spent the remain- 
_der of their lives in Ohio. The home circle in- 
cluded twelve children, of whom only the follow- 
ing now survive, namely: Jeremiah, of Greene 
County, Ohio; Mary, the wife of William Leath, 
of Emporia County, Kan., and Squire, of our sketch . 

Mr. Linscott passed his boyhood and youth in 
his native county, and early in life was made ac- 
quainted with its cares and responsibilities. His 
father possessed but a limited income, and our sub- 
ject could only pass a few months each winter in 
school, and but a few winters enjoyed the privileges 
of study. At an early age he went out to work by 
the month, the proceeds of his labor going to as- 
sist in the maintenance of the family. He began 
for himself when eighteen years of age, and, with 
the exception of three years of general merchan- 
dising in Attica, Ind., has spent his entire life upon 
a farm. Soon after reaching his majority he, in 
the spring of 1843, migrated to Fountain County, 
Ind., where he remained several years and became 
the head of a family. He was united in marriage 
with Miss Candace Hackstou on the 28th of Decem- 
ber, 1843, and they settled down in a modest home in 
Attica, where they became the parents of one child, 
a daughter, whom they named Sarah C. The young 
wife only lived a few years after her marriage, 
her death taking place in Perryville, Vermillion 
County, Nov. 21, 1848. She was a native of 
Fountain County, Ind., and about twenty-four 
years of age at the time of her death. 

The present wife of our subject was formerly 
Miss Minerva E. Kingore, and they were married 
on the 1st of January, 1860. Mrs. L., like her 
husband, is a native of Ohio, and the daughter of 
John and Margaret Kingore, who are now dead. 
She was born June 24, 1825, and by her union 
with our subject became the mother of one child, 
a daughter, Fannie E., who was born July 24, 
1865, and is now at home. 

Mr. Linscott removed from Indiana to this 
county in 1859, and in the spring of 1861 lo- 
cated on his present farm, where he has since re- 
sided. The low land of his farm has been under- 
laid with tile, and all his farm operations have 






420 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY- 



t 



been characterized by that sound sense and good 
judgment which cannot fail to result in success. 
He is a man who is never idle, and when not em- 
ployed with his hands, his brain is active in re- 
volving those projects which shall result in good 
to some one, either his family or his neighbors. 
He has served as School Director in his district, 
and politically, is a Republican of the first water. 
To the solicitations of his townsmen to become an 
office-holder of more prominence he has turned a 
deaf ear, believing that in the quiet seclusion of 
his home, and in aiding by his influence those proj- 
ects set on foot for the welfare of his commu- 
nity, he could be of more real service. He has, 
however, for many years been a great admirer of 
the principles of the Masonic fraternity, with 
which he became identified at Fairbury, and has 
passed all the degrees of the Blue Lodge. Although 
not connected with any religious organization he 
believes there is good in all, and contributes to 
all. His estimable lady is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. In their declining years 
they are enjoying the fruit of a well-spent life, and 
doing good as they have opportunity. 



J "JOSHUA G. CHESEBRO came to this county 
I in 185(5, and pre-empted a half of section 
18, in Sullivan Township. He operated 
I there until the spring of 1857, then became 
a resident of Saunemin, where he owns and occu- 
pies one of the most valuable farms in this section 
of the country. His property includes 480 acres of 
choice lnd, highly improved, and furnished with 
the most valuable natural water power of any tract 
in the township, including several good wells which 
are fed from never-failing spring. 

There was but slight difference in the condition 
of the men who came to Central Illinois twenty- 
five or thirty years ago, most of them arriving poor 
in pocket, provided only with theft native energy 
and resolution of character. Our subject ranks 
essentially among the self-made men of Livingston 
County, although it is true he had some means upon 
his arrival here. This he was enabled to take good 



care of, and was fortunate in his investments, while 
his farm operations were uniformly successful. He 
was never afraid or ashamed of hard work, and 
kept his shoulder to the wheel for many years until 
the necessity therefor no longer existed. 

Our subject was born in Otsego County, N. Y., 
July 23, 18211, and is the son of Beriah and Sarah 
(Young) C'hesebro, natives respectively of Connect- 
icut and New York. The C'hesebro family is of 
English ancestry, who crossed the water during the 
Colonial days, and whose descendants were widely 
and favorably known throughout the Empire State 
for many generations. Joshua G., when about 
seven years of age, removed with his parents from 
his birthplace to the city of Albany, where his fa- 
ther engaged in tanning and shoemaking, and 
where the youth remained until sixteen years of 
age. The family then removed to Ohio, locating 
in Wyandot County, the mother having died in 
New York State, in 1829. 

Young Chesebro remained in Wyandot County, 
Ohio, until 1N56, when he migrated West, and com- 
ing to this county located on section 4, in Sullivan 
Township, and from thence he came to this town- 
ship, where he has since resided. He has seen much 
of pioneer life, and contributed his full quota 
toward the building up of this section and the en- 
lightenment of its people. On the 8th of January, 
1*58, he was united in marriage with Miss Clara E. 
Cleland, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is the 
daughter of Thomas and Mary A. (Duncan) Cle- 
land, who came to this county during its earlv set- 
tlement. They were natives of New York and 
Pennsylvania respectively, the father being now 
deceased, but the mother is living in Pontiac, 111. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chesebro began life in fair circum- 
stances on the new farm, and in due time became 
the parents of seven children, of whom one is de- 
ceased. The eldest daughter, Nettie, is the wife of 
Alexander W. Ross, of Saunemin Township. The 
others, who continue at home with their parents, 
are as follows: Walter B., Anna, Clara B. and Lib- 
bie F. Hiram M. married Miss Charlotte Watts. 
The parents are prominently connected with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Chese- 
bro has served as Class-Leader, Sabbath-school 
Superintendent and Trustee for many years. Our 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4-27 



subject has also been prominent in township affairs, 
serving as Clerk and School Director, and there are 
few worthy projects in connection with the public 
welfare in which he has not taken a leading part. 
Although lending his influence usually to support 
the Democratic party, he still reserves the right to 
vote independently, aiming to give his influence to 
the men best calculated to serve the interests of 
the public. His name is widely and favorably 
known throughout Saunemin Township, as that of 
one of its most valued and useful citizens. 




ENRY LARSON, a prosperous farmer on 
section 27, Esmen Township, was born in 
Norway, near Stavanger, on the 7th of 
March, 1835. He was the third child in a 
family of nine,. born to Large Hanson and Annie 
Hendrickson, natives of Norway, in which country 
they always resided. The mother was a daughter 
of Henry Hendrickson, and the father was a son of 
Hans Larson. 

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm, 
and such education as he received was in the com- 
mon schools of that day. At the age of nineteen 
years and fort}' days he left Norway on board the 
ship "Ward," and sailed for Quebec, where he ar- 
rived after a pleasant voyage of six weeks, on the 
7th of June, 1854. From Quebec he began a jour- 
ney to the West, having Ottawa, 111., as his object- 
ive point. After arriving at Ottawa he secured em- 
ployment on a farm twelve miles north, where' he 
worked for two years, and then went up Fox River. 
Here he was married to Betsey Knutson, daughter 
of Kent and Bergali Knutson, natives of Norway, 
where their children were all born. Mr. Larson 
and his wife lived on Fox River for two years, and 
then went to Nettle Creek, seven miles west of Mor- 
ris, where they lived four years. They then carne 
to Livingston County, and lived four years in Sun- 
bury Township, raising cattle on the prairie, and 
cultivating a small tract of land, when they removed 
to Esmen Township, and purchased eighty acres of 
land, where he has since continued to live, and in- 
creased his farm to 100 acres, all of which is highly 



cultivated. He takes great pride in raising fine 
horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. 

Mr. and Mrs. Larson are the parents of eight chil- 
-dren Annie, Knute, Hans, Helen, Betsy, Laura, 
Lars and Bertie. They are all married and live on 
farms, excepting two sons at home. Mr. Larson 
came to Livingston County in 1862, and has been 
a witness of all the changes which have taken place 
during the past quarter of a century. When he first 
came to the county, a large proportion of the laud 
was wild and uncultivated. He has lived to see 
this land transformed into magnificent farms, and 
where the country was traversed by mere bridle 
paths, good broad highways have been constructed. 
Mr. and Mrs. Larson are both members of the 
Lutheran Church. He is a consistent Republican, 
always voting that ticket, but does not take an act- 
ive part in political affairs. 




ARCUS LAMP, one of the most thrifty and 
successful agriculturists of Long Point 
Township, owns 158|- acres of fertile land 
under a good state of cultivation, where he 
has instituted all the improvements adopted by the 
modern and progressive farmer. He has a neat and 
substantial dwelling, with a good barn and various 
sheds and other structures required for the storing 
of grain and the shelter of stock, and the general 
appearance of the premises attracts the admiring 
eye of the traveler through that section. 

Our subject has illustrated, during a career which 
has been uniformly successful, the results of energy 
and perseverance, and is one ot the finest repre- 
sentatives of the thrifty German element of this 
section. His early home was in the Prussian Prov- 
ince of Holstein, which was formerly a Duchy of 
Denmark, but is now one of the most important 
States of the German Confederation, and more 
popularly known as a part of Sleswick-Holstein. 
His birth took place July 25, 1839, and his parents 
were Henry and Selk (Wies) Lamp, who were also 
of German birth and parentage. The father of our 



** 



' * 42.S 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



subject was born in 1803, and learned the trade of 
cabinet-maker and chair manufacturer, which he 
followed all his life, and died in his native Province 
on the 2d of March, 1887. The mother is still liv- 
ing, but for the past five years has been a great suf- 
ferer from rheumatism. She is also quite aged. 

The German youth are particularly fortunate in 
regard to education, and our subject, in common 
with the children of his native Empire, was placed 
in school at an early age, where he acquired a good 
knowledge of the common branches. He continued 
under the home roof until a youth of seventeen, 
and then, with the hope of something better than 
what was held out to him on his native soil, crossed 
the Atlantic in the spring of 1857, and shortly after 
landing in New York City, started for the West. 
After a brief time spent in Chicago, he migrated to 
Wenona, and thence to Groveland Township, La- 
Salle County, where he was employed three years 
as a farm laborer. He subsequently removed to 
Marshall County, of which he was a resident for 
fifteen years following. He had in the meantime 
labored diligently and accumulated a snug little sum 
of money, which he determined to 'invest in land in 
this county, and accordingly in 1870, purchased 
eighty acres in Long Point Township. Four years 
later he doubled this amount of real estate, and has 
since given his attention to the building up of a 
model homestead, in which he has succeeded ad- 
mirably. 

Mr. Lamp was married, Jan. 26, 1865, while a 
resident of Marshall County, to Miss Olive Benning- 
ton, daughter of Robert S. and Olive (Sampson) Ben- 
nington, of Marshall County, 111. Mrs. L. was born 
in 1841, and by her union with our subject became 
the mother of nine children: Mary Eliza was 
born on the 3d of February, 1867, and died June 2, 
1873, and the little grave of their first-born was made 
in the cemetery at Antioch; Millie Caroline was 
born July 1, 1868, and employs her time in teach- 
ing ; Jessie Florence was born Aug. 23, 1870; Rob- 
ert Henry, March 20,1872; Margaret E., March 
30,1874; Minna- Myrtle, Feb. 17, 1877; William 
Marcus, Oct. 15, 1879; Joseph Floyd, Jan. 15, 1882, 
and Albert Darling, May 26, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. 
L.. with their two eldest children, are members in 
good standing of the Christian Church. Our sub- 



ject gives very little attention to politics, but upon 
occasions of important elections casts his vote with 
the Republican party. 



OBERT ELMORE, a citizen of Illinois since 



1856, who has 240 acres of land on section 
33, Pleasant Ridge Township, and sixty- 
^.5 two acres on section 5, Forest Township, 
is one of the largest stock-raisers of the county. 
He was born in Madison County, Ky., on the 7th 
of May, 1834, and is the son of James and Sarah 
(Baugh) Elmore, natives of Virginia and Kentucky 
respectively. The father was born in 1797, and 
died in the State of Kentucky in April, 1858. 
He was by trade a blacksmith, but the latter years 
of his life were spent in farming. The mother was 
born on the 3d of November, 1805, and died jn 
1879. Both parents were members of the Chris- 
tian Church. 

In personal appearance James Elmore was a re- 
markable man, weighing 360 pounds, and was fair 
skinned, with dark hair and blue eyes. In early life 
he belonged to the Whig part}', but during the last 
years of his life he supported the Democrats. To 
them were born twelve children: William died at 
the age of fifty-three years; John is a farmer by 
occupation; Mary, Asenith and Jane T. are dead; 
Robert, the subject of this sketch ; Sarah F. ; Martha 
J., Mrs. Shearer; Rebecca J., Mrs. W. G. Watts; 
James S., and Thomas J., who died in Chicago. 

The subject of our sketch came to Illinois in 
1856, and located where he now lives. On the 2d 
of September, 1856, he was married to Edith 
March, who was born in Madison County, Ky., on 
the 15th of April, 1833. She was the daughter of 
Abraham and Susannah (Robinson) March, na- 
tives of Kentucky. Her father was born on the 
14th of April, 1788, and died in January, 1855; he 
was a farmer by occupation. The mother was born 
in 1793 and died in April, 1878. They were mem- 
bers of the Christian Church, to which they were 
much devoted during the latter part of their lives. 
In 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Elmore took up their resi- 
dence in the house in which they now live. To 
them have been born five children: James B. ; 



u 



f 



fe 



4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4:51 



Mary A. married James F. Galbraith; Susannah 
married George S. Wilson, and resides in Living- 
ston County; William A. lives at home; Robert 
M., the youngest child, was accidentally killed while 
hunting, at the age of fifteen years. It is supposed 
that while he was loading one barrel of his shot- 
gun the other barrel was accidentally discharged. 
He was a bright boy for his age, and was the pride 
of his parents as well as the favorite of the neigh- 
borhood. 

Mr. Elm ore has 302 acres of laud where he lives, 
and it is all in an excellent state of cultivation. When 
he first became the possessor of his land it was just 
as nature made it, being unbroken and undisturbed 
prairie. The buildings which he has erected upon 
the farm are first-class in every respect, and a 
credit to Pleasant Ridge Township. Besides culti- 
vating his large farm Mr. Elmore is extensively 
engaged in buying and selling cattle, handling 
from 200 to 500 each year, while the number last 
year ran up to 800. Mr. Elmore is one of the suc- 
cessful men of Livingston County, his business efforts 
having been rewarded by the accumulation of a con- 
siderable fortune, which is well invested. What 
time lie can devote to political matters is given to 
further the interests of the Democratic party. He 
has not been an office-holder to a great extent, and 
is satisfied with having held the position of Road 
Commissioner for fifteen years. He and his wife 
are active and influential members of the Christian 
Church, to which they contribute liberally of their 
time and means. A lithographic view is shown of 
Mr. Elmore's handsome residence. 



OHN PURSLEY, a wealthy and prominent 
farmer of Fayette Township, on the southern 
line of Livingston County, owns and oc- 
cupies 360 acres of finely improved land on 
sections 5 and 6. He is the son of one of the ear- 
liest pioneers of this section of country, and came 
to the township when there were but four families 
within its limits. From a modest beginning in life 
he has built up one of the most desirable homes in 
Livingston County, and owes no man anything 



either for his position in life or for any assistance 
at the beginning. 

Mr. Pursley was born in the city of New York, 
June 2, 1832, soon after his parents. Gottfried and 
Anna Mary (Evering) Pursley, who were natives of 
Germany, set foot upon American soil. They 
passed the first year in New York City, where the 
father followed his trade of shoemaking, and in 
1 834 he removed with his family to Chicago. Three 
years later they changed their residence to Ottawa, 
LaSalle County, where in addition to shoemaking 
the father engaged in the manufacture of harness, 
besides operating a lanyard for a number of years, 
when he was called from his earthly labors. His 
death took place about 1845, and a wife and seven 
children were thus left without their natural pro- 
tector. The family included two sons and five daugh- 
ters, namely, Catherine, Phebe, Elizabeth, Anna 
Mary, John, Daniel and Emma; the latter died when 
seven years old. The others are married and most 
of them have families of their own, and reside in 
this county. The father was a man of much in- 
telligence, and after becoming a naturalized Ameri- 
can citizen, identified himself with the Democratic 
party. He had been reared in the faith of the 
German-Catholic Church, to which he closely ad- 
hered. The mother died in LaSalle County in 
1882. 

In beginning life for himself, our subject engaged 
in farming in LaSalle County, about 1854, where 
he remained thirteen years, and then came to this 
county, of which he has since been a resident. Upon 
his arrival he took up a tract of wild land, and the 
large and valuable farm of which he is now the 
possessor is abundant evidence of the manner in 
which he has spent his time and the rare good 
judgment with which lie has been blessed by nature. 
He has effected fine improvements, including a set 
of substantial farm buildings, and of late years has 
given much attention to stock-raising, in which he 
has been uniformly successful. 

In 1854, Mr. Pursley was married to Miss Mary 
Everling. She was born in the Province of Rhine- 
folz, Germany, July 29, 1831, and is the daugh- 
ter of parents who were of pure German ancestry 
and engaged in farming pursuits. Her father de- 
parted this life at his home in Germany in 1882; 






432 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the mother is still living and a resident of Remstein. 
They were the parents of twelve children John, 
Jacob, Mary, Philip, Philip (2d). Adam, Phoebe, 
Catherine, Elizabeth, Peter, Margaret and Caroline. 

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pursley there were 
born twelve children, namely, John, Louisa, Mary, 
Rosa, George, Charles, Caroline, Jane, Peter, Eliza- 
beth, Joseph, and Anna, who died when thirteen 
months old. Louisa is the wife of Thomas Mur- 
phey, a highly respected farmer of Fayette Town- 
ship; John married Miss Caroline Bell, and is 
farming near his father's homestead. The younger 
children continue at home with their parents. Our 
subject and his family belong to the German 
Catholic Church, and Mr. P., like his father, is 
Democratic in politics. He has been School Di- 
rector in his district for a number of years, and is a 
liberal supporter of those enterprises calculated for 
the general welfare of the people. 

A lithographic view of Mr. Pursley's residence 
is shown in this volume. 




HOMAS A. BEACH, of the firm of Beach & 
Dominy, bankers, at Fairbury, deals also in 
real estate, and at the present time is owner 
of 2,400 acres of land, besides a great deal of 
town property. His residence is one of the most 
substantial and imposing buildings in the village 
of Fairbury. It was constructed in 187;~>, and re- 
gardless of expense was fitted with all the modern 
conveniences. 

Mr. Beach was born in the town of Amity, Mad- 
ison Co., Ohio, on the 4th of December, 1828, and 
is the son of Lorenzo and Edith (Bull) Beach, who 
were natives respectively of New York and Ver- 
mont. Dr. Lorenzo Beach was born at New Haven, 
Vt., on the 7th of November, 1798, and died at 
Fairbury, 111., on the 9th of August, 1878, aged 
seventy-nine years, nine months and two days. 
At the age of seventeen he moved to Worthington, 
Ohio, where he resided about one year. Thence 
he went to Urbana, Ohio, where he studied medi- 
cine with Dr. Parker three years, after which he re- 
moved to Amity, Ohio, and engaged in the prac- 



tice of medicine for twelve years continuously, 
when he moved on a farm in the vicinity, and re- 
sided twenty-three years more, practicing medicine 
in connection with farming. He united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Amity, Ohio, about 
the year of his first marriage, 1 823, and for over 
fifty years was an active, consistent member of 
tliat denomination, contributing very liberally of 
his means toward the building of a church at Am- 
ity, Ohio, and Fairbury, 111. His business, as well 
ns his Christian life, was a success. ' For three 
years before his death, his mind as well as his body 
perceptibly failed, though he spent much time in 
the examination of God's Word, and any allusion 
to it in his hearing always brought a hearty and 
ready response. He frequently sang those hymns 
and tunes familiar to him in his youth, but forgot- 
ten among the busier scenes of life, to come back 
and comfort him in after years. " He renewed his 
youth like the eagle." " He was like a tree planted 
by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit 
in his' season; his leaf also shall not wither, and 
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." His first wife 
bore him four children: James died in infancy; 
Hester married Mr. Ezra Dominy, both of whom 
died some years ago; Thomas A. ; Chloe married 
Dr. Bartlett, and is now a widow. He married 
Mrs. Sarah A. Roop, Nov. 23, 1870, who was born 
Nov. 1, 1821. 

Thomas A. Beach married Miss Amelia Bartlett, 
on the 8th of April, 1853, the ceremony being per- 
formed by the Rev. Dr. Smith, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. She was born on the 9th of 
Julv, 1828, in Hamilton County, Ohio, and was 
the daughter of Latham S. and Nancy (Cumstock) 
Bartlett, natives of Vermont and New York State 
respectively. The mother died in 1840, and the 
father died in Ohio on the 13th of June, 1862, in 
the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was an early 
settler in Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. 
For many years during his life he held the offices 
of Trustee and Class-Leader in the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. He married for his second wife, 
Miss Hannah March, in 1842; she still lives at the 
age of sixty-nine years. Writing of his religious 
character and life, a biographer sa.yg of Mr. Bart- 
lett: "He was converted and joined the Methodist 



t. 

T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Episcopal Church, of which he lived a .consistent 
member until death. He was not one of those 
impulsive, vacillating characters, to bo governed 
by tho opinions and feelings of others, driven by 
adversity or led away by prosperity, but like every 
consistent, honest man, he with a strong faith and 
a well-balanced mind, served God and labored for 
the church from principle. He served the church 
for many years as Class-Leader and Steward, for 
which work he had a peculiar gift, as he was always 
cheerful, hopeful, charitable and forbearing, always 
preferring others to himself. For some seven years 
previous to his death he suffered much from a 
nervous disease, and a part of this time he was de- 
prived of church privileges. But at home he used 
the means of grace and continued to retain his con- 
fidence in God. and to feel that His grace was suffi- 
cient to sustain him in the hour of affliction. For 
three months prior to his death, his sufferings were 
beyond description ; every day during that time he 
thought would be his last, and often looked forward 
with joy to the time when his sufferings would end, 
that he might leave this world of woe to dwell in 
the land where pain cannot come. In the death of 
Father Bartlett, the church lost a true brother, 
the wife a kind husband, the children an affection- 
ate father, our country a true patriot, and the op- 
pressed of our land an unflinching friend." By his 
first marriage there were six children William H., 
Josiah, Harriet, Cicero, Amelia and Sarah A. By 
the second marriage there were also six children 
Lavanda, Orplia, Latham, Ella M., Charles E. and 
Horace G.; two of the first children are living, and 
all but one of the last. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Beach have had four 
children : Sarah A., who died at the age of fourteen 
years; Chloe B., at the age of twenty-two years; 
Thomas L., in infancy; Ella, the wife of Dr. Lewis, 
of Fairbury, has two children Thomas B. and 
Amelia. Mr. Beach arrived in Illinois on the 15th 
of August, 1854, and located on a farm two and 
one-half miles southwest of Fairbury, where he re- 
sided nine years, and then moved into the town, 
and for the following sixteen years engaged in the 
dry-goods and hardware business. In 1874 lie es- 
tablished a banking business which he has since 
continued. Mr. Beach is a member of the Masonic 



fraternity, and has advanced as far as the Chapter. 
He is a Republican in politics; his wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 




S T LOUKS, a native of the Dominion 
of Canada, is familiarly known as one of 
the most prosperous farmers and stock- 
raisers of Nebraska Township. His boyhood and 
youth were spent amid the quiet scenes of rural life, 
near the place of his birth, which was about twenty 
rods from the sho~es of Lake Erie, in Norfolk Coun- 
ty, Canada. He began life on the 1 st of March, 1 830, 
and is the son of William and Huldah (Hoffman) 
Louks, natives respectively of New York and Ver- 
mont, who became the parents of nine children, of 
whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth. 
The paternal grandparents of our subject, Henry 
Louks and his estimable wife, were born in New 
York State, the former about 1760. He removed 
to Vermont forty-three years later, where he carried 
on farming, and late in life he joined his son Will- 
iam in Canada, where he died of typhoid fever 
when sixty-two years of age. His ancestors came 
from Holland and were among the earliest settlers 
of the Empire State. His son William, the father 
of our subject, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., 
March 22, 1787, a little over 100 years ngo, and 
w;is a carpenter by trade. When the War of 1812 
broke out he was working at his trade in Canada, 
and after completing his contract he went back to 
New York and served in the militia. He had in 
the meantime been married, about 1808, to Miss 
Huldah Hoffman, who was born in Franklin County, 
Vt., Oct. 16, 1791. They returned to Canada in 
the fall of 1821, where the death of the father oc- 
curred April 11, 1857, while the mother passed 
away a little over five years later, June 18, 1862. 
The record of their children is as follows : Sarah 
was born April 9, 1810, in Franklin County, Vt., 
and became the wife of Solomon Griffin; she is now 
living in Delhi, Canada, and is the mother of seven 
children, all of whom are married. Elizabeth was 
born Nov. 28, 1811, and married Abram Mills, who 
has a large farm in the Province of Ontario, Canada; 
they have nine children, all married. Jacob was born 
June 22, 1815, was twice married, and died in 1865, 



r 



I 

t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



leaving a large family; Eusebia was born July 19, 
1817, anrl first married Edwin Putts, who died 
leaving no children: she then became the wife of 

O 

Levi Steinhoff, who is also deceased; they had two 
children, and she now makes her home with her 
son in Nebraska Township, this county. Melissa 
was born Aug. 28, 1819, and became the wife of 
Alex Cowan; she lives in Canada and has several 
children, all married. William H., the first of their 
children born in Canada, was born Nov. 29, 1828, 
and is now a prosperous lumberman, farmer and 
stock-raiser of Lapeer County, Mich.; he is married 
and the father of five children. Alex was born June 
2, 1832, resides in Canada, is married and has six 
children; Lucy was born Aug. 30, 1835, and resides 
in Canada, being the wife of John Reid, and the 
mother of six children. 

Mr. Louks remained with his parents on the farm 
until twenty-four years of age, the last year having 
the management of the homestead. Upon leaving 
the parental fold he migrated westward to Ogle 
County, this State, where he worked one year by 
the month, and the two following years cultivated 
rented land. In October, 185.3, he purchased 160 
acres of railroad land on section 10, Nebraska 
Township, this county, where he took up his abode 
and has since remained. His purchase was practi- 
cally uncultivated, without even a shelter for his 
head. He was strong in hope and courage, how- 
ever, and entered vigorously upon the cultivation 
of the soil, and Dec. 11, 1856, strengthened his 
resolution to build up a homestead by marriage 
with the lady of his choice, Miss Margaret Sabina 
Settle, Rev. H. W. Richardson, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, officiating. The first sermon 
which Mr. Louks heard in Illinois was delivered by 
this gentleman three years before that time, and he 
had not seen him since until the time that he pre- 
sented himself before the young couple to perform 
the marriage ceremony. 

In the spring of 1857 our subject and his young 
wife moved to their present location, which has 
since been their home, and where their nine chil- 
dren were born. These are recorded as follows: 
James William was born Sept. 24, 1858, is still un- 
married and a resident of Colorado: Nelson Alex 
was born Aug. 23, 18GO, and died unmarried, Sept. 



5, 1885, in Mead County, Kan., where his remains 
were laid to rest; Dorothea Isabelle was born Jan. 
22, 1862, is unmarried and a resident of Colorado; 
Melissa Jane, born Jan. 18, 1864, and Stephen 
James, Dec. 22, 1865, are living near their brother 
and sister in Colorado; Walter George was born 
Oct. 30, 1869, and continues at home with his 
parents; Thomas Charlton was born Dec. 11, 1871, 
on the fifteenth anniversary of his parents' wed- 
ding ; Margaret E. was born Jan. 20, 1874; Mal- 
com Wilfred was born Sept. 14, 1878, and died 
October 27 following. 

Mrs. Louks was born March 10, 1838, in Lock- 
port, Niagara Co., N. Y., within hearing of the roar 
of N iagara Falls, and could often see the spray rising 
from the foaming water. She came to McIIenry 
County, this State, with her parents when a maiden 
of seventeen, and shortly afterward they removed 
across the road into Walworth County, W r is. Her 
parents, James and Dorothea (Cbarlton) Settle, 
were natives respectively of New York and New- 
castle, England. The father was a carpenter by trade, 
but also followed farming, and had been engaged 
in mercantile pursuits; subsequently they came to 
this county in 1861. The record of their six chil- 
dren is as follows: Stephen James, born March 10, 
1836, entered the Union army and died with 
smallpox at Camp Fry, Chicago; Margaret, Mrs. 
Louks; Elizabeth Ann, born Jan. 3, 1841, married 
John Louks, a nephew of our subject, now deceased, 
and became the mother of two children : she after- 
ward engaged as a teacher, and is just finishing her 
eighteenth year in the schools of Minouk. Isabelle 
was born July 6, 1843, and died Oct. 14, 1*57, 
when a bright young girl of fourteen years ; Will- 
iam H. was born Jan. 15, 1S46, and during the late 
war served in the 1 7th Illinois Cavalry, when he 
was detailed to duty on the frontier; he was pro- 
moted Sergeant and honorably discharged at the 
close of the war, and is now living in Gridley, Mc- 
Lean Co.. 111. ; Thomas Charlton, born April 15, 
1849, is also a resident of Gridley. Mr. Settle died 
at Minonk on the 27th of January, lfS66, from in- 
juries received by a runaway team : the mother is 
still living, and a resident of Minonk. 

Mrs. Dorothea Settle was born nt Newcastle-on- 
Tyne, England, April 16, 180s. She came to 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



435 



America with her father and step-mother in 
and they purchased a tract of hind near Penn Yan, 
N. Y. Mrs. S. was first married, :\t Auburn, to 
Robert I. Cox, and the second time, in 1N35, to 
the father of Mrs. Louks. Her father, Henry Set- 
tle, a native of New York, entered the Revolution- 
ary army when a boy fourteen years of age by the 
desire of his mother, a woman who possessed re- 
markable patriotism, and believed it her duty to 
give her son to the cause. His father was also in 
the army at the same time. Both escaped un- 
harmed, and the family afterward took up their 
residence in Canada. A cousin of Mrs. Louks, 
John Charlton, is a member of the Dominion Par- 
liament. 

Mrs. Louks' great-grandmother was a native of 
Stuble, England ; she was bom in 1756, and died at 
the age of fifty-five years. Her husband, Thomas 
Charlton, was born Sept. 13, 1737, and died Sept. 
7, 1815. Mrs. Louks' father was born May 31, 
1804. 



J~OHNG. STEERS is one of the oldest and most 
worthy fanners of Belle Prairie Township, 
I whose home is located on section 5. His farm 
' consists of 271 acres, which is remarkable for 
its fertility and productiveness, and the homestead 
presents one of the attractive points in the land- 
scape of Belle Prairie Township. During his later 
years he has been largely engaged in breeding large 
draft horses, blooded cattle and Cotswold sheep. 

Mr. Steers, as well as his parents, is a native of 
the State of Kentucky, whose name is said to sig- 
nify ''Dark and Bloody Ground," and the ancient 
hunting-ground for northern and southern tribes of 
Indians, and few of either section made it a place 
of permanent abode, each class seeming to dread 
the hostility of the other. The county in which 
Mr. Steers was born in October, 1834, was named 
after Daniel Boone, who established himself in this 
region in 1769, and was followed by numerous 
hardy adventurers from Virginia and North Caro- 
lina. They organized a local government in 1775, 
and gave this new country the name of Transyl- 
vania, which was afterward declared a county by 
Virginia, and ultimately was received into the 



Union in 17D2 as the State of Kentukey. The par- 
ents of Mr. Steers, Hugh and Elizabeth (Darnall) 
Steers, were natives of Kentucky, the father being 
born on the 20th of November, 1800. He was a 
farmer by occupation and a cooper by trade, de- 
voting the larger part of his life to farming. He 
made the first whisky barrel ever put up in Living- 
ston County. His first advent into Illinois was in 
1828, but he soon returned to Kentucky, where 
he remained until the fall of 1837, when he re- 
turned and entered 200 acres of land, which he 
occupied until 1852. He died on the 26th of 
October of that year, while on a visit to Kentucky, 
and his remains were buried near where those of 
his parents and Daniel Boone repose. During 
almost his entire life he was a leading and promi- 
nent member of the Regular Baptist Church, and 
assisted in the organization of this church in Liv- 
ingston County, in which he was a Deacon for 
many years. 

On the 27th of September, 1822, Hugh Steers 
married Miss Darnall, who was born abont 1806 
in Madison County, Ky. By the death of her par- 
ents she was left an orphan when less than a year 
old. To them were born eleven children: Henry 

D. M., William N., Francis M.,John G., Alvira M., 
Martin J., Henry P., Mary F., Nancy E., Clarence 

E. and Rachel D. At the age of sixty-eight 
years the mother died, in the year 1874. 

John G. is the oldest member of his father's 
family now living. He came to Illinois in 1847, 
accompanying his parents, with whom he remained 
until he arrived at the age of manhood. He was 
married, on the 21st of November, 1855, to Miss 
Mary A. Travis, who was born Oct. 1, 1838, and 
is the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Thomp- 
son) Travis, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky, 
respectively. Her father was born in 1811, and 
still resides upon the farm upon which he set- 
tled over fifty years ago; the mother was born on 
the islst of March, 1814, and is a member of the 
Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Steers have had 
nine children: Laura E., Mrs. Henry I lay man; 
Elizabeth S., Mrs. Foster; Mary F., deceased, Mrs. 
W. H. Darnall; Lindsey B., Minnie E. ; John M., 
deceased; Nancy T., William H. and Ida M. 

Mr. Steers' church connection is with the Regular 



186 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Baptist denomination, and he has been clerk of the 
congregation of which he is a member for twenty- 
three years, and for twenty-six successive years lias 
been a representative in the .Sangamon Association. 
Both he and his wife are consistent Christians, and 
devote much of their time and means to acts cal- 
culated to benefit the church. Mr. Steers' politi- 
cal affiliations are with the Democratic party, and 
he has frequently represented Belle Prairie Town- 
ship in its county convention. He has never been 
an office-seeker, nor office-holder to any great 
extent, the latter being limited to Road Com- 
missioner almost immediately after the organiza- 
tion of the township in which he resides. The 
material improvements he has made upon his farm 
are very creditable in point of taste displayed and 
comfort obtained. He has an excellent set of 
farm buildings, and all necessary implements and 
machinery required for the carrying on of agricult- 
ure and stock-raising in a first-class manner. 



i 



P "REDERICK HACK, Sullivan Township. 
I The Kingdom of Bavaria, in Central Europe, 
and forming a part of the German Empire, 
has given to the United States many of her most 
industrious and enterprising citizens. They have 
been people of excellent constitutions, the result of 
good habits and the healthful air which they took 
in as part of their birthright. Bavaria is the larg- 
est German State, with the exception of Prussia, 
and is rich in fertility of soil and mineral produc- 
tions. The people born and bred there are almost 
without exception of excellent morals and temperate 
habits, in spite of the fact that in some parts of it 
are located the largest beer-producing districts of 
the German Empire. The ancestors of our subject 
for generations were noted along the valley of the 
Rhine as having been of that stern and sturdy char- 
acter which rendered them desirable soldiers in 
time of war and reliable citizens in time of peace. 
The story of one of their later descendants, a worthy 
representative, and the subject of this biography, 
is substantially as follows: 

Mr. Hack was born on the (ith of March, 1828, 



and with the exception of his half-brother, Jost 
Kern, now deceased, was the only member of the 
family who came to the United States, and he is now 
the only one living, an own brother and sister hav- 
ing died in the Fatherland. The parents passed 
away in their native Province in .middle life, when 
their son Frederick was but four years of age. He 
was then taken into the home of an uncle, with 
whom he remained eight years, and afterward 
paddled his own canoe." He served an appren- 
ticeship of two years at the milling business, and 
being more than usually ambitious and enterprising, 
and not being satisfied with his condition or his 
prospects in his native kingdom, in the spring of 
1M52 set sail from Havre, and after a voyage of 
thirt3 r -five days, landed upon American soil. From 
New York City he proceeded to Pittsburgh, Pa., 
and engaged as a farm hand in Butler County at $5 
per month and his board. As time passed on and 
his services became more valuable, he was paid $10 
per month. He remained in the Keystone State 
about four years, then migrated westward, and lo- 
cating in Grundy County, this State, rented a tract 
of land, and by the aid of an ox-team in harness, 
proceeded to cultivate the soil. Two years later 
he made his advent into Livingston County, having 
with him a small sum of money which he had saved 
from his earnings, and which he applied toward the 
purchase of 1<!0 acres of uncultivated prairie. 

Mr. Hack was one of the earliest pioneers of the 
southeastern portion of Livingston County, and 
continued farming with marked success until the 
town of Cullom sprang into existence. With his 
usual foresight he was one of the first to engage in 
the lumber and hardware trade at this point, and 
subsequently added grain to his transactions. He 
wisely invested his surplus capital in additional 
land, and is now the owner of 600 acres adjoining 
the town, all of which is under a good state of cul- 
tivation. Mr. Hack has erected a good set of farm 
buildings and has added all other necessary im- 
provements. He has for many years been the leader 
in social and business circles, and has been the most 
substantial encourager of those enterprises tending 
to the general welfare of the people and calculated 
to settle up the country with an enterprising and 
intelligent population. He represented Sullivan 



' ' 



* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



437 



Township three years on the County Board of Su- 
pervisors, has been Road Commissioner eighteen 
years, and School Director sixteen years. He was 
reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, of 
which he remains a faithful adherent, and now at- 
tends regularly at church in Cullom, where he is 
a Trustee of the society. 

The marriage of Frederick Hack and Miss Martha 
Knorr was celebrated at the bride's home in Pennsyl- 
vania, June 1, 1852. Mrs. Hack is a native of the 
same Province as her husband, and came with rela- 
tives to the United States in her youth. Of this 
union there have been born six children, of whom 
the record is as follows : Lizzie is the wife of Ezra 
Grush, who lives near Dwight: Lena married A. 
Opperman, of Sullivan Township; Caroline, Mrs. 
A. H. Haag, lives near Cullom; Katie was married 
to Leonard Haag and died eight months after her 
wedding; Ezra and Frederick K. are both married 
and live near Cullom. Mr. Hack, politically, was 
at first identified with the Republican party, but 
now votes independently. In addition to his other 
public duties he has been President of the Village 
Board several years. 



V. JOHN HOSSFELD is a minister of the 
Gospel in the German Evangelical Church, 
/|PA\ and preaches in Long Point Township. He 
w@) is thirty years of age when this sketch is 
written, and has already established himself in the 
affections and esteem of the members of his church. 
The calling of a minister is one full of self-denials, 
and to serve the Master rightly and lead others in 
the narrow paths of righteousness, is a work that 
calls for a stout heart and strong faith, and both 
these are possessed by the subject of this sketch. 
He performs whatever he finds to do with a light 
heart and a willing hand, and the courage and en- 
thusiasm he displays are not excelled b.y older 
ministers. 

Mr. Hossfeld is a native of German}', and was 
born in Wiesenthal, Province of Saxony, on the 
Oth of November, 1858. He is the son of Nichols 
and Kunignnde (Lorey) Hossfeld, natives of the 



same Province. Besides the subject of this sketch 
they have four children, whose names are: L. Hoss- 
feld, who is a farmer and lives near Cleveland, 
Ohio; Dora H., wife of J. Goebleh, has two chil- 
dren, and resides in the old country; Barbara, the 
wife of H. Filler, a weaver by trade, has a family 
of three children, and resides in Philadelphia; An- 
nie is unmarried, and lives in New Jersey. 

The subject of this sketch received his education 
principally in this country. He attended school at 
Galena and Mendota, 111., and was ordained a min- 
ister of the Gospel in 1881, at Cairo, 111. At pres- 
ent he is engaged in teaching in both the German 
and English languages at Streator, 111. In addition 
to this occupation, he has been assigned to preach 
the Gospel in Long Point Township, under the aus- 
pices of the German Evangelical Church. Early 
in life Mr. Hossfeld manifested a fondness for 
books, and after entering school, pursued his studies 
faithfully, improving all his opportunities, and suc- 
ceeded in acquiring a liberal education. While he 
is yet engaged in teaching, he has selected for his 
profession in life that of the ministry. Thus early 
in life there are indications of talent which will dis- 
tinguish him in his profession in after life. He is 
a more than ordinary speaker, and a cogent reas- 
oner, while his sermons at once appeal to the bet- 
ter sense and judgment of his hearers. He has 
made a very auspicious beginning in his career, 
and the future iindoubtedlj' has great things in 
store for him. 




R. CHARLES WORTH TALBOTT is a 

prominent and successful physician and sur- 
geon of Sauncmin, where he settled in 
1883, and although his residence has been 
comparatively brief, he has fully established himself 
in the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, 
lie is a close and intelligent student, and by dili- 
gent attention to his calling has already secured a 
good practice, with a bright outlook for the future. 
Dr. Talbott is a native of Illinois, having been born 
at Decatur, on the 1 !(th of November, 1851. He is 
a son of Luther and Mary (Uickord) Talbott, the 
father having been a native of Kentucky, and the 






t. 



4:i8 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



mother a native of Virginia, but who were both 
reared in the vicinity of Springfield. 111. The Doc- 
tor's paternal ancestors were of English origin, and 
settled in Maryland about 150 years ago. His par- 
ents moved from Sangamon to Macon County, 
where our subject was born. The father died in 
1*7!), and the mother in 1884. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
until he reached man's estate, devoting his time to 
assisting in the work of the farm and attending 
school, lie received a good, thorough English edu- 
cation, and after leaving the district schools attended 
for a time the Champaign University. The follow- 
ing six years were spent in Missouri in teaching 
school. He then went to Keokuk, Iowa, attended 
commercial college, and after completing his course 
he was placed in charge of the English department 
of the same college for the following two years. 
At the age of thirty years he began the study of 
medicine under Dr. J. L. Connelly, of Harristown. 
111., with whom he remained for a period of six 
months. He afterward went to Owaneco, Christian 
Co., 111., where for one year he studied medicine 
with Dr. J. S. C. Cussins, and also during this time 
attended store in the capacity of drug clerk. In the 
fall of 1881 he became a student in Rush. Medical 
College, in Chicago, which he attended for three suc- 
cessive terms, and from which he was graduated with 
honor and credit in the spring of 1883. Immedi- 
ately after leaving Rush Medical College he con- 
cluded to locate at Saunemin, which he then consid- 
ered, and now knows, to be a good location, and 
began the practice of medicine. By strict attention 
to business, courteous manners, and intelligent dis- 
pensation of remedies, he has built up a practice 
second to no other physician in this section of the 
county, 

On the 8th of March, 1883, Dr. Talbott was mar- 
ried to Ella F. Horrie, of Keokuk, Iowa, who was 
born on the 17th of September, 1857. and is the 
daughter of David and Christie (Bartlenmn) Hor- 
rie. They have one child, named Orville W., 
born on the 12th of November. 1 85. Dr. Talbott 
and his wife are both members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and take an active part in society 
matters. lie is a member of the Saunemin Lodge. 
I. O. O. Fy and is filling the position of Junior 



Past (irand. He is at present serving as President 
of the Village Board of Trustees, to which position 
he was elected in May. 1887. Dr. Talbott is a pro- 
gressive man in his views, and joins heartily in such 
enterprises as will advance the material welfare of 
Saunemin Village and township. 




>HOMAS J. METZ stands prominently among 
young men of Union Township, with 
evidently a bright and prosperous future 
before him. His beginning in life is most auspic- 
ious, and his surrounding's at home could hardly be 
more pleasant than they now arc. With an enter- 
prising and energetic nature, he is cordially sec- 
onded in all his plans and undertakings by his in- 
telligent and estimable young wife, a charming 
lad}' in every respect. Mr. Metz, who has chosen 
for his vocation farming and the growing of stock, 
is eligibly located on section 7, Union Township. 
He was born in this township, and is the youngest 
in a family of seven children born to Peter and An- 
geline (Johnson) Metz, who were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and a sketch of whose lives appears in 
this AI.IIUM. The subject of this sketch was reared 
on the farm upon which he now resides, and his 
education was obtained in the common schools, 
which he attended regularly. 

On the 17th of October, 1883, when he was 
twenty-two years of age, Mr. Metz was married to 
Annie B. Almy, who was born in the State of Rhode 
Island on the 9th of June, 1863, the second of three 
children born to John and Ruth A. (Boyd) Almy, 
natives of Rhode Island, who also came to Illinois 
in 1867. Her father was a farmer by occupation 
and a carpenter by trade, and was born at Ports- 
month, R. I., on the 28th of May, 1810, and was 
killed accidentally at New Bremen, Cook Co., 111., 
on the 21st of April, 1887. The widow now re- 
sides with her daughter, Mrs. Metz. The paternal 
grandparents of Mrs. Metz were Peter and Hannah 
(Coley) Almy, natives of Rhode Island, and the 
maternal grandparents were James and Mary D. 
(Lake) Boyd, also natives of Rhode Island. Im- 
mediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Metz 
settled on a part of the home farm, Mr. M. erect- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



441 



ing a comfortable residence and barn. They have 
been blessed with one child, Aura V., born on the 
14th of July, 1885. Mr. Metz is engaged in stock- 
raising extensively, his specialties being Norman 
horses and Durham cattle, and of these he has 
raised some of the finest specimens produced in 
Livingston County. He does not take an active 
part in politics, but he votes with the Democratic 
party. Mr. and Mrs. Metz take an active part in 
all society interests of their neighborhood, and 
among their acquaintances are both deservedly 
popular. 



i 



ffiAMES H. ODELL is one of Livingston 
County's best, most enterprising and thor- 
ough-going farmers. He is the owner of 
one of the finest farms in the county, con- 
taining 342| acres, all of which is under-drained and 
considered to be worth $75 per acre. He was born 
in the city of New York, Nov. 23, 1825, and re- 
mained there until ten or twelve years of age. At 
that time his father moved to Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., where he lived for about twenty-five years. 
Young Odell worked upon the farm during his boy- 
hood days, attending school during the winter 
months, and during his younger manhood devoted 
his leisure hours to study. In that way he secured 
a thorough and competent education in the leading 
branches. He may justly be styled a self-made 
man, and deserves, as all such men do, the highest 
commendation for what they have accomplished. 
Mr. Odell removed to Livingston County and 
located in Indian Grove Township in October, 1862. 
At the time he had but little means, and went to 
work on a rented farm which he held for three 
years. During that time he had been successful in 
raising good crops, and the excellent prices of that 
day enabled him to accumulate sufficient means to 
purchase 120 acres and make a small payment on 
it. By his prudence, economy and industry, as 
well as a close application to business, he has been 
prospered to that extent that at the present writing 
he is the owner of over a half section of land, 
comprising one of the most beautiful farms in the 
county. In 1876 he erected a splendid farm resi- 



dence, at a cost of over $3,000, and which has been 
regarded by others as a good model farm dwelling. 
From three to five months during the winter sea- 
sons, for a number of years after coming to Illinois, 
Mr. Odell was engaged in teaching school, and in 
this occupation as one might expect, he was unusu- 
ally successful. 

We will now revert briefly to the parents of 
our subject, who were Peter and Elizabeth (Kil- 
kore) Odell, natives of New York and Virginia re- 
spectively. The former was born Dec. 20, 1800, 
in Westchester County, and died May 10, 1866, in 
his native State. The mother was born in Peters- 
burg, Va., Sept. 10, 1805, and died Aug. 10, 1861, 
in the Empire State. They were the parents of ten 
children. The names of those living are James H., 
John, Washington E., Harriet, Sarah, Maria and 
Mary Jane. The names of the deceased are Eliza- 
beth, Peter, Jr., and George. 

James H. Odell was married, May 25, 1848, in 
the State of New York, to Miss Mary Straight. 
This lady was born in that State June 21, 1827, and 
is the daughter of A. P. and Philena Straight, both 
of whom were also natives of New York, but are 
now residing at Fairbury, 111., at the advanced ages 
of eight3'-four years. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Odell seven children have been 
born, namely: Edmund L., the eldest, died of brain 
fever at the age of nineteen years and six months; 
Philena E., now Mrs. Miller A. Bailey, resides at 
Fairbury ; Lucena M. is the wife of T. D. Johnson, 
a farmer; Levi J. was married to Naomi McKay, at 
Decatur, 111., and is now living at Lake Geneva, 
Wis. ; he is of an ingenious turn of mind, and has 
invented several check-rowers for dropping and 
checking corn, one of which proved very success- 
ful, and is now on the market and in general use. 
He also has invented a corn-planter, which is 
now on the market, and is giving entire satis- 
faction wherever used. His latest invention is a 
type-writer, for which he has secured a patent, 
and is now engaged in its manufacture at Lake 
Geneva. Jerome A., the next in order of birth, 
married Miss Ophelia Earnhart, daughter of F. J. 
Earnhart, of Fairbury; he is engaged as a traveling 
salesman. Charles H.. who is engaged in the manu- 
facture of type-writers at Lake Geneva, married 



1 



i 



, , 44-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Miss Effie Wright, daughter of James L. Wright, 
of Fairbury; Frank E., who is also engaged in mak- 
ing type-writers at Lake Geneva, selected for his 
wife Miss Lizzie Templeton, daughter of John Tem- 
pleton, of Windsor, 111. 

Mr. Odell was a member of the Free-Will Baptist 
Church at Fairbury while it continued its organiza- 
tion, and was a zealous worker and served as Super- 
intendent of the Sunday-school for several years. 
He has been for a number of years and is still a 
Director of the Fairbury Union Agricultural Board. 
He has also been selected to fill various official po- 
sitions of his township. He is somewhat independ- 
ent in his political views, and aims to vote for the 
best man in the place irrespective of parties, but at 
the present time his principles are Democratic. 

In presenting the portraits of leading men in the 
various parts of the county none are more worthy 
to be included in this class than Mr. James H. 
Odell, of Indian Grove Township. By his own in- 
herent force of character and business tact, he has 
not only accumulated a handsome property, reared 
a large family, giving them unusual advantages, 
but has made for himself a name that in itself is of 
more value than his broad and fertile acres. It is 
to the class of men to which he belongs that not 
only his community but the entire State of Illinois 
owes so much for the advanced position it occupies 
to-day among the great States of the nation. We 
are not only pleased to present the portrait of Mr. 
Odell in connection with this sketch, but give also 
a view of his homestead in another part of the 
ALBUM. 

MLLIAM T. WATTS. The State of Indi- 
ana has furnished many excellent citizens 
to Livingston County, among whom is the 
subject of this biography, who came from his native 
town of Evansville about 1851, and determined to 
try the experiment of cultivating prairie soil. The 
result has been quite satisfactory, as from a hum- 
ble beginning, without means, he has accumulated a 
comfortable property, consisting of a good farm of 
eighty acres, with substantial buildings, a fair as- 
sortment of live stock, and the machinery required 
to carry on agriculture successfully. Besides this, 




he has a farm of 143 acres near Sibley, in Osceola 
County, Iowa. 

Mr. Watts was born on the 4th of July, 1851, 
and is the son of Thomas and Harriet (Seybrook) 
Watts, who were natives of England. They crossed 
the Atlantic in early youth, and were reared and 
married in Indiana, where they remained until their 
son, William T., was five or six years of age. Upon 
coming to Illinois they took up their residence first 
in Marshall County, of which they were among the 
earliest pioneers. Upon coming to this county, 
they had a family of eleven children, all of whom 
are now living, with the exception of George, who 
died in infancy. There was afterward born one 
more, Charles H., who is occupied as a laborer at 
Forest. William T., our subject, was the second 
child; AlbertD. is farming in Union Township, 
this county ; Sarah R. is the wife of William Dally, 
of Union Township; Susan E. married John Shep- 
herd, of Owego Township; Charlotte A. is the wife 
of Michael Chesebro, of Saunemin Township; Hat- 
tie, Mrs. John Moulds, lives in Nebraska Township; 
Evaline M., Mrs. William Moulds, and John S., are 
both residents of Saunemin Township; Herbert L. 
and Mary remain at home with their parents. The 
latter are worthy and consistent members of the 
Christian Church, in which the father has served as 
Elder for a number of years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood 
in his native county, and received a common-school 
education. Early in life he became familiar with 
farm pursuits, which he chose for his vocation, and 
on the 17th of December, 1875, was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Frances B. Kelly, a native of Ohio, 
born in Trumbull County July 10, 1857. Her 
father is deceased. Her mother is living in Saune- 
min Township. Mr. and Mrs. Watts have four sons 
Norman A., William R., Harry F. and Ernest D. 

The property of Mr. Watts includes eighty acres 
of valuable land on section 35, in Saunemin Town- 
ship, and 143 acres in Osceola County, Iowa. He 
has been quite prominent in public affairs, and since 
becoming a voter has given his support to Repub- 
lican principles. He has never been inclined 
to accept office, although frequently solicited by 
his townsmen to do so. He, however, consented 
to serve as :i delegate from Saunemin Township to 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



443' 




1 



the Republican County Convention, in 1886; in 
1883 he was elected to the office of Town Collector; 
upon these occasions he performed his duties con- 
scientiously, and received the approval of his party. 
Both he and his excellent lady are members in good 
standing of the Christian Church, of which he is 
Deacon and Secretary, and they are held in the high- 
est respect and esteem by their neighbors and ac- 
quaintances. 



FREDERICK EISELE. The prairies of Illi- 
nois afford a great inducement to the emi- 
grants to this country, and it is no wonder 
that upon their arrival at New York they went 
directly to that region of which they had heard so 
much through friends or relatives who preceded 
them to the New World. To the sturdy German 
element of which the subject of this sketch is a good 
representative, Illinois is much indebted for the 
substantial improvements which have been made 
within her borders. They came to our shores 
through no idle love of adventure and curiosity, 
but for the purpose of securing homes where they 
might live and rear families free from the rigorous 
and exacting laws of the old countries. With this 
end in view, they began earnestly in the work im- 
mediately upon their arrival, and generally suc- 
ceeded, soon learning that American citizenship is 
as dear to the foreign born as to the native Ameri- 
can. 

Mr. Eisele is a farmer in Pontiac Township, his 
farm being located on section 30. He is a native of 
Germany, and was born on the 15th of March, 1831, 
his parents being Casper and Catherine Eisele, who 
had (light children, three of whom are living Wen- 
dell, Rudolph and Frederick. Before corning to 
this country, Mr. Eisele received a good education 
in his native language, which enabled him the more 
readily to master the English language upon his ar- 
rival in this country. In 1854 he immigrated to 
America, taking passage at Havre, and after a voy- 
age which lasted forty days, landed safely in New 
York. 

On the 7th of March, 1871 , Mr. E. was married to 
Louisa Hock, who was born on the 13th of Feb- 
ruary, 1842, in German}', and is the daughter of 



John and Louisa Hock. She came to the United 
States in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Eisele have been 
born four children : Frederick, upon the 20th of 
April, 1873; Rosa, upon the 30th of Septem- 
ber, 1874; Catherine, Oct. 21, 1876; and Louisa, 
on the 15th of March, 1879. The farm of Mr. 
Eisele, on which he loca'ted in 1881, consists of 160 
acres. It is composed of good land, and he is 
rapidly developing it by drainage, and method- 
ical cultivation. Considering all the circumstances 
which have surrounded him since arriving in 
this country, he has been very successful. Com- 
mencing without anything, he has accumulated, be- 
sides his farm, considerable stock which is valuable, 
and his prospects for the future are very bright. 



.., LPHONSO C. NORTON, attorney and loan 
u], broker at Pontiac, passed his childhood and 




youth in the northwestern part of Living- 
ston County, where his birth took place 
April 18, 1859. He is the son of Dr. Eben and 
Phebe (Cain) Norton, natives of Maine. His pa- 
ternal grandfather, Samuel B. Norton, was a native 
of Massachusetts, and came to Illinois during the 
early settlement of this county, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. 

The father of our subject was a graduate of Cin- 
cinnati (Ohio) Eclectic College, where he com- 
pleted his studies in 1850, and commenced practice 
at Mainville, that State. He was subsequently 
married, in 1854, at the same place, and a few 
months later came with his bride to this county, 
where he entered upon a long and successful career, 
which he followed as a practitioner until 1885. 
The parental household included but three children 
Joel H., Alphonso C. and Eben D. 

Our subject attended school until twelve years 
of age in the country districts. The year follow- 
ing he was sent to Onarga for the purpose of enter- 
ing Grand Prairie Seminary, where he pursued his 
studies two years. Afterward he engaged as clerk 
in a drug-store at Cornell, this county, where he 
was occupied several years. In the meantime he 
had determined upon his future career, and in 1877 



II! 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



entered the Ann Arbor Law School, from which he 
was graduated two years later. He then came to 
Pontiac and read law under the instruction of 
Judge Payson one year, and in September, 1880, 
was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice 
in Pontiac. He has been a close student, an ex- 
tensive reader, and is ambitious to excel. 

Mr. Norton was married, March 17, 1887, to 
Miss Anna Sims, the daughter of Capt. W. S. and 
Salina A. (Strong) Sims, natives of Indiana, and 
residents of this county many years. Mr. Norton 
is a pronounced Democrat, and his friends predict 
for him a successful career. 



SJEREMIAH AMMONS, a well-known resi- 
I dent of Reading Township, owns seventy- 
three acres of good land on section 31, to 
which he came in the spring of 1884. He 
is spoken of as a peaceable and law-abiding citi- 
zen, honest and upright in his dealings, prudent 
and industrious, and one who has built up one of the 
most comfortable homes in the township. He has 
good buildings and other improvements, and his 
accumulations are the result of his own industry, 
as he commenced life without means and wholly 
dependent on his own resources. 

Mr. Ammons was born in Greene, the extreme 
southwestern county of Pennsylvania, in 1831, at 
the homestead of his parents, George and Sarah 
(Wright) Ammons, who were also natives of the 
Keystone State. The father followed farming his 
entire life, spending his early years in Pennsylva- 
nia, and later emigrating to Illinois. After his 
arrival upon prairie soil, he purchased a tract of 
land in Bureau County, and entered upon its culti- 
vation and improvement, but his hopes and those 
of his family were cut short by his death, which 
occurred about a year later, in December, 1857. 
The mother continued a resident of that county, 
where her death took place in April, 1883, after 
she had reached the advanced age of ninety-three 
years. The parents early in life identified them- 
selves with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 



whose doctrines they conscientiously reared their 
children, and in the faith of which they were sus- 
tained through the trials of life and in the hour 
when they were called hence. 

The parental household of our subject included 
fourteen children, of whom eleven are living. 
Solomon, the eldest son, is farming in Reading 
Township, this county, and is the father of ten 
children, five deceased : Joshua is carrying on 
farming in Bureau County; Mary is the wife of 
Richard Anderson, a resident of Bureau County; 
they had twelve children, of whom all are living 
but two; Hannie was married in Pennsylvania, and 
died there some years ago; David is farming in 
Greene County, Pa. ; Susan is living in Iowa, and 
is the wife of August Adrian, and the mother of 
one child, a son; Sarah was married to Jeremiah 
Wright, and died in Pennsylvania; Amy, when a 
child eight years of age, came to her death by be- 
ing burned, her clothing having caught fire from 
an open fireplace; George is farming in Allen 
County, Kan.; Jeremiah, our subject, was the tenth 
child; Daniel died in Bureau, in December, 1869, 
when about thirty-six 3'ears of age; Elizabeth is 
the wife of Isaac Demaranville, of Kansas, and the 
mother of a large family; Alfred is unmarried and 
farming in Bureau County; Emeline is the wife of 
Oliver Wright, a carpenter of Bureau County. 

Upon leaving home our subject entered the 
employ of a farmer in Pennsylvania, where he 
staid five 3 r ears, receiving the meager compensation 
of seventy-five cents per month. After reaching 
his thirty-fifth birthday, and while a resident of 
Bureau, he was united in marriage, Aug. 19, 1802, 
with Miss Elizabeth Rinehart, who was born Oct. 
5, 1845. Mrs. A. is the daughter of Simon and 
Caroline (Pettitt) Rinehart, natives of Pennsylva- 
nia. Her father was born in Greene County, Jan. 
9, 1820, and departed this life in Bureau on the 10th 
of May, 1866. His wife Caroline was born Sept. 
24, 1824, and they were married Nov. 11, 1841. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart are men- 
tioned as follows: Nathaniel died when a boy nine 
yc.-irs of age; Elizabeth, the wife of our subject, 
was born Oct. 5, 1 845 ; Elijah is married, has five 
children, and resides in Bureau; Thomas died when 
not quite five years of age; Charles Greely, who 



f 



4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



445 



is farming in Allen County, Kan., lost his wife in 
February, 1887; he lias three sons. Mrs. Rine- 
hart, after the death of her first husband, was mar- 
ried in February, 1887, to Geoige Ammons, the 
brother of our subject. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah Ammons, after their 
marriage, settled in Bureau County, and number in 
their household circle four children: Winslow S. 
was born Nov. 17, 1863, and lives at home; Rena 
M. was born June 23. 18G7; Willis, born Sept. 3, 
1869, died March 18, 1871, in Bureau County ; 
Wilbur was born Feb. 22, 1874, and died August 
12 following. Rena, who is an intelligent and 
accomplished young lady, twenty years of age. 
was united in marriage, Nov. 16, 1887, withC. D. 
Hart, of Livingston County. 

Mr. Ammons during the late war, enlisted from 
Bureau County, in Company E, 93d Illinois In- 
fantry, serving eighteen months. He participated in 
many important engagements, including the fight 
at Jacksonville, Miss., Champion Hills, and the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg. In the latter 
conflict he received a wound in the right side from 
a musket, from which he suffered greatly, and 
which was the occasion finally of his discharge, at 
which time he was also afflicted with malaria. He 
now receives a pension from the Government. He 
knows all about the hardships of life in the army, 
and endured bravely with his comrades the vicissi- 
tudes of war. 






l OHN F. STANFORD, dealer in coal and ag- 
ricultural implements, and occupying a 
prominent position among the business men 
of Chatsworth, is comparatively young in 
years, but possesses good business capacities, and 
for a long period has been established on a firm 
basis, both socially and financially. His entire life 
has been spent on prairie soil, as he is a native of 
this State, and was born near Tonica, LaSalle 
County, Feb. 10, 18.00. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, who it 
is supposed was a native of Massachusetts, located 
in Oneida County, N. Y.. about 1801. He was 
there married and reared a family, among- his sons 



being Emery, who was born in 1812, and in due 
time became the father of our subject. Emery 
Stanford was reared to farm pursuits, but subse- 
-quently learned the trade of mason and builder, 
which he followed until 1850, when he took up 
farming pursuits. He was first married to Miss 
Emily Cantine, who became the mother of one 
daughter, and departed this life about 1837. This 
daughter, Susan M. by name, is now the wife of 
Henry Loomis, and resides in Homer, Neb. 

The father of our subject, in 1838, migrated to 
Illinois which was then the far West, and settled in 
the village of Lowell, where he followed his chosen 
vocation, and four years later, in 1842, was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Elliott, a native of 
Waterloo, 1 N. Y. Of this union there were born 
five children, and the mother departed this life at 
her home in LaSalle County, in 1856. The family 
record is as follows: Russell E. is engaged in 
farming at Tonica; Lucian yielded up his life as a 
sacrifice on the altar of his country during the late 
war, having enlisted in Company B. 104th Illinois 
Infantry, and at the battle of Hartsville. Tenn., 
was taken prisoner, and died at Murfrcesboro, 
Tenn., in 1863; Sarah M., the wife of J. S. Hall, is 
a resident of Vermilion County ; John F., of our 
sketch, was the fourth in order of birth ; Jacob E. 
died in 1873, at home, when about twenty-three 
years of age. The elder Stanford in 1850 removed 
to a farm near Tonica, where, amid the quiet sur- 
roundings of a country life, he passed his declining 
years peacef ully, and rested from his labors in 1885. 
The estate which he left to his children was valued 
at $40,000. Besides his fine capacities as a busi- 
ness man, he had been a valued member of society 
and was an active Christian, and for many years 
connected with the Congregational Church. He 
identified himself with the Republican party upon 
its organization, and subsequently became a strong 
Abolitionist. 

John F. Stanford spent his childhood and youth 
amid the scenes of country life, and pursued his 
early studies in the district schools. He was only 
six years of age when he was deprived of the affec- 
tionate care of his mother, by death, but remained 
with his father until attaining his majority. Upon 
starting out for himself, he located upon a tract of 






44fi 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



land near Chatsworth, where he cultivated the soil 
three years with partial success, then returned to 
LaSalle County and followed farming four years. 
In 1878 he returned to Livingston County, and 
again took up farming near Chatsworth, in which 
venture he met with success, and three years later 
purchased eight3 r acres on section 20 in Chatsworth 
Township, which he cultivated until 188fi. He 
then removed to the village, and established him- 
self at his present business. He still retains owner- 
ship of his farm, and his family reside in Chats- 
worth. 

Mr. Stanford, on the 10th of June, 1875, was 
united in marriage with Miss Carrie A. Hine, who 
was born in Summit County, Ohio, and is the 
daughter of William E. and Mary C. (Robinson) 
Hine, who removed from Ohio in 1864, and settled 
in Livingston County. Of this union there is one 
child, a son, William E., bom May 10, 1882. 



AMILTON DEMOSS, deceased, journeyed 
from his native State of Ohio to the West 
more than thirty-five years ago, locating first 
with his parents in Indiana and coming 
thence a few years later to this county, during its 
early settlement. He contributed his full quota 
toward the development of its resources, and is 
kindly remembered by the citizens of Owego Town- 
ship as one of its most worthy and valued residents. 
He was born in Highland County, Ohio. Aug. 11, 
1828, and departed this life at his home in Owego 
Township. Jan. 4, 1874. 

The parents of our subject were James and Mar- 
garet DeMoss, natives of Ohio, and long since dead 
He was reared to manhood under the parental roof 
receiving a fair education at the district school, and 
was first married. May 18. 1851, to Miss Rebecca 
Carson. Of this union there were bom several chil- 
dren, all now deceased, and the mother died ten 
years after her marriage, in 1861. Mr. DeMoss was 
a second time married Nov. 15, 1863. to Mrs. Marv 
E. (Reynolds) Coulter, daughter of John and Cathe- 
rine Reynolds, iu\ widow of John Coulter, a native 
of Ohio, and later a re.-ident of this county. Mr. 




Coulter served as a soldier in the I'liion army, where 
he contracted a fatal illness and died in camp at 
Corinth, June 14, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. C. became 
the parents of one child only, a son, Emmet A., who 
is now living at home with his mother. To Hamil- 
ton and Mary E. DeMoss there were born five chil- 
dren: Pinkie, the wife of J. E. Troy, of Nebraska: 
Rose married Eugene Brace, of Pontiac: Leander, 
Harry B. and Hamilton are at home with their 
mother. The parents of Mrs. DeMoss were John 
and Catherine (Shreves) Reynolds, who were nalivo 
of Ohio, and came to the West during the early set- 
tlement of Livingston County, locating in Amity 
Township, where the decease of both occurred not 
many years afterward. 

Mr. DeMoss en Joyed -in a marked degree the 
confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and oc- 
cupied the various offices of Owego Township, the 
duties of which he discharged with conscientious 
care. He settled here about 1854, taking up a tract 
of raw prairie land on section 34, where in common 
with the people of that day, he labored early and 
late, tilling the soil and bringing the land to a good 
state of cultivation. The comfortable homestead 
now occupied by his widow gives ample evidence of 
the persistence with which he labored, and remains a 
silent but forcible witness of the manner in which he 
performed his duties as a husband and father. He 
\va- public-spirited and liberal, and a substantial 
supporter of those measures calculated to build up 
the community and benefit it morally and educa- 
tionally. Mrs. DeMoss was always the cheerful as- 
sistant of her husband in his worthy efforts in life, 
and is a devoted member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 

, . , , "^ 
i=> '.--i i= 




E. LEGG. One of the self-made young 
men, who have successfully reached that 
point in life where they can feel that they 
are safe for the future, so far as the material affairs 
of this world are concerned, is the subject of this 
sketch. He is the agent and manager of the State 
Reform .School shoe factory, which manufactures 
women's and misses' shoes. 

Mr. Legg is a native of Monroe County. W. Va.. 
and was born on the 8th of November, 1856. He is 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



447 



the son of Jesse and Catherine (Johnson) Legg, of 
Virginia. The father of Jesse was James, of Vir- 
ginia, where he spent his life engaged in farming. 
The father of Catherine Johnson was Jacob, a na- 
tive of Virginia, who left that State in 1856 and 
came to Illinois, where he settled, and engaged in 
farming near Bloomington, McLean County, until 
his death in 1875. Jesse Legg came to Illinois in 
1857 and lived one year in McLean County, when 
he came to Livingston Count}- and settled in Rook's 
Creek Township, where he engaged in farming until 
1869, when he sold out and moved to Southwestern 
Missouri, where he is now living, engaged in farm- 
ing. The mother died in Rook's Creek Township 
in 1867. They had a family of eight children, 
seven of whom are living: William, of Kansas; 
Edna, Mrs. John Sellmau, of Kansas; Allen T., of 
Chicago; Ellen, Mrs. J. E. Husted, of Missouri; C. 
E. ; Achalis,- of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Martha, of 
McLean County. 

Mr. C. E. Legg spent his boyhood days on a 
farm, where he remained until the age of sixteen 
years, obtaining a practical education. His first 
employment in a business capacity was as a clerk 
in a boot and shoe store at Pontiae, where he re- 
mained four years, and then engaged in the same 
business on his own account at Pontiae for two 
years. He then became a traveler on the road as a 
salesman for R. P. Smith & Son, of Bloomington, 
and served in this capacity for two years, when he 
purchased the Reform School shoe factory in part- 
nership with D. M. Lyon, and conducted it for one 
year; at the end of that time R. P. Smith & Son 
and Mr. Legg took a five years' contract to man- 
age the Reform School boot and shoe factory, and 
on the 1st of July, 1887, when this contract expired 
sold their plant to the State. Mr. Legg was then 
employed by the State to assume the management 
of the institution and dispose of its product, which 
he is doing to the satisfaction of the powers that be. 

Mr. Legg is connected in a proprietary way 
with a retail boot and shoe store at Marshalltown, 
Iowa, and one at El Paso, 111., while he is a Di- 
rector in the Loan and Building Association of 
Pontiae. and has interested himself considerably in 
Kansas lands. 

Our subject was married in 1 883 to Miss Nellie 



Gray, daughter of G. B. and Martha (Boynton) 
Gray, natives of New York. They have one 
child, a daughter, named Martha H. Mr. Legg's 
-political affiliations are with the Republican party. 
lie and his estimable wife belong to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and he is Superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school. They occupy a very comfortable 
and handsome residence on the south side of the 
Vermilion River. Mr. Legg is peculiarly of a 
social disposition, and this trait of his character has 
won for him many warm friends. 



] OSEPH KUNTZ. Among the sturdy and 
well-to-do farmers of Fayette Township is 
the subject of this sketch, who is engaged 
in farming and stock-raising on section 18. 
He is a native of Germany, and was born in Ba- 
varia July 16, 1825, and is the son of Michael 
and Barbara (Roch) Kuntz, who were farmers in 
the old country, and both of whom are deceased. 
The family of which our subject was a member 
consisted of three boys and two girls, whose names 
were : Jacob, Fred, Joseph, Magdalena and Bar- 
bara. Our subject began life for himself, in this 
country, in 1865, by first engaging in farming in 
Tazewell County, 111., where he remained until he 
located in Livingston County, which was in 1867. 
In that year he came to Fayette Township and 
purchased 160 acres of land on section 18, to which 
he has added from time to time until he now owns 
560 acres. On this farm Mr. Kuntz has placed 
excellent improvements, including houses, barns, 
fences and ditches. His farming and stock opera- 
tions are carried on extensively and so managed as 
to prove very remunerative. 

Mr. Kuntz was married, April 7, 1856, to Miss 
Barbara Meister. a native of Germany, who was 
born Sept. 17, 1837. Nine children have blessed 
this union, whose names are as follows: Peter, 
Joseph, Henry, Albert, John, Mary, Susan, Kittie 
and Rosa. Five of these are married, namely: Pe- 
ter, who married Elizabeth Garboge,a lady who was 
born in Germany, but reared and educated in the 



f 



t 



448 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



city of Chicago; they have four children, named 
Joseph, William, Hermann and Clara Catherine. 
Joseph, who married Elizabeth Kanauer, and is 
located in Ford County, 111. ; he has one boy named 
Frankie. Henry, who married Emma Friday, a 
native of Chicago, and they live in McLean County, 
where he is engaged in farming. Mary, who mar- 
ried Joseph Benway, and they have two children, 
named Albert and Charlie; they are located in 
Ford County, 111., and engaged in farming. Susan, 
who married Henry Witzburger, and they have 
one child named Stella; they reside in Fayette 
Township, and are engaged in farming. The other 
children of the family are yet unmarried, and are 
living at home with their parents. Mr. Kuutz and 
his family are members of the Catholic Church, to 
which they are very much devoted. His political 
affiliations are with the Democratic party, and his 
interest in that organization is evidenced by his 
regularly voting the ticket. He has been Road 
Commissioner for two terms and School Director 
for District No. 2 for two terms. 

Mr. Kuntz' farm is one of the largest in the 
county, and his operations are about as extensive 
as those of any citizen of Fayette Township. His 
business methods are correct and in his transactions 
he is prompt and reliable. It is with pleasure that 
we present a view of his place in connection with 
this sketch. 




HARLES F. WOODBURN, one of the most 
prosperous and prominent farmers of Forest 
Township, is the owner of 257 acres on sec- 
tions 1 and 2, under a high state of cultivation, and 
provided with a substantial residence and other 
convenient farm buildings. He is a descendant of 
excellent Pennsylvania stock, and was himself born 
in Cumberland County, that Stole, Sept. 26, 1837. 
His early home was located near the small village of 
Stonghstown, and his parents were William S. and 
Sarah (Maxwell) Woodburn, also natives of the 
Keystone State. 

Our subject when a child three years of age was 
taken by his parents to Morrow County, which had 



formerly been apart of Richland County, in North- 
ern Ohio, where they opened up a small farm in the 
woods and resided for a period of twenty years. 
In 1857, deciding upon a removal to the farther 
West, they set out with teams, and after reaching 
this State, located first in Marshall County. Not 
being quite satisfied with his prospects in that sec- 
tion, the elder Woodburn only remained there a 
year, going the following spring into Wood ford 
County, where he farmed on rented land for four 
years, and then located on a tract which the father 
had previously purchased, on section 24, in Linn 
Township. This had formerly belonged to the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad Company, and comprised the 
west half of the section. Young Woodburn assisted 
his father in cultivating the soil, and making im- 
provements, and they remained there until the 
spring of 1871. They then sold out and took up 
their residence in the town of Weston, McLean 
County, where the death of the father occurred in 
June, 1872. 

The mother of our subject, after becoming a 
widow, returned to Pennsylvania on a visit, and 
then coming back to Wood ford County, this State, 
spent the remainder of her life at the old home- 
stead there, her death taking place on the 1st of 
July, 1873. The parental household included eight 
children, four sons and four daughters. The 
youngest daughter died at the age of five years in 
Morrow County, Ohio. The others attained their 
majority. Sarah Agnes became the wife of Rev. 
Henry D. Ledgerwood, of McLean County ; Charles 
F., who is our subject; Mary C. became the wife 
of Marion Akers, of Woodford County, and died 
in 1876; George M. is living in Ford County, 111.; 
James S. died when twenty-seven years old : Jane 
E., also deceased, was the wife of Henry Wilson, of 
Woodford County; Matthew Cumberland, the 
youngest of the family, is now living near Newton, 
Harvey Co., Kan. Our subject pursued his pri- 
mary studies in the district school, and during his 
childhood and j'outh remained under the parental 
roof, receiving careful home training, and becom- 
ing thoroughly familiar with farm pursuits. Upon 
tin' breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in 
Company I, 47th Illinois Infantry, and served until 
December, 1864, three years. With the exception 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



451 



of a thirty days' furlough, he continued in service 
during the entire time, and participated in many of 
the important battles of the war. He was present 
at the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, and with 
his comrades met the enemy in many minor engage- 
ments and skirmishes. His health and strength 
were preserved to a remarkable degree, and he was 
neither wounded nor captured by the enemy. He 
was a witness of all the terrors of war, and suffered 
an experience which he would not willingly repeat. 
Upon his return to Woodford County, in 1865, he 
continued at the old homestead until the spring of 
1867, when he took possession of his present farm, 
which he had previously purchased. It originally 
comprised 142 acres, but he has added by degrees 
until he is now the owner of 257 acres, all under a 
good state of cultivation, and supplied with good 
buildings. The family residence is a substantial 
frame structure, and the barn and out-buildings 
commodious. To stock-raising he has given con- 
siderable attention, and has attained quite a reputa- 
tion, operating principally in roadsters and draft 
horses. He has also a herd of pure-bred Jersey 
cattle. 

Mr. Woodburu was first married in the fall of 
1872, to Miss Frances Catherine McCoy, who was 
born in Brown County, Ohio, and came to Illinois 
when quite young. After the birth of one son, 
she departed this life, dying Aug. 7, 1874. The 
child, J. Smith Woodburn, is still at home. The 
present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Lucy 
Philbrook, and they were married in the spring of 
1878. Mrs. Woodburu's parents, Samuel and Emily 
(Twitchell) Philbrook, were natives of New Hamp- 
shire and Maine, respectively, and resided in the 
latter State a few years, and then went to New York, 
where they resided fifteen years ; from there they 
moved to Wisconsin. The father died Sept. 25, 
1878. The mother then made her home with her 
son Oren G., in this township, until her death, 
July 5, 1886. The present wife of our subject has 
borne him three children Onie Edna, Jennie Emily 
and Lucy Allie. The three little girls comprise an 
interesting family, of which the parents may justly 
be proud. 

Mr. Woodburn, although having extensive opera- 
tions to look after, has always taken a great interest 




in the progress of the people around him, and has 
served as School Director in his district for a num- 
ber of years. He has also been Road Commissioner 
several terms, and in politics is one of the most re- 
liable members of the Republican party. Socially 
he belongs to Forest Lodge No. 614, A. F. & A. M. 
A lithographic view is shown of Mr. Woodburn's 
residence, and it will be at once recognized as a 
most delightful country homestead. 



LIZABETH H. LEONARD, a resident of the 
village of Manville, was born in Cambridge, 
Washington Co.. N. Y., Jan. 24, 1808. She 
is the daughter of Seneca and Mary (Sergeant) 
Remington, the former born in the town of Surtield, 
Conn., Feb. 13, 1771, and died in 1866. He was 
married in West Springfield, Mass., on the 20th of 
November, 1794, to Mary Sergeant, who was born 
in Massachusetts, opposite the city of Boston, Sept. 
30, 1772, and died Sept. 11, 1856. He was a cooper 
by trade and followed that occupation the greater 
part of his life. They were both members of the 
Baptist Church, and in politics he was an old-line 
Whig. 

Mrs. Leonard's parental family included the fol- 
lowing children: Silas S., born Aug. 16, 17!)5, and 
died April 7, 171)6; Mary, born Feb. 5, 1707, and 
died Jan. 24, 1 80 3 ; Seneca, born Dec. 10, 1798, and 
died Dec. 5, I .S85, in the State of Kansas; Oliver, 
born Oct. 16, 1801, and died May 21, 1802; Mary, 
born May 9, 1803, and died Feb. 17, 1887; Hulda. 
born June 21, 1805, and died Nov. 22, 1K86; Eliza- 
beth is the subject of this sketch; Zeno II., born Feb. 
26, 1810, and died Oct. 2, 1852; Philetus, bom 
Nov. 18, 1812, a farmer now living in Clay County, 
Kan., but in frail health, has reared a family of eight 
children, all of whom are living except one; Naomi, 
born Aug. 2, 1815, and died Aug. 19, 1*47; Jane, 
bom April 14, 1820, and died Jan. 28, 1873. 

Philetus and Elizabeth, our subject, are the only 
surviving members of this large family. Mrs. 
Leonard lives in a home by herself, in which she per- 
forms all the household work. With the exception 
of failing eyesight, she is in good health and does 
not appear to be over lifty years of age. On the 



152 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



12th of November, 1*2'.), she was married to Ed- 
ni(iii(l I). Leonard, of Middleficld, Mass., and to 
them were born nine children, whose names are as 
follows: Franklin, Ro.-ene. Myra. Christopher C'.. 
Marx. Sarah. Emily, Isabella and Ilnttie X., beside- 
one wlio died in infancy: her husband died Nov. 13, 
18(>0. After their marriage in Ilinsdalc, Mass., 
they went to Pennsylvania in the fall of 1X32. and 
thence to Illinois in July, 184f>, locating in Living- 
ston County in 1X;V2, where Mrs. Leonard has since 
resided. She belongs to the United Brethren Church, 
while her brothers and sisters were Baptist, and her 
children are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. The family throughout is composed of 
Christian j>eople, and all belong to some religious de- 
nomination. 



eHARLES H. TRYON, who is conducting an 
excellent 120-acre farm on section 11, 
Fayette Township, was born in New Lon- 
don, Conn., on the 12th of December, 1854, and is 
the son of Frederick and Mary (Corastock) Tryon, 
who during the latter portion of their lives were 
farmers. The father was apprenticed to the trade 
of a cooper in early life, and followed that occupa- 
tion for many years. He came West in the year 
1855, bringing with him his wife and three chil- 
dren, and located at Ottawa, LaSalle County. The 
names of his children were: Maria, Fred and 
Charles II. Maria became the wife of James C. Eber- 
sol, and they are located in Fall River Township, 
LaSalle County. 

Charles H. Tryon began business for himself in 
1875, by renting a farm in LaSalle County, which 
he cultivated for two years and then came to Liv- 
ingston County, where he and his father, and 
brother Fred, jointly purchased the farm owned 
by M. L. Sullivan, consisting of 320 acres. At 
the present time Mr. Tryon only farms 120 acres 
of this land, which is located on section 11. Be- 
sides general farming he devotes considerable 
time and attention to the cultivation of stock, and 
in both these lines of business has met with excel- 
lent success. lJuring the first eighteen years of his 
life Mr. Tryon attended the common schools when 



not assisting his parents in the work upon the farm. 
After he was eighteen years of age he attended the 
seminary at Marseilles, LaSalle County, for one 
term and a half, which completed his school educa- 
tion. Since he has been a man he has been an ex- 
tensive reader and has kept himself well posted on 
nil the topics of the day, and especially those which 
relate to public affairs. 

February 5, 1877, Mr. Tyron was married to 
Miss Sophronia Vail, who was born at Sag Harbor, 
N. Y., June 2, 1852, and is a daughter of Thomas 
and Elizabeth (Comcstock) Vail. Her father was 
a carpenter by trade and followed that occupation 
almost his entire life. He has retired fiom the 
active use of the hammer and chisel, and is enjoy- 
ing his old age in quiet and rest. There were six 
children in his family, named Mary. Sophronia, 
Kate, Frank, Lizzie and Grace. Mary and Kate 
are married ; Lizzie died when only two years of 
age, and Frank is unmarried. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Tryon have been born two children : Leroy on the 
9th of May, 1880, and Fay on the 25th of July, 
1885. Mr. and Mrs. Tryon interest themselves in 
such matters as are intended to add to the comfort 
and enjoyment of the people among whom they re- 
side and are foremost in all such affairs. Their 
home is comfortably surrounded and they make it 
a pleasant and hospitable place for their neighbors 
and friends. In political matters Mr. Tryon acts 
with the Republican party, and to its candidates 
invariably gives a cordial support. He lias never 
been an office-seeker and has not held an}' official 
position in Fayette Township. 




>RANKLIN I. JOHNSON, who has retired 
from the active labor of farm life, and the 
cares of business, is passing his declining 
years in the enjoyment of a sufficienc}', and makes 
his home in Fairbury. What he lias of this world's 
goods he has accumulated through his own efforts, 
which were always seconded by the hearty co-oper- 
ation of his ever faithful wife and loving children. 
His biography needs no embellishments at the 
bands of the writer, and his disposition is such that 
a simple and plain statement of facts regarding his 



t 

T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



453 



past life is all that he would wish to have appear 
iu print. 

Franklin I. Johnson is the son of Franklin and 
Hopey (King) Johnson, and was born twenty miles 
east of Albany, at the little town of New Lebanon, 
Columbia Co., N. Y., on the 2d of December, 
1820. His parents were natives, of New York, and 
Franklin, Sr., was the youngest child of his parents, 
family. The paternal grandparents of our subject, 
Richard and Rachel (Ide) Johnson, were natives 
of Rhode Island, whence they moved to New York, 
where the grandfather followed the calling of a 
fanner, meeting with varied success, and continued 
to reside until the date of his death, which occurred 
in 1827 or 1828. The father of our subject was 
reared to manhood on his father's farm, and after 
the death of his father he continued to live on the 
old homestead in New York State until about 1834 
or 1835. He then sold the place and moved to 
Oswego County in the same State, where he pur- 
chased 400 acres of land, for which he agreed to 
pay the sum of $10,000. He paid $400 at the time 
of the purchase, but meeting with reverses he was 
unable to discharge the remainder of the obligation 
and lost the place. Disposing of his interests in 
New York he moved to Carroll County, Mo., and 
after a residence there of some three years he came 
to Illinois and located at Vermont, Fulton County, 
where some of his children were living at the time. 
A cancer appeared on the side of his face, and al- 
though everything was done that skill could ac- 
complish, it caused his death in 1859. His good 
wife had crossed the river of death in 1852 or 
1853, at Nauvoo, Hancock County, and they both 
lie sleeping side by side in the cemetery at Ver- 
mont. He followed farming during his life, and 
was a soldier in the War of 1812, while in 1844 he 
and his son, Albert D., assisted in the suppression 
of the Mormon rebellion. 

The union of Franklin Johnson and Hopey King 
was blessed by the birth of the following children, 
viz: William K., born Feb. 9, 1810 ; Emeline, Aug. 
6, 1817; Amos M.. Aug. 3, 1819; Franklin I., Dec. 
2, 1820; Richard C., Aug. 16, 1822; Elizabeth M., 
Sept. 0, 1824; Abner D., March 19, 1828; Harriet 
E., Oct. 17, 1830; Maryette, July 24, 1833; Horace 
I., March 8, 1835; Ravinna O., May 5, 1840. Of 



these Amos, Emeline, Richard and Abner D.. are 
deceased, and the others are all residents of this 
State, and occupy a prominent position in the 
various vocations of life. 

Franklin I. Johnson was the fourth in order of 
birth in his parents' family of twelve children. He 
was reared to manhood on his father's farm in 
Oswego County, N. Y., and received the advantages 
afforded by the common schools for obtaining an 
education. He lived on the old homestead until 
his parents came West, and after settling up his 
father's business affairs he engaged at farm work 
for others about two years. Subsequently he pur- 
chased a tract of land containing about forty acres, 
mostly covered with timber. Prior to this time 
the most important as well as happiest event in 
the life of our subject occurred; this was his mar- 
riage with Miss Mary A. Wightmau, on the 27th 
of April, 1843. Miss Wightman was the daughter 
of William and Hannah (Palmer) Wightman, and 
was born in Oswego County, N. Y., on the 24th of 
October, 1821. AVilliam Wightman and wife were 
of New England ancestry, and were honored and 
respected wherever known. He was a farmer by 
occupation and followed that vocation during life. 
Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist 
Church, in which they took a warm interest. After 
marriage our subject and wife located on their 
40-acre farm in York State, and there lived and 
labored together for about twelve years. 

In 1855 Mr. Johnson disposed of his interests in 
New York and came with his family to this State, 
locating at Vermont. There he engaged in the 
land business, which he followed successfully for 
about six years. At the expiration of this time, in 
1861, he moved to Peoria, this State, and engaged 
in the stoneware and pottery business. After an 
experience of about five years in this business, in 
which he lost some money, he concluded to return 
to his occupation of farming. He consequently 
traded his pottery for an 80-acre farm in Mar- 
shall County, which he sold and then came to Liv- 
ingston County. He was not long in selecting a 
location, which proved to be 160 acres three miles 
south of Fairbury, which he purchased and moved 
upon. For seven years he and his excellent wife 
and children lived on this farm and all performed 









454 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



their part in the work of its improvement. Selling 
this farm, Mr. Johnson purchased 240 acres, which 
he divided into two farms where his only sur- 
viving children, Charles and Frank, now reside. ' 
A biography of both these gentlemen may be 
found elsewhere in this ALBUM. In 1876 Mr. 
Johnson erected a flue residence in Fairbury, 
where he and his loving and faithful companion 
hoped to spend many years in peace and quiet, 
and in the enjoyment of each other's company. 
Alas, the Angel of death beckoned the beloved 
wife to the other shore. Among them stood the 
loving little Addie, with outstretched arms, sing- 
ing, "Mamma, come." Mamma crossed the river, 
and soon the time will come when papa, hus- 
band, will meet them there and the broken fam- 
ily be reunited. She departed this life at her 
home in Fairbury, on Friday morning. Nov. 21, 
1884, of typhoid pneumonia. Mrs. Johnson was 
born in Oswego County, N. Y., in 1821. When 
but a girl she made a public profession of 
religion, which she maintained to the end by a 
consistent life. She united with the Baptist Church, 
of which her parents were prominent and influen- 
tial members. In 1843 she was married to the 
husband who survives her, with whom she lived 
happily for forty-one years. 

Mrs. Johnson was a remarkable woman in many 
respects, and her devotion to her husband and 
children could not be surpassed. Hand in hand 
and heart to heart with her husband, she toiled 
with a song upon her lips for the birdlings in the 
nest. "None knew her but to love her," and al- 
though her remains are buried in the cemetery at 
Fairbury, her soul still lives. Yes; mamma, with 
George and Addie on either side, is waiting, papa, 
waiting for your coining over there. 

Franklin I. Johnson has been a hard worker dur- 
ing his life, and to his indomitable energy is due 
his success. He has been a great reader, and al- 
though not possessing a classical education he is 
one of the best posted men on National and State 
issues in the county. His motto in life has been 
"Fulfill all promises," and strictly has he adhered 
to it. In politics he is a Greenbacker, and as a 
citizen he is respected by all. 
^To Mr. Johnson and his wife four children were 




born: George, who died in infancy; Charles and 
Frank D., living in this county, and Addie, who 
died when thirteen years of age. Addie was crip- 
pled in the spine when a child, and those who vis- 
ited the old home cannot fail to remember the love 
she had in the hearts of all members of the family 
and their devotion to her. Mr. Johnson lives 
alone in his elegant home in Fairbury. but the cage 
is lonesome, for his mate is gone. 



'RED C. DEWEY, who has been a farmer 
and stock-raiser on section 35, Pleasant 
Ridge Township, since 1881, was born in 
Stark County, 111., Oct. 18, 1856. He is the son of 
Cyrenius and Louisa (Blood) Uewey, natives of 
Vermont and New York, respectively. The father 
was born in the year 1825, and died on the 23d of 
August, 1884; he was a farmer by occupation and 
met with considerable success. The mother was 
born on the 31st of August, 183C, and since the 
death of her husband has remained a widow. She 
is a devoted member of the Congregational Church, 
and much of her time is given to that organization. 
She is the mother of two children, whose names are 
Fred C. and Frank. 

On the 6th of February, 1879, our subject was 
married to Miss April May Pinkuey, who was born 
in Peoria County, 111., on the 27th of April, 1857, 
and is the daughter of Stephen and Catherine M. 
(Reding) Pinkney, natives of New York and 
Kentucky, respectively. The father was a farmer 
by occupation and was born in 1817; tbe mother 
was born in 1830 and died in 18C3. The father 
was again married, his second wife being Miss 
Wealthy Bennett; by the first marriage two children 
were born and six by the second marriage. Their 
names are as follows: Hannah E., Louis II., Fran- 
cis K., Israel C. : Maggie, deceased; April May, 
Stephen W. and Charles R. Mr. and Mrs. Dewey 
have one child, Ralph R., who was born Nov. 12, 
1886. 

In his early boyhood Mr. Dewcy attended the 
common schools, in which he devoted himself 
closely to study, and during the vacations between 
terms he assisted in the farm work. In addition 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



to his common-school education he also took :i 
course in a commercial college. He came to this 
county in 1881, and purchased 160 acres of land 
on section 35, Pleasant Ridge Township, where he 
is now engaged in raising grain and growing stock. 
His farm is under an excellent state of cultivation, 
and the buildings are among the best in the town- 
ship. The land is well drained by tile ditches, 
thereby adding to its productiveness. Mr. Dewey 
is a member of the Republican party, but is not 
active in politics. He and his wife enjoy the es- 
teem and confidence of all their neighbors, and 
take an active part in all matters that have for 
their object the elevation and improvement of the 
condition of themselves and neighbors. 




NDREW J. MCDOWELL, after a long and 
bus} r life is now a retired farmer at Long 
Point, where he intends to spend the re- 
mainder of his days enjoying that quiet 
which he has so richly earned. He is a native of 
Bradford County, Pa., where he was born on the 
8th of May, 1811, and is the son of James and 
Christina (Miller) McDowell, who are natives of 
Ireland and Germany respectively. They came to 
Pennsylvania when the subject of this sketch was 
five years of age, and remained there until 1837, 
when they came to Long Point Township, this 
county. They settled in Bradford County, Pa., 
when that county was almost a wilderness, and 
the nearest mill was eighteen miles distant, to reach 
which they had to go through a heavj' forest which 
was infested by panthers. On one occasion the 
boy of a neighbor was thrown down by a panther 
which lacerated his face, and while the beast was 
sucking the blood from the wound a dog came and 
chased it up a tree, when the boy arose and made 
his way to the house, and the father went out with 
his gun and killed the beast. They were the par- 
ents of seven children: Andrew J., the subject of 
this sketch; Polly, who married L. E. Rhodes, and 
died leaving a family of two children living in 
Peru; Sarah married Lorenzo Pratt, and died, leav- 
ing a family of three children: John died at Long 



Point on the 3d of July, 1848; Jeremiah married 
Ellen Foster, of Long Point, and has four children, 
and is engaged in farming and stock-raising in Kan- 
sas; Christiana married Crawford Isenhour, and 
died in Kansas in 18K1, leaving a family of six 
children; Susie married George Stilson, and died 
in June, 1885, leaving a family of six children. 
The subject of this sketch remained at home until 
the death of his parents, and was educated in the 
common schools, walking one and one-half miles to 
and from the old log school-house. The pay of a 
school teacher in Pennsylvania at that time was 
$12 to. $13 per month for men, and seventy-five 
cents per week for women. 

Mr. McDowell was married, on the 16th of Feb- 
ruary, 1848, to Dorleska J. Perry, a daughter of 
Ichabod and Hannah (Denton) Perry, the former 
a native of Vermont, and the latter of Long Island, 
N. Y. She was born on the 29th of April, 1826, 
and was educated in the common schools, remain- 
ing at home with her parents until the date of her 
marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have been 
born eleven children, six of whom are deceased : 
Almira, born on the 1st of February, 1840, died on 
the 2d; Duminett J., born Sept. 16, 1851, died 
June 13, 18(i2; Charles, born Nov. 6, 1857, died 
Jan. 19, 1858; Diana, born Aug. 16, 1859, died 
Sept. 7, 1860; Lenora died on the 31st of March, 
1861, aged eighteen days; Gertrude, born Dec. 19, 
1866, died March 14, 1871 ; Alice, born March 20, 
I860, is the wife of Joseph Mellen, a farmer, and 
has one child; Celinda L., born July 3, 1853, mar- 
ried D. A. Howard, has one child, and lives in Iowa; 
John D., born Nov. 15, 1855, married Lottie Allen, 
has a family of five children, and lives in Long 
Point Township; Andrew J., born April 28, 1862, 
is Associate Principal of the High School at Sey- 
mour, Mo.; Luella, born May 19, 1865, is Musical 
Director in the same school. 

Our subject settled in Long Point Township in 
1837, and now owns 305 acres of land, all of which 
is under excellent cultivation excepting thirty-five 
acres which have been reserved for timber. The 
entire farm is surrounded by good fences, and the 
land is valued at &50 per acre. He also owns three 
lots in Long Point, where he now lives, and one 
house and tvvo lots on which the son-in-law resides, 



156 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






besides four vacant lots. Mr. McDowell has served 
as Township Assessor, Collector, and was a County 
Commissioner under the old law before the creation 
of a Board of Supervisors. In the early settlement 
of Illinois Mr. McDowell had some thrilling ad- 
ventures in apprehending and bringing to convic- 
tion the horse thieves who infested that portion of 
the State. There is now standing on his farm the 
first frame building erected in Long Point Town- 
ship. The frame was constructed in Chicago and 
hauled to this point, where it was put together. 
During the early days Mr. McDowell was a great 
hunter, and had an old-fashioned gun which he 
prized very highly for its accuracy and long range, 
and once very greatly surprised a party of English 
hunters by killing game with this gun which they 
could not reach with the improved breech-loaders 
which they had brought with them. 

At the time this sketch is written Mr. McDowell 
is in his seventy-sixth year, but is quite active for 
one of that age. His mind is stored with many in- 
teresting reminiscences of early days, both in Penn- 
sylvania a'ld Illinois, in both of which States he 
was a pioneer settler. He is highly respected and 
much esteemed by the people among whom he has 
lived so long. 



EP. METZ, Union Township. The subject 
of the following sketch, one of the most 
successful farmers and stock-raisers of Liv- 
ingston County, is popular social!}' and politically 
and as a farmer and business man is classed among 
its representative citizens. He has a fine home and 
a good property, distinguishing himself by his in- 
dustry and enterprise. 

Mr. Metz, like many of the early settlers of this 
locality, spent his early years in the State of Penn- 
sylvania, his birth taking place in Blair County. 
March 24,1851. His parents, Peter and Angelina 
(Johnson) Metz, also natives of the Keystone 
State, are written of elsewhere in this work. E. P. 
was fifth of the nine children comprising the paren- 
tal family, and in common with his brothers was 
reared to farm life. The elder Metz, in I860, mi- 
grated to Illinois with his family nnd now resides 



iu Odell Township, on the old homestead where 
they first settled upon coming to this State. 

Mr. Metz remained a member of his father's 
household until the latter retired from active labor, 
and when his mother had dropped the household 
reins, brought his bride to take them up. She 
was Miss Martha W. Ketcham, and they were mar- 
ried Sept. 27, 1877, at her home in Pontiac Town- 
ship. Mrs. Metz was born in New York City, Nov. 
20, 1850, and is the 3'oungest child of Henry and 
Phebe (Barton) Ketcham, natives of the Empire 
State. Mr. Ketcham in his younger years carried 
on farming in Canada and is now a resident of New 
York City, where the mother died many years ago. 
The wife of our subject came to the West in her 
girlhood to make her home with her brother, E. B., 
who is a prosperous merchant of Dwight, and there 
made the acquaintance of our subject. They have 
now occupied the home farm for a period of ten 
years. In the meantime, in 1883, they went East 
and visited the principal cities and most prominent 
places of summer resort. In this trip they jour- 
neyed up through the beautiful country of the 
Hudson River, and after a number of weeks thus 
spent in travel, returned rested and refreshed to 
their home, feeling truly that they had devoted a 
portion of their time and means in the wisest man- 
ner they could have selected. 

In 1885 Mr. Metz crossed the Mississippi and 
invested a portion of his surplus capital in Dakota 
and Minnesota lands to the extent of 240 acres, 
which is as yet in an uncultivated state. His 
home farm is well stocked and supplied with all the 
machinery necessary to the carrying on of agricult- 
ure after the most improved methods. Mr. Metz 
has mixed very little with matters outside of his 
business interests, and has a thorough contempt for 
the office -seeker. He believes, however, that every 
man should do his duty in support of correct prin- 
ciples, and upon occasions of important elections, 
casts his vote with the Democratic party. He has 
served as School Director several terms and is at 
present one of the Trustees in his township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Metz became the parents of four 
children, three of whom have been taken from the 
home circle by the hand of death. Harry C., a 
bright and interesting child, was born Jan. 4, 1883; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



457 



Artie A., died when thirteen months old and two 
died in infancy unnamed. Our subject and his 
wife are actively connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and numbered among its most 
cheerful workers and liberal supporters. 



HRISTIAN R. KING, one of the venerable 
citizens located on section 33, Nebraska 
Township, is engaged in funning and stock- 
raising. He was bom in Germany on the 19th of 
December, 1 820, and came to America -when about 
twenty -seven years of age. He is the son of John 
and Phoebe (Redigen) King, who were natives of 
Germany, and the parents of six children, of whom 
our subject is the eldest. The names of the others 
arc as follows : Phoebe married John Schrock, now 
deceased, and she lives in Nebraska Township; An- 
nie married Fielden Augstein, also deceased; she 
has three children, and lives in Nebraska Township. 
Nicholas died, leaving three children, who live in 
McLean County; John is married, and has eight 
children; Daniel is married, and he and John live- 
in Nebraska Township. 

When our subject came to America he located in 
Butler County, Ohio, and remained for about two 
years, when he moved to McLean County, 111.. 
where he lived until the close of the war of the Re- 
bellion, at which time he became a citizen of Liv- 
ingston County. His first purchase of land in this 
county was 160 acres, to which he has since made 
additions, until he now owns in various parts of the 
county 640 acres. 

On the 24th of June, 1852, Mr. King was married 
to Miss Mary Becliler, daughter of Joseph and Katie 
(Somers) Becliler, of Butler County, Ohio. At the 
time of the writing of this sketch there are twelve 
living children as the fruits of this marriage: 
Phoebe, born April 14. 1853, married John Streight. 
has six children, and lives in McLean County: 
Joseph, born May 25, 1854, of whom see sketch in 
another place; John, bom Feb. 13, 1856, whose sketch 
also is given in this ADBUM ; Lena, born March 18, 
1857, married Chr^tian Raber, lias three children, 
and lives in Pike Township; Katie, born Oct. I'.i. 
IS.VS, married Jacob Yordie, has five children, and 



lives in Waldo Township; Daniel, born May 17, 
I860, has one child, and lives in McLean County; 
Mary, born Dec. 17, 18(>2, resides at home; Chris- 
tian, born Dec. 13, 1864, married Katie Stein- 
man, and lives in Waldo Township; David, born 
Dec. 15, 1866; Ella Barbara, Oct. 16, 1868; Simon, 
Feb. 21, 1871. and William, March 3, 1873. The 
last four live at home with their parents. 

The wife of our subject was born in Germany, in 
Ma}-, 18:W. and emigrated to this country with her 
parents when but four years of age, locating in But- 
ler County, Ohio, where she was reared to woman- 
hood and married. Her parents were born in France, 
the father in 1810, the mother, Feb. 2, 1811. The 
father died in this county, May 7, 1878; the mother 
is still living, at the age of seventy-seven years, and 
is making her home with her daughter, in Nebraska 
Township. 

At the age of sixty -seven years Mr. King is com- 
paratively a hale and hearty man. His manv acres 
of valuable land in Livingston County testify to the 
energy and good management which have charac- 
terized his business .efforts through life. He has 
been blessed with a family of children of whom any 
parent might well feel proud, and they delight to 
honor his declining years. He has always been a 
useful citizen, and his correct methods and fair deal- 
ings with all people have secured for him the confi- 
dence of all who know him. 




DAY, a farmer and stock-raiser on 
section 9, Pleasant Ridge Township, where 
he has been a resident since 1879, and 
within that time has finely improved and put un- 
der cultivation 160 acres of land, was born in 
Colm worth, Bedfordshire, England, Dec. 22. 18:57. 
He is the son of Thomas and Mary ( Leeton) Day, 
both of whom were of pure English blood. The 
father was a farm laborer, and was honest and hard 
working; he died in 1875. The mother still lives 
in England, and is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. The father was twice married, 
and three children were born to the first wife: 
Whitbread, who came to America in 1887; Isaac, 
who came in 1848; Keziah married Joseph Perry, 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and now. resides in Ford County. By the second 
marriage the subject of our sketch is the oldest 
child now living. Mary A. married John Knight, 
and resides in Edgeware, England ; George lives in 
this county; Elizabeth married Richard Barcock, 
and resides at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and James. 

Thomas Day came to America in 1855, landing 
at New York City on the 23d of April, whence he 
soon proceeded to Paxton, Ford County, where he 
remained for six months, and then going to Che- 
ney's Grove, he remained one year, working by the 
month on a farm. From there he went to Penn- 
sylvania, and for the next three months engaged in 
the lumber business. He then returned to McLean 
County, where he remained for two years, and in 
the spring of 1859 started for Pike's Peak on foot. 
At St. Louis he bought a new pair of boots, in 
which he walked until the soles were entirely worn 
off. He never reached Pike's Peak, however, but 
turned back just before arriving there, after hear- 
ing the dismal accounts that were given to him by 
the disappointed adventurers who were returning 
home. Upon reaching Wabaunsee, Kan., on his 
return trip, he concluded to remain a while, and 
pre-empted eighty acres of Government land, using 
a land warrant which had been issued to Benjamin 
Bisby. In 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 3d Illi- 
nois Cavalry, as a private, and served for three 
years and one month, during which time he partic- 
ipated in many of the well-known battles of the 
war. He was at Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, 
Vicksburg, Jackson, Arkansas Post, and many other 
engagements of less importance. He was dis- 
charged on the 5th of September, 1864, at Spring- 
field, III. During the time he was in the army he 
enjoyed "some fun," as he expresses it, and endured 
very many hardships. After he was discharged, 
he came to Livingston County and purchased forty 
acres of land, which he soon sold, and then moved 
to Saunemin Township, where he resided for eleven 
years on an 80 acre farm. This farm he dis- 
posed of, and purchased one of 160 acres in Pleas- 
ant Ridge Township in 1879, upon which he has 
since resided. 

Mr. Day was married, on the 29th of August, 
1865, to Miss Ann Chambers, who was born in the 
city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, on the llth 



of April, 1849. She was the daughter of George 
and Elizabeth (Nutt) Chambers, natives of En- 
gland, and accompanied her parents to America in 
1854. They now reside in Saunemin Township, 
Livingston County. To Mr. and Mrs. Day have 
been born five children Annie E., George W., 
Aaron T., Martha J. and Charles B. Mr. Day and 
his family are active and influential members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Day takes 
considerable pride in the reputation he has earned 
for raising the highest grade of cattle in Livingston 
County. He is a good stockman, thoroughly un- 
derstanding all the delicate details of the business, 
and has been eminently successful, both as a farmer 
and stock-raiser. He is a member of the Repub- 
lican party, and takes considerable interest in po- 
litical affairs, but has no inclination for office-hold- 
ing and has, therefore, never been an office-seeker. 
He is an enthusiastic comrade in Fairbury Post 
No. 75, G. A. R. In his social, as well as business 
relations with the people, Mr. Day has popularized 
himself, and enjoys the confidence of all classes of 
people. 



ft OHN L. SHEARER, junior member of the 
firm of Searing & Shearer, dealers in grain, 
agricultural implements and feed at Cullom, 
is the son of John J. and Catherine (Leh- 
man) Shearer, and a native of the Buckeye State. 
He was born in Franklin County Dec. 7, 1854, and 
when a youth of fourteen years came to this 
count}' with his parents, where he has since resided. 
He passed his boyhood and youth after the manner 
of most farmers' sons, becoming familiar with ru- 
ral scenes and employments, and assisted in tilling 
the soil on the home farm until 1881. 

Mr. Shearer, in the spring of the year mentioned, 
entered the employ of a grain firm in Cullom, and 
became so proficient in his duties that, four years 
later, he was admitted as a partner in the business. 
His correct habits and straightforward manner of 
dealing have been the means of establishing him in 
the confidence and esteem of the best citizens of 
this locality, and he is now the sharer in a lucrative 
trade, and numbers among his friends and patrons 
the solid men of the community. He is looked 



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LIVINGSTON COUNT Y. 



463 




upon as one of the rising young men of Sullivan 
Township, of whom much is expected in the future. 
Mr. Shearer established family ties on the 3d of 
April, 1883, by his marriage with Miss Jennie, 
daughter of Andrew and Caroline Park, who were 
natives of New Jersey. The father is deceased, 
and the mother lives near Cullom. Mrs. Shearer 
was born in Bureau County Dec. 31, 1857. The 
little household includes two children, both daugh- 
ters, Florence and Ethel. Mr. Shearer possesses 
agreeable social traits which render him a valued 
member of the community, is intelligent and well 
read, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. 



lUFUS C. STRAIGHT. The man who has 
been a western farmer for twenty-five years 
can well remember what an undertaking it 
i was to profitably drain his laud with open 
ditches, and yet such drainage, in the absence of 
any better system, was necessary. A few years ago 
the tile was invented, and was quickly recognized 
as of inestimable value by the fanners, in not only 
enabling them to reclaim waste places, but to 
greatly increase the productiveness of almost all 
land. The tile soon came into general use, and 
the result, so far as it relates to the agricultural 
districts, particularly of Illinois, has been wonder- 
ful. The tile inventor, and also the tile manufact- 
urer, have been benefactors in their day and gen- 
eration of the entire people of the country. Prom- 
inent among the latter is the subject of this sketch, 
who, in addition to his farming operations, which 
are conducted on section 9, Indian Grove Town- 
ship, is engaged in the manufacture of tile. He is 
a gentleman who is not only well and favorably 
known in his immediate community, but through- 
out the county. 

Mr. Straight was born in Chautauqua Count}', N. 
Y., June 28, 1835, and is the son of Arby P. and 
Philena (Simmons) Straight, also natives of the Em- 
pire State, and both of whom we- re born in the year 
1803. They were married in July, 1824, and 
came to Livingston County in 1857. Here they 
purchased land, and followed farming until eight 
years ago, when they retired from active life, and 



are now living at Fairbury. The former is a lead- 
ing member of the Free- Will Baptist Church, in 
which he has held the various offices of that body, 
while the latter is a Close-Communion Baptist. 
They have had nine children born to them, namely: 
Emily, now Mrs. N. C. Johnson; Mary, now Mrs. 
James H. Odell; Alonzo, who married Miss Ma- 
hala Stoddard ; Levi, Who married Miss Jane Lang- 
worthy; David, who married Annie Cassidy; Ru- 
fusC; Caroline, now Mrs. Rogers; Johnson W., 
who married Miss Jennie Ellidge : Hiram, who mar- 
ried Annie Wheeler, and Milton Leander. 

Mr. Straight married Miss Francina Abbey, a 
native of Pennsylvania, where she was born May 
28,1837. She is the daughter of Horatio and ' 
Martha (Smith) Abbey, natives of Erie County, 
Pa. The father came West, where he died, and 
the mother died many years ago in Pennsylvania. 
Mr. and Mrs. Straight have had born to them eight 
children: Willis, Lee, Lizzie, Nellie, Guy, Stella; 
Lena, who died Oct. 24, 1887, aged ten years, five 
months and twenty-six days; and Ray, who died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Straight emigrated to Illinois in 1854, and 
located in Livingston County, where he purchased 
land and went to farming, in which occupation he 
has been unusually successful. In 1879 he erected 
and fitted up a factory for the manufacture of tile 
of seven different sizes, and with sufficient capacity 
to employ twenty men during the entire tile-mak- 
ing season. This was the first establishment of the 
kind operated in the county. The clay upon a por- 
tion of his farm is peculiarly adapted to tile mold- 
ing and baking, and the product of his factory is 
of the most excellent quality. He is one of the 
principal members of the Tile Manufacturers' As- 
sociation of Illinois, and has given a great deal of 
time and attention to this industry, and it may 
justly be said of him that he has brought as much 
good common sense, enterprise and means to boar 
in the manufacture of tile as any man in this sec- 
tion of the State. He owns 780 acres of excellent 
land, the home farm consisting of 3G5 acres, on . 
which he has erected a modern brick residence and 
excellent farm buildings, and we are pleased to pre- 
sent, in connection with this brief sketch of his life, 
a full-page view of the homestead and tile factory, 



I 



i , 4<!4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



as well as a portrait of the generous proprietor. 
Mr. Straight is one of the Trustees of the Presby- 
terian Church, has held various township offices, 
and has been President of the Agricultural Associ- 
ation for eight years. He is quite pronounced in 
his political views, and espouses with enthusiasm 
the principles of the Republican party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Straight have a very interesting 
family of children, of whom they are pardonably 
proud. Willis is following in the footsteps of his 
father, and is operating a large tile establishment 
at Manhattan, 111.; Lee is also a tile manufacturer, 
and is successfully managing a large establishment 
at El Paso, 111. ; Miss Lizzie is naturally an artist, 
and in 1883 began to take instructions in art of Mr. 
Bigelow, of Chicago, and has also been under in- 
struction in Evanston, 111. ; Nellie has likewise 
been a student at Evanston; she has made re- 
markable progress, and will no doubt become an 
eminent artist. Guy and Stella are attending the 
public schools of Fairbury, from which the latter 
will graduate in the coming June. 

Mr. and Mrs. Straight were certainly born under 
a lucky star; they have prospered in all the mate- 
rial affairs of life; they have within their call a fam- 
ily of dutiful children; have been honored by the 
social and religious organizations to which they be- 
long, and have the esteem and respect of all the 
people of the community in which they live. If 
all these conditions are not conducive to happiness, 
what is? 




WILLIAM H. MOORE many years ago be- 
came known throughout Pontiac Township 
as a farmer and stock-raiser of more than 
ordinary ability, and whose efforts were uniformly 
rewarded with success. He has a fine homestead 
on section 13, and is the owner of eighty acres, 
while his wife has 100 acres. He came to this 
count}' in the spring of 1877, and at once became 
prominent in local affairs, serving as Road Com- 
missioner and School Director, and assisting, as 
time and opportunity afforded, in building up the 
business and social interests of the community. 

Mr. Moore was born in- Franklin Count}', Mass., 
May 3, 1 832, and is the son of William G. and Eliza- 



beth (Handy) Moore, natives respectively of Maine 
and the Bay State. They emigrated from New 
England to the West in 1840, and coming into this 
State, located first in Fulton County, whence they 
shortly sifter ward removed to Peoria County, in 
which they resided for a period of thirty-five years. 
In their declining years they crossed the Missis- 
sippi, and the father died in Holt County, Neb., in 
July, 1885. The mother had returned East and 
spent her last days in her native State, passing away 
in 1880. They were the parents of seven children, 
namely, William II., of our sketch; John, a resident 
of Nebraska; Mary J., the wife of Henry Shugart, 
of Peoria County. 111.; Ann, the wife of John S. 
Keller, of Holt County, Neb.; Sarah, widow of 
the late John Dailey, of Peoria; Charles W., of 
Holt County, Neb. ; and Catherine, the wife of 
James Dodd, of the same place. The father of 
John S. Keller, Isaac Keller by name, was a minis- 
ter of the Presbyterian Church, and was among tihe 
pioneer preachers of Peoria, 111., where he labored 
successfully many years. 

Our subject was a lad nine years of age when his 
parents came to this State, and was reared and edu- 
cated mostly in Peoria County. He has been con- 
tinuously engaged in farming pursuits since a 
youth, with which his tastes and inclinations have 
always fully accorded. Soon after reaching his 
majority, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
E. Keyes, who was born in Ohio, in November, 
1832, and became the mother of four children: 
John I. was born Sept. 28, 1855 ; Fanny C., Nov. 1, 
1858, is now the wife of Jacob K. Teach; Alice 
J. was born July 10, 1862, and became the wife of 
Oliver Teach, of Pontiac ; Charles W. was born Oct. 
22, 1870, and is now at home. The mother of 
these children departed this life at her home in 
Peoria County, 111., Jan. 6, 1874. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Jan. 24, 1882, was formerly Mrs. Winni- 
frcd Handley, of Livingston County, 111. She was 
born in Huntingdon County, Pa., April 11, 1843, 
and is the daughter of Charles and Eliza Duff. 
When a young lady she was married to John S. 
Handley, and became the mother of two children: 
Anna B., born Feb. 23, 1870, and Robert C., Dec. 
6, 1874. The maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



465 A 



Moore, John Cunningham by Dame, served as a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary War, passing his last years 
in Pennsylvania. Her parents were natives of that 
State, where they remained until after the late Civil 
War, then came to Livingston County, 111., where 
they spent the remainder of their lives, the father 
dying in 1873, and the mother in 1887. 

Mr. Moore, politically, affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, although taking little part in the vari- 
ous questions of the day otherwise than performing 
his duty as an American citizen at the polls. Mrs. 
Moore is a worthy and acceptable member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 




ship. 



. OMULUS J. OAKES, who has seen much of 
tlu> world, both on the good and the bad 
side, during his life, is now a fanner and 
fc , -loek-rai.-eron section ">'!. Long Point Town- 
He is a native of Waterville, Vt., and was 
born on the 10th of March, 1822. lie is the son of 
John and Amy (Thomas) Oakes, who were the 
parents of the following-named children: Darius, 
who was a fanner by occupation, and died in Michi- 
gan, leaving a wife and three children : Nathan, who 
was twice married and died in Vermont, leaving two 
children; Esther, who married Amos Thomas and 
had one- child, and whose ha-baml died in 1884, at 
the age of eighty years: Cyrenus died in Belvi- 
dere, Vt., and left three children ; Oscar died in 1 879, 
leaving :\ wife and two daughters; Horatio married 
Mrs. Ann Gregg, and they have a family of five 
children, and live at Blackstone. 111. 

Romulus J. Oakes lias been married twice. The 
lirst wife was Mrs. I Inldah (Leonard) Wilkison, who 
w,-is born on the 31st of March, 1K26, and died at 
0:30 A. M.. Feb. 27, 1870, at the age of forty-nine 
years, ten months and twenty -seven days. This 
marriage occurred in October. 1S71. The second 
marriage wa> on the 30th of December, 1877, to 
Mi-s Nancy Rickey, of Long Point, and the result 
of this union lias been one child, Don Carlos, who 
was born on the 1 1th of September. 1X7*. and is now 
attending school at home. Nancy Rickey, the wife 
of Mi-. Oakes. was born on the Kith of December. 
1 SOI. and was the daughter of Thomas ]>. Rickey, 



who was born on the 14th of March, 1835, and died 
June 2.1, 1870, aged thirty-five years, three months 
and nine days, and Mary A. (Smith) Rickey, who 
was born on the 4th of July, 1838, and the date of 
wbose death is not remembered. Thomas B. and 
Mary A. Rickey were the parents of the following- 
named children: Sarah A., born Dec. 22, 185C, 
and was married to L. G. Belt March 2, 1882 ; Mary 
Isabelle, born June 10, 1858, and died Jan. 5, 1860, 
aged eighteen months and twenty -six days; Foster, 
born April 1, 1860, and died Aug. 27, 1867, aged 
seven years, four months and twenty -seven days; 
Armendy, bom Aug. 12, 1863, and was married to 
Freeman Smalley, has two children, and lives in Kan- 
sas; Lillie, born June 2, 1855, was married to John 
Russel Feb. 15, 1883, has two boys, and lives in 
Livingston County; Josephine, born Nov. 28, 1806, 
married Charles Wedding, and lives in Kansas; 
James P. was born Sept. 25, 1868; Rose Ann, March 
23, 1878. 

' R. J. Oakes was educated in the common schools 
for a short time, and is largely a self-educated man. 
He came from Vermont to Ohio in 1836. From 
Ohio he went to Michigan, where he stopped one 
year, and from there back to Ohio, remaining one 
summer, and in 1839 went to work on a Mississippi 
River steamboat. At St. Louis he enlisted in Com- 
pany C, 5th United States Infantry, where he served 
for four years, eleven and one-half months, and 
was discharged at the expiration of his time. He 
enlisted under the name of Joseph Simpson, the ob- 
ject being to keep his parents and relatives from 
knowing of his whereabouts, and for seven years 
they had no tidings whatever from him. After be- 
ing discharged from the army at Detroit he went to 
the State of New York, where he engaged for six 
years in keeping a canal station during the summer 
months. From New York he went back to Michi- 
gan and worked for one year in a sawmill, and then 
came to Illinois but did not remain long, going to 
Minnesota, where he staid two years. In the fall 
that Uncle Abe Lincoln ran for President he came 
back to Illinois, and dates his residence in this State 
from that time. His re.-idence since that time in 
Illinois has been continuous. 

Mr. Oakes now owns eighty acres of land, which 
is eligibly located on section 33. Long Point Town- 



I 






.;<; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ship. Besides fanning he devotes considerable at- 
tention to stock-raising. and lias been successful in 
both. He is in politics an independent Republican, 
which means that he will vote for the Republican in 
preference to a member of any other party, provid- 
ing he is a good man : in oilier words, while his be- 
liefs are in harmony with the doctrines of the Re- 
publican party, he does not feel himself in duty 
bound to vote for a scalawag simply because he N a 
Republican. lie is a man who has seen both the 
dark and the bright sides of the world, but makes it 
an object now to put himself into a position to look 
upon the bright side all the time. His wife is a lady 
of good education, and has a natural taste for cer- 
tain lines of artistic and fancy work, and is an 
expert in the making of tissue paper boquets, hair 
work, Kensington embroidery and fancy work, and 
the walls and windows of her residence show many 
evidences of her skill in this line. They are happily 
and pleasantly situated and well surrounded with the 
comforts of life. 




' MOS EDWARDS, retired farmer and now 
a resident of Cornell, is one of the hon- 
ored pioneers of Livingston County, who 
nearly fifty years ago pushed his way into 
an unsettled country, and entered a quarter section 
of land from the Government. He did not, how- 
ever, take possession of this until the following 
year, but returned to his native State of New 
York, and completed his preparations for the pro- 
posed change. He had already a wife and family 
and when starting for Illinois the second time was 
equipped with a lumber wagon and two horses, by 
which means he transported his family and house- 
hold goods, and arrived at his destination on the 
7th of September, 1839. On his land there was 
not even shelter for their heads, and they moved 
into the house of a neighbor, said structure being 
built of logs, and furnished in the most primitive 
manner. In May following Mr. Edwards had 
erected under great difficulties a frame dwelling 
after the Eastern fashion, and which was considered 
a very tine affair for those dnys. This he occupied 
for many years, and until after his children had 



grown up, and leaving the home shelter had estab- 
lished themselves in domiciles of their own. 

Mr. Edwards is the offspring of some of the 
best and oldest stock of the East, originally New 
Englanders, but subsequently locating in New 
York State. His parents, Paul and Deborah ( Wage ) 
Edwards, were natives of Connecticut, the former 
born Aug. 3, 1774, and the latter in 177C. The 
paternal grandparents were Peleg and Margaret 
(King) Edwards, who traced their ancestry back to 
England. Mrs. Deborah Edwards was the daughter 
of Amos and Chloe (Brown) Wage, and by her mar- 
riage with the father of our subject became the 
mother of the children whose record is as follows: 
Deborah, born in 1801, was married, and died in 
1833, leaving an infant about three weeks old ; Sam- 
uel was born July 20, 1803, was married and became 
the father of three daughters, and one son, who 
died in the South while serving as a soldier in the 
Union army; Amos, our subject, was born in Sar- 
atoga County, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1806: Nathan was 
born April 14, 1808, and died in 1857; Lydia was 
born March 5, 1810, became the wife of Philip 
Nigh, of Ohio, and died in November, 1875; Pe- 
leg was born in April, 1814, and died in Amity 
Township, this county, in 1862, leaving a wife but 
no children; William, born in 1817, died when five 
years old. The mother of these children departed 
this life at her home in Amity, in December, 1851. 
Paul Edwards had passed away Aug. 27, 1850, in 
Amity Township. 

Our subject remained a resident of his native 
State until twenty-eight years of age, being em- 
ployed mostly in teaching, for which he received 
fifty cents per day, twenty-four days in the month 
for seven years. Finally, in 1835, he migrated to 
Sandusky County, Ohio. He had while in New 
York State been married, Sept. 19, 1833, to Miss 
Abigail Coflin, the wedding taking place at the 
home of the bride in Providence. Mrs. Edwards 
was born Dec. 1. 1811, and became the mother of 
three children: Maria, born March 16. 1835; 
Harriet. Nov. 28, 1836, and Henry C., April 
21, 1838. Mrs. Abigail Edwards departed this 
life at her home, Oct. 13, 1840. Our subject sub- 
sequently married Laura Lounsberg. Jan. 21, 1841 : 
she died Jan. 27, is?"). Mrs. Jemima Talbot, May 



1 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



167 



21,1876, became his third wife. This lady was born 
in Ohio, Dec. 16, 1809. She came to Illinois with 
her parents in 1838, and remained with them until 
her first marriage. 

Mr. Edwards has been in all respects one of the 
most useful and enterprising men of his township, 
and as the country settled up around him he was 
tacitly chosen as a leader, and a man suitable to be 
the incumbent of the first offices. He was elected 
County Surveyor in 1844, serving four years, and 
re-elected for a second term. At the next election 
the candidate either could not or would not qualify, 
and Mr. Edwards was called upon to fill the office 
thus made vacant, officiating twelve years thereafter 
in this capacity. He was appointed Postmaster of 
the infant town of Amity under Cave Johnson, 
who sent his commission to the house and invested 
him with the office, which he held until 1861, when 
he lost his political scalp. 

Mr. Edwards' first Presidential vote was cast in 
1832 for Andrew Jackson, and he has since remained 
an uncompromising Democrat. On account of his 
extraordinarily retentive memory he is one of 
the most interesting men to converse with to be 
found anywhere. His knowledge of early events 
enables him to chronicle a long series of interest- 
ing events, many of which have escaped the notice 
and memory of the pioneers who were connected 
with them and are now fast passing away. Our 
subject did not particularly bend his energies to the 
accumulation of wealth; however, he owns a com- 
fortable home in the village and some town prop- 
erty besides. 



J. SPANG LER. "Whatever is worth 
doing at all is worth doing well" is a motto that 
should be faithfully adhered to all the way 
through life; but unfortunately such is not the case. 
Where a man is found who personifies in his work 
and business affairs this axiom, there system, order 
and harmony prevail, and there i.s no uncertainty 
about the resultant prosperity. The writer is 
prompted to these reflections by a visit to the mag- 
nificently ordered stock farm on section 18, Belle 



Prairie Township, owned by the subject of this 
sketch. 

Mr. Spangler was born in Lebanon County, Pa., 
-on the 13th of January, 1840, and is the son of 
Jacob and Maria (Beckley) Spangler, natives of the 
same State. The father was born in 1806 and died 
April 25, 1879, on the old homestead in Pennsyl- 
vania, lie spoke and wrote German influently. He 
was a shoemaker by trade, but a part of his time 
was engaged in the management of a small farm. 
The mother was born in 1808, and died in 1851. 
She was a kind and gentle woman, and was much 
beloved by all who knew her. They were both 
members of the German Reformed Church, and 
were the parents of twelve children, including our 
subject: Michael; Jonathan, deceased; Samuel 
lives in Pennsylvania; David lives in Columbus, 
Ohio; Maria; Israel; Harriet died at the age of five 
years; Joseph lives on the homestead: Catherine; 
Rudolph, now in Arkansas, and one child who died 
in infancy. 

Mr. Spangler came to Illinois in 1861, reaching 
Bloomington penniless, and pawned his watch for 
the small sum of $2.50, to enable him to get to 
Pontiae; from there he proceeded to a farm adjoin- 
ing the one he now owns, where he entered the serv- 
ice of Benjamin Walton as a farm hand. He was 
married, on the 31st of January, 1866, to Ellen A,, 
Wareham, a native of Ohio, where she was born on 
the 18th of March, 1849, and reared to womanhood. 
They had five children: Delia; John, who died at 
the age of eight months; George S. r Francis died 
in childhood; Isaac J. was killed instantly in Ohio 
by the falling of a pile of lumber. Mr. Spangler 
was married a second time, on the 29th of Septem- 
ber, 1881, to Miss Emma A. G. Brant, a lady of 
high culture and refinement. She is the daughter 
of Leonard and Susan Brant, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Virginia respectively, who were residents 
of Livingston County, where the father died in 
1883. By this marriage two children have been 
born James B. and Ira J. 

Mr. Spangler is the owner of 168 acres of land, 
which is cultivated after the most approved meth- 
ods. His farm house is a model of its kind, and the 
barns and other out-buildings are as complete in all 
their details as they could possibly be made. He 






4fi8 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



purchased this farm in 1868, and has been assidu- 
ous in making improvements. He is a great ad- 
mirer of fine stock, and makes a specialty of breed- 
ing Norman, Belgian and English draft horses, and 
high-grade Short-horn cattle. He has held the of- 
fice of School Director, and acquitted himself to the 
perfect satisfaction of the people. During the 
struggle of the nation for an existence from 1861 
to 1 865, he served three years in Company K of 
the 3d Illinois Cavalry, enlisting in August, 1861. 
His service was principally in the southwest, and 
the first chance that he had to smell gunpowder was 
at Pea Ridge, Ark., at which engagement he was 
taken prisoner, and conveyed to Ft. Smith, where 
he was confined for thirty days until exchanged. 
He was in the siege of Vicksburg, and in the en- 
gagements in front and rear which preceded it; and 
at the battles of Germantown, Guntown, and Mem- 
phis, Tenn.; he was mustered out in September, 
1864. 

Mr. and Mrs. Spangler are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and take great inter- 
est in their church affairs. In political matters Mr. 
Spangler approves of the doctrines taught and 
practiced by the Republican party. 




M. KILGORE,of Saunemin Town- 
ship, and a gentleman in the prime of life, 
is eminently worthy of a place among the 
records published in this work, as that of an enter- 
prising and useful citizen who located in Saunemin 
Township about 1870, and is now the proprietor of 
a good farm on section 23, where he mostly em- 
ploys his time in general farming and stock-raising. 
He is a native of this State, and was born in Mar- 
shall County, Oct. 4, 1841. He is consequently in 
the midst of his usefulness, and has fully established 
himself in the esteem and confidence of the people 
around him. 

The paternal ancestors of our subject were of 
Scotch-Irish descent, and his parents were Jesse and 
Mary (Quigley) Kilgore, natives of Pennsylvania. 
William Kilgore was orphaned early in life, his 
mother dying when he was about two years of age, 
and his father two years later. He was then taken 



into the home of his grandparents, Joseph and Mary 
Quigley, residents of Cumberland County, Pa., and 
with them remained until a youth of seventeen years. 
Then, ambitious to commence life for himself, he 
started for the West, and after reaching this State 
located in Marshall County, of which he remained a 
resident until his removal to Livingston, in the 
spring of 1870. Here he has since been a resident. 
He had received a common-school education, and 
his entire life has been employed in farming. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was married 
in Marshall County, Nov. 7, 1872, was formerly 
Miss Loisa B. Barnes, who was born in Marshall 
County, Sept. 28, 1843. Mrs. K. is the daughter of 
Henry B. and Jane M. (Kilgore) Barnes, natives of 
Delaware and Ohio, and her father now resides in 
Snunemin Township. Our subject and his wife 
commenced life together on the farm at this place, 
and there were born to them two children Harry 
B., Feb. 4, 1877, and a boy, who died in infancy; 
unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. K. are members in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at 
Saunemin, in which our subject officiates as Trustee 
and is one of the chief pillars. Politically he is Re- 
publican, like his father before him, and has in all 
respects proved the friend of education and prog- 
ress. The property of himself and his wife in- 
cludes 160 acres of valuable land, each being the 
owner of eighty acres. Mr. K. when starting out 
for himself, received the munificent salary of $5 per 
month, and in looking upon his surroundings to- 
day, it is hardly necessary to say that he has made 
good use of his time and opportunities. 




W. FERRIS, Superintendent of Livingston 
County schools, has made the eause of edu- 
cation principally his life work, having 
commenced his career as a teacher before he was 
sixteen years of age. He has been a resident of 
Pontiac and vicinity since 18o9, and has been a 
prominent figure in the educational interests of 
Livingston County. He was born May 23, 1840, 
in Addisou County, Vt., and is the son of Melanc- 
thon and Elizabeth (Shepherd) Ferris, also natives 
of the Green Mountain State. His paternal grand- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY- 



469 






father, Darius Ferris, was a native of England, who 
emigrated to the United States and settled in Ad- 
dison County, assisting largely in building up the 
village which afterward bore his name. He had 
followed the sea many years, and died at Ferrisburg 
about 1840. The mother of our subject was the 
daughter of William Shepherd, a native of Panton, 
Vt. 

Melancthon Ferris, the father of our subject, 
sailed on the lakes with his father when a boy, and 
afterward served in the War of 1812. He was 
born in 1795, and died in Panton, Vt., in 1870. 
The mother rested from her labors in middle life, 
in. 1844. The parental household included nine 
children, eight of whom grew to mature years and 
seven are now living, namely: Charles; Augusta, 
Mrs. Bailey; Mary, Mrs. Vancor; Samantha, who 
also married a Mr. Vancor; Elizabeth, Mrs. Mat- 
thews; George W., our subject; Martha, Mrs. Farr, 
and Carlisle. The last-named brother was the eld- 
est of the family, and during the late war^served 
in the 1st New York Infantry and was killed at the 
battle of Fair Oaks, Va. The father of our sub- 
ject was an old-line Whig in early manhood, but 
afterward alh'liated with the Republicans, and both 
parents were members of the Baptist Church. For 
twenty-five years Melancthon Ferris commanded a 
lake schooner of which he was the owner, and 
which ran on Lake Champlain and to Canada. He 
finally retired from a seafaring life, and his last 
years were spent on a little farm in Panton, Vt. 

Mr. Ferris during his boyhood attended Un- 
common school in his native county, and afterward 
a select school under the instruction of James Ten 
Brocke. Subsequently he attended the academy 
of Lunenburg, Mass., one year, then taught for a 
time in his own county, and subsequently attended 
Barre Academy near Montpelier, Vt. He came to 
Illinois in the fall of 1859, locating first in Owego 
Township, this county, where he was employed two 
winters as a teacher, and in 1861 settled on a farm. 
The same year he was united in marriage with 
Miss Martha Stinson, who was born in Indiana, 
April 13, 1842, and is the daughter of James L. 
and Mary (Herschburger) Stinson, natives of Indi- 
ana, win-re James L. was engaged as a civil en- 
gineer. Mr. Ferris remained on the farm until 



1884, during which time he had been somewhat 
employed in teaching, and was also engaged in 
the nursery business. He put up a handsome resi- 
-dence in 1873, and beautified his home by planting 
evergreens and fruit trees and surrounding the 
dwelling with choice flowers. The homestead is 
the admiration of the passer-by, and indicates the 
refined and cultivated taste of its proprietor. 

Mr. Ferris was elected County Superintendent of 
Schools in 1882, and re-elected in 188(5. He moved 
to Pontiac in 1884, and purchased a home on Liv- 
ingston street, where he now lives. Of his mar- 
riage there were born six children, namely: Aldace 
M., Jessie E., Carl I., Milly M., Claude and Claire. 
The eldest son, Aldace M., married Miss Electa O. 
Hull, of Marshall County, and was formerly en- 
gaged in the drug business at Pontiac ; he is now 
a resident of San Diego, Cal. Jessie E. is the 
wife of Samuel Morrison, and has one child, a son, 
Claude; Carl is occupied as a drug clerk in Pontiac. 
Mr. Ferris is an extensive reader and keeps him- 
self well posted upon matters of general interest. 
He votes the straight Republican ticket, and socially, 
belongs to the I. O. O. F. 



\I? ANSING HUTCHINSON. This eiiterpris- 
I ( ' n ^> y un S farmer not many years ago 
>*_* -^ launched out for himself in a field of labor 
to which he is most admirably adapted, both by 
training and natural qualifications. He enters with 
genuine interest into the cultivation of the soil, and 
nothing appears pleasanter to his eye than the spec- 
tacle of growing grain, the well-kept and thriving 
live stock, and all the other appurtenances of a well 
conducted farm. Possessing this true spirit with 
which to operate, there is no conjecture in predict- 
ing for him that complete success of which he is so 
eminently deserving. His land lies on section 20, 
Avoca Township, and includes 154 acres, under a 
good state of cultivation with a comfortable resi- 
dence and good out-buildings. 

Our subject was born in New Jersey, Feb. 17, 
1857, and is the son of Gideon and Susannah (Shan- 
gle) Hiitchinson. Tradition has it that the family 
came from England to the United States with the 



470 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Pilgrim Fathers, and landed at Plymouth Rock. 
They became prominent among the Colonists as 
people possessing in a marked degree those traits of 
character which fostered the early spirit of liberty, 
and assisted in throwing off the yoke of the op- 
pressor. They married and reared families, and 
their descendants have, almost without exception, 
reflected the virtues of their ancestors. The father 
of our subject, a native of New Jersey, came to the 
West when his son Lansing was a little lad four 
years of age. They located first in McLean County, 
this State, where they resided until the spring of 
1867, and then took up their abode in this county. 
Gideon Hutchinson soon after his arrival purchased 
a tract of land, only a part of which had been cul- 
tivated, and which now constitutes the home of our 
subject. He cultivated the soil, and added year 
after year the improvements which made the place 
attractive and valuable. He occupied it until the 
spring of 1881, when he removed across the Missis- 
sippi into Carroll County, Iowa, where he now re- 
sides. Gideon Hutchinson was Supervisor of 
Avoca Township a number of terms, and served as 
School Director many years. Both parents were 
members in good standing of the Presbyterian 
Church, in which the father served as an Elder, and 
did good service in building up the society and 
encouraging its growth. Politically, during his 
later years, he has affiliated with the Republican 
party. Although, perhaps, not the hero of any 
thrilling event, he has employed his time and tal- 
ents worthily, and is esteemed as an honest man 
and a good citizen. 

Of a large family of children born to the parents 
of our subject, six now survive, namely, Philip, 
Lansing; Catherine, Mrs. George Cook, of Eppard's 
Point Township; Howard, Frederick and Mary. 
Lansing Hutchinson passed his boyhood and youth 
after the manner of most farmers' sons, spending 
his winters at the district school and his summers 
on the farm, where his services were utilized in as- 
sisting to plant and garner the crops. He was a 
bright and ambitious boy, fond of good books, and 
supplemented his school advantages by a course of 
sensible reading at home during his leisure hours. 
He remained a member of his father's household 
until ready to launch out in life for himself, and 






was married, Feb. 27, 1879, to Miss Lillian J. 
Taylor. Mrs. Hutchinson was born in Jefferson, 
Mo., Oct. 23, 1858, and is the daughter of Hiram 
J. and Sybil (Gibbs) Taylor. The father was a 
native of Scotland and the mother of Missouri. 
The former departed this life at his home in Mis- 
souri in 1860; the mother survived her husband 
twelve years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have a blooming family 
of four children : Lottie E. was born Dec. 28, 1879 ; 
Arthur L., Sept. 2, 1881 ; Albert E., July 14, ixx;!, 
and Bessie M., Feb. 8, 1 8X0. Mr. H., following the 
example of his honored father, votes the straight 
Republican ticket and is now serving his second 
term as Clerk of Avoca Township. He belongs to 
the Presbyterian Church, while Mrs. H. is a Meth- 
odist in religious belief. 




E STUCKEY, farmer and stock-raiser 
on section 7, Forest Township, first became 
a citizen of the State of Illinois in 1856, 
when he settled at Hudson, McLean County, and 
engaged in farming on a rented place. In 1867 he 
came to Livingston County, and bought eighty 
acres of land, to which he has added until, at the 
present time, his farm consists of 160 acres, which 
is well stocked with Ilolstein cattle, Norman mixed 
horses, and Poland-China hogs. There are six 
acres planted in choice varieties of apples and other 
fruit trees. He was one of the very earliest settlers 
in Livingston County, 111., among whom but few are 
left, including Messrs. Marberly, Weeks, Thomas 
and Riley. 

Our subject was born in Somersetshire, England, 
on the 14th of February, 1828. He is the son of 
Kdward and Margaret (Gillett) Stuckey, who were 
farmers in the old country, and came to the United 
States in 1862, locating in McLean County, where 
they remained a few years with their people. The 
father died in 1 *67, and the mother soon afterward. 
Our subject was first married, in 1X.~>4, to Eliza 
Doble. By this marriage there were born seven 
children William Edward, Walter, Frank, Mary, 
Hattie E., Elizabeth and Lettie. Edward married, 
and located in Livingston County, where he is en- 



f 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



473 f 



gaged in farming: Mary married Job Manning, a 
farmer, and the others are unmarried. This wife 
died in July. 1877. In March, 1881, Mr. Stuckey 
was married to Mrs. Elmira Conn, a native of Ni- 
agara County, N. Y., where she was born on the 
4th of August, 1844. Her parents, Patrick and 
Hannah (Smith) Mahoney, came West about 1837, 
first settling in McLean County, 111., where they 
lived about ten years, and then came to Fairbury, 
this county, where they now reside, retired from 
active work. They are the parents of eight chil- 
dren, whose names are Cordelia, Edward, Susan, 
Elmira; Amanda Jane, who died at the age of four 
years, and the same name was conferred upon the 
sixth child ; Josephine and Effie, all of whom are 
now married. By Mrs. Elmira Conn's first mar- 
riage were born four children James, Leslie, Will- 
iam and Freddie. Her husband died in 1870. He 
was a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. The 
son, James, is married, and is now located in Ne- 
braska. Mr. Stuckey is a Republican in politics. 
In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey are members of 
the Baptist Church at Fairbury, 111. 



THOMAS H. EDWARDS. Whatever of his- 
tory that has been made in that part of Illi- 
nois comprised in Peoria and Livingston 
Counties, ought to be very familiar to the subject 
of this sketch, who is a farmer on section 30, Owego 
Township, for he is a native of Peoria County, and 
was born Jan. 1, 1815. He is the son of Edward 
D. and Susan E. Edwards, who were natives of Vir- 
ginia and Maryland, respectively. His paternal 
ancestors were Scotch-Irish, and the maternal ances- 
tors of German descent. The grandfather, Thomas 
Edwards, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The 
parents of Mr. Edwards left Virginia in 1833, and 
emigrated to Peoria County, where they were among 
the very first settlers, and indeed at that time not a 
house had been built where the city of Peoria now 
stands. The father for several years operated a 
sawmill on the banks of the Illinois River, on the 
spot now decided to be near the foot of Fayette 
street in the city of Peoria. The father died in 
October, 1857, and the mother still resides in Peo- 




ria County. There were born to them eight chil- 
dren, five of whom are living: Nellie,- wife of D. S. 
Gigley, of McLean County, 111. ; Francis A., of Peoria 
County; Edward D., of Peoria County; Susan E., 
wife of Francis Van Arsdall, of Peoria County ; and 
Thomas H. The latter grew to manhood in Peoria 
County, where he attended the common schools, 
in which he received a good education. 

Mr. Edwards was married in Peoria County on 
the 14th of March, 1869, to Virginia A. Woolford, 
a native of Virginia, who was born on the 24th of 
April, 1845. She is the daughter of George Wool- 
ford, of Peoria County. To Mr. and Mrs. Ed- 
wards there have been born eight children, seven of 
whom are living, as follows: Edward D., George 
H., Thomas J. ; Leslie, deceased ; James H., Benja- 
min F. and Quiucy Adam. 

Mr. Edwards came to Livingston County in 
1882, and settled on his farm in Owego Township 
in the spring of 1883, the farm consisting of 120 
acres in Owego, and forty acres in Pontiac Town- 
ship. He also owns eighty acres on section 35, in 
Owego Township. On the 14th of February, 1865, 
Mr. Edwards enlisted in Company A, 151st Illinois 
Infantry, and served one year, the 'greater por- 
tion of the time performing patrol duty at Colum- 
bus, Ga. In February, 1866, he was honorably dis- 
charged and returned home. 

The parents of Mrs. Edwards were natives of 
Virginia, but resided about twenty years in Peoria 
County, where the mother died in December, 1881. 
They had a family of seven children, and six of 
them are living: Mary, the wife of D. W. Hudson, 
of Peoria County; Sarah E., of Peoria County; 
Benjamin F., of Peoria County ; Adam L., of Liv- 
ingston County; Christiana, wife of James Helsey, 
of Peoria County ; the one deceased was Pha'be 
J. The father is still alive, and resides in Virginia. 
Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are both much attached to 
the Methodist Church, of which they are members. 
Mr. Edwards is a Republican in politics, and has 
been constant in his affiliations with that party. 
For nine years he served as School Director in Peo- 
ria County, and for three years in Owego Town- 
ship. In the spring of 1885 he was elected one of 
the three School Trustees of Owego Township for a 
term of three years. In Mr. Edwards is illustrated 



474 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



what can be accomplished by industry, frugality, 
and good management, when one is thrown upon his 
own resources. In whatever has been accomplished 
since his marriage, his efforts have been seconded 
b his excellent wife. 




J. BENNETT, located on section 24, Char- 
lotte Township, and identified with the 
business and agricultural interests of that 
region, is considered one of the important 
factors in a community highly prosperous and in- 
telligent, and operates 200 acres of some of the fin- 
est farming land in Livingston County. The hand- 
some property of which he is now the possessor is 
the result of his own persevering industry, as he re- 
ceived no legacy to begin with and has fought his 
way single handed amidst many difficulties. 

The people born upon the soil of New York State 
are tacitly given credit for excellent business ca- 
pacities, which were usually supplemented with a 
practical education. Our subject was born there 
in the town of Erie, Cayuga County, Jan. 25, 1 838, 
and passed his childhood and youth on the old 
homestead belonging to his parents, Otis and Clar- 
inda (Savery) Bennett. They were natives of Mas- 
sachusetts, in which State the parents of both had 
settled at an early day. Otis Bennett, like his father 
before him, understood all about farming, in which 
he engaged considerably, while in the meantime 
working as a shoemaker, which trade he had learned 
in his youth. He also followed this after his re- 
moval to New York State. The family came to 
the AVest in the fall of 1856, locating on a rented 
farm in Peoria County, this State, whern the mother 
died the following year. She was a lady of most 
excellent qualities of heart and mind, and was 
greatly mourned by her family and friends. The 
father continued to reside on the farm in Peoria 
County, where his death took place in 1877. 

The early education of our subject was conducted 
in the district school, and he was a youth of eighteen 
years when his father and the family came to this 
State. He soon afterward started out for himself, 
working by the mouth, and the year following had 
saved a sufficient sum of money with which to buy 



:i team and commence operations for himself on a 
tract of rented land. This he occupied three years, 
and, still climbing up little by little, purchased, in 
I860, forty acres of improved land in Peoria County, 
of which he remained in possession seven years, and 
with excellent results. In the fall of 1867 he pur- 
chased eighty acres of wild prairie on section 1 2, in 
Charlotte Township, and the year following came 
to Livingston County. In the summer of 1868 he 
broke a part of his first purchase, and a fe.w 
months later sold the forty acres in Peoria County 
and purchased eighty acres on section 24, and sold 
the eighty on section 12. 

The affairs of Mr. Bennett had now assumed 
such shape that he considered he was in good con- 
dition to establish a home of his own and take upon 
himself the responsibility of a family. Accord- 
ingly, in the spring of 1869, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Margaret llidgeway, a native of 
Franklin County, N. Y., and born March 24, 1 850. 
She was the third child in the family of John H. 
and Lydia (Wheeler) Kidgeway, natives respect- 
ively of Ireland and Canada, and the parents of 
seven children. The young people at once re- 
paired to their farm, where there had been erected 
a modest dwelling, and where they are still located. 
Mr. Bennett has added considerably to his original 
purchase, and in 1873 erected a more substantial 
residence which, together with the barn and adja- 
cent out-buildings, completes a handsome and com- 
fortable home. The farm stock includes graded 
Durham and Holstein cattle, Morgan and Clyde 
horses and Poland-China swine. 

Mr. Bennett brought with him to this section 
that high regard for the establishment of educa- 
tional institutions which is an essential feature of 
the men of the Empire State. He greatly aided in 
the organization of the school districts and the put- 
ting up of the various buildings required, and has 
served as Director in his district for a period of 
twelve years, besides occupying other important 
offices. He takes very little part in politics, but 
votes with the Republican party. He is liberal in 
church matters, and one of the first men called upon 
to contribute toward the furtherance of those enter- 
prises which will benefit the people, both morally 
and financially. Mrs. B. is a member in good stand- 



t. 

I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



475 



ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They 
have an interesting family of four children, namely, 
George Francis, Nellie Maud, Roy Earnest and 
Stella Fern, comprising an unbroken circle, and all 
at home. The children have all been well educated, 
and in taking their proper stations in life will do 
honor to their estimable parents. 



bEONIDAS T. STOUTEMYER. One of the 
best qualities a business man can possess is 
conservatism, a quality which prompts him 
to take no important step until he is sure he is right, 
and then, as was said by David Crockett, go ahead. 
Men frequently accumulate fortunes by taking steps 
on the spur of the moment, regardless of conse- 
quences, but that kind of a fortune seldom stays 
by a man. Those who reach ultimate success, and 
wind up their long lives having accomplished all 
which they set out to, are the men who are 
cautious and conservative in all their transactions. 
These are qualities which are largely possessed by 
the subject of this sketch, who is a prominent farmer, 
located on section 13, Chatsworth Township, and 
whose residence in the county dates from 1865. 
He is a native of Miami County, Ohio, and was 
born on the 8th of December, 1841. His father, 
"William B. Stoutemyer, was a native of Virginia, 
but when twelve years of age he accompanied his 
parents when they removed to Miami County, 
Ohio, where the family were pioneer settlers. The 
father grew to manhood in Miami County, where lie 
was united in marriage to Nancy Ross, who was 
born in Pennsylvania, and her parents were early 
pioneers of Clarke County, Ohio. They followed 
fanning in Miami County until 1864, when they 
emigrated to Illinois, and settled on a farm near 
Bloomington, where the mother died in February, 
1879. The father then came to Livingston County, 
and died in April of the same year. They were 
the parents of three sons and one daughter, the lat- 
ter dying in childhood. The sons are still living, 
and are: William E., who resides in Livingston 
County; John B., who resides in Bloomington; and 
the subject of this sketch, who is the oldest of the 
three. He was about nine years old when the 



family removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he 
was educated in the common schools, and assisted 
in the work upon the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in 
the month of July, and was mustered into the Uni- 
ted States service in Company E, 45th Ohio In- 
fantry, with which he served three years, and soon 
after entering the army participated in the battles 
of Dutton Hill and Campton West. He was with 
Gen. Burnsides in his famous raids through Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee. The winter of 1863-64 was 
passed by the regiment at Ml. Sterling, Ky., after 
which it joined Gen. Sherman at Chattanooga, and 
participated in the Atlanta campaign, subsequently 
returning with Gen. Thomas and participating in 
many a hard-fought battle. In the battle at Knox- 
ville, he received a gunshot wound in the head, 
which rendered him unfit for duty for a few weeks, 
but he did not go fnto a hospital. At the expira- 
tion of his term of service, he received an honor- 
able discharge from the army, and came to Illinois, 
as during the interim the family had moved to Mc- 
Lean County. In 1866 he came to Livingston 
County, where his father owned land, which Mr. 
IStoutemyer improved, and has since followed farm- 
ing as a constant occupation. He now owns 320 
acres of land, which he cultivates after the most 
approved methods, and devotes a large share of his 
attention to the propagation and raising of stock, 
in which business he has attained a large measure 
of success. His farm buildings are of ample dimen- 
sions and excellent quality. He is a strong ad- 
vocate of the principles of the Republican party, 
and believes that the affairs of the nation ought to 
be administered by the men who saved it. He has 
held several local offices, and served nine years as a 
Trustee. In religious matters he espouses the doc- 
trines and tenets of the Baptist Church, of which he 
is a Deacon and a Trustee. 

Mr. Stoutemyer has been married three times. In 
1868 he married Sarah Kinnan, who was a native of 
Ohio, and died in January, 1869. On the 6th of 
June, 1871, he married Mary E. Newman, who was 
born in Ohio, and died in April, 1872, leaving one 
daughter, Mary E. In 1875 he married Anna J. 
Little, who was born in Logansport, Ind., and they 
have five children Flora May, Nancy E., Edwin 
Ross, Howard and Sarah Margaret. Mr. Stoute- 



17(1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



myer and his family are very pleasantly situated in 
their home, and are able to command almost any 
of the com forts of life that they require. They are 
highly esteemed by all their neighbors, with whom 
they are on the best of terms. 




YLVESTER LONGNECKER. The peo- 
ple who settled in Livingston County over 
forty years ago found it a vast expanse of 
wild prairie, isolated almost from civiliza- 
tion and wholly devoid of comfort. Since that 
time they have seen the country transformed from 
its original condition to productive fields and val- 
uable farms, dotted here and there with cities and 
villages, with a dense population of intelligent, pro- 
gressive, prosperous people, who are happy and 
contented in .ill their surroundings. These condi- 
tions have been brought about by just such active 
and courageous people as the subject of this sketch, 
who were the pioneer settlers. 

Mr. Longnecker, a farmer on section 32 in Sun " 
bury Township, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio 
Jan. 22, 1827, and was the fourth child in a family 
of eleven born to Jacob and Sarah D. (Porter) Long- 
necker, natives of Maryland and Kentucky respect- 
ively. The paternal grandparents, Andrew and 
Elizabeth (Rhinehart) Longnecker, were natives of 
Germany, and emigrated to America at an early 
day, settling first in Maryland, whence the}- re- 
moved to Kentucky, and thence to Ohio. lie died 
in Ohio and she went to Ottawa, 111., and spent her 
last days there with her daughter. The maternal 
grandfather was a native of Kentucky, and his fa- 
ther, John Porter, was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War, and was reputed a bold and fearless sol- 
dier. He was taken prisoner by the Indians, by 
whom he was wounded, and curried two musket 
balls in his body until his death. The father of 
our subject was a shoemaker by trade, and while 
engaged in that occupation also carried on farming. 
In 1833 he moved to Clinton County, Ind., remain- 
ing two years, when he removed to Tippeeanoe 
County, where he farmed .until 1844, and then took 
the overland route with horses and oxen for llli- 



nois, bringing his sheep, cattle and hogs with him. 

Our subject was seventeen years of age when the 
family arrived in Livingston County. While liv- 
ing in Indiana he had no opportunity for obtaining 
an education, but since arriving at manhood he has 
applied himself diligently to study, and succeeded 
in fitting himself for business affairs. He and his 
father bought and entered 320 acres of wild land 
upon their arrival in Livingston County. At that 
time there was plenty of deer, turkeys, wolves and 
small game. On the land then purchased they 
built a house on the edge of a strip of timber, and 
it is 3'et occupied by our subject and his family. 
They cultivated a small portion of the land at the 
beginning, and gradually developed it until it has 
all been placed under cultivation. The township 
of Sunbury was organized after their arrival in 
Livingston County, and took its name from a post 
station which was located on a road for general 
travel through that part of the county. In this 
county seven of a large family of children grew up, 
only one of whom, besides our subject, is now liv- 
ing in the county a sister, Mrs. Gates, of Cornell. 
Of the children we have the following record : John, 
born Dec. 19, 1820; William W., Sept. 23, 1822; 
Elizabeth, May 19, 1825; Sylvester, Jan. 22, 1827; 
Mary J., born Dec. 27, 1821), died July 1C, 1842; 
Rachel, born Oct. 13, 1830, died July 14,1843; 
Absalom, born July 13, 1833, died Aug. 28, 1842; 
Jacob, born May 30, 1836; Newberry S., July 27, 
1838; Sarah M., born Aug. 13, 1840, died Aug. 
25, 1842; Jeremiah, born Nov. 6, 1842. The fa- 
ther of our subject was born in November, 1798, 
and died in April, 1860, aged sixty -two years. 
The mother was born Oct. 7, 1801, and died in 
1870. 

Mr. Longnecker was married, Oct. 12, 1854, to 
Laura M. Hampton, who was born in Darke Coun- 
ty, Ohio, on the 14th of July, 1836. and was the 
eldest in a family of eight children born to John 
and Eliza (Booth) Hampton, natives of Ohio and 
Connecticut respectively. Her parents came to 
Illinois about 1837, making the journey overland 
with teams. They bought and improved a farm on 
Fox River, and after a time settled in Livingston 
County. The mother died in Grundy County, and 
the father married again, and settled in Livingston 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



47' 



County permanently immediately after the second 
marriage. 

Mr. Longnecker has 150 acres of land in Sunbury 
Township, and twenty acres in Esmen Township, 
all of which is highly improved. He devotes much 
attention to raising graded stock, and to the de- 
tails of farming. Mr. and Mrs. Longnecker ar3 the 
parents of eight children, whose names are as fol- 
lows: Eliza B., born Oct. 16, 1855; Mary E., May 
31, 1857; Andrew, Dee. 1, 1859; Oscar, June 22, 
1862; Arthur, Jan. 8, 1865; Martha Ann, March 
28, 1867; Leroy, Dec. 27, 1870, and Frederick, July 
14, 1876. Mary E. married John Webb, who is 
engaged in farming and stock-raising in Barton 
County, Mo. These children have all been given 
a good education, and two of them, Oscar and Ar- 
thur, have developed considerable talent for music. 
Andrew was in the Chatsworth railroad disaster of 
1887, but escaped without serious injury. 

Our subject has served as Road Commissioner 
and School Director. While he is a member of the 
Republican party he does not take an active part 
in politics, and in the selection of township officers 
he is wholly non-partisan. He is decidedly in 
favor of choosing the best men for the administra- 
tion of local affairs regardless of the political party 
to which they belong. As a citizen and neighbor 
Mr. Longnecker is held in high esteem, and in his 
business relations enjoys the confidence of all with 
whom he comes in eoiitact. 



ICHAEL MARTIN. One reason why the 
population of the United States contains so 
large a per cent of foreign born citizens is 
because i >f the oppressive laws of many of 
1ho European countries. While an Irishman loves 
his native country as he loves himself, the systems 
of landlordism and tenantry in that country for 
many years have been so unjust and oppressive as to 
compel hundreds of thousands of the people to leave 
their native land to seek homes in new countries. 
America has become a rallying point for the greater 
number of these people, and when once hero and 
settled down they have become the most lawful and 
law-abiding of our citizens. There are no anarchists 




nor socialists among the American citizens of Irish 
descent. As a rule they readily assimilate with the 
native-born citizen, and respect law and order while 
the}- enter with zest into all movements for building 
up American institutions. The subject of this sketch, 
a resident of Union Township, is the son of a man 
who was compelled to leave the land of his birth on 
account of the tyranny of landlordism, and seek a 
home in this country. 

Michael Martin was born in Kerry County, Ire- 
land, on the 2.">th of June, 1842, and was the third 
child in a family of four born to Thomas and Mar- 
garet (O'SulIivan) Martin, natives of Ireland. His 
paternal grandparents were Michael and Mary (Fitz- 
gerald). Martin, and the maternal grandparents were 
Daniel and Margaret (Welsh) O'SulIivan; all were 
natives of Ireland and farmers by occupation. The 
father of the subject of this sketch was a farmer in 
Ireland, but because of the oppression of the land- 
owners was compelled to leave that country. He 
came to America, where for a time he engaged in 
railroading, and afterward located on a farm in 
Bureau County, where in 1864 he was enabled to 
buy a farm of his own. In 1855 one of his daugh- 
ters came and located in the East, ami soon after 
the subject of this sketch and the remaining mem- 
bers of the family came to the United States. They 
embarked on the " Lady Rnssel." and after a stormy 
voyage of nearly five weeks landed at New York. 
They went to Massachusetts, where they lived until 
tlie'noxt spring, and then he and his mother proceeded 
to Bureau County, 111., where the}' joined the hus- 
band and father on the farm. The subject of this 
sketch was reared to farm life and had but limited 
chances for obtaining an education. 

In November, 1868, Mr. Martin was married to 
Ellen Lines, who was born iji Vermont, and was the 
(laughter of Thomas and Julia (Dunn) Lines, natives 
of Ireland. They first settled in Bureau County, 
where he purchased 100 acres of land from his 
father, and lived there for about twelve years, when 
they sold out and came to Livingston County, where 
lie bought 160 acres of partly improved land, and 
on which lie lias resided ever since. They have had 
a family of ten children, nine of whom are living 
Margaret Theresa. Julia Agnes, John Joseph, 
Thomas William, Michael Allen, Enos Patrick, 



f 



17* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Edward, Daniel Henry and Mary Ellen, the 
latter two being twins. One child, Thomas, i> de- 
ceived. These children are all at home with their 
parents, and attending school. They are all bright 
and intelligent, and it is the ambition of their parents 
that each shall be well educated. 

Mr. Martin devotes considerable time to raising a 
fine grade of cattle and horses, and in this line of 
business has met with excellent success. While he 
is not an active participant in politics he invariably 
casts his vote with the party of his choice, the Demo- 
cratic. He and his family are devout members 
of the Catholic Church, and are regular in their 
attendance. As citizens Mr. Martin and his family 
are respected and esteemed, and so far as neighbor- 
ship is concerned there are none better. Whatever 
is intended to elevate the condition of the people of 
1'nion Township meets with Mr. Martin's most 
hearty and cordial support, and he is always fore- 
most in such enterprises. The pages of thjs ALBUM 
would be incomplete without this biographical 
sketch, and it gives us pleasure to present it here- 
with. 



,1. SHEARER migrated from his native 
State of Pennsylvania when a yoiing man, 
having in view the establishment of a per- 
manent home. The country was then pass- 
ing through its first stages of settlement, and was 
waiting for just such industrious hands and strong- 
hearts of which our subject was a striking example. 
He had been reared to habits of industry and econ- 
omy, and the fact that hardship stared him in the 
face, together with many other difficulties, did not 
in the least dismay or discourage him. He went 
to work with a will, and can now look around him 
upon the result of his labors with a just feeling of 
pride and satisfaction. He put his shoulder to the 
wheel, and year after year pushed ahead steadily, 
and has no regret for the muscle which he expended, 
for the result has been satisfactory to the last de- 
gree. He owns a fine property in Sullivan Town- 
ship, consisting of 200 acres of land on section 24, 
where he is carrying on farming and stock-raising, 



surrounded by all the comforts of life, and held in 
the highest esteem by his neighbors. 

The early years of Mr. Shearer were spent in 
Franklin County, Pa., where his birth took place on 
the llth of May, 1828. He was the eldest of six 
children born to Michael and Mary Ann (Stewart) 
Shearer, who were also natives of the Keystone 
State. His paternal grandparents, Michael and 
Mary (Rhodes) Shearer, were also natives of Penn- 
sylvania, and on his mother's side his grandparents, 
Thomas and Mary Stewart, were born in Scotland 
and Virginia respectively. Grandfather Stewart 
was a shoemaker by trade, and in the Colonial 
days made shoes for the slaves of Gen. George 
Washington. He also voted for the Father of his 
Country when he was a Presidential candidate, and 
was a member of the same Masonic lodge to which 
Washington belonged. 

Michael Shearer carried on farming in Pennsyl- 
vania until 1850, and then removed to Franklin 
County, Ohio, with his family, where he spent the 
remainder of his days employed as before, and 
where his death took place in July, 1885, when 
seventy-nine years of age. His excellent wife had 
preceded her husband to the silent land in August, 
1882, when seventy-five years old. 

Our subject continued with his parents in Penn- 
sylvania, and was married before their removal to 
Ohio, his bride being Miss Catherine Lehman, and 
the wedding taking place at the home of her par- 
ents, March 14, 1850. Mrs. Shearer was born in 
Franklin County, Pa., Aug. 6, 1825, and is the 
second child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Kanffman) 
Lehman, also natives of that State and where they 
spent their entire lives. Directly after marriage, 
the young people removed to Ohio with the father 
of our subject, where they went to housekeeping, 
and Mr. Shearer employed himself at farming. 
They remained residents of Franklin County for a 
period of eighteen years, and in the fall of 1867 
Mr. Shearer, having caught the Western fever, 
came to this State and purchased a quarter section 
of wild land in Sullivan Township, where he now 
resides. The following spring he was joined by 
his family, and then commenced the improvements 
which now stand as a silent monument of his en- 
terprising industry. He added 1.51 acres to his 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



first purchase, has now 200 acres near Cullom, and 
upon it a fine set of farm buildings. In addition 
to this he also purchased 151 acres in Ford County, 
which he has since sold to his sons upon easy pay- 
ments. 

The home farm of our subject is in a high state 
of cultivation, and he exhibits some of the finest 
live stock in this section of country. This includes 
high-grade Norman and Clyde horses, with Dur- 
ham cattle and Poland-China swine. In consider- 
ation of the large interests which he has controlled 
in so praiseworthy a manner, it is not surprising 
that he has found little time to take part in politi- 
cal affairs. He, however, performs the duties of a 
good citizen at the polls each year, and usually 
supports the Republican candidate. He has offici- 
ated as Town Clerk, and held the office of School 
Treasurer nearly twenty years. He represented 
Sullivan Township in the County Board of Super- 
visors, which is sufficient evidence of the estima- 
tion in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. He 
has been warmly interested in educational matters, 
and taken an active part in the organization of 
school districts. These are now all complete, and 
the township boasts of ten good school-houses, 
which are excellent indications of the class of peo- 
ple by which it is settled. Mr. S. and his excellent 
lady are prominently connected with the German 
Reformed Church. 

The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Shearer are all 
living, most of them married and settled in com- 
fortable homes of their own. Samuel VV. is farm- 
ing in Ford County; Joseph P. assists in the labor> 
and management of the homestead ; John L. is en- 
gaged as a grain-dealer at Cullom; Mary E. is the 
wife of William Hildebrand, who is carrying on 
fanning in Adams County, Neb.; Uriah S. is Sta- 
tion Agent and operator at Flanagan, this county; 
Emma F. is the wife of J. W. Null, Station Agent 
of Buckingham, Kankakee County. Mr. Shearer, 
it is hardly necessary to state, gave his children 
the best of school advantages, and they have grown 
iil> around him intelligent and accomplished, and 
form a group of which the parents may reasonably 
be proud. 

Two brothers of Mr. Shearer served as soldiers 
in the late war, and our subject himself, as a mem- 



ber of the Ohio militia, was on active duty at the 
time of Morgan's raid in the Buckeye State. He 
has seen much of life, made the most of his oppor- 
tunities, and his social and financial standing to-day 
is the result of his own industry and determination. 



xp^EORGE W. BILLINGS, one of the most 
|l[ (=-, promising young men of Long Point, and 

5^5) one who has thoroughly popularized himself 
with the people of the community, is now the tele- 
graph operator, express, freight and ticket agent at 
this point. He is the son of John and Hannah Bill- 
ings, who were natives of Maine, and both of whom 
are dead, the mother dying on the 20th of October, 
1880, and the father on the 10th of December, 1883, 
at Ancona, Livingston County. Their family con- 
sisted of seven children, whose record is as follows: 
Sarah, who married George II. Fisher, a grain in- 
spector, lives in Indianapolis, Ind., and has one 
child ; Mercy married C. 11. Crowell, who is a far- 
mer and stock-raiser, and resides in Maine; Artie G. 
married W. F. Edgerly, who is a farmer, living near 
Stewart, Iowa: Mary E. and Hannah J. are twins; 
the former married E. N. Gillman, who is a fanner, 
and they live at Rutland, 111., and the latter lives 
with their brother, George W. Eva C'. married A. 
II. Edgerly, a farmer, and lives in Maine. The 
father was a physician of the Eclectic School, and 
was a graduate of the Metropolitan College of New 
York. He was a practicing physician for about 
forty years, and was successful in his profession. 
He came from Maine to LaSalle County, the first 
time in 1867, and soon after returned to his native 
State, where he remained about one year, when he 
returned to Illinois and located in LaSalle County, 
living there until 1872, when he went to Champaign 
County, where he remained for two year.- and then 
went back to LaSalle County, and in 1875 moved to 
Livingston County, where he died in 1883, at the 
age ot sixty-nine years. 

George W. Billings came with his parents to Long- 
Point in 1875. and studied telegraphy in the railroad 
ollice at Ancona. Since then lie has devoted most of 
his time to telegraphy, and two years ago took possr-- 
sion of the oflico at this place, and in addition to its 



t 




, , 480 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



management is ;ils<> express. freight and ticket 
agent. He never enjoyed any educational advantages 
other than tliose afforded by the common schools. 
but he was so studious that he obtained far more 
than an average education, lie does not assay to 
lie an active politician, but has earnestly espoiwd 
the doctrines of the Greenback party. 



t 



PRED DUCKETT, wlio is engaged in the 
drug trade at Forest, is a native of Somer- 
setshire, England, where he was born on 
the 10th of November, 1840. His parents were 
Benjamin and Jane (Redmond) Duckett, also na- 
tives of England, where they passed their lives, the 
mother dying in 1885. There were born to them 
seven children, five of whom are living: Francis 
lives in Sac County, Iowa; Daniel; Sarah, Mrs. Ar- 
ney; Fred, and Gabriel, who resides in Australia. 

The subject of this notice resided in his native 
country until 1854, and then emigrated to the 
United States, where his two elder brothers had pre- 
ceded him. He landed in New York, going at once 
to the central part of the State, and worked as a 
farm hand in Oswego and Onondaga Counties. In 
the fall of 1850 he made his advent into the State 
of Illinois, first stopping at Henry, Marshall County, 
where he was engaged as a farm hand for a few 
months. He then proceeded to Peoria Count}- and 
worked at farming until 1862. 

During the Rebellion Mr. Duckett enlisted in 
the arm}-, and in June was mustered into Company 
K, llth Illinois Cavalry, serving until September, 
18G5. He was with Gen. Grierson in his raid into 
Eastern Tennessee, and participated in all the sub- 
sequent raids and engagements in which the regi- 
ment took a part. He was promoted from private 
to Corporal and then to Sergeant, and in March, 
18C5, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, in 
which rank he was mustered out in September, 
1865. He then returned to Peoria County, where 
he engaged in growing hedge plants until 1807, when 
he came, to Forest and entered the employ of his 
brother, Dr. Daniel Duckett, with whom he served as 
drug clerk until July, 1884. On the 4th of July of 
that year Mr. Duckett was badly injured by a prem- 



attire discharge of fireworks, and when he recov- 
ered from his injuries in September, he purchased 
his present business. 

On the 19th of February, 1H6G, Mr. Duckett was 
married to Mary E. Munhall. a native of Ohio, who 
is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Munhall. To 
them have been born six children, whose names are 
Jennie, Arthur F., Jessie S., Nellie M., Mabel M. 
and Loie A. Mr. Duckett is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and takes considerable interest in public affairs. 
He has served as Township Collector and Village 
Trustee, and in both of these capacities gave good 
satisfaction to the people. He takes great interest 
in social and benevolent orders, and is a prominent 
and leading member of the Masonic fraternity. He 
is a Knight Templar, and for nine years served as 
Worshipful Master of Forest Lodge No. 614, A. F. 
& A. M. In his social intercourse he is genial and 
pleasant, and is a man of good business ability. He 
has already secured a large and profitable trade, 
which he will have no difficulty in increasing. 



\T SAAC T. RAMSAY, of Long Point Township, 
j owns a sung farm of eighty acres on section 27, 
jl of which he has been in possession since the 
spring of 18(58. He has good buildings, and his 
fields are handsomely laid off with hedge, which con- 
tributes greatly to the beauty and value of the prop- 
erty. He also uses wire fence considerably, which is 
a great improvement upon the the clumsy and old- 
I'a-hioned rails. He is recognized a^ a skillful far- 
mer, a man who provides well for the wants of his 
family, and in all respects a valued factor in the 

community. 

The early years of our subject were spent in 
Montgomery, Pa., where he began life on the 28th 
of April, 1840. His parents, Thoma* and Rebecca 
(Conog) Ramsay, were also natives of the Keystone 
State, the former born in 1 S07 and the latter two 
years later in 1809. The mother departed this life 
at the old home in Long Point Township, where 
the father is still living at an advanced age. 

Our subject came to this State with his parents 
in 1854, locating first in Northampton, Peoria 
County, where he was engaged a year at farm work. 



i 

f 




RESIDENCE or STEPHEN POTTER ,SEC .15. ROUND GROVETOWNSHIP. 



.UNION TOWNSHIP. 




RESIDENCE: or AMOS H ERTZ, SEC 9. BROUGHTON TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



481 



and thence came to this county, where he developed 
into manhood. In 1863 he took unto himself a wife 
and helpmeet in the person of Miss Maria Moffett, a 
native of Illinois, and at that time a resident of Bu- 
reau County. She is the daughter of Hugh and 
Jane (Langhlin) Moffett, and was born in 1837. By 
her union with our subject there are six children: 
Allen J. was born June 10, 1864, makes his home 
with his grandmother Moffett, and is engaged in 
fanning and stock-raising; Jennie, born Sept. 23, 
1866; Jessie, in 1869; Hugh, Jan. 17, 1872; Maud 
B., Aug. 29, 1875, and Walter, July 20, 1878, 
are at home with their parents. 

Mr. Ramsay, politically, is a Democrat "dyed in 
the wool." He is a gentleman of decided opinions 
and fearless without being offensive in the expres- 
sion of them. He takes pride in his farm, and has 
always aimed high in his career as a citizen and a 
member of the agricultural society. He has served 
in his township as Road Commissioner and School 
Director, and is always approachable upon those 
matters having for their object the general welfare 
of society. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject were 
of stanch Pennsylvania!! stock, honest and reliable 
people, who figured as worthy members of the 
community, and made for themselves and their chil- 
dren a desirable and worthy name. The mother 
of Mrs. Ramsay was a native of North Carolina, 
and her father of Ohio. 




RS. CHLOE C. BARTLETT, of Fairbury, 
is the widow of the late Dr. Cicero C. 
Bartlett, formerly a practicing physician, 
tit who later in life took tip farming pur- 
suits which he followed for a number of years suc- 
cessfully. He spent his last days in Indian Grove 
Township, where his death took place on the 5th 
of March, 1 883, when he was fifty-six years old, his 
birth having occurred Dec. 4. 1 826. 

Dr. Bartlett was a native of Hamilton County, 
Ohio, where he spent his childhood and youth, and 
commenced the study of medicine under the in- 
struction of his uncle, W. II. Bartlett, M. D., of 
Butler. Subsequently, he entered the Columbus 



(Ohio) Medical College, from which he was gradu- 
ated in 1852, and on the 13th of April, that same 
year, he was united in marriage with Miss Chloe 
C. Beach. Mrs. Bartlett was born in Madison 
County, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1831, and is the daughter 
of Dr. Lorenzo and Edith (Bull) Beach, the former 
a native of Vermont and the latter of New York 
State. Dr. Beach was born in 1798, and died in 
August, 1878. The mother was born in 1805, and 
departed hence several years previous to the death 
of her husband, her decease occurring in 1874. 
They were the parents of four children James, 
Thomas, Chloe and Hester. 

Dr. and Mrs. Bartlett after their marriage com- 
menced life together in a modest dwelling at Dills- 
boro, Ind., whence they removed, in 1855, to 
this county, and Dr. B. opened up a farm, where he 
cultivated the soil two years, then took up his resi- 
dence in the town of Fairbury and engaged in gen- 
eral merchandising, including extensive transactions 
in grain. About 1870 he instituted the private 
bank which was afterward familiarly known under 
the firm name of Bartlett, Beach & Dominy. On 
account of failing health, however, Dr. Bartlett was 
obliged to retire from active business, and spent the 
last four or five years of his life at home retired 
from active labor. 

Dr. Bartlett was public-spirited and liberal, and 
did much toward building up the town of Fairbury, 
being foremost in those enterprises calculated for 
the progress and welfare of its people. The great 
ambition of his life was to provide a handsome and 
comfortable home for his family, which he was per- 
mitted to accomplish. The fine residence now oc- 
cupied by his widow is as much an ornament to 
the residence portion of the city as it is a credit to 
him who projected it. It is pleasantly located on 
Walnut street, and both within and without gives 
evidence of cultivated tastes and ample means. 
The grounds comprise half an acre, finely laid out 
and planted with choice shade trees and shrubbery. 
The carriage-barn stands in the rear and all the ap- 
purtenances of the homestead combine to give it 
an air of comfort and plenty, which is extremely 
pleasant to the eye. As a husband, father and 
member of society, Dr. Bartlett presented in his 
whole career the character of a man whoso example 






t 



> , 4S2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



was eminently worthy of imitation. He had iden- 
tified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
early in life and remained a consistent member un- 
til his death. He was mourned as the useful and 
valued citizen whose loss it is is difficult to replace. 
He filled the various township offices, the duties of 
which he discharged with conscientious fidelity, and 
in politics uniformly voted the Republican ticket. 
Dr. and Mrs. Bartlett became the parents of 
six children, two of whom died in infancy. Edith, 
the eldest daughter, is the wife of Elmer Lewis, of 
Fairbury, who is engaged as a commercial traveler; 
Albert C. married Miss Emma McDowell, and re- 
sides in Fairbury; Emma, Mrs. Hiatt B. Taylor, is 
a resident of Ohio; Harry remains at home with 
his mother. Mrs. Bartlett is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church and a lady highly respected in her 
community. 



EDWIN R. LUCAS, one of the most skillful 
farmers and stock-raisers of Amity Town- 
ship, is a gentleman in the prime of life and 
in the midst of his usefulness. His has been a 
varied and interesting career, a part of which was 
devoted to the service of his country during the 
late war. Upon retiring from army life he returned to 
his native State, and took up the farming operations 
which had been interrupted by the terrors of the 
Rebellion, and since that time has given most 
of his attention to the improvement and embellish- 
ment of his property. This comprises eighty acres 
of finely cultivated land on section 19, which he 
thoroughly drained with tile, and which yields in 
abundance the choicest crops of the Prairie State. 
Mr. L. has proved himself public-spirited and lib- 
eral, improving his opportunity to encourage en- 
lightenment and education as carried on in the 
schools in his township, in connection with which 
he has served as Director for several years. He 
votes the straight Democratic ticket, and though 
no office-seeker is serving his second term as Road 
Commissioner. Although not identified with any 
religious organization, he is honest and upright in 
his transactions, a good neighbor, a kind man in his 
family, and universally popular with his associ- 



ates. He keeps himself thoroughly posted upon 
current events, and is interesting to con verso with. 

Our subject, a native of this State, was born in 
Vermilion County Feb. 27, 1844. His parents, 
John H. and Sally (Smith) Lucas, were natives re- 
spectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. John Lucas 
came to Illinois with his parents in 1831, when a lad 
thirteen years of age, and remained in Vermilion 
County until the fall of 1855. He had in the niean- 
time been married, and now with his family re- 
moved across the Mississippi into Davis County, Mo., 
but not liking the country came back to Illinois :md 
located in Amity Township, this county, where he 
still resides. The mother of our subject departed 
this life at her home in Vermilion County when 
Edwin R. was a young child. His father subse- 
quently married Miss Elizabeth Bixler. Of the 
first marriage there were born four children Pres- 
ton, Levina, John B., and Edwin R., our subject. 
John B. yielded up his life as a sacrifice during 
the late war, dying after a lingering illness in the 
hospital at Bowling Green, Ky., in December, 1862. 
Of the second marriage of John Lucas there were 
born Bruce, Steward, Nettie, Agnes and Delia. 

Edwin R. Lucas was a youth of but seven- 
teen years upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, 
and at once experienced an intense desire to assist 
in whipping the Confederates. He was considered 
much too young to enlist at that time, but he 
would not abandon the idea, and in August, 18C2, 
became a member of Company A, 129th Illinois, 
and served until the close of the war in June, 18C5. 
Upon being mustered into service the regiment 
remained at Pontiac, whence it was ordered to 
Louisville, Ky., and became a portion of the 38th 
Brigade of the 12th Division, under the command 
of Maj. Gen. Gilbert. Soon afterward they were de- 
tailed to pursue the rebel General, Bragg, and his 
troops who were threatening the city of Louisville, 
Ky. This duty accomplished our subject, with some 
of his comrades, was stationed as guard along the 
river and around Bowling Green, and to harrass the 
guerrillas. Afterward, marching to the southeast, 
he participated in the battle of Resaca, Ga., which 
resulted in victory for the l/nion forces. After sev- 
eral engagements and skirmishes he found him-clf 
before the city of Atlanta, which, after a siege of 



; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



483 



I 



six weeks, was surrendered by the enemy, and the 
Union army took possession. Our subject was one 
of those who crawled up to the ramparts at night, 
and from his concealment in a ditch conversed with 
some of the "Johnnies" while they also lay in hid- 
ing. Young Lucas shortly afterward, while assist- 
ing some of his comrades in hauling a log, was 
greatly injured on account of over exertion as his 
Lieutenant, who was helping to hold the other end, 
was disabled by a bullet, which left the main weight 
on Edwin. The latter, with his usual persistence, 
determined to carry his end, and strained himself 
to a serious extent. However, by good care of him- 
self, he recovered from this. At Atlanta seventeen 
of his brave comrades yielded up their lives before 
the log defense was made. Our subject subse- 
quently entered Milledgeville, and was afterward at 
Ft. Hardy, which was erected during the troubles 
of 1812. On the 16th of December, 18C4, after 
making a charge on the enemy at Aversboro, they 
retired a short distance, and Mr. Lucas with a com- 
rade picked up a pine log which they contemplated 
carrying a short distance for the purpose of using 
for defense. While returning for their guns the log 
was fully occupied by their comrades, so there was 
no room for themselves. His companion proposed 
that they should go for another, although the ene- 
my's balls were flying thick around them, and al- 
though Mr. Lucas considered it a suicidal move, 
which it proved to be, for his comrade received a 
bullet in the heart and died in the arms of Mr. L. 
This is only a specimen of the dangers which they 
endured, and which they bore heroically forsake of 
the end to be gained. After many other hairbreadth 
escapes news came of the surrender of Gen. Lee, 
and not long afterward our subject received his 
honorable discharge and returned home. 

Mr. Lucas resumed his old life and farm labors 
in Amity Township, and in due time began to make 
arrangements for a home of his own. One of the 
first steps toward this was his marriage, on the 10th 
of April, 1870, to Miss Martha A. Con well, which 
took place at the home of the bride. Mrs. Lucas 
is the daughter of John and Nancy (Carlisle) Con- 
well, natives of Ohio. She was born in Zanesville, 
that State, in 1847, and was deprived by death of 
her father's care when a small girl. She remained 



with her mother a few years and then removed to 
McLean County, where our subject made her ac- 
quaintance. Mrs. Conwell, now Mrs. Dean, subse- 
quently removed to Kansas where she now resides, 
and is remarkably well preserved for an aged lady. 
She is sixtj'-niue years old and has the same glossy, 
black hair as in her youth, with a trace of gray. Mrs. 
Lucas has one sister and two brothers: David C., 
who is married and lives in Missouri ; Sarah E., the 
wife of G. W. Simpson, residing near Bloomington, 
and the mother of four boys ; and Stephen W., 
who resides in Atchison County, Mo., is married 
and the father of one child. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lucas there have been born 
nine children, three of whom have been laid away 
to their long sleep. Of the six remaining the rec- 
ord is as follows : Amy, the eldest daughter, was 
born Oct. 2, 1872. and is now an interesting maiden 
of fifteen summers, pursuing her studies in the dis- 
trict schools; Viota G. and Viola (twins), were born 
April 19, 1875, and are also attending school; Lillie 
L. was born Sept. 13, 1877; Edwin II., Jan. 28, 
1880, and Jessie Ross, Sept. 5, 1886. The deceased 
were Jasper H., who was born Jan. 28, 4871, and 
died Oct. 22, 1872; Justin, born March 5, 1 882, lived 
but a day, and Myrtle May, bom July 9, 1883, died 
October 22 following. 



HOMAS Y. BROWN, of the firm of J. E. 
Brown & Co., bankers at Chatsworth, 111., is 
numbered among the pioneers of Livingston 
County, as his settlement dates from May, 1855, 
when he first settled in what is now Germantown 
Township. He is a native of Jefferson County, N. 
Y., and was born on the 15th of November, 1810, 
being a descendant of George Brown, who emi- 
grated from England in the early settlement of 
America. The father, Henry Brown, was born in 
1786, in Bucks County, Pa., but when only four- 
teen years of age he accompanied his parents to 
the Black River Country of New York, in 1799, 
where he grew to manhood, and became one of the 
successful farmers of Jefferson County. He died 
in April, 1868. The mother, Sally (Brown) Brown, 
was also born in Bucks County, Pa., and moved 







< ^484 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



' t 

t 



with her parents to New York, where she was mar- 
ried to Henry Brown, and they had five children : 
Lysander H., a lawyer by profession, residing at 
Ogdensburg, N. Y. ; Thomas Y. ; Loretta, who 
died at the age of two years; George M., who was 
an iron founder at Carthage, N. Y.,and died at the 
age of fifty-two, and Sarah, who married Alexander 
Brown and lives in Jefferson County, N. Y. The 
mother died in 1818, at the age of twenty- eight 
years. His father lived a widower for fifty years. 
From the fact that the mother died of consumption, 
it was predicted that the children would all die 
young, but not a death occurred among them for 
fifty years after her demise. 

T. Y. Brown was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools, never having the advan- 
tage of an academical or college course. In 1 837 he 
was married to Miss Mary A. Everett, who was 
born at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., inDecember, 1818, 
and in connection with his father conducted a 
dairy farm of 800 acres and 100 cows until 1855, 
at which time he came to Illinois and purchased 
1,200 acres of land in what is now known as Gcr- 
mantowu Township, for which he paid $5 per acre. 
This land he improved and resided upon until 1870, 
when he removed into the village of Chatsworth to 
retire from active business. In 1885 he associated 
himself with his son, Jacob E. Brown, and suc- 
ceeded C. A. Wilson & Co. as bankers. To each 
of his three children he gave a good farm of 150 
acres, and has since disposed of the remainder of 
his land, and invested his capital in banking. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown have been married for over 
half a century, and have three children: Jacob E. ; 
Sarah A., the wife of J. C. Shear, and Mary F.,the 
wife of Joel R. Strawn. Mr. Brown's first vote was 
cast for Andrew Jackson, and he affiliated with the 
Democratic party until 18C4, when he voted for 
Abraham Lincoln, and has since supported the Re- 
publican ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are both 
highly esteemed by the people who have the pleas- 
ure of their acquaintance', and have one of the most 
pleasant homes in the county of Livingston. They 
are hospitable people, and take great delight in en- 
tertaining their friends. Mr. Brown and his wife 
boarded the fated excursion train which \v:is 
wrecked near Chatsworth, on the 10th of August, 




1887; they entered one of the forward cars, and 
after the train left the depot passed back to a 
sleeper. They had just entered and closed the 
door of the first sleeper, when the crash came, and 
all the cars in front were wrecked. Eighty persons 
were fatally injured, and hundreds of others were 
badly hurt, but Mr. and Mrs. Brown escaped with- 
out injury. 



;ILLIAM WALLACE SEARS, Postmaster 
of Chatsworth, and one of its well-known 
business men, came to the southeastern 
part of Livingston County when the ground 
now occupied by the village was comparatively va- 
cant. He located at E) Paso in 1857, where he fol- 
lowed his trade of shoemaker and was the first rep- 
resentative of St. Crispin. In 1864, desirous of a 
change of occupation, he went into McLean County, 
and located on a small tract of land, from which, 
however, he removed the next year to Chatsworth 
where he had already purchased. It was not long 
before he was acknowledged as one of the most val- 
ued citizens of the hamlet, which now began to 
assume the semblance of a village, and in 1866 lie 
was elected Justice of the Peace, which office, with 
the exception of four years, he has held to the 
present time. In connection with this he has also 
carried on a thriving insurance business in connec- 
tion with collecting and dealing in real estate. In 
1862-63 he was elected Supervisor of El Paso 
Township in Wood ford County, and has held the 
same office in Livingston County several terms, 
and is the present incumbent. Politically he has 
always been a stanch supporter of the Democratic 
party. In a pleasant and attractive home his fam- 
ily consists of his estimable wife and the five chil- 
dren which have been spared to them out of a fam- 
ily of ten, the offspring of a congenial marriage. 
These latter are Frank, Barna, Libbie, Grace and 
Fannie. 

Mr. Sears was born in Short Tract, near Portage, 
N. Y., April 21, 1828. He is the scion of an ex- 
cellent old English family whose first represent- 
ative to the United States was the grandfather of 
our subject, who settled near Boston, Mass., and 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4851 






there reared a family among whom was Franklin, 
who became the father of William W. Franklin 
Sears left his native city when a young man, and 
emigrating to New York State, located in Living- 
ston County during its early settlement. He fol- 
lowed the trade of a shoemaker, and became the 
possessor of a small tract of land which he culti- 
vated in a moderate way, and where he spent the 
remainder of his life. His death took place in 
18G9, after he had attained his fourscore and four 
years. He had married in earl}' manhood Miss 
Elizabeth Shadders, who was born in Hagerstown, 
Md., and removed with her parents to Livingston 
County, N. Y., when a child nine years of age. 
She became the wife of Franklin Sears about 1820, 
and they lived together for nearly half a century. 
She survived her husband scarcely a year, her 
death taking place in 1870, and her age being 
seventy-four. The parental household consisted 
of seven daughters and two sons, of whom four 
girls and the two boys attained their majority, and 
with the exception of our subject, continue to re- 
side in Livingston County, N. Y. Edward W. is 
a resident of Moscow ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Harvey 
Ewart, of Groveland; Jane is the wife of Daniel 
T. Barnnm, who is now ninety years of age; Julia 
married William Crawford, of Champaign County, I 
111., returning to Moscow after becoming a widow; 
Mary, Mrs. Bickford, is deceased. 

Our subject was but a small boy when the fam- 
ily removed from Portage to Moscow, N. Y., 
where he pursued his studies -hi the Black School- 
house. Subsequently he learned shoemaking under 
the instruction of his father, which he followed 
in his native State until the fall of 1857. He then 
turned his steps westward, arriving in Woodford 
County on the 20th of October. His subsequent 
course we have already indicated. He has been 
prominent in local affairs, ^identified with many of 
the important interests of Chatsworth, and is the 
man usually first called upon to endorse the meas- 
ures set on foot for the welfare of the community. 
At the time of the terrible railroad disaster at 
Chatsworth, he was foreman of the Coroner's jury 
which held the inquest over the bodies of seventy- 
four victims. 

The wife of our subject was in her girlhood 



Miss Margaret Poorman, a native of Waterloo, 
Seneca Co., N. Y., and born Dec. 9, 1832. Her 
marriage with Mr. Sears was celebrated at the home 
of her parents in September, 1855. She is the 
daughter of Jacob and Isabel (Hogan) Poorman, 
and is the mother of the ten children heretofore 
mentioned. She accompanied her husband to this 
county and has stood bravely by his side in his 
difficulties, proving at all times his closest friend 
and counselor, and has contributed her share to- 
ward his prosperity. 




EUBEN OUTRAM, saddler and harness- 
maker, shoemaker and repairer at Long 
Point, is a native of the county of Kent, 
and, and was raised in the town of 
Sevenoaks. He is the son of James and Sarah 
(Gunner) Outram, and his father was the son of 
William Outram. The subject of this sketch re- 
mained in England until he was twenty years of 
age. He was educated in the National schools of 
his native county, which are supported by legacies 
and endowments principally, the law requiring the 
pupil to pa}' one penny per week, which is equiva- 
lent to two cents of American money. The 
schools at Sevenoaks furnished all the books and 
other school equipments. Sevenoaks stands on 
high ground amidst fine and varied scenery, and is 
in the midst of several populous villages. It de- 
rives its name from seven oak trees which have 
long since disappeared, but are now represented 
by other trees about one mile distant on the Turn- 
bridge road. The name was given in ancient times. 
The place possesses man}' attractions for the inva- 
lid and the tourist. It has a spacious church, and 
a grammar school founded in the fifteenth cent- 
ury. It has a population of about 5,000. The 
county of Kent, in which Sevenoaks is located ; 
forms the southeastern extremity of Great Britain, 
having on the north the Thames and the North 
Sea, on the southeast the straits of Dover, and on 
the south Sussex and the English Channel. The 
products of Kent are more varied than in any 
other county in England, and generally superior in 



I 



480 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



quality. Wheat, barley and other grain, turnips, 
hops and clover, are of the finest growths ; cherry, 
plum and filbert orchards are extensive. Agricult- 
ure is in an advanced state. The estates are small, 
owing to the Saxon custom here still maintained, 
by which the lands of the father d3 r ing intestate 
are divided among all the sons alike. Kent was 
the first established Kingdom of the Saxon Hep- 
tarchy. The parents of the subject of this sketch 
emigrated to the United States in 1873, and he 
accompanied them. 

Reuben Outram was married to Sarah Ann Grove 
on the 18th of October, 1876; she is the daughter 
of Richard and Sarah (Smith) Grove, who were'na- 
tives of England. To them have been born five 
children Alice Maud, Reuben Edward, Grace 
Beatrice, Alfred James and Lucy Ann. Mr. Out- 
ram first lived in DuPage County, and from there 
removed to Streator, where he remained one month 
only, and in March, 1876, moved to Long Point, 
where he owns ten lots, on one of which is located 
his business house. He is a man of considerable 
business ability, is a splendid workman, and has the 
reputation of being a square man in his business 
transactions, and is much respected by all the people 
who know him. 



EMAN MILTON BANGS, druggist, and 
also proprietor of a book-store at Ch.-its- 
worth, is numbered among the successful 
business men of the town and a man who 
been the architect of his own fortune. He 
commenced business in a modest manner in 18C7 
and his progress, though perhaps slow at first, was 
sure, and he is now plainly on the wave of pros- 
perity. He possesses good business capacities, has 
made it a point to live within his income, and may 
be properly classed as a model business man and 
citizen. 

Mr. Bangs, in common with many other substan- 
tial residents of the southeastern part of Living- 
ston County, migrated from St. Lawrence County, 
N. Y., where his birth took place in the town of 
Hammond, Aug. 10, 1847. His parents, Heman 
and Almira (Phillips) Bangs, removed with their 




young family from the Empire State to Sheboygan, 
Wis., and later to Lake County, 111., where our sub- 
ject pursued his early studies and subsequently en- 
tered the academy at Waukegan, 111., where he 
took a thorough course and completed his educa- 
tion. Upon attaining his majority and starting out 
for himself, he engaged as clerk in a drug-store and 
availed himself of all the information within his 
reach in order to become posted in this important 
branch of business. In 1866 he associated himself 
in business with his brother, Edward A., in the 
drug and grocery business. This partnership was 
dissolved in 1876, and our subject established him- 
self in the drug business at Flora, 111., whence he 
came to Chatsworth a year later and engaged in the 
sale of drugs, medicines and notions, which he has 
since carried on successful^. Ten months later he 
added a stock of books, and from the two depart- 
ments of trade enjoys a comfortable income. He 
has been quite prominent, in local affairs, serving as 
Chairman of the Livingston County Republican 
Central Committee, besides holding other offices, 
and socially belongs to the Masonic fraternity, be- 
ing Secretary of Chatsworth Lodge No. 539. It 
is scarcely necessary to state that he votes the 
straight Republican ticket. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- 
ried Jan. 16, 1873. was in her girlhood Miss Tilla 
A. Brown, who was born in Fredonia, N. Y., Aug. 
19, 1854, and is the daughter of William D. C. and 
Mary (Plank) Brown, who are still residents of the 
Empire State. This marriage has resulted in the 
birth of two children Clarence M. and Mabel 
Ithia. The latter was taken from the home circle 
by death at the tender age of four years and three 
months. 



OSEPH BROWN, located on section 19, in 
Pleasant Ridge Township, owns and occu- 
pies 160 acres of valuable land which he 
purchased in November, 1882. A large 
part of his time and attention is given to the breed- 
ing of fine stock, including Norman horses and 
Short-horn cattle. Although in the prime of life 
Le has long been identified with the educational and 






i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



487 . 



business interests of his township, holding its vari- 
ous offices, and is largely interested in the mainten- 
ance of schools and all other enterprises calculated 
to promote the cause of education and benefit the 
people generally. 

Mr. Brown is a native of the Empire State, and 
was born near the town of Camillus Sept. 7, 
1840. His parents, John and Rebecca (Conklin) 
Brown, were natives of Scotland and New York 
State respectively, the father born in 1810, and the 
mother in 1820: the latter died at her home in 
New York in the spring of 1852. John Brown 
emigrated to America in 1832, and located in New 
York, where he lived until the spring of 1856, when 
he came to Illinois and settled in Peoria County, 
whence he removed to Livingston in 1868. He 
engaged in farming, and is spending his last years 
at the homestead in this township. Their family 
included seven children, namely, Margaret, Joseph, 
George, John, Shadrach, Robert and James. Two 
of the brothers during the late war enlisted in an 
Illinois regiment. Shadrach was killed in the en- 
gagement at Mission Ridge, while John contracted 
an incurable malady, and died after coming home- 
Another one was wounded at Kennesaw Mountain 
but recovered. 

Mr. Brown became familiar with farm pursuits at 
an early age, and was perfectly content with the 
pursuits and enjoyments of a country life. His 
chief ambition was to secure a farm of his own, and 
another, the establishment of a home with a con- 
genial companion. On the 24th of October, 1865, 
he was accordingly united in marriage with Miss 
Emily, daughter of William and Sarah Archdale, of 
English extraction. She was born Nov. 16, 1844, 
and by her marriage with our subject became the 
mother of eight children, namely, William, Alice, 
Charles, Joseph, Eddie, Florence, and two who 
died in infancy, named James and George. 

Mr. Brown soon after the outbreak of the late 
war joined his brothers in the struggle for the pres- 
ervation of the Union, enlisting in the 122d New 
York Infantry, and serving as a private in Com- 
pany II for a period of three years. He was pres- 
ent at the battles of Gettysburg and Antietam, and 
went down the Shenandoah Valley with the armv 
of Gen. Sheridan, lie was under fire upon three 



different occasions at Fredericksburg, and was also 
present at the battles of the Wilderness and Win- 
chester, and met the enemy in various other minor 
-engagements and skirmishes. He was remarkably 
fortunate, escaping wounds, capture and serious 
illness, and at the close of the war received his 
honorable discharge, on the 3d of July, 1865. 




ship. 



ARQUIS D. SPENCE, one of the best 
known and most highly respected farmers 
and stock-raisers of Livingston County ? 
resides on section 4, Belle Prairie Town- 
It was on the farm where he now lives that 
he was born, and the date of the event was June 29, 
1856. The residence of his parents at that time 
was a roughly constructed log house, which was re- 
placed some years ago by a modern residence. The 
parents were Williamson and Mary (Darnell) 
Spence. The father came to Illinois in 1831, and 
the mother, who was born in Kentucky, came in 
1830, and both were among the very earliest set- 
tlers of Livingston County. 

Mr. Spence, beinga native of Livingston County, 
passed all his boyhood days here, and availed him- 
self of all the opportunities presented for obtaining 
an education in the common schools. After this 
he attended the select schools of Fairbury for two 
years, and then spent two years at the Eureka Col- 
lege, at Eureka, 111., at the end of which time his 
health became impaired and he was compelled to 
abandon the school-room and travel for the benefit 
of his health. With this end in view he made a 
journey to Leadville, Col., and other places in the 
far West, crossing the plains twice in the year 1876. 
In 1880 he found it necessary to again engage in 
travel, and repeated his trip across the plains, this 
time by train, at which time he pre-empted 160 
acres of land, which he afterward sold to good ad- 
vantage. In the fall of 1880 he returned home 
and settled on the old homestead, and for the next 
three years, jointly with his brother Malachi M., 
managed the farm. At the end of that time the 
brothers divided the land and its appurtenances, 
of which Marquis took 240 acres, which he has since 
continued to cultivate, and is now also largely en- 



488 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



gaged in raising horses of the Hambletonian breed 
and Hamlet-Denmark saddle and roadster stock, 
and is also extensively engaged in the breeding of 
fine cattle. He has in his herd at this time two 
Short-horn cows of the purest blood that can be ob- 
tained. He also has eighty head of pure-blooded 
Cotswold sheep. He takes great interest and dis- 
plays much enterprise in the breeding of stock, in 
which line of business he has already obtained an 
enviable reputation. He has 'attained that position 
among the leading breeders of this section of the 
State of which a much older man might justly be 
proud. It may also be mentioned in this connec- 
tion that no other portion of the great Northwest 
has made equal progress in the breeding of blooded 
stock with this portion of the Prairie State. Here 
we find some of the most magnificent specimens of 
horses, cattle, sheep and swine to be seen anywhere 
in the United States. More real benefit has been 
conferred upon the entire country by the enterpris- 
ing men who have taken such a deep interest in 
this business than most people realize. They de- 
serve the highest commendation for elevating the 
grade of the animals that we work, as well as those 
we use for meat, and no one of the younger men is 
worthy of more praise than the subject of this 
sketch. We present a view of his home and sur- 
roundings, as well as a picture of one of his fine 
horses. 

Mr. Spence is an ardent member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and affiliates with the Tarbolton Lodge 
No. 357. The family do not have any active 
church connections, but they are in sympathy with 
all movements of a moral or religious character. 
In politics Mr. S. acts with the Democratic party, 
to which he demonstrates his loyalty without seek- 
ing office at its hands. Mr. Spence's excellent ed- 
ucation and the experience growing out of travel 
make him a valuable member of the community, 
and he is looked upon as a man of sound judgment, 
and the wisdom of his arguments is seldom dis- 
puted. 

Mr. Spence was married, on the 1st of January, 
1883, to Miss Cora B. Myers, who was born on the 
Kith of April, !(!!, in McLean County, 111., and is 
the daughter of John F. and Sarah (Birdsall) My- 
ers, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The 



father of Mrs. Spence is an accomplished musi- 
cian, and endowed with remarkable literary talent, 
and has written many poems which have been 
widely published. He now resides in Indian Grove 
Township, where he is a wealthy and respected 
farmer, and is largely engaged in growing fine 
stock. There has been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Spence one child, Marquis Mcurl, whose birth oc- 
curred Oct. 31, 1887. 




stead. 



TEPHEN HERR settled on a quarter sec- 
tion of land in Fayette Township in the 
spring of 1869, and commenced in earnest 
the building up of a permanent home- 
His land was in a wild and uncultivated 
state, and he realized that it would require the out- 
lay of years of labor and thousands of dollars to 
bring into existence the home which he had pict- 
ured in his mind, and of which he determined he 
would j'et become possessor. He is one of the 
happy few who have been permitted to realize in a 
large measure the fruition of his hopes and plans. 
He is now the owner of 320 broad acres, lying on 
sections 8 and 18, and with their neat and substan- 
tial buildings, the fine assortment of live stock and 
the various modern improvements, constitutes one 
of the most desirable spots in Livingston County. 
Mr. H. for the last ten years has been giving his at- 
tention principally to the purchase ana sale of grain, 
in which he has become largely interested and 
from which he realizes annually a handsome profit. 
The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in the Province of Baden, 
Germany, where his birth took place Dec. 9, 1842. 
ilis parents, Sebastian and Josephine (Stukle) Herr, 
were also of German birth and parentage, and 
traced their ancestry back for several generations. 
Sebastian Herr was a stonemason by occupation, 
which he followed until retiring from active labor. 
Hi' emigrated to the United States when a young 
man, going to Tazewell County, 111., in 1856, 
where he was joined by his wife and family four 
years later. The parents were married in their na- 
tive Province in November, 1839, and are now res- 
idents of Tazewell County, 111. Like his father 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



before him. he is connected with the German-Cath- 
olic Church. Grandfather Ilerr was a miller by 
trade, and spent his entire life on his native soil. 

The parental household of our subject included 
Stephen, Theresa, Hermann and Bertha, all of whom 
are married and settled in comfortable homes of 
their own. Stephen remained under the home roof 
until the spring of 1863. and then began the estab- 
lishment of a home which is viewed to-day by the 
admiring traveler, and is a silent monument of the 
thrift and industry of the proprietor. In 1865, 
the prospect being favorable as to his ability to 
support a family, Mr. Herr was married to Miss 
Harriet Wageman, a native of the Province of 
Bavaria, Germany. The event occurred on the 8th 
of August. Her parents emigrated to America in 
early life and located in Tazewell County, where 
the father is still living, the mother dying June 14, 
1873. Our subject and his wife have a family of 
six children, namely : Katie, Johnnie, Mary, Emma, 
Frank and Eddie, the eldest twenty years old and 
the youngest three years. They are all at home 
with their parents. 

As is naturally to be expected Mr. Herr has been 
prominent in all matters of importance connected 
with the affairs of his township, having served as 
School Director and Trustee, still occupying the 
latter office, and has also officiated as Road Com- 
missioner. He has watched with interest the im- 
provements which have been effected on the face 
of the country since he settled here, and has con- 
tributed in no small measure to the importance and 
prosperity of Fayette Township. Among the il- 
lustrations given in this volume may be found that 
of Mr. Herr's residence. 



PRANCI8 W.STEWART, from early boy- 
hood bred to farming pursuits, is the sub- 
ject of a history which in its main points 
is as follows: He was born in Putnam County, this 
State, May 6, 1858. and is the son of Stephen and 
Agnes E. (White) Stewart, also natives of Illinois, 
and both now deceased. The mother had been in ill- 
health for some months and was taken South to Flor- 
ida, where her death took place in 1801. Stephen 



Stewart survived his wife twenty years, his death 
occurring at the home of Dr. J. T. Stewart in Pe- 
oria in January, 1881. 

Our subject was but a child two years of age at 
the time of his mother's death, and had accompanied 
her to the South. He was brought back soon after- 
ward, and was reared to manhood on his father's 
farm. The latter was of Scotch-Irish ancestr}' and 
followed agriculture his entire life. He owned a 
fine tract of land in Putnam County, and became 
quite prominent as a successful stock-raiser. He 
was a native of Bond County, 111., and had been 
a resident of Putnam County since 1832. In 
1878 he removed from Putnam to Livingston 
County. Although mostly engrossed with his 
farming operations he was a conscientious sup- 
porter of Republican principles, and with his wife 
and family, belonged to the Congregational Church. 
The household circle was completed by the birth 
of three children, of whom our subject is the only 
remaining member, one babe having died in in- 
fancy, and their little son, Willie, when ten years 
of age. 

Mr. Stewart remained a member of his father's 
household until 1876, acquiring his early educa- 
tion in the district school, and later entering the 
college at Jacksonville, 111., from which, after a 
course of five years, he was graduated June 6, 
1881. He then returned to this county, where he 
has since been engaged in farming and stock-rais- 
ing. He is the owner of 625 acres in Forest Town- 
ship, a part of which he rents and the balance is 
devoted to his stock operations, which include 
mostly graded cattle with a sprinkling of excellent 
common stock, the heads of each herd being all 
thoroughbred. This property lies not far from 
the village limits, within which Mr. Stewart took 
up his residence in 1881. He has one of the most 
desirable homes in the village, the handsome resi- 
dence being finished and furnished in modern style 
and all its surroundings in keeping with the habits 
of a gentleman of intelligence and means. 

Mr. Stewart was married in October, 1881, to Miss 
Jennie T. McVay, who was born in Ohio, Nov. 
27, 185!l. Mrs. S. is the daughter of Rev. Homel- 
and Harriet (Thompson) McVay, natives of Scot- 
land and Ohio respectively, and now residents of 



4 



4!)2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Urbana, this State, where the father ofHeiates as a 
minister of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stewart have one child, a son, Homer Willis, 
born July 18, 1886. They spent the winter of 
1882-83 in Florida, visiting the principal cities of 
the Southeast, and the grave of the mother of Mr. 
Stewart, at Milton. 

Our subject, although not thirty years of age, 
has a fine start in life, and possessing natural busi- 
ness capacities and great energy of character, is 
bound to succeed financially, while his excellent 
personal qualities commend him to his fellow-citi- 
zens as one who in time will justly become prom- 
inent among the various interests identified with 
the welfare of the people. 







NDREW J. BRADBURY is a representa- 
tive young fanner of section 30, Avoca 
IS Township, and is a native of Massachu- 
setts, where he was born on the 8th of May, 
1845. lie is the son of Joseph S. (deceased) and 
Mary M. Bradbury, natives of the States of New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively. The 
former's paternal ancestors are of English, while the 
latter is of French-English descent. Of the twelve 
children born to his parents, five survive Charles 
W.. Andrew J., Jennie L., Benjamin F. and George 
R. When the subject of this sketch was three 
years of age, he accompanied his parents when they 
emigrated to West Virginia, where they resided for 
two years, and then came to Peoria Count3', 111. 
In that county they resided until the spring of 
1868, when they came to Livingston County and 
settled in Eppard's Point Township, where the 
father died in the year 1880. The mother still 
survives and is living on the old homestead. 
While the father was a citizen' of Eppard's Point, 
he took great interest in all matters pertaining to 
the development of his township and county. He 
had the esteem and confidence of all who knew 
him, and it may truly be said that in his death the 
county lost one of her best citizens and most pub- 
lic-spirited men. 

Andrew J. Bradbury when a boy received 4 



good district-school education, and with the ex- 
ception of a few years spent in the occupation of a 
carpenter, he has been engaged in farming all his 
life. On the 20th of February, 1872, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Christina Watson, and they have had 
two children Robert E., born on the 2d of Sep- 
tember, 1875, and James Franklin, on the 20th of 
July, 1877. Mr. Bradbury's farm consists of 108 
acres of well-improved land, on which he has con- 
structed all the buildings necessary for the com- 
fort of his family and domestic animals, and the 
care of the products of the farm. He has under- 
drained his land in such an admirable manner that 
every foot of it is available for cultivation. When 
Mr. Bradbury was twenty-one years of age, the 
time when he started in life for himself, his cash 
capital consisted of $3, but with that small begin- 
ning he went to work with a will, and the result 
can be seen by a visit to his excellent farm, and an 
inspection of the premises. In the fullest sense of 
the word he is a self-made man, a representative 
New Englander, coming from a class of people 
noted for their hardiness, their sterling worth and 
their indomitable energy. Mr. Bradbury is a 
Democrat in his political proclivities, to which 
party he confesses constant allegiance. 




? ALTER S. RAMSAY, Postmaster at Long 
Point and dealer in general hardware, is 
the owner of good village property, be- 
sides an 80-acre tract of Kansas land which is partly 
improved and will in time be valuable. He was 
born in Montgomery County. Pa., Feb. 20, 1850, 
and came to Illinois with his parents when a little 
lad four years of age. They located in Peoria 
County during its early settlement, and the father 
now resides at Long Point with his son. 

The parents of our subject, Thomas and Rebecca 
(Carnog) Ramsay, were also natives of Pennsyl- 
vania, and after coming to this State resided in 
Peoria County until the fall of 1-867, when they 
took up their residence in Livingston. Walter S. 
pursued his studies in the common schools of 
Peoria County, and worked on the farm with his 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



= 

493 t . 



father until ill-health compelled him to abandon 
manual labor. He then commenced teaching, which 
he followed in Livingston County five terms, and 
then engaged in the hardware business. On the 3d of 
January, 1875, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Mary Welsh, who was born May 25, 1854, and is 
the daughter of Jacob and Adcla Welsh, natives of 
Ohio. She never looked upon her father's face, as 
her birth took place after his death. She is one of 
four children, namely, Henry, who died when an 
infant of eighteen months; Julia A., who now re- 
sides with her sister Mary; Robingney, a brick- 
mason of Stafford County, Kan., and Mary, the 
wife of our subject. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay have three children: 
Flora M., born Aug. 6, 1876; Lillian A., June 2, 
1878, and Thomas B., Aug. 8, 1884. Mr. Ramsey 
is Democratic in politics, and was appointed Post- 
master July 1, 1886. He has served as Township 
Collector two terms and the same length of time 
as Justice of the Peace. He has been Town Treas- 
urer since 1879, and was Town Clerk one year. He 
is a member in good standing of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and as a man and citizen enjovs the respect 
of his community. 




ENRY F. ANDREWS, a prosperous farmer 
on section 25, Waldo Township, was born 
in Fayette County, Pa., March 10, 1854. 
He is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Freel) 
Andrews, and is the second living child in a family 
of six, whose names are as follows: Mary, who is 
the only girl, was born in January, 1851 ; Henry F., 
our subject; John K., who was born June 7, 1856; 
Thomas, July 3, 1858; Joseph, Jan. 30, 18GO; James, 
Jan. 31, 1863. These children all live in Waldo 
Township. Mr. Andrews' parents are natives of 
Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of 
German descent. The father was born in 1815, 
died on the 21st of March, 1879, and was buried in 
the Gridley Cemetery. The mother was born in 
1825, and is still living in Waldo Township. 

Mr. Andrews was reared on a farm, and assisted 
in such work as he could perform during his boy- 
hood days, while in the winter months, as was the 



custom in those days, he attended the district 
schools. He accompanied his parents when they 
came to Illinois, when he was about fifteen years of 
age. They located in Waldo Township, where 
they purchased 160 acres of land, which Henry as- 
sisted in tilling until he was about twent}' years of 
age, and then went out to work by the month for 
one summer. He then made an arrangement 
whereby he farmed forty acres, for the rent of 
which and the use of a team, he gave one-half of 
his crops; the next year he purchased a team and 
rented sixty acres of land. 

On the 1st of October, 1876, the subject of this 
sketch was married to Miss Hattie E. Houghton, 
daughter of Thomas B. and Sarah (Jaunt) Hough- 
ton, of Gridley, III. His wife was born in Bloom- 
ington, 111., on the 24th of August, 1856, whence 
her parents removed to Gridley when she was about 
five 3'ears of age, and at this place she was reared 
and received a fair common-school education. Her 
father was born Sept. 25, 1828, and was a native of 
Massachusetts, as was also her mother, who was 
born in July, 1828, and they were married in that 
State. The father was a blacksmith l>y occupation. 
In 1861 he became a soldier in the Union army, in 
which he served for a period of three years, during 
which time his health became very much impaired, 
and he died Nov. 5, 1869, and was buried in the 
Gridley burying-ground. The mother still sur- 
vives, and lives in Gridley. 

The parental family of Mrs. Andrews included 
the following-named children: Samuel E., who was 
born in June, 1852, and at the age of five years 
ceased growing, at which time he was thirty-one 
inches in height and weighed but forty -one pounds. 
He remained at this stature and weight until he 
was twenty-eight years of age, when he began grow- 
ing again, and now weighs seventy-five pounds. 
For many years he traveled with the amusement 
troupe known as "Jack, the Giant Killer," and in 
that way assisted materially in the support of the 
family; he now lives in Gridley. Benjamin F. was 
! born in 1854, and died at the age of five years; 
Hattie E., the wife of the subject of this sketch, was 
born Aug. 24, 1856; Grace was born Dec. 27, 
1858, married Frank Kent Oct. 1. 1876, and died 

Feb. 14, 1878, leaving one child, Bessie Grace, who 

I 




I'.H 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



/OHN BUTLER. In the minds of a great 
many people the impression is lodged that 
railroad corporations employ inferior and 
unskillful men because they can secure that 
class of men at wages less than skilled men will 
work for. This is an erroneous impression. Rail- 
road managers are wise in their day and generation, 
and have learned by the saddest kind of experience 
that true economy in the management of a railroad 
demands the most competent and skilled employes 
in every department, particularly so far as the run- 
ning of trains and the management of the physical 
affairs of the railroad is concerned. It can be said 



lives with her father in Gridley; Eva, born Sept. 
20, 1860, married Fred W. Klein, Dec. 7, 1879, has 
two children, and lives in El Paso; Etta was born 
June 30, 18G3, married Henry Killenbach, June 29, 
1886, and has one child; Frederick B. was born 
Nov. 5, 1867, and is engaged as a telegraph oper- 
ator in New Mexico. The paternal grandfather of 
Mrs. Andrews, Thomas Houghton, lived to be 
ninety-four years old, having been born on the 5th 
of June, 1792. in Massachusetts. He is said to 
have been the oldest man in McLean County when 
he died, on the 5th of October, 1886. For the 
last twent3'-five years of his life he was a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is 
his wife, who survives him. 

Since the marriage of Mr. Andrews he has con- 
tinued in the occupation of farming, and during 
the past six years has remained on the farm where 
he now resides, and for which he has a lease for [ 
four ye.irs longer. To Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have 
been born five children: Thomas J., on the 12th 
of August, 1877; Frank B., Aug. 24, 1879; Sarah 
E., Oct. 14, 1881 ; Walter Lee, June 5. 1*84, and 
Charles, Aug. 19, 1886. The children are all bright 
and perfectly healthy, and in them the parents take 
pardonable pride. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews occupy 
a good social standing among their neighbors, and 
thoroughly interest themselves in all movements 
for the benefit of the community in which they 
live. 



truthfully, that no Western railroad management 
exercises greater care in the selection of men to 
carry out the details of its management than the 
Illinois Central Railroad. This is evidenced by a 
careful inspection of the personel of the present em- 
ployes of their road, one of whom is Mr. Butler, of 
Pontiao, the Roadmastcr of that division. 

Mr. Butler was born in 1832, in Ireland, and is 
the son of John and Margaret (Hassett) Butler, 
natives of Ireland, who engaged in farming during 
life, and had a family of ten children, three of the 
sons coming to America, the subject of this sketch 
in 1849. Before coming to this country, he re- 
ceived three years' careful education in an Irish 
agricultural college. The first point at which he 
settled after arriving in America, was at Janesville, 
Wis., where he devoted two years to farming, and 
then went into the employ of the Chicago & Alton 
Railroad, commencing as a common laborer. lie 
was so faithful and trustworthy that he was soon 
asked to take the position of section boss at Buck- 
ley, on the Illinois Central Railroad, Iroquois 
County, 111., which he did, and passed from that 
grade to the position of Road master, which place 
he has occupied for seventeen years. 

Mr. But.ler moved to Pontiac in 1880, and pur- 
chased a fine residence on Mills street, north of the 
court-house, where he now resides. He has also 
purchased a store building on Madison street, which 
yields him a good rental. In addition to his rail- 
road business, he is engaged in real-estate transac- 
tions, having bought and sold large amounts of farm 
land. Coming to this country when a young man, 
without money and without friends to lean upon, 
he has by his business capacity and close attention 
to whatever he might be engaged in, become one of 
the leading railroad men of the West. 

Mr. Butler was married in 1858 to Miss Jane B. 
Tyrell, a native of Ireland, and they have a family 
of six children living: Margaret A.; William, ticket 
and local agent for the I. C. R. R., married Miss 
Gusta Gunsell, daughter of H. B. Gunsell, one of 
the prominent citizens of Pontiac, and they have 
one son: Charles E., who is telegraph operator at 
Kankakee, 111.; John II., our subject; Mary and 
Francis J. 

Mr. Butler has alliliated with the Democratic 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




part}', but does not take an active part in politics. 
as his whole time is given to the work that he loves 
above all others railroading. He and his family 
are members of the Catholic Church. 



OHN CUMMJNGS. The future is full of 
possibilities for the young man who has se- 
cured a foothold in Illinois, for he has none 
of the conditions to contend with that the 
early settlers had. The difference between the 
early settler and the young man who becomes the 
farmer of to-day, is about like the difference be- 
tween traveling by a path whose course is marked 
by blazed trees, and going upon a good broad high- 
way. The difficulties surrounding early citizen- 
ship have all passed away, and the conditions now, 
if not luxurious, are at least comfortable, and if 
one becomes possessor of an Illinois farm now, it is 
all ready for the plow and the reaper. There are 
no wild prairies to reduce to a state of cultivation, 
no swamps to drain or trees to fell. This prelimin- 
ary -work has been done by a hardy set of pioneers, 
and it is only necessary for those who follow them 
to reap the benefits of their labor. The subject of 
this sketch was born at a time when the pioneer 
days in Illinois were just closing, and he comes 
upon the stage of action at a time after the trans- 
formation has taken place. 

Mr. Cummings is a native of the Hoosier State, 
being born near the town of Columbus, Bartholo- 
mew County, in 1859, and is the son of Nicholas 
(deceased) and Lavinia Cummings, who were na- 
tives of Germany. Of his father's family he is the 
oldest son, and when he was six years old his par- 
ents moved to Bloomington, 111., where they re- 
sided for fifteen years, and where his boyhood days 
were spent in assisting in work upon a farm, and at 
such seasons, when it was possible, attending the 
common schools, where he made such reasonable 
progress that when he came to manhood he had a 
tolerably fair education. 

In May, 1881, Mr. C. was married to Emma 
Youle, a daughter of William and Sarah Youle, of 
Delavan, 111., who were natives of England, and 
came to America in 1851, coming direct to Illinois 




upon their arrival, and where they reside in Taze- 
well County. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have one 
daughter, Iva A., born on the 25th of December, 
1881 . Mr. Cummings settled in Livingston County 
on the farm of his parents, in 1883. He is now 
the owner of 100 acres of land on section 29, Pon- 
tiac Township, and is making one of the snuggest 
farms of it in Livingston County. He cultivates 
it under all the improved methods, and is fast ac- 
cumulating modern labor-saving machinery. He 
is a Republican in politics, and displays his loyalty 
to that party by casting his vote for its candidates 
at every election. He and his excellent wife are 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and are highly esteemed by their neighbors and ac- 
quaintances of the township in which thej' live. 

BERRY, deceased, was a native of 
Devonshire, England, and was born about 
1829. He grew to manhood in his native 
country, where he was fairly well educated, and 
emigrated to this country about the year 1850, 
taking passage at Liverpool. After a pleasant 
ocean voyage, he landed in New York City, and 
was employed for about one year as a farm hand 
near Batavia, in the State of New York. He then 
came to Illinois, and for several years was located 
near Ottawa, LaSalle County, w here he was engaged 
in farming. He came to Livingston County about 
the year 1858, and settled on section 13, Owego 
Township. 

On the 12th of March, 1853, in the town of Ot- 
tawa, Mr. Berry was married to Hannah E. Howe, 
a native of England, who was born on the 21st of 
June, 1831, and is the daughter of Alfred and 
Elizabeth Howe, of England. Through hard work 
and good management he accumulated an estate of 
320 acres of land and a good store property in the 
town of Rugby, III. He was known for his quiet, 
unassuming manner, and sterling integrity, and al- 
ways strove to do right. For a short time he car- 
ried on a grain business at Rugby, in which he was 
very successful. He was widely and favorably 
known throughout his locality, and was respected 
and esteemed by all who enjoyed his acquaintance. 



t. 



496 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Mr. and Mrs. 15. were confirmed in their native land 
in the Church of England, by the Bishop of Exeter, 
but there being no church in Livingston County, 
they united with the Methodist Church, in which 
he remained a consistent member until his death. 
He filled many important offices, and was among its 
most prominent members, always advancing its in- 
terests, both by example and the substantial contri- 
bution of means. He was a kind and loving hus- 
band, and a good neighbor. He passed away in 
March, 1883. 

In Mr. Berry's demise Livingston County lost 
one of her best citizens, who, during hisi life, was 
in favor of every measure to elevate society, and 
improve all the conditions of the county. In poli- 
tics he affiliated with the Republican party, but he 
would never permit his name to be placed upon a 
ticket for office. 



have 



OHN BENNETT, one of the honored pio- 
neers of Avoca Township, is now pleasantly 
located on section 36, where he is passing his 
declining years in the midst of a people who 
known him long and well, and who have 
learned to thoroughly respect and esteem him for 
his excellent traits as a man and a citizen. He has 
looked upon the changes transpiring in his adopted 
State with the interest peculiar to the intelligent 
and progressive spirit which first impelled him to 
leave his native State, near the Atlantic coast, and 
make the long journey toward the setting sun. 

Mr. Bennett was born in Cape May County, N. 
J., Feb. 5, 1821, which county was also the birth- 
place of his parents, James and Deborah (Goff) 
Bennett. His paternal ancestors were natives of 
Ireland, and his mother descended from an excel- 
lent old Welsh family which afterward was repre- 
sented by many descendants in the New England 
and Middle States. When John was a youth of 
fourteen years, with his father and step -mother, 
he started off on a long journey westward and lo- 
cated in Tippecanoe County, Ind., during its early 
settlement. His mother had died when he was a 
little lad four years of age. His father only sur- 
vived until 1847, his death taking place at his home 



in Tippecanoe County. John Bennett was there 
reared to manhood, receiving a limited education, 
his early studies being conducted in a log school- 
house which was built after the manner of those 
days, with puncheon floor and a place to let in the 
light which by no means could be dignified by the 
name of window. He continued at fanning, to 
which he had been reared, and to which his tastes 
naturally inclined, and after reaching his twenty- 
fifth birthday was married, Oct. 6, 1846, to Miss 
Rachel Shaw, a native of his own State and born in 
1824. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett commenced life in a mod- 
est manner on a farm in Tippecanoe County, where 
they continued to live until 1853, when our subject 
disposed of his interests there, and coming to Avoca 
Township operated for a time on rented land. In 
1856 he purchased 120 acres of wild prairie, from 
which he eliminated his present comfortable and 
valuable homestead. Not a furrow had been turned 
when he took possession of it, and viewing the 
splendid farm of to-day the passer-by can easily 
imagine what years of labor and persistence must 
have been employed in order to bring it to its pres- 
ent condition. Mr. Bennett was thrown upon his 
own resources early in life and was content to start 
in a small way and labor and wait for results. When 
settling upon the land which he first purchased in 
Avoca Township he had about $80 in cash, a few 
rude farm implements and some live stock. He is 
now the owner of 320 acres, embracing one of the 
finest bodies of land in the southern part of Liv- 
ingston County, and which is a standing monument 
of his industry and perseverance. He is intimately 
acquainted with the hardships and difficulties of 
pioneer life, and the "shifts" which all the early 
settlers were obliged to make in order to keep soul 
and body together. Besides carrying on the cul- 
tivation of his land in a wise and judicious manner, 
he still took time to interest himself in the welfare 
of the people about him, representing his township 
in the County Board of Supervisors three years, and 
serving as School Director and Trustee in his dis- 
trict. The community long ago learned to look 
upon him as one of its most trustworthy citizens, 
and he has never disappointed them. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, in addition to the other 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



497 



good things which befell them as the reward of 
worth and integrity, became the parents of a bloom- 
ing family of eight children, who are recorded as 
follows: Sarah was born Aug. 29, 1848, and is at 
home; Miriam was born July 20, 1850, and be- 
came the wife of Joshua Mills, of Ottawa, 111. ; Win- 
field S. was born Nov. 15, 1851, and is at home: 
John E. was born March 5, 1855, married Minnie 
Merrit, and lives in this township;' George H. was 
born Nov. 19, 1857, married Jennie Crmn,and lives 
in Belle Prairie Township; Rachel Emma was born 
March 17, 1862, and married John Mitton, of Fair- 
bury, 111.; Aaron J., born Feb. 28, 1864, and Mary 
D., May 9, 1868, are at home. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bennett are members of the United Brethren 
Church. In politics Mr. Bennett has always voted 
the Republican ticket. 




TEPHEN A. HOYT, banker, at Forest, has 
been a resident of this vicinity since the 
spring of 1 865. He then engaged as a lum- 
ber and stock dealer, and afterward em- 
barked in the grain trade. He still buys and sells 
cattle., shipping them to the Chicago market, and is 
the owner of 1,000 acres of valuable land, 800 of 
which is in Dakota, and the balance in Illinois. He 
is distinguished as a gentleman of enterprise and 
energy, who has been uniformly successful and one 
who has a thorough contempt for the idler. 

The main points in the career of Mr. Ho3't are 
substantially as follows : He was born in Ulster 
County, N. Y., July 27, 1834, and is the son of 
Curtis and Maria A. (Myer) Hoyt, natives respect- 
ively of Connecticut and New York. Neither of 
his parents reached old age, both dying before fifty 
years old. The father was a hatter, which trade he 
followed many years, and spent his last days in 
Delaware County. His mother died in Saugerties, 
N. Y., about 1853, and the father a few years later. 
Their seven children are recorded as follows : Sarah. 
Mrs. Turner, is a resident of Forest, 111. ; Theodore 
became a sailor, and was wrecked on the Feejee 
Islands, where he married the daughter of a mis- 
sionary and has since remained; Francis M. married 
Miss Emma Hale, and is a resident of Eureka, 111.; 



Peter M. married Miss Kate Diedrich, and lives in 
Forest; George died in infancy; Elizabeth married 
T. J. Kerr, of Forest; Stephen A., of our sketch, 
is the oldest of the family. 

Young Hoyt remained under the parental roof in 
his native county until after the death of his par- 
ents, and in the fall of 1857 migrated westward to 
this State. After a brief sojourn in Chicago he 
went to Prairie du Chien, where, two months later, 
he was attacked with chills and fever and suffered 
from this malady for some time. He had learned 
the carpenter's trade while a resident of New York, 
and followed the business up to the time of enlist- 
ment. 

The outbreak of the Rebellion, which turned the 
current of the lives of so many young men, also in- 
terfered with the plans of our subject, as he consid- 
ered it his duty to forego his present interests and 
array himself on the side of the Union. Ac- 
cordingly on the 12th of May, 1861, soon after 
the firing upon Ft. Sumter, he enlisted in Company 
G, 17th Illinois Infantry, and followed the fortunes 
of war until its close. He was soon promoted 
Second Sergeant, the Orderly Sergeant being H. D. 
Clark, now a Christian minister of Bloomington, 
and the Captain, O. A. Burgess, also a Christian 
minister. Young Hoyt proceeded with his regi- 
ment to the scene of conflict, and at the battle of 
Shiloh was wounded in the left arm. He was de- 
termined not to be sent to the hospital, and was ac- 
cordingly detailed to headquarters, where he acted 
as clerk for Gen. W. R. Rowley. He met the enemy 
in various engagements and skirmishes, and per- 
formed his duties in such a manner as to gain the 
approval of his superior officers and the esteem of 
his comrades. At the expiration of his term of en- 
listment he was mustered out at Springfield, 111., in 
July, 1864, receiving his honorable discharge. His 
army life was like that of many another soldier 
whose hardships and privations remain unchroni- 
cled; but who performed their duty faithfully and 
well, and have perhaps for their only consolation 
the approval of their own consciences. 

Mr. Hoyt, after leaving the army, engaged as a 
builder and contractor, which business he followed 
in Eureka until the spring of 1865. On the 3d of 
October following, he was united in marriage with 



198 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Miss Rutilia Gillum, Rev. Dr. Allen, of the Eureka 
Christian Church, officiating. Mrs. Hoyt was born 
in Christian County, Ky., in 1840, and is the daugh- 
ter of James and Eleanor C. (Harvey) Gillum, also 
natives of the Blue Grass State. 

The bank with which Mr. Hoyt is connected 
was established on the 5th of January, 1881!, under 
the name and style of Hoyt & Co., with a capital 
stock of $25,000. Its business transactions extend 
over a large section of country, and its projector, and 
also the other gentlemen who are identified with it, 
are citizens of standing in the community, and in 
whom it has implicit confidence. It is fast becoming 
one of the indispensable institutions of Livingston 
County, and its methods are such as will insure suc- 
cess. 

Mr. Ho\'t has distinguished himselfOas a liberal- 
minded citizen, and politically is a Republican, 
with strong Prohibition principles. He believes in 
giving to all classes of people the rights to which 
they are naturally entitled, and mantains that 
woman's work in particular should receive its just 
compensation, and that she should be eligible to all 
the offices under the Government. He has repre- 
sented his township in the County Board of Super- 
visors, and has officiated as School Director and 
Justice of the Peace. He and his excellent wife 
are members in good standing of the Christian 
Church. 



I PEARSON. The "village blacksmith" 
has been immortalized in song, but the ideal 
blacksmith of the poet is not the blacksmith 
of the present, but the one of many years ago, 
when he not only welded and forged but made 
wagons as well, and in those days they made honest 
wagons too, as all the wooden parts were made by 
hand and of the best timber obtainable, and the 
ironing was done substantially if not as artistically 
as to-day. The village blacksmith, whose praises 
are sung by the poet, has almost passed out of ex- 
istence, for mechanical inventions have supplanted 
him, and about all he finds to do now is to make 
repairs. At the time the subject of this sketch 
followed the occupation of blacksmith and wagon- 
maker the great establishments which now monop- 




oli/.e manufactures in those lines had not come into 
existence; since theyjhave assumed the sway they 
enjoy, the early mechanics who did all the work 
honestly and with their hands have been driven to 
the farm or other occupations. The subject of 
this sketch chose the life of a farmer, which he 
has followed for several years in Avoca Township. 
He is a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and 
was born on the 12th of July, 1835. He is a son 
of Lot and Sophia Pearson, of whom further men- 
tion is made in the biographical sketch of Martin 
Pearson, his brother. When about five years of 
age Mr. Pearson was left an orphan by the death of 
both his parents, and was thrown entirely upon his 
own resources. When old enough to do so he 
learned the trade of blacksmithing and wagon- 
making, which he followed for about twelve years, 
and has devoted his life since to the occupation of 
a farmer. He and his brother, Martin Pearson, 
were the first mechanics in the line of wagon- 
making and blacksmithing to settle in the ancient 
village of Avoca, in Avoca Township, of which 
only a few ruins remain to mark the spot where 
once stood a prosperous hamlet. During his boy- 
hood days Mr. Pearson received a fair common- 
school education, which has availed him well in 
after life. He came to Livingston County, 111., in 
1851!, and has been here continuously since that 
time. 

On .the 20th of April, 185(1, Mr. Pearson married 
Mahala Virgin, daughter of Jeremiah M. and 
Amanda Virgin, who were among the early pioneer 
settlers of Livingston County. They have had four 
children: Alonzo, Meredith M., Ulysses G., and 
Floi'a, wife of Edward DeMoss. Mr. Pearson owns 
100 acres of good land, and as a farmer has been 
quite successful. When he came to Livingston 
County he had $100 in cash, and a sufficient quan- 
tity of tools with which to carry on his trade, in 
the prosecution of which he accumulated sufficient 
means to purchase and equip his farm. In his po- 
litical affiliations he acts with the Democratic party, 
whose principles and candidates receive from him an 
earnest support. For seventeen years he has served 
as Assessor of Avoca Township, and lias been Col- 
lector for two years. He interests himself in all 
matters which involve the welfare of the commnn- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



503 



ity in which he lives. He is quite liberal in his 
contributations of time and money to all local 
enterprises, and is considered in every respect a 
first-class citizen. He and his wife identify them- 
selves with the best elements of society, by whom 
they are deservedly esteemed and respected. 




' POLLOS CAMP, an aged and retired far- 
mer and capitalist who has lived a useful 
life and completed the sum of more than 
fourscore years, is now sheltered in an ele- 
gant home in the city of Pontiac, by whose people 
he is held in peculiar veneration and respect. An 
original Yankee, he was born in Plymouth (since 
known as Thomaston), Litchfield Co., Conn., March 
19? 1806. His parents, Ephraim and Mabel (Par- 
dy) Camp, were also natives of Plymouth, where 
the father engaged in milling the earty part of his 
life, and subsequently retired upon a competence. 
He had served as a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War, and possessed the hardy and resolute spirit of 
the men of his time. 

The subject of this sketch was reared upon a 
farm, and upon reaching his majority learned the 
trade of a stonemason. After becoming proficient 
in this he engaged as a contractor exclusively for 
heavy work, and was thus occupied five years. In 
1828 he was appointed foreman of the farm and 
superintendent of material in the shops of the great 
clock-maker. Seth Thomas, at Hartford, in whose 
employ he remained fora period of eighteen years. 

Mr. Camp, now desirous of a change, invested 
his capital in 120 acres of land in his native county 
of Litchfield, which he tilled aj>out two years. In 
May, 1852, he sought the great West, and entered 
from the Government 320 acres of land in Sunbury 
Township, this county. He returned to Connecti- 
cut in October following, and in May, 1853, moved 
his family to Illinois and purchased about 800 acres 
more land, mostly in Esmen Township, some, how- 
ever, reaching over into Amity Township. The 
same year he built a house on his first farm and 
gradually effected the valuable improvements which 
made it so well known throughout the county. 

Mr. Camp was married in Connecticut, in June, 



1833, to Miss Nancy Thomas, a native of that 
State. Of this union there is but one child living, 
a daughter, Harriet, now Mrs. Bennet Humiston, of 
Pontiac, with whom Mr. Camp makes his home. 
Mr. Humiston settled in Esmen Township in 1852, 
and engaged extensively in farming. In 1876 he 
moved to Pontiac and took a fine residence, remain- 
ing there until his death, Nov.'l4, 1883. Edward 
T. Camp, the only son of our subject, was born in 
Thomaston, Conn., Dec. 24, 1843, and was nine 
years of age when his parents came to this county. 
His early years were spent on the farm in E.smen 
Township, and at school. He was a student one 
winter in Clark's Seminary, at Aurora, and after- 
ward for three years attended Lombard University 
at Galesburg, 111. He was intensely ambitious, and 
as the result of too close application to his studies, 
his system became in a measure enfeebled, and 
readily succumbed to an attack of typhoid fever 
during the summer vacation. He died Sept. 14, 
1864, after an illness of ten daj's. He was a young 
man of great promise and fine intellectual attain- 
ments. The blow to the stricken father was doubly 
hard to bear on account of the recent death of the 
wife and mother. Mrs. Nancy (Thomas) Camp 
departed this life Jan. 21, 1864. 

Mr. Camp was one of the most successful farmers 
and stock-raisers of Livingston County. He con- 
tinued to live in the country until 1880, then re- 
tired from active labor and took up his residence 
in Pontiac. Seven tenant farmers attend to his 
rural interests. In Pontiac he is a stockholder and 
Director in the National Bank, and owns valuable 
shares in the Pontiac Coal Company. He was al- 
ways active, stirring and industrious, and retains 
much of his old-time vigor with his mental capaci- 
ties. His accumulations stand as the best evidence 
of his prudence and economy. He never sought or 
wished for office, but has invariably voted the Dem- 
ocratic ticket. 

Mr. Camp is of a particularly kind and generous 
disposition, and in him the poor and needy have 
always found a reliable friend. We take the lib- 
erty of citing an instance of his manner of doing 
the right thing at the right time. One of hi* ten- 
ants for a period of nine years had cultivated the 
soi! with little profit, the seasons having been al- 



\ 



t 



t , 504 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




t 



most without exception unpropitious. Not long 
since Mr. Camp requested this tenant to accompany 
him to the Recorder's office and pay $1 he owed 
there. The tenant did so, and upon the payment 
of the dollar was handed a warrantee deed to the 
farm, the only stipulation being that he should pay 
the usual rental during the lifetime of Mr. Camp. 
It is needless to say that the tenant accepted the 
deed and the terms with alacrity. 

The portrait list of Livingston County would by- 
no means be complete without the pictured features 
of this honored pioneer and the companion of his 
youth, who has preceded him to the better land, 
and we accordingly give them place as representa- 
tives of a by-gone time, whose history and whose 
people will be cherished in future years by their 
proud descendants. 



NJ.NCENT I. AARON, the subject of this 
sketch, is engaged in the hardware trade in 
the village of Strawn, where he has con- 
ducted a successful business for several years. He 
is a gentleman who fitted himself for business af- 
fairs by education in one of the most prominent 
business colleges of the country, and his practical 
life has been a success. He is a native of Penn- 
sylvania, was born in Jefferson County June 6, 
1850, and is the son of Thomas H. and Mary T. 
Aaron, a biographical sketch of whom will be found 
in another part of this ALBUM. Our subject came 
to Livingston County with his parents in 1869, and 
they located in Fayette Township on section 4, 
where they now reside. Vincent remained with 
them until he was twenty-three years of age, giving 
excellent service on the farm, and attending school 
in the winter. In the winter of 18C9-70 he at- 
tended the Bryant & Stratton College of Chicago, 
in which he studied the principal branches, includ- 
ing book-keeping, banking, commercial law and 
penmanship. After leaving the school he returned 
to Livingston County and worked on his father's 
farm for about two years. In December, 1 s7:'., he 
abandoned farm life and opened a hardware store 
iii the village of Strawn. He is the only hardware 
dealer in the village, and enjoys an extensive trade. 



On the 5th of January, 1875, Mr. Aaron was 
married to Miss Mary T. Winslow, who was born 
in Avoca, 111., Oct. 17, 1855. She is the daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Kate (Clark) Winslow, natives 
of Ireland, and farmers of Livingston County, 
where they have for man}' years been successfully 
engaged in farming and stock-raising. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Aaron have been born four children: Mary 
Rosemma, ten years of age; Margaret Cointha, 
eight years of age ; Stella Catherine, six j'ears of 
age, and Thomas Vincent, five months old when 
this sketch was written. 

Mr. Aaron is a member of the Democratic party 
and takes quite an active interest in political affairs. 
He has been School Treasurer of Fayette Township 
since 1877, and is the present incumbent of the 
office. He has been President of the Village 
Board for the period of two years, and for eight 
years has been Assistant Postmaster, the Strawn 
post-office, during this time, being located in his 
store. Mr. Aaron and his family belong to the 
Catholic Church, of which they are regular attend- 
ants and devoted members. Mr. Aaron takes a 
lively interest in all public affairs, and is a leading 
and influential citizen. 



BYERS, a leading farmer and stock- 
grower of Owego Township, owns eighty 
acres of well-developed land, and is being 
prospered in his farming operations, while 
at the same time he enjoys the respect and confi- 
dence of the community. His farm is supplied 
with a neat residence, a good barn, and the other 
buildings required .by the modern agriculturist, 
while the whole premises wears the air of thrift and 
prosperity. He is serving as School Director in 
his township, and is one of the most worthy mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in County Donegal, Ireland, 
where he was born in February, 1849. His parents, 
Robert and Mary A. (Hutchison) Byers, were also 
of Irish birth and parentage, and are still residents 
of their native isle. John remained under the 
home roof until he was twenty-two years of age, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



505 



and then decided to seek his fortune across the 
water. He had received an ordinary education, 
but possessed very little capital, depending mainly 
upon his resolute character and willing hands to 
carve out his fortune. He boarded the " London- 
derry" at Liverpool, and after a voyage of eleven 
days, landed in New York City. His stay in the 
metropolis was very brief, and proceeding west- 
ward he came direct to this county, where he took 
up his abode and has since remained. He was first 
employed as a farm hand for a number of years, 
and saved something each year from his somewhat 
limited earnings. When possessed of what he con- 
sidered sufficient means, he took unto himself a 
wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Susan 
Wilson, the wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride in Harrisburg. Pa., Feb. 9, 1876. 

Mrs. Byers is the daughter of David and Elmer 
(Ervin) Wilson, natives of Ireland, and was her- 
self also born there in County Donegal in 1849, 
but emigrated with her brother to this country in 
1870. Of her union with our subject there have 
been born six children, namely, Robert, David, 
Mar\ r A., William J., Ellen and Isabella. They 
form an interesting little family, the elder ones 
just commencing their studies in the district 
schools. Mr. Byers possesses all the elements of a 
good citizen, and nothing pleases him better than 
to note the progress and prosperity of his adopted 
country. 



ENJAMIN F. BARNES. In Livingston 
County are many extensive land-owners, 
and often these gentlemen have amassed 
their property by their own energy and 
business tact. Prominent among this number is 
Benjamin F. Barnes, who is the owner of 450 acres 
on sections 33 and 31, Indian Grove Township. 
This farm is finely improved and cultivated, pro- 
vided with a handsome and commodious residence, 
from which may be obtained a fine view of the 
surrounding country. Our subject is one of the 
enterprising and progressive farmers of Livingston 
County, who has made the most of his opportunities, 




and taken advantage of modern progress. His 
barns and out-buildings are of first-class description 
and finely arranged for the shelter of stock and the 
storing of grain. He has a fine lot of high-grade 
cattle, hogs, and blooded horses, and everything 
about the premises indicates the supervision and 
enterprise of an intelligent man. In addition to his 
farm and stock operations, Mr. Barnes, associated 
with Mr. George King, is largely engaged in the 
manufacture of drain tile. The factory buildings 
are fitted up with the most approved machinery, 
and the}' give employment to quite a number of 
men. 

Benjamin F. Barnes was born on the 31st of 
October, 1834, in Jefferson County, Ind., and is 
the son of John and Telitha (Wllkerson) Barnes, 
natives of Indiana and Virginia respectively. The 
father died about 1852 and the mother about 1862 ; 
they were the parents of the following children: 
Sarah A., Elizabeth, Benjamin F., Willis, Mary, 
Jane, Rebecca, Henry, Lemuel and John. On the 
12th of March, 1862, Mr. Barnes was married to 
Miss Apphia Spence, who was born Jan. 19, 
1843, in Livingston County. She is the daughter 
of Carrie and Abigail (Cunningham) Spence, na- 
tives of Kentucky and Indiana respectively. They 
were early settlers of Livingston County, where 
they located in 1830. They are both deceased. 
There were born to them six children, as follows : 
Apphia married Benjamin F. Barnes; Malachi mar- 
ried Emeline Phillips; Robert married Hannah 
Moore; Josiah married Miss Mary Combs; Isabelle 
married James Roan, and Absalom is deceased. 

In the year 1835 Mr. Barnes accompanied his 
parents to Illinois and located near Metaniora, 
Woodford County, where the father entered land 
and went to farming and stock-raising. In 1860 our 
subject located in Indian Grove Township where lie 
has since remained, and owns 450 acres of most 
excellent land, all of which is under cultivation 
and well stocked with graded horses and fine cattle 
and hogs. For the past fifteen years he has made 
a specialty of high-grade horses and hogs, and in 
this business has been signally successful. 

The interesting family of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes 
consists of Isabella, married to William Mundle; 
Frank, married to Miss Anna Cooper, and lives in 






' ' 506 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Indian Grove Township; Martin, Mary E., Rachel, 
William B., Elgin E. and Cora G. In his political 
affiliations Mr. Barnes has a decided preference'for 
the Democratic party. 



f 



B. CUMMINS, a model farmer of section 5, 
Esmen Township, was born in Rook's Creek, 
Livingston County, on the llth of Novem- 
ber, 1844, and was the eldest child born to 
Hugh and Hannah (Chew) Cummins. Our subject 
was brought up to farm life, and for a time 
served in the Streator Glass Works. During his 
boyhood days he attended the common schools, in 
which lie obtained a fair education. At the age of 
eighteen years, on the llth of November, 1862, at 
Ottawa, he enlisted and was mustered into the 6th 
Independent Light Artillery, under Capt. E. C. 
Henshaw, and was soon after sent to Louisville for 
duty. He remained there a short time and then 
went to Glasgow, where the battery was attached 
to a brigade and sent after the raider Morgan, un- 
der Gen. Judy. They remained in Kentucky until 
Morgan was finally captured, after which they went 
to Lebanon, Ky., and Loudon, Tenn., at the latter 
place participating in an engagement. During the 
rainy season they were under Burnside, who was 
opposing Longstreet for the purpose of drawing 
troops away from and weakening Bragg. They 
fell back from Huff's Ferry to Leonora Station, 
where they had an engagement. After this they 
were almost constantly engaged in skirmishing 
until the siege of Knoxville, in which they took 
part. They were then ordered to London, Tenn., 
where they remained until they were called to 
Camp Butler, and discharged on the 18th of July, 
1865, receiving their pa}' on the 21st and arriving 
at home on the 22d. 

Mr. Cummins remained on the farm for three 
and one-half years, and then went into Southern 
Illinois and engaged in the stock business for two 
years with E. G. Rice, after which he returned, and 
has remained on the home farm ever since. On 
the 4th of September, 1871, he was married to 
Ellen E. Garretson, daughter of William and Mary 
E. (Golay) Garretson. She was born near Bridge- 



port, W. Va., on the 27th of April, 1848, and was 
the second in a family of eight children. Her 
father was killed in the battle of Piedmont, in 
June, 1864, being the fourth man to die in an at- 
tempt to place the Union flag upon the rebel fort. 
His widow came to Illinois in 1864, and here her 
daughter was married to Mr. Cummins. Immedi- 
ately after their marriage they came to this farm, 
where they have resided ever since, except about 
eighteen months while Mr. Cummins was working 
in Streator. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Cummins have been born eight 
children whose names are as follows : Hannah E., 
Hugh L., Susan R., Sarah A., Mary E., Fannie B., 
Tessie V. and Emily M., all of whom reside at 
home with their parents. Mr. Cummins does not 
take an active part in political matters, and he 
casts his vote independently. He has served as 
School Director and Road Commissioner, in both 
of which positions he has served the people well, 
and takes an active interest in all matters that are 
calculated to promote the best interests of the 
township. He is a comrade in the G. A. R., Post 
No. 68, at Streator. 




c. NETTLETON is a successful 

farmer and stock-raiser of Odell Township, 
and is comfortably located on section 16, 
where he pursues his vocation with satisfactory re- 
sults. He was born in Litchfield County, Conn., 
Dec. 29, 1833, and was the fifth in a family of 
eight children born to Elijah and Rhoda A (Ful- 
ler) Nettleton, both of whom were natives of Con- 
necticut. The maternal grandparents were Isaac 
and Mary (Holley) Fuller, natives of Connecti- 
cut, and he was an Elder of a Baptist congre- 
gation and a local preacher for many years. Of 
the brothers and sisters of our subject only two 
are living: Mrs. Caroline M. Blinn, residing in New 
Milford, Conn., whose oldest son was Col. Blinn, of 
the late war; and Mrs. Jane E. Lawton, wife of 
Benjamin Lawton, a merchant of Bridgeport, 
Conn. Isaac F. was n First Lieutenant in the late 
war, and died in a hospital at New Orleans: Alfred 
II., a teacher by profession, died in Goshen, Conn.; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i; 



Sarah A., the second child, married E. N. Jencks, 
a Baptist minister and missionary to China; Lydia 
M. died in Goshen, Conn., at the time of Alfred's 
death, and Ellen Louisa in the fall of the same 
vein'. The father of our subject was a carpenter 
by trade, and carried on a small farm besides. 

Mr. Nettleton worked upon a farm when a boy 
and attended the common schools with considera- 
ble regularity. His education was completed at 
Farm Ridge Seminary, LaSalle County, where his 
sister settled with her husband, who was a Princi- 
pal of the school at that time. He left his home 
for Illinois on the 13th of September, 1852, being 
then nineteen years of age. The year following 
his term at the seminary he began teaching at Deer 
Park, and continued teaching in the winter and do- 
ing work upon the farm in the summer for seven 
years, and then, Nov. 3, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, 53d Illinois Infantry, for three years, un- 
der Capt. J. B. Wright, and was mustered in at 
Ottawa, by C. B. Watson. The company was first 
sent to Chicago, and guarded prisoners until the 
following spring and then went to Savanna, Tenn., 
where it remained until the 7th of April, and was 
then in the battle of Pittsburg Landing. It then 
went by way of Corinth to Memphis, Tenn., cau- 
tiously fortifying on the way until the evacuation 
of Corinth. During this time it was under the com- 
mand of Gen. Halleck. The company then went to 
Bolivar, Tenn., where it remained until the sec- 
ond battle of Corinth, and after that participated 
in the engagement of Hatchie River. After this 
engagement our subject was placed in charge of a 
wagon of the wounded on its way from Hatchie to 
Bolivar, and he drew rations for the post hospital. 
At the end of this time the sick were sent to La- 
Grange hospital, and Mr. Nettleton was assigned 
to the 59th Regiment, Colored Volunteers, of which 
he was made Hospital Steward, and served in that 
capacity until the close of the war. He was in the 
battle of Tupelo while connected with the colored 
regiment. He was stationed at Memphis until the 
expiration of his term of enlistment and was dis- 
charged on the 29th of March, 1864, and re-en- 
listed at once. His final discharge was on Aug. 
4, 1865, at Memphis, Tenn. 

While iu the army Mr. Nettleton procured a 



furlough and came North, and on the 14th of No- 
vember, 1864, was married to Sarah A. Putnam, 
daughter of Carlos and Lavinia Putnam. Imrue- 
-d lately upon his discharge from the army he came 
home and began farming where he now resides. 
He purchased after coming from the army, in the 
spring of 1861, eighty acres of wild land on sec- 
tion 16, upon which he built a house. His wife 
died July 15, 1877, having borne him no children. 
She died in the full Christian faith and had always 
been an earnest Christian woman. Mr. Nettleton 
remained on his farm until April, 1884, and on 
the 24th of that month was married to Mary J. 
Jencks, who was born in Erie County, Pa., on the 
28th of March, 1850, and was the youngest in a 
family of six children born to Obed and Hannah 
(Muz/ey) Jeiicks, who were natives of New York. 
Her father died in Pennsylvania and her mother 
came to Illinois and settled in Will County. She 
lived with Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton until her death 
in June, 1886. She was an earnest Christian woman, 
and her life was very largely devoted to the per- 
formance of good acts. Mr. and Mrs. Nettleton 
are both members of the Baptist Church, in which 
they have been active for many years. In politi- 
cal matters he has always acted with the Repub- 
lican party. As a farmer and stock-raiser he dis- 
plays much enterprise and is looked upon as one 
of the most progressive of Odell Township. 




SEATON, one of the principal 
farmers of Fayette Township, where he is 
pleasantly located on section 6, was born on 
the 18th of February. 1817, in Henderson Town- 
ship, Jefferson Co., N. Y. He is the son of Willard 
and Polly (Adams) Seaton, who were natives of 
Connecticut. Our subject's great-great-grnndfather 
was a native, of Ireland, who came to the United 
States and first located in Connecticut. He had ten 
sons, some of -whom served in the Revolutionary 
War, and the regiment of which the}' were mem- 
bers went on an expedition to Buffalo, N. Y., and 
was to form a junction with a fleet which was to 
supply the army with provisions. The fleet failed 
to make its connections, and on returning they 






508 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



were surprised by Indians, who captured two of 
the sons and burned them at the stake. The re- 
mainder of the party managed to escape. Our sub- 
ject's grandfather was a sailor for seven years, after 
which he went into the army. At the conclusion 
of the war he went to farming in New York State, 
in which occupation lie continued for several years. 
From there he removed to Canada, where he lived 
with our subject's father until his death. Mr. Sea- 
ton's father was reared a farmer, and remained with 
his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. 
At that age he was married, and then engaged in 
farming and school-teaching, at which he continued 
until his death, which occurred in Ohio in 1848. 
His family consisted of ten boys and four girls, 
thirteen of whom lived and grew to manhood and 
womanhood. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
in Stark County, Ohio, until he was twenty-five 
years of age, during which time he gave a helping 
hand on the farm during the cropping season, and 
attended school in the winter. Being of a studious 
disposition be applied himself assiduously to his 
books, and thus obtained more than an average ed- 
ucation. After leaving home he worked out by 
the month for one and one-half years, and then 
managed a rented farm for one year. 

March 11, 1844, Mr. Scaton was married to 
Miss Florinda Wilson, who was born in Niagara 
County, N. Y., July 14, 1826. She is the daughter 
of William and Mary (Wood) Wilson, who were 
natives of Vermont and Pennsylvania respectively. 
They came to Kendall County, 111., in 1843, and 
engaged in farming. Her father died in 1848, and 
the mother in 1866. There were five children in 
their family: Florinda, Achsah, Andrew J., Charles 
W. and Elizabeth Jane. The latter married George 
D. Weeks ; they have five children, whose names are 
Wilson R., Mary F., Charles M.. Corella B. and 
Rebecca S. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks are located in 
(raw ford County, Kan., where he is engaged in the 
business of a drayman. 

Mr. and Mrs. Seaton have four children, whose 
names an- Mary, Charles W., Ida J. and Hattie E. 
Mary married W. T. Kerr, a minister of the Gos- 
pel, and resides at Milan, Rock Island Co., 111.; Ida 
married Albert Cording, a hardware merchant at 




Saunemin, 111.; Charles W. and Hattie are unmar- 
ried and live at home. Mr. Seaton is a Republican 
in politics, and has been selected by his fellow-citi- 
zens to hold several official positions. He has been 
School Director of District Xo. 1 for three terms, 
and was elected Assessor of Fayette Township for 
one year in 1877. He and his family are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they 
take an active interest and occupy a leading posi- 
tion. 



ENRY BLOOM, late of Avoca Township, 
and one of its most highly respected citi- 
zens, was born in the city of Emden, Ger- 
many, Nov. 20, 1817. His parents, Fol- 
kert and Lumka Bloom, were also of German birth 
and parentage, and spent their lives on their native 
soil. 

Mr. Bloom was reared to manhood in his native 
Province, and was placed in school at an early age, 
where he continued until fourteen years old. Some 
years after reaching manhood he was united in 
marriage with a maiden of his own Province, Miss 
Ida Gruter, their wedding taking place in the 
spring of 1852. Mrs. Bloom was born Oct. 20, 
1817, and by her marriage with our subject became 
the mother of four children, two now living, namely, 
Fannie and Folkert, and two deceased Lumka, 
who died in infancy, and one who died unnamed. 

Our subject continued in his native Province un- 
til 1854, when, accompanied by his wife and one 
child, he embarked on a sailing-vessel at Bremen. 
and after a voyage of over nine weeks landed in 
the city of New Orleans. Thence they came di- 
rectly to this State, locating at first near Peoria, 
where they resided three and one-half years, and 
then removed to Tazewell County. Mr. Bloom 
engaged in labor there two and one-half years, but 
not being quite satisfied with the result he came to 
Avoca Township, this county, where he subse- 
quently became possessor of 300 acres of land frmn 
which he built up a fine homestead, and where his 
death occurred July 4, 1884. 

Mr. Bloom was one of the finest representatives 
of the German element in this State that has con- 
tributed so largely to the development of its re- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



sources, lie was industrious and enterprising, and 
possessed that resolute and determined spirit which 
admitted no such word as fail. He had practically 
nothing when he came to Illinois, while at his death 
he left to his family one of the most valuable farms 
in Central Illinois. He was greatly respected by 
his entire community, and in his family was kind 
and indulgent, while outside he was always willing 
to lend a helping hand to those in need, or to what- 
ever project would result in the general good. He 
was one of the pillars of the German Reformed 
Church, which in his death lost one of its most 
cheerful and liberal supporters. His widow and 
daughter still occupy the homestead, while his son 
Folkert is part proprietor of a lucrative mercantile 
business at Evansville, Ind. Mr. Bloom after be- 
coming a naturalized American citizen, informed 
himself thoroughly upon the politics of this coun- 
try, and identified himself with the Democratic 
party as representing his sentiments and beliefs. 
He never sought office, but was content in a quiet 
way to encourage those enterprises set on foot for 
the building up of educational and religious insti- 
tutions, and which would most surely effect the 
happiness of the people. 




j^ILLIAM CAINE is a native of the Isle of 
Man, which is an island in the Irish Sea 
west of England, east of Ireland, south of 
Scotland and north of Wales, the extreme length of 
which is about thirty miles, with an irregular 
breadth varying from six to twelve miles. The 
principal streams of the island are the Neb, at Peel; 
the Colby, near Ramsey, and the Black and Gray 
Waters, near Douglas. It was latterly held as a 
feudal sovereignty by the Earls of Derby, and more 
recently by the Dukes of Athol, from whom it was 
purchased by the British Crown in 1806. Its legis- 
lative and judicial authorities are principally vested 
in the House of Keys, a self -perpetuating body. 
The Governor is named by the Crown. The Manx 
language, derived from the ancient Celts, is still 
in common use, although part of the inhabitants 
speak English. The principal towns are Castletown, 
Peel, Douglas and Ramsey. It was upon this island 



that Mr. Caine was born and reared to manhood, 
and his life there furnishes some interesting details, 
which are set forth in the following sketch : 

Mr. Caine, who is now engaged in farming and 
stock-raising on section 4, Esmen Township, was 
born on the Isle of Man about Jan. 1, 1833, and 
the seventh child in a family of eight born to John 
and Isabella ( Boyde) Caine, who were natives of 
the Isle of Man. The paternal grandfather, Thomas 
Caine, was a farmer. The father of our subject 
was a farmer and butcher, and died on the island of 
his birth. His widow survives him there, and is 
nearly ninety-seven years of age. He followed 
butchering in the country, and took the meat to a 
town thirteen miles distant in baskets suspended by 
straps across a horse's back. 

Our subject was reared on a farm, and at fif- 
teen he went to serve his time at milling with a 
brother; at eighteen he had completed his trade, and 
remained at home until about twenty years of age, 
at which time he began the life of a herring fisher- 
man. At first he was cook, and for three years 
received fifty cents per week as compensation for 
his work. After working at these wages for three 
years he bought a seine at an expense of $4.75, for 
which his father went security, and with his uncle. 
Thomas Caine, embarked in the fishing business on 
board the smack Beagle. He continued in this for 
five years, and then with 5 went into partnershp 
with his cousin in building the "Persia," He sailed 
on her as quarter owner under Capt. Gerret, for a 
considerable time. His accumulations enabled him 
to buy a quarter interest in another vessel called 
the "Express," of which he was made Captain. He 
retained this position for eight years, most of the 
time working eight seines successfully. He was 
once wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and once 
thrown overboard. At the time of the wreck he 
swam ashore with a line, and by that means saved 
the whole crew. 

When he quit the ocean on the 1st of December, 
186G, Mr. Caine was married to Mary Ann Coole, 
the ninth in a family of eleven children born to 
William and Elizabeth (Cowin) Coole, natives of 
Kirkbraden, where their daughter Mary was born 
May 1, 1838. Her paternal grandparents were 
William and Elizabeth Coole, and the maternal 



510 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



grandfather was Thomas Cowin, and they all re- 
mained there until their death. Mr. and Mrs. Caine 
sailed from Liverpool on the "City of Baltimore" in 
the spring of 1867, and after a stormy voyage of 
two weeks, during which time Mr. Caine was se- 
verely injured while helping to save the vessel, 
they landed at New York. They immediately pro- 
ceeded to Ohio, where they remained a few weeks 
in Cayuga County, sojourning with a cousin named 
James Boyd. Mrs. Caine remained there for a while, 
and Mr. Caine went to Ottawa, 111., where she 
joined him later. He worked in Ottawa until the 
nexf spring, and then came to Livingston County in 
1868, and purchased eighty acres of partly im- 
proved land in Esmen Township. After a fruitless 
attempt for two years to pay for this land he had 
to give it up, and disposed of it to a man named 
Beckwith, realizing but $500 for the improvements 
made. After this he purchased eighty acres where 
he now resides, and settled upon it, and within five 
years met with such success that he was enabled to 
pay for it. Since that time he repurchased the 
first 80-acre tract and now has an excellent farm of 
160 acres, five acres of which are well covered with 
timber. He has a good house and commodious farm 
buildings, all of his own construction. His farm is 
stocked with 100 head of Leicestershire sheep, and 
many fine horses, cattle and hogs. He takes great 
pride in the quality of stock he produces, for all of 
which he finds a ready market. Mr. Caine has 
never held office in this country excepting those of 
Pathmaster and School Director, and only two 
years ago took out his full naturalization papers. 
Mr. Caine has been so careful in his business and so 
correct in his contracts that he has never been sued, 
although transacting an extensive business for 
many years. He has never had a case of his own 
in a court of record, and so conscientiously has he 
obeyed the laws that he has never been called upon 
by an officer of the law. He is a strict temperance 
man, both in practice and precept, and has never 
been addicted to the use of tobacco or intoxicat- 
ing liquors. lie and Mrs. Caine are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was instru- 
mental in building the first church constructed in 
the neighborhood. In their early beginning they 
encountered much adversity, but iu their later life 



they have been successful. Honesty and integrity 
have characterized Mr. Caine's everyday life, and 
he is emphatically a self-made man, who has by his 
own unaided efforts succeeded admirably in busi- 
ness, the pathway of which was at first strewn with 
adversity. In political matters he acts with the 
Republican party because the principles of that 
party more nearly coincide with his views than any 
other of the existing parties. 

Mr. and Mrs. Caine are the parents of eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living: William N.,John S., 
Robert T., James E., Walter D. ; Alfred C. died in 
infancy ; Lyda E.. Mary A.; William Nelson is a 
telegraph operator at J. B. Farwell's, and the other 
children are at home. None of the boys use liquor 
or tobacco, and in this respect follow closely the 
| example of their father. Taken all in all it is one 
of the best conditioned families in Livingston 
County, a family in which all the members live to- 
gether in the most perfect harmony, each seeming 
to thoroughly understand the other. 




jENJAMIN TURNER, a praiseworthy and 
useful citizen of this county, is engaged in 
general farming and stock-raising on a farm 
of 160 acres of choice land, on section 25 in 
Fayette Township. He has been accustomed to 
country life since his boyhood, and is entirely fa- 
miliar with farm pursuits. lie is the possessor of 
a comfortable income, and has no one with whom 
to share it, for he is still unmarried. 

Our subject was born near the city of Philadel- 
phia, Pa., Nov. 19, 1822, and is the son of Robert 
and Nancy (Felkenner) Turner, natives respect- 
ively of England and Pennsylvania, who went to 
Ohio when Benjamin was a child, whence they re- 
moved several years later to Virginia. In 1842 he 
came to Illinois and settled in LaSalle County, 
whence he removed to his present home in the 
spring of 1867. Robert Turner was a member of 
the old Whig party until its abandonment, and he 
then cordially endorsed the Republican principles. 
He was a woolen manufacturer in this country, and 
passed his last years in Fayette Township, depart- 
ing this life about 1885, when ninety-one years of 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY- 



age; Mrs. Turner died in 1881, aged eighty-three 
years. 

The parental household included six children 
Benjamin, Sarah, Mary, Robert, Anna and James. 
Mary became the wife of William Lloyd, of Penn- 
sylvania, who was also engaged as a woolen manu- 
facturer, but finally crossed the Mississippi and lo- 
cated in Elk City, Kan., where he now lives with 
their family of six children, three sons and three 
daughters Edgar, Minnie, Mollie, William, Annie 
and Cornelius. Mrs. L. died in 1884, and Mr. L. 
was subsequently married to her sister Anna. The 
others are living in this county. 

Our subject began life for himself when about 
twenty-two years of age, in the woolen factory at 
Steubenville, Ohio, where he was employed until 
the spring of 1867, at which time he determined to 
seek his fortune farther west. Although perhaps 
not the hero of any very thrilling event, he has ac- 
quitted himself as an honest man and a good citi- 
zen, attending strictly to his own concerns, and by 
his straightforward business methods he has en- 
joyed the esteem and confidence of the people 
wherever he has lived. He is bringing about va- 
rious improvements upon his farm, which bears 
fair comparison with those of his neighbors. 

We present on an adjoining page a view of Mr. 
Turner's residence, as representative of the build- 
ings of this section of country. 



L. CONINE, one of the wealthy and sub- 
stantial farmers of Livingston County, 
finely illustrates what can be accomplished 
by industry, good management, and close 
attention to business. He began his career in life 
without capital or other resources than his own 
hands and a determined will to succeed. In trac- 
ing his career in this sketch it will be seen how 
completely his anticipations have been realized. 
He now owns a magnificent farm on section 31, 
Indian Grove Township, which is one of the most 
eligibly situated in the county, and under the in- 
telligent manipulation of Mr. Conine has become 
remarkably productive. The improvements in the 
way of buildings and fences are first-class. It is a 
model farm in every respect, and its owner looks 




upon it with pardonable pride. Among the illus- 
trations in this ALBUM we present a view of Mr. 
Conine's residence. 

The subject of our notice was born on the 30th 
of November, 1 835, in Licking County, Ohio, and 
is the son of John S. and Nancy (Monnet) Co- 
nine, who were natives of New Jersey and Virginia 
respectively. The father was a resident of Ohio, 
and a house carpenter by trade, which business he 
followed all his life with such energy and persever- 
ance that he became quite wealthy. He was not a 
man of any pronounced religious views, nor did he 
ever attach himself to any church organization, but 
was a very sincere member of the Masonic frater- 
nity, and had great faith in the teachings of that 
order, believing that if its mandates were strictly 
lived up to a man would be about as good a Chris- 
tian as possible. During the existence of the Whig 
party he was a member of that organization, and 
when it was merged into the Republican party he 
transferred his political allegiance to the latter, to 
which he adhered during the remainder of his life. 
He died at his home in Ohio, in 1875. His wife, 
who died some years previously, was a member of 
the 'Presbyterian Church. Of their nine children, 
three died in infancy, and the following-named are 
still alive : Nancy, Norman, Salvenas L., Gifford, 
Wellington and Marinda. 

Mr. Conine remained under the protecting care 
of the paternal roof until he was twenty-one years 
of age, during which time he assisted in the work 
which fell to the family, and devoted a part of the 
time to attending the schools of the neighborhood. 
He then went to Chicago, where he remained but a 
few days, when he went to Bloomington, and then 
to Mackinaw in the same county, where lie en- 
gaged in work for William Hainline during the fol- 
lowing three and one-half years. From Mackinaw 
he came to Livingston County, and for the next 
three years engaged in breaking prairie, employing 
two teams of four yoke of cattle each. In 1865, 
having accumulated sufficient monej', he purchased 
eighty acres of land, and from time to time has 
added to the original purchase until he now has 
209 acres in Livingston County, and eighty acres 
in Newton County, Mo. 

On the 1st of March, 1860, our subject was 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



: 



married to Miss Martlia Moore, who was born in 
Illinois in 1846, and is the daughter of Richard 
and Paulina (Phillips) Moore. The father came 
from Tennessee to Illinois about 1820, making the 
journey in an ox-cart, and their first year of res- 
idence in Illinois was in a rudely constructed 
rail pen. But prosperity smiled upon them, and 
they now own 20C acres of land on section 28, In- 
dian Grove Township. Mr. and Mrs. Conine have 
been blessed with a family of six children, whose 
names are, John R., Charlie A., Iva N., Nina, Vena 
A. and Glenis V., the youngest yet an infant. To 
demonstrate the measure of Mr. Conine's success it 
is only necessary to refer to the tax duplicates of 
Livingston County, which show that during the 
first two years of his farm life he paid into the 
treasury for taxes assessed against him the sum of 
fifteen cents each year. By turning over the leaves 
of the book until coming to the record of last 
year it will be found that the amount assessed 
against him, and for the payment of which he holds 
a receipt, was $112.50. It does not require much 
of a mathematician, taking these figures for a basis 
of calculation, to determine the per cent of Mr. 
Conine's increase in property during his residence 
as a free-holder in Illinois. lie takes great interest 
in live-stock matters, and at the time of the writing 
of tliis sketch he has upon his farm twenty-eight 
horses and mules, seventy-four cattle and forty 
hogs, and they are all of fine strains of blood. 

Mr. Conine has always affiliated with the Demo- 
cratic part}-, although lie does not neglect his busi- 
ness to devote much time to politics. He has 
served as Road Commissioner and School Director, 
in the latter office for thirteen years. He takes a 
special interest in school matters, and has been in- 
strumental in largely improving the schools under 
his jurisdiction. 



I/OHN BODLKY, Avoca Township. In every 
new settlement that has attained to promi- 
nence and success in the building up of its 
industrial and educational institutions :md 
also its agricultural interests, there have always been 
a few leading spirits to plant the standard of prog- 
ress and serve a> a watcher. as it were, on the walls. 



so that things should keep on moving and not be 
allowed to stagnate or turn back. The gentleman 
whose name heads this biography has largely repre- 
sented one of the moving spirits of his communitv, 
of which he became a member in the fall of 1 854, 
more than thirty years ago. In him were at once 
recognized the intelligence and resolution >o essential 
in the settling up of a new country, and his whole 
course through life has been that of a helper and a 
leader. He has been identified with the educational 
and religious interests of the southern part of Liv- 
ingston County ever since he was numbered among 
its citizens, and is accordingly held in due res]>ect. 

Our subject, a native of Montgomery County, 
Ohio, was born in a modest homestead near Dayton, 
Feb. 9, 1829. His parents, Thomas and Anna .1. 
(Duncan) Bodley, were natives respectively of Ken- 
tucky and Ohio. His paternal ancestors are of pure 
English descent, while his mother's side represented 
some of the best blood of the Scotch-Irish. His 
great-grandfather Bodley came to this country in 
time to assist the Colonists in their struggle for 
liberty, and his grandfather Duncan later served 
in the War of 1 81 2. Having sprung from such a race 
of people, it is not to be wondered at that John 
Bodley stands where he does to-day. 

The parents of Mr. Bodley soon after his birth 
removed from Ohio to Fountain County, Ind., dur- 
ing the early settlement of that region. He took 
up a tract of Government land and succeeded in 
building u]) a comfortable homestead, where he 
cultivated the soil, and with his estimable wife spent 
the remainder of his days. His death took place in 

IK.'iO, and that of the mother in 1SC>8. The parental 
household included eight children, six now living, and 
residents of Illinois, Indiana and Kansas. The boys 
are cnu'aucd in fanning, and the girls mostly married 
"sons of the soil." 

' Our subject was reared to manhood in Fountain 
County. Ind.. with limited advantages, his educa- 
tion lieinu' conducted in the subscription schools, 
mainly during the winter season. In summer, as 
soon as old enough to be of service, he was made 
useful on the farm and became familiar with its 

various employments. He liegan to lay his plans 
early in life, and soon after reaching his majority 

took unto himself a wife and helpmeet in the person 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



515 



\ 



of Miss Mary A., daughter of William and Margaret 
( Whitehall) Boliva, of Fountain County. The 
wedding was celebrated at the home of the bride on 
the 5th of June, 1850, and they began life together 
in a modest dwelling in Shawnee Township, Foun- 
tain Co., Inrt. There they became the parents of 
three children, and later five more were added to the 
household circle. Of these but four are living, 
namely, Thomas, John, William, and Dora, the wife 
of George Bentley, who lives near Pontiac. Those 
deceased died at an early age. They were Mary 
E., Elizabeth, Delia and Eddie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bodley continued to reside in 
Fountain County until the fall of 1854, then com- 
ing to Central Illinois, located at Avoca, where Mr. 
B. had entered 360 acres of land from the Govern- 
ment. Not a furrow of this had been broken and 
there were no buildings upon the entire tract. He 
secured a small tenement for the shelter of his 
family and in addition to beginning the cultivation 
of the soil, superintended the cutting of timber 
with the design of building a frame house. The 
trees were felled in June, 1855, the lumber dressed 
in a sawmill and kiln-dried, and the following 
August the house was completed, the whole busi- 
ness being done inside of two months. It was put 
up in the substantial manner which was characteris- 
tic of all the operations of our subject, and was the 
wonder and admiration of the country around. In 
due time a barn and other necessary out-buildings 
followed, together with the fencing of the fields 
and the gathering together of convenient machinery 
and all the other appliances required by the pro- 
gressive and enterprising agriculturist. The prop- 
erty now presents one of the most attractive spots 
in the southern part of Livingston County, the 
land being under a high state of cultivation, the 
farm stock of the best description, and everything 
about the premises kept in the best of order. Mr. 
Bodley has parted with a few acres, having now 
but 352. 

Our subject was one of the first Supervisors of 
Avoca Township, has served as Road Commis- 
sioner, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. 
He has been deeply interested in church matters since 
coining here, and was one of the prime movers in 
the establishment of the Centennial Methodist Epis- 



copal Church at Lodemia Station, the edifice being 
built during the year 1876. To the support of this 
society he contributed liberally, and has represented 
the Onarga and the Kankakee Districts as delegate 
to the General Conference four sessions. He and 
his wife are at present connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Lodemia, in which Mr. B. is 
Sfeward and has been Sunday-school Superintendent 
for a number of years. He is also Steward of Kan- 
kakee District. 

Mr. Bodley is little past the prime of life and is 
in the midst of his usefulness. In a world where 
there is so much room for action on the part of the 
benevolent-minded, he is destined to continue an 
important part, and receives ample reward in the 
esteem and confidence of the people of his com- 
munity. 



f^ EORGE G. BREESE, who is a" farmer of 
broad ideas, and owns eighty acres of land 
on section 31, Poutiac Township, is a native 
of Jennings County, Ind., and was born on the 12th 
of April, 1858. He is the son of John and Mary 
Breese, who are at present residing in the State of 
Oregon. The father was a native of England, and 
the mother was born in Scotland. The father emi- 
grated to the United States about the year 1850, 
and proceeded to Ohio, where he married Marv 
Rook, and they were the parents of three children, 
of whom the subject of this sketch was the young- 
est. In the fall of 1868 they moved to Livingston 
County from Indiana, and settled in Waldo Town- 
ship. They lived there one year, and then moved 
to Rook's Creek Township, where they remained 
until the spring of 1 882, when they moved to Ore- 
gon, where they now reside. They are both mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and much 
devoted to that religious organization. He is a Re- 
publican in politics, and has always taken a great 
interest in the affairs of that part}-. 

Mr. Breese has been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits all his life, and when a youth received a good 
education in the common schools of Indiana. On 
the 23d of March, 1882, he was married to Hattie 
A. Piper, a daughter of Richard and Hannah (Vaz- 
son) Piper, of Rook's Creek Township. The mother 



4 



516 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of Mrs. Breese is deceased, and the father is a resi- 
dent of Hook's Creek Township. Mr. Breese set- 
tled on his present farm in 1885, and during the 
short time of his residence there has met with ex- 
cellent success. He is practically a self-made man, 
having'bcen left dependent upon his own resources 
by the removal of his parents to the far West when 
comparatively young. He and his wife are well 
known throughout their section of country, and en- 
joy the esteem and respect of a very large circle of 
acquaintances. They are broad and liberal in their 
views, and are valuable members of society. Mr. 
Breese has renounced his connection with the old 
political parties, and has put on the armor of the 
Prohibitionist, and conscientiously devotes as much 
time as he can possibly spare to that cause. 




KL1NGELHOFER. The snug 
farm property of this gentleman comprises 
eighty acres of good land on section 35, in 
Owego Township, where he has been located 
twelve or thirteen years. He has been largely en- 
gaged during this period in attending strictly to his 
own concerns, tilling the soil and adding improve- 
ments as time passed on and his means justified. 
He has served as School Director in his district, and 
is in all respects regarded as a reliable and substan- 
tial citizen, whose advent to this part of the county 
was a fortunate occurrence both for himself and the 
neighborhood around him. 

Our subject was born in the Province of Kur- Lies- 
sen, Germany, April 6, 1JS33, and is the son of 
John and Catherine (Maurer) Klirigelhofer, who 
were also of German birth and parentage, and spent 
their entire lives on their native soil. Herman was 
reared to manhood under the parental roof, and in 
common with the youth of his native country, was 
placed in school at an early age and continued his 
studies until fourteen years old. After reaching 
his majority he was first married to Miss Catherine 
Reitz, also a native of Germany, who became the 
mother of eight children, four living, namely, 
Valentine, Christian, Annie and Julia. The wife 
and mother died about 1*79. Mr. K. was the sec- 
ond time married, about 1880, to Miss Kreszentia 



Kellar, and they became the parents of one child, a 
daughter, Rosa. This lady died in 1882. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married in Strawn in 1883, was formerly Mis> Julia 
Faust. Mrs. K. is also a native of Germany, and 
wa> born May 15, 1835. Mr. K. emigrated to 
America in 1861, taking passage on a sailing-vessel 
at Bremen, and after an ocean voyage of nearly ten 
weeks, landed in New York City, whence he pro- 
ceeded directly to this State. He located first in 
LaSalle County, where he was employed as a day 
laborer until 1865, and then took up his abode in 
this county. He operated on rented land until 
about 1875, in the meantime living economically 
and saving what he could of a limited income. He 
purchased his present farm not long afterward, and 
has gained each year a little capital, adding gradu- 
ally the improvements most needed, so that he is 
now comparatively independent, and can take time 
to enjoy the fruits of his early industry. Upon be- 
coming a naturalized citizen, he first identified him- 
self with the Republican party, but of late years 
has voted independently, aiming to support the men 
whom he considers are best qualified to serve the 
people. 



HARLES W. BARBER, who is successfully 
engaged in farming and stock-raising on 
section 8, Odell Township, wns born in Sar- 
atoga County, N. Y., on the 7th of July, 1834, the 
second child in a family of three born to Zina and 
Sarah A. (Potter) Barber. The grandparents were 
all early sellers in the Mohawk Valley, where they 
spent the best part of their lives. Grandfather 
Potter was noted for physical strength and power- 
ful manhood, and served as ('unstable, Justice of 
the Peace, etc., during the greater part of his life. 
The father of Mr. Barber was a mechanic, and fol- 
lowed lumbering and sawinilling in the Slate of 
New York. He was born in Old Saratoga Town- 
ship on Ihe 9th of November, 1809. and lived there 
until 1851, when hi- sold all his interests there and 
came West where he bought a quarter section of 
land in LaSalle County, 111., and after establishing 
his family upon it, he engaged in carpentering ami 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



517 






his boys conducted the farm. In the summer of 
1855 lie attempted to help in the harvest field, and 
died from the effects of sunstroke, on the 25th of 
July. He was a strong Abolitionist, and was an 
ardent supporter of the Constitution, and an enthu- 
siastic Unionist. While he took an active part in 
political matters, he never sought office. He was 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
was one of the earliest Seceders from that denomina- 
tion on account of his anti-slavery views. He was 
twice married, and was the father of ten children, 
two of whom were killed in one week near the close 
of the Civil War, as they were advancing toward 
Richmond. 

Mr. Barber was reared to lumbering, learned the 
trade of a carpenter, and was educated in the com- 
mon schools. At the age of eighteen he went to 
the city of Chicago, where he followed his trade 
for three years, and then returned to LaSalle 
County, where he spent two years at his trade, and 
then on the llth of October, 1857, he was married 
to Adeline Harris, who was born in Livingston, 111., 
on the 26th of September, 1835. She was the sixth 
child in a family of seven born to Harvey and 
Elizabeth Harris. Soon after they were married 
Mr. and Mrs. Barber settled on a farm, and he di- 
vided his attention between farming and carpenter- 
ing. After continuing thus with varied success for 
several years, they came to Livingston County. 
During his residence in LaSalle County he at one 
time concluded to try cabinet-making and contract- 
ing, and formed a partnership with another party 
and began business in Ceutreville, 8t. Joseph Co., 
Mich. One year's experience in this line was suf- 
ficient, and he returned to the farm. In 1806 he 
located on a farm which he purchased near Odell, 
and built a house upon it. The following year he 
moved. to town and opened a carriage and wagon 
shop, and'about a year later purchased eighty acres, 
upon which he immediately moved and now re- 
sides, having recently added another eighty acres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are living Mary E., Rozelle 
A., Emma J., Harvey C., Fanny B., Mabel A., Nel- 
lie L. and Edith A. A twin sister to Nellie died 
in infancy. Mary married Robert Flack, who was 
accidentally killed by a street car in Chicago, in 



which city he was engaged as a foreman of a car- 
penter-shop, lie had wisely provided himself with 
a life insurance policy of $3,000, which was paid 
soon after his death, and the widow invested it in 
a farm of eighty acres near the home of her parents 
in Livingston County. Rosa married Fred G. 
Church, and lives on a farm in Odell Township; 
Emma married Charles Burke, a farmer, and lives 
in Greene County, Iowa. The other children are at 
home with their parents. Rosa is the mother of 
two children Susie and Robbie; Emma has two 
children Mabel and George. Mr. Barber has 
served as Road Commissioner and School Director 
for many years, is conservative in his politics, but 
casts his vote with the Republican party, having 
voted for the first time for the first Republican 
candidate for President, Gen. John C. Fremont. 
Mrs. Barber is a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and both have always been active in 
their support of religious and moral enterprises. 
Mr. Barber is now a stock-raiser, making a specialty 
of Holstein cattle, Norman horses and Poland hogs. 
With all of his farming enterprises he has been sig- 
nally successful. 



IIARLES R, B AMBER resides on a beauti- 
fully located farm on section 6, Waldo 
Township, where he is engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising. His farm consists of 
eighty-eight acres eligibly situated, and contains 
good buildings of all kinds, besides a never-failing 
supply of water. 

Mr. Bamber was born in Washington, Taze- 
well Co., 111., Aug. 6, 1846, and is the son of John 
B. and Angeline (Emmitt) Bamber. The father 
was a tailor by trade, in Washington, but owned a 
farm about three miles from the town, where the 
family resided a portion of the time. The father 
was born in Lancashire, England, in 1810, and was 
an only child. He came to America with his par- 
ents, locating on a farm in Illinois. The paternal 
grandfather, Robert Bamber, was a weaver by 
trade, which occupation he followed for some time 
in this State, but finally embarked in the drug busi- 
ness, in which he was engaged at the time of his 
death, which occurred while on a trip to St. Louis 




t 



t. 



518 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






to purchase goods. Our subject's mother was born 
in Winchester, Va., Jan. 17, 181f>, and came of 
German parentage; she is still living in Washing- 
ton, 111. She became the wife of the father of our 
subject in December, 1839, and bore him four chil- 
dren, of whom our subject is the youngest. Their 
names are as follows: John B., born Aug. 27, 1840, 
was a private in the 47th Illinois Infantry, in which 
he served during the entire war; he married Susan 
Beauchamp, deceased, and resides in Tazewell Coun- 
ty, and has one child, named Charles William. Jane, 
born Nov. 19, 1842, married John Hugill, has five 
children, and lives in Washington, III. ; Robert, born 
May 24, 1844, was a private in the 14Cth Illinois 
Infantry, and served about eleven months; he mar- 
ried Thankful Trowbridge, has two children, and 
lives in Washington, 111.; Charles R. 

Our subject did not enjoy very good opportuni- 
ties for obtaining an education, but succeeded in 
familiarizing himself with most of the elementary 
branches. At twenty -one years of age he contracted 
to farm his father's estate, and on the 24th of No- 
vember, 18C7, which was Thanksgiving Day, he 
was married to Miss Pauline Noel, daughter of 
Jacob and Pauline (Tyria) Noel, of Tazewell 
County, 111. She was born near Paris, France, June 
12, 1848, and was three j'ears of age when her par- 
ents came to this country and located in Tazewell 
County, where they still reside. She is the third 
child in a family of fourteen, of whom three died 
young, and eleven are still living, as follows: 
Mary married James Brown, has six children, and 
lives in Iowa; Harriet married Solomon Betz, has 
four children, and lives in Washington, 111. ; Pauline 
is our subject's wife; Rosella married John Beatty, 
has six children, and lives in Washington,. Ill,; John 
also lives in Washington; Julius lives in Iowa; 
Sophia married George Parsons, has three children, 
and lives in Waldo Township; Elizabeth married 
John Taylor, has one child, and lives in IVoria ; Sa- 
rah, Ella and Joseph are unmarried, and live in Peo- 
ria. Mrs. Bamber's parents are living in Wash- 
ington, Tazewell County, atan advanced age. The}' 
were born in France, the father in 1808, the mother 
in 1823: they were married Feb. 23, 1844. 

For one year after marriage Mr. Bambcr engaged 
in farming, and for two years afterward followed 



various pursuits, when he resumed farming in 
1870, on the ground where the village of Benson 
now stands. In the fall of 1871 he assisted in 
platting that town, and in the same 3'ear purchased 
forty acres of ground on section 26, Minonk Town- 
ship, Woodford County, to which he moved in the 
spring of 1872. He continued to live on this land 
for eleven years, and then sold it and bought his 
present farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bamber are the parents of nine chil- 
dren, as follows: William Edward, born in Wash- 
ington, 111., Nov. '19, 1869; Robert J., born at 
Benson, 111., Aug. 11, 1871; John F., at Benson, 
Dec. 27. 1872; Charles S., in Minonk Township. 
Woodford County, May 28, 1874; Delia M., born 
Oct. 20, 1875, died March 25, 1876; Jennie B., born 
Oct. 23, 1878; Orpha W., Dec. 17, 1881, in Minonk 
Township, Woodford County; Minnie Orah E., 
Dec. 12, 1882: Pearl A., in Waldo Township, 
Sept. 13, 1P84. 

Mr. Barnber takes a prominent part in the affairs 
of his township, and is the encourager and sup- 
porter of every measure having for its object the 
advancement of education and morality. He started 
in life without means of his own, and his present 
possessions are the result of his own industry and 
good management. Aside from the ordinary pur- 
suits of agriculture he gives considerable attention 
to stock-raising, in which he has been quite suc- 
cessful. 



OHN LONG has been a respected resident 
of Dwight Township since the spring of 
18.09. In his history we have an illustra- 
tion of one of the most intelligent and 
observant of the sons of Erin, who, from the "land 
of great possibilities" has watched with deep inter- 
est the struggle of his countrymen and possesses a 
good knowledge of the various events which have 
taken place since they began to agitate the question 
of their freedom. The Irish-American citizen has 
taken kindry to the institutions of this country, and 
there are few great public works, canals, railroads 
or buildings, in which their industry has not been 
utilized and where they have not proved them- 
selves eminently ingenious and reliable. Thisper- 
i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



510 



haps accounts for the almost universal sympathy 
which Americans feel for struggling Ireland, and to 
which they often give voice in both public and 
private. 

Mr. Long was born in the city of Dublin, in 1833, 
of parents more than ordinarily intelligent but who 
could only bestow upon him a common-school edu- 
cation. The boy, however, made the best of his 
opportunities, and eagerly devoured everything 
which came within his' reach in the shape of in- 
structive reading. The old traditions of his coun- 
try had for him an especial interest, and he believes, 
with thousands of others, that the dawn of a better 
day for Ireland is not far off. He remained upon 
his native soil until reaching manhood, and when 
twenty-two years of age was married to Miss Ann 
O'Brien, of Mead, and for their wedding tour they 
embarked upon a sailing-vessel bound for America. 

Our subject and his bride, after a safe voyage 
of forty -five days, landed in the city of New York, 
and a month later started for the West, locating 
first in LaSalle County, this State. From that 
time until the spring of 1869, Mr. Long was em- 
ployed at various work, principally mining, and in 
the meantime had accumulated a snug little sum of 
money. He now determined to change his occu- 
pation and location, and coming to this county 
wisely invested his capital in a tract of land which 
is now included in his present homestead. This 
was but slightly improved, with rude buildings, 
and only a part of the land under cultivation. Mr. 
Long- has affected a marked change in the con- 
dition of things, having now a home comfortable 
in all respects, a goodly assortment of farm machin- 
ery, with horses and cattle in good condition, and 
everything about the homestead creditable to the 
industry of its proprietor. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Long, eight in 
number, were named respectively, Peter, Richard, 
John, Michael, Christopher, Mar}', Catherine and 
Julia. The eldest son. Peter, married Miss Mar- 
garet O'Connor, and is engaged in a wiremill in 
Joliet. The remaining ones are at home with their 
parents. Our subject upon becoming a naturalized 
citizen identified himself with the Republican 
party, and in religious matters, with his excellent 
wife and their children, closely adheres to the 



Catholic faith of his fathers. No man is more up- 
right and honorable in his business transactions, 
and consequently none is more respected by his 
neighbors. 




GILBERT L. HEADLEY. Livingston County 

contains among her citizens many men who 
have had a hard struggle in life, and been 
dependent entirely upon their own resources for 
whatever of success they have attained. Among 
these is the subject of this sketch, who owns and 
resides upon a 150-acre farm on section 6, in 
Saunemin Township. lie began life a poor boy, 
having none of the advantages which fall to even 
the poorest of the present day, and it is creditable to 
him to say that he has attained a measure of suc- 
cess much above the average. Mr. Headley is a 
native of Ohio, and was born in Trumbull County 
on the 22d of January, 1834. He is a son of Amos 
and Experience (Lindley) Headley, and comes 
from English descent. In the family of his parents 
there were twelve children, of whom our subject is 
the sixth in their order of birth. At the age of 
sixteen years he was thrown upon his own resources, 
and began working in Pennsylvania on a salary 
of $6 per month, and continued at this place 
for one year. Being compelled to work the greater 
portion of the time in order to support himself he 
was denied those advantages, limited though they 
were, that other boys of that day were afforded for 
obtaining an education. In 1855 he came to Illi- 
nois and settled in LaSalle County, and resided 
there until 1870, in which year he came to Liv- 
ipgston County, and settled on the farm he now 
owns, injSaunemin Township. This farm consists 
of 150 acres of as good land as may be found in 
Livingston County. 

On the 29th of November, 18G3, Mr. Headley 
was married to Miss Persis S. Thompson, of La- 
Salle County, 111. She is a native of Vermont, 
and was born iu Windsor County, that State, on 
the 14th of June, 1847. She is the daughter of 
John W. and Sarah E. (Leonard) Thompson, both 
natives of Vermont. In her tenth year she accom- 
panied her parents when they emigrated from Ver- 
mont to Illinois, and settled in LaSalle County. 



| 

t 



i 



520 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Her mother died in that county in 1868, and the 
father now resides in the State of Kansas. To her 
parents were born four children, of whom three 
survive : Rachel B., wife of Clay Burgess, of Kan- 
sas City, Mo.; Laura V., wife of Robert Haverfield, 
of Lamed, Kan., and Mrs. Headley. Her parents 
were pioneers in LaSalle County, 111., and assisted 
materially in opening and improving that county. 
Her father has been for many years an ardent 
member of the Congregational Church. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Headley have been born eight 
children: Laura, born Aug. 22, 1864; Emma, born 
May 7, 1806, wife of Albert Schnurr, of Union 
Township, this county; Benjamin F., born Nov. 20, 
1867: Samuel, born Sept. 11, 1869, and now resides 
in Saunemin Township; Neota, born May 22, 1872; 
Cephas, born Sept. 11, 1874; Victor, born July 4, 
1877, and Luther, born Feb. 6, 1880. Mr. Head- 
ley is a Democrat in politics and gives the men 
and measures of his party a cordial support. He 
has served as Director of his school district, in 
which capacity he gave perfect satisfaction to his 
constituents. 




leading furni- 



^ELSON G. BENNETT, the 
ture dealer and undertaker of Saunemin. al- 
though comparatively young in years, con- 
trols a lucrative trade of probably $5,000 per an- 
num, which he established in 1883. His business 
house occupies an area of 28x68 feet, and two floors 
are utilized in the storing of his finely assorted stock 
of merchandise, which includes queensware, glass- 
ware, organs and sewing-machines. 

In glancing at the details of the business of our 
subject, we are not surprised to find that ho was 
born among the wide-awake and ingenious Yankees 
of New England. He first opened his eyes to the 
light May 3, 1849, in Litchfield County, Conn. 
His parents, William and Sarah (Bronson) Bennett, 
were natives of the same locality, and descended 
from excellent English ancestry, from whom they 
inherited those reliable and substantial traits of 
character which constituted them honest men and 
good citizens. About three years after the birth 
of our subject, his parents determined upon a change 
of location, and after due preparation, he started 



with their little family on an overland journey to 
the great West. They came within the boundaries 
of the young Prairie State, and located in LaSalle 
County during its earliest settlement, upon a tract 
of land in Farm Ridge Township, and about two 
years later moved to Deer Park Township. The 
death of the father occurred in 1856, when he was 
in the sixtieth year of his age. The mother, al- 
though now a resident of Normal, still retains the 
old homestead in LaSalle County. 

The parental household of our subject included 
nine children, eight of whom are living, and the 
record is as follows : Diana became the wife of Rev. 
A. S. Calkins, engaged in the ministry at Normal, 
111. : Isaac, George A. and Henry F. are carrying on 
farming in LaSalle County; Charles F. is in Cali- 
fornia; Edgar in Mendota, and Edwin in Marshall 
County, Iowa. Nelson G., our subject, was reared 
on the homestead in LaSalle County, and being the 
youngest of the family, escaped m&ny of the sterner 
duties and privations of pioneer life. He received 
a good education in the schools which were later 
organized under competent teachers, and remained 
a member of his father's household until his mar- 
riage. The maiden of his choice, Miss Hattie A. 
Trout, was one of the most attractive young ladies 
in Deer Park Township, and the wedding was cele- 
brated at the home of his brother Edwin. Oct. 15, 
1876. 

Mrs. Bennett is the daughter of Hiram and Vi- 
anna Trout, who were natives of Ohio and Missouri, 
and are now residents of Andersonville County, 
Kan. Their household included nine children, and 
Hattie A. was born in Wisconsin in 1850. Mr. and 
Mrs. B. after their marriage, came to this county 
and located on a farm four and one-half miles 
south of Forest, where they remained three j-ears 
and until the removal to Saunemin. Here Mr. 
Bennett, in partnership with Mr. A. Cording, put up 
the first business house of any importance after the 
village was laid out. Together they purchased a 
stock of general hardware and groceries, including 
a goodly assortment of farm implements, and car- 
ried on business about eighteen months. Mr. B. 
then withdrew and established his present business, 
which was first located where the drug-store of 
Benkma tfe Dow now stands. In the summer of 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN G.LOCKNER.SEC.S. GERMANVIUE TOWNSHIP. 




RESIDENCE OF A. A. MAJOR, SEC. 35. FOREST TOWN SHI P. 




R ESI DENG EOF J.W.JENNINGS , SEC. 34. PLEAS ANT RIDGETOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



523 



188fi he moved to his present quarters, which af- 
ford more room and better facilities. 

The family residence of our subject is pleasantly 
located and he and his amiable lady are the valued 
members of an extremely pleasant and cultivated 
social circle. Their only child, Daisy E., was born 
Aug. 8. 1887. Mr. B., politically, is a stanch Re- 
publican, and with his wife is an active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially, he be- 
longs to the I. O. O. F. at Saunemin. He is con- 
tributing his full share to the business interests of 
the town, and has made himself quite valuable both 
as a citizen and business man. 



T 



fUDGE BILLINGS P. BABCOCK, one of 

the earliest settlers of Livingston County, 
first came to this State in 1847, after having 
finished his legal education and been admit- 
ted to practice in the courts of New York, his 
native State. He did not remain here, however, 
upon his first trip, but returned the following year 
and purchased a large acreage of beautiful rolling 
prairie, which was designated as the Grove property, 
so named on account of a natural growth of forest 
trees, which afterward received the name of its 
purchaser, and was considered one of the most 
beautiful spots in the State of Illinois. His nearest 
neighbor was then four miles distant, and the 
Bloomington & Chicago State Road running by was 
traveled by State officers, and merchants going to 
Chicago, and was a great thoroughfare for cattle- 
drovers in autumn, who in this manner transported 
thousands of head each year. Judge Babcock 
since that time has been prominent in the affairs of 
this locality and the leader in most of the enter- 
prises which have brought it to its present status. 
He, with two Associate Justices as County Com- 
missioners, built the first truss bridge over the 
Vermilion River at Pontiac, and the brick court- 
house, which was destroyed by fire in 1874. Both 
were substantial improvements and a much greater 
undertaking for those times, than the iron bridge 
.ind beautiful court-house of the present, with the 
later facilities for construction. 

Our subject is a native of Oneida County, N. 



Y., and was born March 29, 1814. He is the son 
of Dr. Charles and Nancy (Pratt) Babcock, the 
former a native of Connecticut and the latter of 
New York. The family is of English descent, and 
its first representative in this county was John Bab- 
cock, who emigrated in the early part of the seven- 
teenth century, settling in one of the New England 
States. Col. Babcock, of Revolutionary fame, was 
a direct ancestor of our subject, and the father of 
the latter participated in the War of 1812 as a 
surgeon, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor. 
After the war he settled at New Hartford Village, 
Oneida Co., N. Y.. where he followed his practice 
successfully and attained to a high position among 
his medical brethren. He was several times elected 
President of the Oneida County Medical Society, 
which was one of the most prominent in the State, 
and there were few who possessed his knowledge of 
materia medica in its various departments. He 
spent his last years in Oneida County, where his 
death took place in 1850. The parental family in- 
cluded three children, of whom only two survive 
Billings P. and his sister Mary C., the wife of 
Henry G. Abbott, of Utica, N. Y. 

The Judge was reared to manhood in his native 
county, where he pursued his early studies and 
distinguished himself as a pupil fond of his books 
and anxious to excel. When eighteen years old he 
entered Hamilton College in his native county, and 
studied two years, then entered the senior class of 
Union College at Schencctady, from which he was 
graduated one year later. He commenced read- 
ing law with the celebrated firm of Noyes & Tracey 
of Utica, and was admitted to practice in the 
Supreme Court of the State in 1835, while at the 
same time passing his examination successfully for 
admission to practice in the Court of Chancery. 
He entered upon his professional duties at New 
Hartford, but owing to ill-health was obliged to 
abandon for a time his chosen profession and 
engage in active out-door exercise. About this 
time he emigrated westward, and obtained his 
first view of Livingston County, where he deter- 
mined to establish a permanent home. After in.-ik- 
ing his second trip to the West and taking possession 
of the land which he had purchased, he commenced 
dealing in stock, making sheep a specialty, and 



T 



.5-24 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



greatly increasing the wool product of this section 
of country. He invested his surplus capital in ad- 
ditional land, and in all his undertakings was remark- 
ably successful. He was elected Judge of the 
County Court in 1852, the duties of which office 
he discharged in an efficient manner three years, and 
then resigned in order to attend to personal matters 
of importance. 

A mail route from Wilmington to Pontiac wa> 
opened soon after the arrival of Judge Babcock in 
this locality, and through his exertions a post-office 
was established at the Grove for the accommodation 
of the settlers on the Mazon. Our subject was 
appointed Postmaster, and was the means of bring- 
ing about other measures which added greatly to 
the building up of the community and encouraged 
immigration. He cast his first Presidential vote 
for Henry Clay, and at the organization of the 
Republican party became one of its most cordial 
supporters, and still gives to it his vote and in- 
fluence. 




M. GREGORY is one of the prom- 
ising young men of Amity Township, where 
he owns sixty acres of land on section 211. 
He comes of English stock which has been noted for 
several generations for intelligence and morality. 
Having been born in 1805 he now comes upon the 
stage of action at a time when the country is nearly 
in its zenith of progress and improvement, and 
necessarily he does not have to contend with the 
trials and tribulations which were met at every step 
by the pioneer settlers of Illinois. Instead of the 
crude and unwieldy implements of the farm of the 
early days, he finds the work of the agriculturist now 
performed almost wholly by the most perfect ma- 
chinery the ingenuity of man has been able to pro- 
duce. With such machinery as they now use as 
farming accessories Mr. Gregory can accomplish as 
much now as five men could in the days of the 
wooden moldboard plow. 

In writing thi> sketch of one of Amity Township's 
coming men it i- not amiss to say that he is a native 
of this township, ami was born where lie now lives 
on the 20th of February, 180"), and is the son of 
Thomas .1. and Ellen Gregory, natives of England. 



Mrs. Gregory was the daughter of Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Moss) Hols worth, who were natives of Lan- 
castcrshire, England. Elizabeth Holsworth died 
on the 4th of March, 180]. Thomas Gregory, 
the father of our subject, was born in England on 
the 18th of November, 1827, and died on the 4th 
of February, 1X80. lie was married to Ellen Hols- 
worth, a native of England, on the 18th of July, 
1847, and came to America in April, 1855, landing 
at New York. Soon after they went to Chicago. 
remaining one month, and from Chicago to Living- 
ston County. He was a Protestant Methodist min- 
ister, and labored as such for over thirty year>. 
He devoted altogether about forty years to the min- 
istry, lie was in the Union army for about eleven 
months as a member of Company C, 12!)th Illinois 
Infantry, and was discharged on account of disability 
incurred while serving as a cook in the hospital. To 
Thomas J. and Ellen Gregory were bom ten chil- 
dren: Elizabeth Ann, born in England in 1849, 
married William Ellis, and has two children ; they 
are located in Butler County, Kan, and their post- 
office address is El Dorado. Thomas Gregory was 
bom in 1847. and died when four years of age in 
England: Thomas John was born in 1849, and died 
in England when eleven months and two weeks old ; 
Richard was born in 1851, and when nearly five 
years old died in England; Thomas John married 
Miss Julia Louderbeck, has three children living and 
one dead, and resides in Livingston County; Philip 
Wilbur, born March 4, 1851), married Elizabeth 
Campbell, has two children, and is a farmer of Amity 
Township: Charle- Henry, horn June 27, 1863, mar- 
ried Olive Widdifield, and is a farmer in Amity 
Township; James Abram. born May 10, 1862, was 
graduated at Keokuk. Iowa: he married Marcella 
Boycr, and is a practicing physician at Chat>worth. 
William Morris Gregory is the subject of this sketch. 
His land is under a high state of cultivation and is 
very productive. It is very eligibly located, being 
near churches, school- and markets. 

Politically, Mr. Gregory i> a >tanch Republican, 
and by the members of that party is considered one 
of the active workers. When a boy he received a 
good education, and is now a great reader, and is 
very food of books and new-paper-. lie is pro- 
grosivc in all his ideas and very liberal minded. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



525 



i 



He i> :i young man who is very popular with all his 
acquaintances, and takes a leading position in the 
affairs of liis township. 



JOSEPH S. BABCOCK, deceased, was a na- 
tive of Steuben County, N. Y., and was born 
on the 26th of June, 1828, the son of Joseph 
(|f|// and Pha>be Babcock. His paternal ancestors 
were of English descent, while those on the mater- 
nal side were French, and were among the Hugue- 
nots who left Europe to escape religious persecu- 
tion. Joseph Babcock grew to manhood in his na- 
tive county and State, and was educated at Lima 
Seminary, New York. His early days were spent 
on a farm, and when he was in his twenty-sixth 
year he engaged in the mercantile business in New 
York City, and continued in that business for sev- 
eral years. In about the year 1857 he removed 
his entire stock of merchandise to Pontiac. the ob- 
ject of his removal being to improve his health. 
He also had extensive money interests in this lo- 
cality. He was one of the pioneer merchants of 
Pontiac, and independently of that business was an 
extensive money lender. He remained in business 
in Pontiac for five or six years, but owing to con- 
tinued bad health was obliged to remove to his 
farm, one and one-half miles northwest of the 
town, where he remained until his death, which oc- 
curred on the 6th of July, 1870. 

On the 1st of December, 1861, Mr. B. was married to 
Mary 0. Norton, a native of Farmingtou. Me., and 
daughter of lion. Samuel and Mary (Norcross) Nor- 
ton: her father a native of Martha's Vineyard, and 
her mother of Farmington, Me. In 1861 her par- 
ents came to Pontiac, where they spent the remain- 
der of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Babcock were 
born three children Stanton, deceased; May and 
Stanton (2d). Mr. Babcock died on the 6th of 
July, 1870, respected by all who knew him, leav- 
ing a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn 
their loss. lie was a kind and loving father and hus- 
band, and of unquestioned honor and integrity in 
business affairs. In his demise the county lost one 
of her best citizens, and the community a valued 
member. His remains were interred in the ceme- 



tery at Pontiac. The widow and two children sur- 
vive him, and reside on the farm, which is one of 
the best improved in the county. They are lead- 
ing members of society. 

Mr. Babcock was a Republican in politics, and 
was closely identified with all the important move- 
ments of that party in his county. He "was one of 
the original founders of the Baptist Church in Pon- 
tiac, and always contributed liberally of his means 
for the support of that denomination, while he al- 
ways favored every movement for the benefit of so- 
ciety and the improvement of the county. 

Ebben Norton, the grandfather of Mrs. Babcock, 
represented Kennebec County in the Legislature of 
Massachusetts when Maine was yet a province, and 
in the year 1843 Samuel B. Norton, her father, was 
a member of the Maine Legislature. He had al- 
wa3 T s been in public life, and for a considerable 
time served as Treasurer of Franklin County, Me. 



EDMUND T. METZ, the leading insurance 
and real-estate agent of Odell, was born 
while his parents were residents of Will- 
iamsburg, Pa., Dec. 29, 1848. He was the fourth 
child of Peter and Augeline (Johnson) Metz, who 
were also natives of the Keystone State, and a 
sketch of whom appears on another page. Edmund 
T. was reared to farm life and received his educa- 
tion in the district schools, making his home with 
his parents until twenty-three years of age. 

Mr. Metz when first starting out for himself, his 
parents having come to this State in 1860, opened 
a general store in Odell and associated himself in 
partnership with William Vaughn. They continued 
together five years, the firm being dissolved by the 
death of Mr. Vaughn. The business was then closed 
out, and Mr. Metz embarked in the insurance busi- 
ness in company with his brother William, who at 
that time was practicing law at Odell. They con- 
tinued together until the spring of 1885, when Will- 
iam withdrew and Edmund T. has since carried on 
the business alone, and conducts also a real-estate, 
and the largest insurance agency in the city. 

Mr. Metz was married rather late in life, Oct. 12, 
1882, to Miss Birdie Losee, a native of Dwight, 



t 



520 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



this county, and born Jan. 9, 1863. Mrs. Metz 
was the youngest child of her parents, whose family 
included three sons and four daughters. Her father 
was a native of New York, whence he came to Illi- 
nois during the early settlement of Livingston 
County, and where he first engaged in general mer- 
chandising. He became quite prominent in public 
affairs and was elected Justice of the Peace. Finally 
he abandoned trade, and in connection with his 
office carried on a thriving business as a collector. 
He is now deceased. His wife, former!}' Miss Lydia 
Miller, was also a native of the Empire State, and 
is now living in Dwight. 

Mr. Metz, after becoming a voting citizen, iden- 
tified himself with the Democratic part}', although 
he meddles very little with political matters. His 
estimable lady is a member in good standing of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. With a snug home 
on Prairie avenue they are fond of those matters 
which conduce to the growth of the intellect, and 
enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends. 



-*- 



fifiOHN A. BUELL, a prominent young farmer 
of Owego Township, is the owner of eighty 
acres of good land on section 12, of which 
he took possession in the spring of 1886. and 
is meeting with good success in his farming opera- 
tions. He represents the intelligence and enter- 
prise of that locality, and is a citizen of whom much 
is expected in the future, possessing those natural 
abilities which with ordinary effort on his part will 
bear their legitimate fruits. 

Mr. Buell was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., 
June 30, 1853, and is the only child of Samuel and 
Harriet (Beach) Buell, who were also natives of 
the Empire State. The mother is now deceased, 
but the father is living and a resident of California. 
John A. was reared by his grandparents until four- 
teen years of age, and then, in company with his 
paternal uncle, James Buell, came to the West and 
at once located in Livingston County, where he lias 
since resided. He was reared to farm pursuits, and 
received the advantages afforded by the common 
1 schools. After passing his twenty-seventh year he 
was united in marriage with Miss Luella Tucker, 



the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
in McDowell, Avoca Township, Dec. 23. 1880. 
Mrs. B. is the daughter of Willard and Matilda 
Tucker, natives of Ohio, but now residing in Avoca 
Township, and by her union with our subject has 
become the mother of three children : Irvvin A., 
who was born April 4, 1882; Earl B., June 19, 
1884, and Bertha. 

Mr. and Mrs. Buell began life together in a mod- 
est dwelling at Avoca, whence they removed to 
their present home, which with its neat residence 
and convenient out-buildings, forms a pleasant pic- 
ture of quiet country life. They number their 
friends by the score in this section, and are fair rep- 
resentatives of its intelligence and worth. Mr. 
Buell uniformly votes the Republican ticket. 



r 



AMES H. HOWARTH. Lancashire, En- 
ll gland, is the great seat of the British cotton 
manufacture, which has increased since 1770 
with a rapidity unparalleled in the history 
of mechanical industry. Woolen, worsted, linen, 
silk, hats, paper, soap, chemicals, etc., are also man- 
ufactured on a large scale. Manchester is the prin- 
cipal seat of cotton manufacture in the county, and 
Liverpool of the shipping trade; the former, how- 
ever, is carried on to a great extent in numerous 
other towns in the shire, including Preston, Bolton, 
Old ham, Ashton, Blackburn, Bury, Chorley, Wigan 
and other minor points. A complete network of 
railways and several important canals afford means 
of rapid conveyance between Lancashire and all 
parts of the kingdom. Lancaster is the capital of 
the shire, and it is picturesquely situated upon an 
eminence crowned by the church and castle. It is 
a city of 20,000, and was formerly a port which en- 
joyed a large foreign trade, but in later years that 
has been transferred to Liverpool. 

Mr. Howarth. now a farmer and stock-grower on 
section II, Belle Prairie Township, is a native of 
Lancashire, England, and was born on the 27th of 
February, 1 847. He is the son of John and Selina 
(Fielding) Howarth, who were also natives of En- 



i 1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



5-27 



ir 



gland. The father was born on the 24th of Janu- 
ary, 1814, and was a coal miner and stonemason 
by trade, and in his youth received a very limited 
education. He first came to the United States in 
1842, and in the same year located in Peoria 
County, 111., where he followed his trade until 
about 1862, when he began farming with the assist- 
ance of his boys, and also dealt in coal until 1872, 
when he retired from the latter business. He is 
now the owner of about 600 acres of land, and still 
resides in Peoria County. The mother was born 
in 1820, and is still living. She is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and has been for many years. 
They are the parents of six children, all of whom 
are living James II., Colonel D., Benjamin, Sarah 
A., John and Selina. 

On the ,)th of April, 1871, Mr. Howarth was mar- 
ried to Miss Alice Hindle, who was born on the 6th 
of April, 1849, in Peoria County. She is the 
daughter of John and Susannah Hindle, who were 
natives of England and came to America in 1842, 
and located at Peoria. The mother and father were 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which he had been a Class-Leader for many 
years. The father died in 1879. They were the 
parents of nine children, viz.. Martha, Alice, David, 
Mary A., James II., Richard, Lilly, Arvesta J. 
and Selina M. 

Mr. Howarth came to Livingston County in 
1870, and purchased 120 acres of land, to the cul- 
tivation of 'which, and the raising of stock, he de- 
votes his time. In the spring of 1882 he was 
elected to the office of Township Supervisor, which 
office he filled for four years, and then after a year's 
intermission he was re-elected, and is now in his 
fifth term of that office, in which he is serving to 
the entire satisfaction of the people of Belle Prairie 
Township. He has held the position of member of 
the Committee on County Equalization, in which 
position he has been of much valuable service to 
the people. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, 
and is an active member of Tarbolton Lodge No. 
351. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howarth have had six children 
Flora A., S. Lilly, Richard B. (deceased), Jesse 
D., Martha A. and John P. The parents are both 
active members of the Presbyterian Church, and 



take a lively interest in the affairs of that organiza- 
tion. Mr. Howarth gives his political adhesion to 
the Republican party, and takes an active part in 
.its campaigns. 



A. SMITH. This country has become a safe 
harbor for thousands of men whose ideas of 
right were so pronounced as to preclude 
their remaining in their native land. In the 
case of the subject of this sketch the fortunes of 
war were such that to remain in Denmark he might 
be compelled to raise arms against his own people. 
After the southern portion of Denmark passed un- 
der the sway of Prussia the rigorous military law 
compelled the Danes to serve in the Prussian army 
and even fight their own countrymen, if it were 
the will of the King. Under these circumstances 
Mr. Smith had to chose one of two alternatives 
remain and submit to this military service, or seek 
a home in some other country. He chose the latter, 
and became a citizen of the United States, and it 
is safe to predict that he has never regretted the 
step he took in the matter. 

Mr. Smith, who is a progressive farmer of D wight 
Township, is a son of J. Schmidt, and was born in 
Denmark in 1843. His father was a blacksmith at 
Berklew, near Sleswick, Denmark, now a Province 
of Prussia, and was the father of the following- 
named children : Jep, Paul, Catherine M., Maria, 
Meret, Peter S., Abbe, Andreas, and one child who 
died in infancy. Mr. Schmidt was married three 
times, :ind of his children, J. A., Andreas and Peter 
came to this country. Andreas is a farmer in 
Gruudy County, 111., and Peter is a blacksmith in 
Chicago. The remainder of the family are living 
in Denmark. 

J. A. Smith, our subject, learned the trade of a 
shoemaker while a boy, and received a common- 
school education. At the age of twenty-three 
years, in 18(16, he emigrated to this country and 
settled in Dwight, where he began working at his 
trade, in which business he continued at that place 
four years, and for a time at Gardner. In 1867 
Mr. Smith was married to Miss Annie M. Nielson, 
daughter of Niels C. Nielson, of Jutland, Denmark. 



T 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Their household consists of the following children: 
Marias, Mary, Finne, Caroline, Andrew and Will- 
iam; they have also reared a girl named Hannah 
Howson. In 1870 Mr. Smith rented a farm in 
Union Township and began farming. He remained 
on this farm for two years and then rented a farm 
in Dwight Township, on which he lived for four- 
teen years, when he came to the farm which he now 
owns and lives on near Dwight. 

Politically, Mr. Smith is strongly Republican, and 
uniformly casts his vote in support of the candi- 
dates of that party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are 
members of the Lutheran Church, and participate 
actively in the affairs of the congregation to which 
they belong. Mr. Smith is providing liberally for 
his family, and is giving each the advantage of a 
good education. The family residence is pleasantly 
located, and within and without is indicative of 
cultivated tastes and ample means. The friends 
and associates of our subject comprise the cultiva- 
ted people of Dwight Township, and they are most 
worthily filling their places as worthy members of 
society. 



1 



HRISTIAN BECKER, an industrious and 
thrifty young farmer of Charlotte Township, 
is pleasantly located on section 8, where he 
has 100 acres of valuable land, and has already dis- 
tinguished himself as a successful breeder of high- 
grade English, Norman and Clyde draft horses and 
good cattle. Although located here less than a 
year, he has already established himself in the con- 
fidence of his neighbors, and is recognized as a 
valued accession to the community. 

Mr. Becker was born in Pontiac Township, this 
county, April 28, 1859, and is the elder of two 
children, the parents being John II. and Matha 
(Williams) Becker, natives of Germany. They 
emigrated to America in early life, and the father 
was a farmer by occupation. He is now a resident 
of Chats worth Township, and one of the most in- 
dustrious and well-to-do citizens of that locality. 
He began life in this country a poor man, and is 
now the owner of a fine homestead comprising 160 
acres of land, with good buildings and all the other 
appurtenances of a valuable country estate. A 




sketch of him will be found elsewhere in this work. 
Mr. Christian Becker remained with his parents 
until twenty-two years of age, becoming familiar 
with the various employments of the farm, and de- 
veloping the habits of industry and economy in 
which he had been trained by his excellent parents. 
He was married, Feb. 28, 1887, at the home of the 
bride in Chats worth, to Mies Hilka Muller, who was 
born in Germany, and is the youngest of the three 
children of Heinrich and Franka (Johnson) Muller. 
She came to the United States alone in 1885, 
and is a lady greatly respected wherever known. 
Mr. Becker with commendable forethought, had 
laid the foundations for a future home, and they 
have begun life comfortably and surrounded by 
all that makes it desirable. 

.^ - v^==- i fc -i ^ig.r'-y 

LFRED E. HARDING, attorney-at law at 
Pontiac, came to this place thirty years 
ago. and establishing an office immediately 
commenced practice. In July following 
he assumed charge of the editorial columns of the 
Livingston County Neirs, the first Democratic 
paper published in the county. He remained con- 
nected with this until December, 1859, and since 
then has given his entire attention to the duties 
of his profession. He is the oldest living practitioner 
in the county, and for mairy years has been one of 
the leading attorneys of the Livingston County bar. 
Mr. Harding, a native of Genesee County, N. Y., 
was born in the town of Bethany June 24, 1830. 
His parents were Alfred and Maria (Gilbert) Hard- 
ing, natives of Connecticut, and his paternal grand- 
parents, Ephraim and Susan (Wheeler) Harding, 
were natives of the same State, and of English de- 
scent. Ephraim Harding servod as a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War five years. When he entered 
the army he was a well-to-do farmer, and when the 
war was over he found that the British soldiers had 
stolen his horses, cattle, and whatever else of value 
they could lay their hands upon, which theft made 
him practically a poor man. He engaged in farm- 
ing until quite well stricken with years, and at 
seventy-five years of age became blind. He was of 
a literary turn of mind and composed poetry, which 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



529 



ir 



t 



his grandchildren would write down for him. He 
lived in this manner nearly ten years, his death occur- 
ring when he was eighty-four years old. His wife 
was nearly one hundred when her death occurred, 
and both died at Bethany, N. Y. They were the par- 
ents of thirteen sons and two daughters, all of whom 
lived to mature years. Alfred, the father of our 
subject, was reared on a farm, and when about 
twenty 3'ears of age entered the Amerjcan army, and 
was soldier and Sergeant in the War of 1812. 
Afterward he married, and became the owner of a 
farm in the Holland Purchase. He first secured 
possession of a moderate extent of land, to which 
he added until he became one of the most extensive 
land-owners in Genesee County. The parental 
household embraced thirteen children, of whom 
seven are now living, namely, Erastns D., Elias E., 
Harriet B. ; Alfred E., of our sketch; Julia, Marcia 
and Thomas J. The father was a Democrat in his 
younger days, but later in life wheeled over into 
the ranks of the Republicans. He and his estima- 
ble wife were members in good standing of the 
Baptist Church. Both are now deceased. 

Our subject remained at his father's homestead 
until sixteen years of age, pursuing his early stud- 
ies in the common schools. He then took a three 
years' course in the Genesee and Wyoming Semi- 
nary and commenced reading law in 1854, in Alle- 
gany County. He was admitted to the bar at 
Buffalo, in May, 1856, and afterward practiced in 
Allegany County one year, then started for the 
West. His career in Illinois has been one eminently 
creditable to him as a citizen and a member of the 
legal profession. 

Mr. Harding was married, in October, 1855, to 
Miss Laura G. Manwaring, of New London, Conn., 
and they became the parents of three sons, two of 
whom are now living Benjamin A. and Alfred. 
The mother of these children died at her home 
July 31, 1875. Mr. Harding was again married, in 
187G, to Miss Mary E. Haines, of Dwight, 111., 
who died in September, 1882, leaving no children. 
The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married in Ottawa, Oct. 21, 188"), was formerly 
Mrs. Alice J. Stephens, who has borne him a daugh- 
ter, Atossa Louise. The family residence is located 
at the corner of Livingston and Division streets, 



and is one of the substantial dwellings which are an 
ornament and a credit to the city. 

Mr. Harding votes the straight Democratic 
ticket, and was elected Mayor of Pontiac in 1875. 
He was at one time a Director in the Livingston 
County National Bank, and attorney for the Chi- 
cago & Alton Railroad. 




; HALL. The 4th of July, 1803, 
will stand as one of the most important days 
in the history of the United States, for on 
that day the Union army was successful in the 
memorable battle of Gettysburg, and the Gibral- 
tar of the South, Vicksburg, which had blocked the 
Mississippi from the day of the commencement of 
hostilities, was surrendered to Gen. Grant, and the 
Southern Confederacy was cut in twain. The suc- 
cess of Meade's army at Gettysburg settled no 
question of advantage, but was simply a grand vic- 
tory of the Union troops, while the capitulation of 
Vicksburg gave us complete control of the great 
river from St. Paul to New Orleans, and made two 
minor Confederacies instead of one solid and com- 
pact bodj r . The defeat of the Confederate army 
was virtually assured by the capture of Vieksburg, 
and it could only remain a question of time when 
all the Southern States would be subdued and 
would surrender. It is not the intention to put in 
this ALBI'M a history of the war, but, the subject of 
this sketch having participated in the siege of 
Vicksburg and witnessed the surrender of that 
stronghold, it is proper that the importance of the 
capture be set forth ; for if he lives until history 
records all the facts of the war, the proudest boast 
he can make will be "I was with Grant at Vicks- 
burg." This will be an honor equal to that claimed 
by the heroes at Waterloo, who fought with Wel- 
lington. 

Mr. Hall is a representative citizen of Avoca 
Township, and resides on section 21. He is a na- 
tive of McLean County, 111., and was born on the 
28th of September, 1845, being the son of Jere- 
miah S. and Jane C. Hall, both natives of New En- 
gland. Two of his paternal great-uncles were sol- 
diers in the Revolutionary War. Of the five chil- 



I 



530 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



dren born to his parents but three survive : William 
F., of McLean County: Hannah, and George, the 
subject of this sketch. His parents settled in Mc- 
Lean County in 1 834, and were among the early 
settlers of that county. The father died in Sep- 
tember, 1882. and the mother in April. 1874. 
They were widely and favorably known in that 
county, where the} 1 enjoyed the esteem and confi- 
dence of all who knew them. 

Mr. Hall was reared to manhood in his native 
county, where he secured a good common-school 
education. On the 8th of December, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company K, 26th Illinois Infantry, and 
remained in the service until the 20th of July, 
1865. The 26th Regiment was initiated into the 
realities of war at New Madrid and Island No. 10. 
which were the first engagements looking to the 
opening of the Mississippi River from the North. 
Afterward they participated in the siege of Corinth, 
the first and second battles of luka and the battle 
of Corinth. When Gen. Grant started with his 
army toward Vicksburg, the subject of this sketch 
was wounded, north of Holly Springs, Miss., in the 
right leg. After being at the hospital for about 
four months, he rejoined his regiment in time 
to participate in the operations in front and rear of 
Vicksburg, and in the siege, which lasted forty- 
seven days and nights. Subsequently he was in 
the battles of Jackson, Chattanooga, siege of At- 
lanta, and in Sherman's entire campaign, which cul- 
minated in the memorable inarch to the sea, and 
wound up with the grand review at Washington. 
He was honorably discharged on the 20th of July, 
1865, and then returned to Illinois. 

On the 21st of December, 1871, Mr. Hall was 
married to Marian McKee, daughter of William 
and Sarah (Moore) McKee, of Woodford County, 
111., and to them have been born four children: 
Frederick J., born on the 28th of January, 1874; 
Corbin G., born May 18, 1877; Jennie M., born 
March 24, 1879, and Elsie R., born Jan. 21, 1883. 
In the spring of 1873 Mr. Hall went to Nebraska, 
and resided in Buffalo County until the fall of 
1876, when he returned to Illinois, and resided in 
Ford County until 1880. In that year he came to 
Livingston County, and settled on the farm which 
he now occupies, and which consists of eighty acres 



of very excellent land, where he is meeting with 
success in all his operations. He is independent in 
political matters, and does not owe allegiance to 
either of the old parties. He and his wife both oc- 
cupy an enviable position in society, for which 
they are fitted both by education and intimacy 
with the affairs of the world. Mrs. Hall is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. 



eHARLES C. BOYS, a native of Monroe 
County, Pa., located in Saunemin Town- 
ship, on section 34. in the spring of 1876, 
and has, by his energy and industry, already laid 
the foundations of a good home and a competency. 
He has but just passed his fortieth year, and is one 
of the men in the prime of life, to whom a com- 
munity naturally looks for leadership in the enter- 
prises which are constantly being set on foot in 
this lively and progressive age. He is proving 
equal to the emergency, and in addition to his own 
extensive transactions as a farmer and stock-raiser, 
has still found time to contribute of his means and 
attention to the various matters involving the wel- 
fare and happiness of the people of his commu- 
nity. He has been uniformly successful in his 
farming operations, and has become quite promi- 
nent as a stock-raiser, from which business he en- 
joys a handsome income. 

Our subject was born in Monroe County, Pa., 
May 23, 1847, and is the son of Samuel and Cath- 
erine (Andre) Boys, who were also born in the 
Keystone State. In 1857, in company with his 
father, Charles C. came to Illinois, and they subse- 
quently settled in Marshall Count}', where the 
death of the father occurred on the 22d of Au- 
gust, 1878. The mother of our subject died when 
he was only six years old, in 1 8,~>3. The father's 
second wife was Hannah A. Tanguy, by whom one 
child was born. The six children, of whom five 
survive, were: Leonard A., a resident of Kansas; 
Mary H.,the wife of William Watt, of this county: 
Jane R., who married S. V. Jones, of Turner 
County, Dak., where they now reside; Charles C., 
our subject, the fourth in order of birth : Elizabeth 
T., who married W. H. Hull, a farmer of this 



f 

tc 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



533 



township, and Martha 13., who died when thirty- 
eight years of age. 

Our subject continued with his parents in Mar- 
shall County until reaching manhood. Me attended 
school quite regularly in his district, and later en- 
tered college at Quincy. 111., where he spent three 
years. Subsequently he engaged in teaching, which 
he followed several terms, and in the meantime 
made the acquaintance of Miss Margaret J. Thomp- 
son, to whom he was married on the 4th of March, 
1874. Mrs. Boys is the daughter of Asa and Ma}' 
(Orr) Thompson, the former one of the earliest 
pioneers of Marshall County, and whose death took 
place there Feb. 15, 1874. The mother still re- 
sides [on the old homestead, in Marshall County. 
Mr. B. for two years after his marriage, continued 
in Marshall County, and in 1876 came to Living- 
ston and settled on section 33, Saunemin Town- 
ship, where he remained until the spring of 1882, 
when he removed to his present farm. This com- 
prises 156 acres under a good state of cultivation, 
and to which he has added many improvements 
.since taking possession. lie is a worthy member 
of a most intelligent community, and several }'ears 
ago identified himself with the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, in which he officiates as Trustee, and 
has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school for 
many years. Mrs. Boys has proved in all respects 
the worthy companion of her husband, and with 
him is a member in good standing of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. They have five bright 
children, namely: Stella, born Sept. 26, 1875; Asa 
T., May 9, 1878; Samuel E., July 26, 1882; Will- 
iam L., April 13, 1884, and Milford C., April 3, 
1886. 



AVID W. HILSBACK has been a resident 
of the Prairie State for over thirty-five 
years. During this time he has mostly en- 
gaged in farming, but in January, 1881, re- 
tired from active labor, and is now enjoying the 
fruits of his industry in tlie comforts of a pleasant 
home in the city of Fairbury. When coming to 
this locality, in common with his brother pioneers, 
he established himself upon a tract of uncultivated 
land, which he transformed into a fine farm sup- 




plied with a substantial set of buildings and every- 
thing necessary to complete a modern country home. 
This comprises 160 acres in Livingston and Ford 
Counties. Mr. II. has been prominent in the local 
affairs of this section, and turned his attention 
largely to religious work, having been for over 
thirty years a licensed preacher of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. It has always been his disposi- 
tion to do good, and he has exerted a great in- 
fluence to this end among both young and old, who 
have come within the sphere of his influence. 

Mr. Hilsback was born in Stokes Count}', N. C., 
Jan. 9, 1819, and is the son of John and Catherine 
(Fulk) Hilsback, natives of the same State. His 
father was born Dec. 9, 1791, and departed this life 
at his home in Owen County, Ind., April 8, 1847. 
The mother was born in August, 1792, and died in 
Iowa in 18CG. Both were devoted members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for more than thirty 
years, and carried out in their daily lives the prin- 
ciples which they professed, rearing their children 
piously and carefully, and doing good to those 
around them as they had opportunity. Their views 
were liberal, and while the Methodist Church was 
their choice, they attended others and permitted 
their children to do so. The parental household in- 
cluded the following: Elias, Joseph, Eliza, David W., 
William, Elizabeth, Catherine, John and Permelia. 
Of these, eight are living and all married with the 
exception of Catherine. Joseph was married, and 
died about 1886. 

Mr. Hilsback came to Illinois in the spring of 
1851, and located first in Woodford County, where 
he purchased land, and upon which he remained 
twelve years. In 1864 he removed to the eastern 
part of the county, where he had purchased a farm, 
which he sold upon coming to the city of Fairbury. 
In the meantime the outbreak of the Rebellion 
had stimulated his patriotism, and on the 13th of 
August, 1802, he enlisted in the 77th Illinois In- 
fantry, and soon afterward marched with his com- 
rades to Covington, Ky. On account of failing 
health, however, he was only permitted to serve until 
March following, when, after having been confined 
in the hospital at St. Louis two months, he was dis- 
charged for disability. Since then he has never 
been able to do manual labor, and receives a pen- 



' ' 534 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



sion from the Government. He is a member of the 
G. A. R., Post No. 75, at Fairbury, of which he has 
been Chaplain for many years, and is also Post 
Commander. 

Our subject, when twenty-two years of age, was 
united in marriage with Mrs. Martha (Carmichael) 
Holder, the wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride, in Greene County, Intl., Dec. !l, 1841. 
Mrs. H. is a native of the same State as her husband, 
and was born June 7, 1810. She went with her 
parents to Indiana about 1833, and there met her 
husband. Their children, seven in number, were 
named respectively, James C., Solomon E., John 
R., Jennie; Sarah, now deceased; Mary E. and Mar- 
tha A. Those surviving are all married and set- 
tled comfortably in life. Mr. Hilsback served as 
School Treasurer four years in Wood ford County, 
and has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 
1883. His decisions have been marked by excel- 
lent judgment, none of them having been reversed 
by a higher court. Mr. and Mrs. II. united with 
the Methodist Church in 1842, and our subject, be- 
sides his ministerial duties, has served as Class- 
Leader, and in other ways manifested his zeal for 
the cause of religion. He has been zealous at re- 
vivals, and in 1864 conducted a protracted meet- 
ing in Penolia Township, Wood ford County, upon 
which occasion large numbers were added to the 
church. Politically he is a stanch Republican. 







ETER MET/, retired farmer, and now a 
resident of Odell, is familiarly known as 
being one of its most wealthy and promi- 
nent citizens. Commencing life with mod- 
erate means, but possessing more than an ordinary 
amount of persistence and enterprise, he has ac- 
cumulated a large property, and now surrounded 
by the comforts and luxuries of life, is spending 
his later days in the enjoyment of his prosperity. 
Mr. Metz is a Pennsylvania!) by birth, and first 
opened his eyes to the light of day in Blair 
County, on the 2.">th of May, 1815. His parents 
were also natives of the Keystone State, where they 
were reared and married, and spent their entire 
lives. Their family included six children, of whom 



our subject was the second in order of birth. His 
early advantages were exceedingly limited, and he 
began at an early age to practice those habits of 
industry which were the secret of his later suc- 
cess. After an apprenticeship of four years at the 
plasterer's trade, he began contracting for himself 
throughout the State. He remained in his na- 
tive State until his marriage, in 1845, the lady se- 
lected to share his future being Miss Angeline 
Johnson, the second child of Thomas Johnson, of 
Ironville, Pa. Mrs. Metz was born in February, 
1824, and during her early years remained in Penn- 
sylvania, where the death of her father occurred. 
Her mother afterward removed to Iowa and spent 
her last years with her children on the other side of 
the Mississippi. 

Mr. Metz and his young wife began life together 
in Blair County, Pa., where they remained until 
the spring of 1859. Our subject then desiring 
something better than the prospect afforded in that 
section of country, resolved to seek the Western 
country. After reaching this State he purchased 
215 acres of wild land in Union Township, where 
he put up a house and prepared for the reception 
of his family, who joined him in the following year. 
He remained a resident of the farm which he had 
built up from the uncultivated prairie for a period 
of eighteen years, during the latter portion of 
which time he became largely interested in real 
estate. lie finally became agent of Eastern land 
speculators, and carried on extensive transactions, 
while at the same time he superintended the culti- 
vation of his farm and added to his own real estate 
until he was the possessor of 800 acres. In 1878 
he left the farm and removed to Bloomington for 
the purpose of educating the children who had 
grown up around him. This being accomplished he 
returned to Odell, where he felt most at home, and 
put up one of the handsomest and most commodious 
dwellings in the place. Here he has since resided, 
and there are few permanent residents of the town 
who are not familiar with the form of Mr. Metz, 
and with the fact of his being one of its most sub- 
>t:intial and reliable citizens. 

Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Metz, 
Seward, a plasterer by trade, is a resident of Chi- 
cago ; Gallic is at home with her parents; Thomas 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



5:55 i > 



E. and Ernest cany on the farm in Union Town- 
ship; William is a practicing attorney of Wyo- 
ming Territory; Edmund is in the insurance and 
real-estate business at Odell; Calvin, Louisa P. 
and Florence L. are deceased. 




^ILLIAM CHAMBERS, one of the public- 
spirited men of Saunemin Township, has 
contributed his full quota toward its busi- 
ness and agricultural interests. In glancing at the 
results of a community of enterprising men it may 
perhaps be difficult to single out one who has 
achieved more than another, but were he taken from 
his place the vacancy would at once be apparent. 
Tliis gentleman, although perhaps not the hero of 
any very thrilling event, has pursued the even tenor 
of his wav in a most creditable manner, and has 
proved himself an important factor in establishing the 
reputation of his locality as a desirable place of resi- 
dence and as one which has been settled up by a class 
of wide-awake and reliable men. 

The property of Mr. Chambers lies on section 4, 
and includes a tract of choice land under good 
cultivation, with suitable buildings and all the con- 
veniences required by the modern farmer. His 
early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, in 
Lincolnshire. England, where he first opened his eyes 
to the light March 14, 1N44. His parents, George 
and Jane Chambers, were also natives of F^ngland. 
and the mother died there when her son William 
was a lad five years of age. The father then decided 
to emigrate, and accompanied by his family, took 
pa-sage on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool on the 12th 
of April. 1853. arriving in New York City on the 
3d of June following. Thence they removed directly 
to Fountain County. Ind., where the father employed 
himself at whatever he could find to do in order to 
support his family. In IS.'ili he came with his family 
to this county, of which our subject has since been a 
resident, together with the father, who now makes 
his home at Saunemin. where he has lived for the 
last twenty-three years. 

Young Chambers commenced early in life to do 
for himself, and being of an enterprising turn of 



mind, resolved upon having a farm of his own as 
soon as hard work would accomplish it. When but 
a youth he commenced breaking prairie with an ox- 
team on the present site of Saunemin Village. His 
plans, however, like those of many others, were 
broken in upon by the Rebellion, and in August, 
1K<>2, he enlisted in Company C. 12!)th Illinois In- 
fantry, and with his comrades was assigned to guard 
duty along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad 
until in February, 18(>4. He was then transferred 
to the army of Gen. Sherman, and fought at 
Uesaca and the siege of Atlanta, besides being in 
the entire campaign in the southeast, including the 
march to the sea. Subsequently he was detailed 
from his company on a foraging expedition which 
extended the entire distance from Atlanta to the 
sea. Some days they marched as many as fifty 
miles, carrying a knapsack and often leaving the 
lines to obtain provisions. Mr. Chambers, however, 
was blessed with a good constitution, and although 
many times in the midst of danger and death, he 
escaped without serious injury, with the exception 
of being struck by the bark of a tree while on picket 
duty in front of Atlanta, the tree being riddled by 
shots from the enemy. At Resaca the companions 
of Mr. C. on both sides of him fell, one dead and 
the other wounded, and he expected each moment 
would be his last. lie was spared, however, and 
after going up through the Carolinas, participated in 
the grand review at Washington, and received his 
honorable discharge in June, 1865. 

Upon returning from the army Mr. Chambers 
located in Saunemin Township, entering the employ 
of Spaft'ord Bros. He hauled probably the first rails 
laid in fence upon their farm, and first broke the 
sod upon the land now owned by Thomas Spaft'ord 
and at this time occupied by an orchard of choice 
apple trees. Mr. Chambers remained in single bles- 
sedness several years afterward, but in the meantime 
made the acquaintance of Miss Susan P. Potter, of 
Will County, 111., to whom he was married on the 
2d of March, 1873. Mrs. Chambers was born in 
Will Comity, June 18, 1850, and is the daughter of 
William and Mary Potter, natives of Ohio, and now . 
residing in this township. Of this union there have 
been born three children, namely, Myrtle J., born 
July 22, 1876; Ettie M., born Dec. :i, 187*, and 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



died Nov. 11, 1885, ami Guy H., born May 1."., 
1880. 

The Republican principles in which Mr. Chambers 
had been reared were strengthened by his experience 
in the army, and he is a member in good standing of 
the G. A. R. Post at Saunemin. lie and his estim- 
able wife are popular aim mg their neighbors, re- 
spected in their community, and numbered among 
its most worthy i>eople. 



eHRISTOPHER C. ALLEN. One of the 
neatest farms in Pontiac Township is lo- 
cated on section 29, adjoining Pontiac, and 
contains fifty-one acres. This farm is owned by 
the subject of this sketch, who is just now in the 
prime of manhood, and is the head of an interest- 
ing family of four members. His farm is not so 
large as those which belong to some of his neigh- 
bors, but it is just as productive, and to till it ac- 
cording to his ideas keeps Mr. Allen busy, while 
he makes every rod of it available in some way. 
He takes great pride in doing well whatever he 
finds to do, and as a result, his crops are always 
abundant and his domestic animals are kept in ex- 
cellent condition. 

Mr. Allen is a native of Illinois, where he was 
born on the 18th of December, 1845, in the county 
of Jefferson. He is a son of Abel and Prudence 
Allen, his father a native of Kentucky, and his 
mother of Tennessee. His ancestors, on both sides, 
were of English descent. The subject of this 
sketch was the youngest child of his father's family, 
which consisted of eleven children, of whom five 
are now living: Dr. Joel Allen, of Livingston 
County; Jackson, of Hancock County; Lewis V., 
of Lincoln County, Wash. Ter. ; Henry C., of Lo- 
gan County, Col., and the subject of this sketch, 
who was reared to manhood in Jefferson County, 
and received an excellent common-school educa- 
tion. His boyhood days were spent exclusively 
upon the farm, and he was assiduous in his assistance 
to his parents. 

On the 4th of June, 1871, Mr. Allen was mar- 
ried to Miss Anna M. Judd, daughter of John C. 
and Surah Judd, natives of Ohio. She was born in 



Lawrence Count}', Ohio, and came to Hamilton 
County, 111., with her parents when but two years 
of age, where she resided until her marriage. They 
have been blessed with three children : Ethel S., 
who was born on the 19th of June, 1873; Nora J., 
Aug. 22, 1875, and Ida M., May 1, 1883. 

Our subject is a Republican in politics, and takes 
a deep interest in all matters which enhance the 
popularity and promote the prospects of that grand 
old party. While a citizen of Jefferson County he 
served acceptably as Clerk of Moore's Prairie 
Township. He is not a seeker after office, and 
whatever he may do in a political way is purely 
through patriotism. Mr. Allen's success in life is 
very largely due to his own efforts, and since mar- 
riage, to the cordial support given him in all his 
affairs by his excellent wife. 



LEXANDER McINTOSH. One of the 

most enterprising and successful farmers 
and stock-raisers of Rook's Creek Town- 
ship is the subject of this sketch, whose 
farm is located on section 7. Mr. Mclntosh was 
born in Scotland on the 19th of June, 1821, and 
came to the United States on the 1st of June, 1851, 
and almost immediately upon his arrival located in 
Marshall County, 111., where he purchased land and 
carried on farming for about five years, at the end 
of which time he sold his lands and moved to Put- 
nam County. In that county he had mail con- 
tracts and engaged in various occupations for about 
fifteen years, in the meantime indulging in a little 
land speculation. On the 1st of March, 1870, he 
located on the farm where he now resides. 

Mr. Mclntosh was married, on the 19th of June, 
1851, to Emma Gillespie, in Marshall Count}-. 
They have had six children: John C., who was 
married, Oct. 10, 1883. to Miss Nellie L. Mclntire, 
and has one child, Alfred A.: Thomas M., Alex- 
ander G., Alfred A., Frank E. and William G. 
Thomas married Beatrice Fyffe, Dec. 25, 1882, and 
has one child, Emma L. ; Alexander G. and Alfred 
A. are dead; William G. lost his hearing when 
about nine months old. and has been educated 
at the school for mutes, at Jacksonville, from which 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



537 




institution he was graduated in 1886, and is now at- 
tending National College, in Washington City, D. 
C. The subject of this sketch was the fourth child 
in a family of five; his parents' names were Daniel 
and Isabel (Grant) Mclntosh; the former was b< >rn 
in 1755 and died in 1844, the latter was born in 178(5 
and died in 1838. His brothers and sisters all died 
in Scotland and England. The father of Mrs. Mc- 
lntosh was John Gillespie. a native of Montrose, 
Scotland, who was born in 1794 and died in 1838. 
Her mother's name was Charlotte A. Merall, and she 

7 

was born the 23d of November, 1794, in England. 
She was married in 1829, in London. Her husband 
died in 1838, and in 1842 she was married a second 
time, and removed to Illinois in the year 1850. 
Mrs. Mclntosh finished a course of study at West- 
brook House Seminary, which included French, and 
she was graduated at the age of sixteen. Mr. Mc- 
lntosh was educated in Scotland, and completed a 
course of study at the High School of Scranton, 
Scotland. 

Mr. Mclntosh is a member of the Republican 
party, and has been from the date of its organiza- 
tion, having cast his first vote for John C. Free- 
mont, in 1856. He has occupied several minor 
offices, and is now serving as Road Commissioner. 
He is a member of the Congregational Church, and 
has been a Trustee of that body ever since it was 
organized, and took an active part in the erection 
of the building, and gives liberally for the suppoit 
of the church. 



ENRY HORNBECK. Some of the most in- 
telligent and progressive farmers of Illinois 
came from Fayette County, Pa., a count}' 
which is located in the southwestern part of 
that State, bordering on West Virginia, which is 
drained by the Monongahela and Youghiogheny, 
and Redstone Creek. The surface is finely diver- 
sified with valleys, hill.s, and two long ridges called 
Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge. A large part of 
the county is covered with forests in which the i 
sugar maple abound. The soil is fertile, and pro- i 
duces corn, oats, wheat and hay, so the Fayette | 



County man locating in Illinois does not leave his 
native home because of bareness of soil and predom- 
inance of rocky hills, but comes West where he 
can find a broader scope for action than he could 
have had in the more densely settled State of 
Pennsylvania; and this was the motive which 
brought Mr. Hornbeck, who is a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 21, Indian Grove Township, to 
Livingston County. He was born in Fayette 
County, Pa., on the 4th of October, 1831, and is 
the son of Abraham D. and Esther (Dobbs) Horn- 
beck, who were natives of New York and Pennsyl- 
vania respective^'. The father was of German 
ancestry and was born in 1808, dying in Livingston 
County on the 10th of October, 1878. lie was a 
merchant and hotel-keeper, and at times during 
his life a farmer by occupation. In about 1870 he 
came to Illinois, having lost his wife in 1865, and 
died in this place. He was a man of sterling worth 
and more than ordinary ability, which in all politi- 
cal matters was devoted to the Democratic party. 

Henry Hornbeck lived in a village until he was 
twenty-six 3'ears old, when he came West, and 
settled in Livingston County in 1857, where he 
carried on the business of quarrying stone for a 
period of about twenty years. His first purchase 
of land occurred in 1861, and consisted of forty 
acres, to which he has from time added until his 
farm now consists of 190 acres which he has taken 
great care to cultivate after the best methods and 
improve bv the erection of commodious and well- 
equipped buildings. 

Mr. Hornbeck was married, on the 3d of January, 
187N, to Mrs. Sarah J. Harrison, who was born in 
Livingston County on the 4th of March, 1842, and 
is the daughter of Isam and Polly A. (Spence) 
Moore, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky re- 
spectively. The father was born on the 18th of 
June, 1818, and is still living; the mother was born 
on the 3d of December, 182(i; and they are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he 
being a C'lass- Leader and exhorter for many years. 
The names of their four children arc: James I. 
Sarah J., Susannah K. and John II. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry Hornbeck have had five children Hank B. : 
Davis B., deceased; Harvey, Bessie and Daisy. 
Mrs. Hornbeck was twice married, the first union 






f 



588 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



being with Preston Harrison, in 1860, by whom 
she had six children Annie E., Richard I., Rosina, 
Benjamin A., James N., deceased, and Lillie. The 
father of Mrs. Hornbeck came to Illinois in 1833, 
and located in Livingston County, where he mar- 
ried Miss Polly A. Spence, who was a native of 
Kentucky, and came to Illinois in 1832. Mr. 
Moore, the father of Mrs. Hornbeck, is the owner 
of fifty-three and one-half acres of land, is a Green- 
backer in politics, and for fifty-three years has been 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Henry Hornbeck is one of the leading men of In- 
dian Grove Township, a representative of her prog- 
ress, and a firm believer in her material prosperity 
in the future. He is a man of the largest liberality 
in his political views, and never permits himself to 
he bound by the dictates of political caucuses. 



BARREN II. DANFORTH, one of the sub- 
stantial and reliable farmers of Owego 
Township, is pleasantly located on section 
10, where he owns eighty acres of land, upon which 
he is operating after the most improved modern 
methods. He commenced in life with little or no 
means, but by the exercise of his inherent industry 
and good judgment, has attained to a good position 
among his fellow-men, both socially and financially. 
Mr. Danforth is of New England birth and par- 
entage, his earliest recollections being of a spot in 
Worcester County, Mass., where he first opened his 
eyes to the light May 27, 1844. His parents, 
George P. and Fidelia (Royers) Danforth, were also 
natives of the Bay State, and the descendants of 
excellent English ancestry, whose first representa- 
tives in this country came over in the Mayflower 
with the Pilgrim Fathers. George and Fidelia Dan- 
forth became the parents of two children only 
Ella M. and Warren H., our subject. The mother 
passed away when the latter was a little lad five 
years of age, and he was then taken in charge by 
relatives. Seven years later he came with his father 
and other members of the family to Woodford 
County, this State, at an early period in its history. 
He was there reared to manhood, and received a 




limited education in the pioneer schools. In com- 
mon with the other settlers of that time, they en- 
dured hardship and privation, but were made of 
the stern stuff which characterized the people of 
that day, in whose vocabulary there was no such 
word as "fail." They had come to establish a home 
in the waste places, and set themselves resolutely 
about the task before them. The comfortable sur- 
roundings which were built up gradually from the 
primitive soil, attested in due time how successful 
they had been in their undertaking, and constituted 
a rich reward for that which they had endured. 

Our subject has been a farmer his entire life, 
commencing at an early age to mark out his future 
career. One of his most important undertakings 
was his marriage, which occurred before he had 
reached his twenty-fourth year, on the 23d of 
March, 1868, his chosen bride being Miss Mary A. 
Greene, and the wedding taking place in Minonk. 
Mrs. Danforth was born in Rensselaer County, N. 
Y., Aug. 8, 1846, and is the daughter of Nathan 
and Sarah (Main) Greene, who were of New En- 
gland birth and parentage. They emigrated West 
during the fifties, and located in Woodford Count} 7 , 
this State, among the pioneer settlers. They have 
since passed to their long home, the death of the 
mother occurring in 1857, and that of the father in 
1871. Mr. and Mrs. Danforth became the parents 
of five children, namely: George N., born Feb. 26, 
1869; Frank L., July 16, 1870; Minnie E., April 
9, 1878; Perry W., Sept. 12, 1885, and Charles E., 
Feb. 26, 1875. The last named died when less than 
ten years old, Nov. 2, 1884. Our subject, in 1874, 
came with his family to this county, locating first 
in Eppard's Point Township, where he resided five 
years, and then purchased his present farm. This 
comprises eighty acres of fertile land which yields 
in abundance the choicest crops of the Prairie State. 
The residence with its adjacent buildings is neat 
and substantial in appearance, the farm stock well 
fed and well cared for, and the machinery all that 
is required for the successful operation of the farm. 
Mr. Danforth has pursued the even tenor of his 
way in a quiet and unobtrusive manner, is held in 
high respect as a member of society, and for several 
years has been a Deacon and Trustee in the Baptist 
Church. He meddles little with politics, but nni- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



589 



forrnly casts a straight Republican vote at the gen- 
eral elections. His snug little property is the ac- 
cumulation of his own industry. 







NTON HUBER is comfortably located on 
a 160-acre farm on section 23, in Waldo 
]j\ Township, where he is engager! in stock- 
raising, in addition to general farming. 
He was born in the Grand Dukedom of Baden, 
Germany, on the loth of May, 1822, and is the son 
of Fidele and Theresa (Stetter) Huber. Our sub- 
ject is the fifth child in a family of six, only one of 
whom besides himself ever came to America. This 
brother, Joseph, was married, and died in Peoria, 
111., Jan. 22, 1885, leaving five children. 

Mr. Huber was reared in the town of Stockach, 
where he was educated in his native language in 
the common schools. His father was a carpenter 
by trade, and with him he served an apprenticeship, 
and followed that occupation during his residence 
in Germany. Aug. 4, 1847, Mr. Huber was mar- 
ried to Mary Kleiner, daughter of George and 
Ida (Waltz) Kleiner, of Stockach, Germany. He 
continued to live in Germany for six years after 
his marriage, and during this time four children 
were born. In October, 1853, he sailed for Amer- 
ica, and landed at New York on the 4th of Decem- 
ber. He did not tarry there but proceeded to 
Peoria County, 111., where a brother resided. He 
remained in that county and followed his trade for 
five years. In 1858 he removed to El Paso, Wood- 
ford County, where he engaged in the brewery 
business, and in which he continued for nine years. 
He disposed of this business in the fall of 1866, 
and in the spring of 1867 moved to his present 
home in Livingston County, where he purchased 
eighty acres of land. In 1881 he bought eighty 
acres more, and now has a good and valuable farm, 
which is well drained by tile ditches, and on which 
are located good and convenient buildings. Pre- 
vious to his marriage, above recorded, Mr. Huber 
was married on the 16th of May, 1846. to Caroline 
Klotz, who died on the 14th of February, 1847. 
The result of this marriage was one child, Caroline, 



born Feb. ( J, 1847. She became the wife of Joseph 
Stuckel, a farmer who lives in Montgomery County, 
Kan., and they have six children. By Mr. Huber's 
second marriage there were born nine children, 
whose record is as follows: John died in infancy; 
John (2d), born April 12, 1850, married, has three 
children, and lives on the home farm; Josephine, 
i born Dec. 27, 1851, and died in infancy; Polly, 
born June 7, 1853, and died in London when her 
parents were en route to America; Polly (2d), 
born Oct. !), 1854, in Peoria, 111., married John 
Pfefflnger, has four children, and lives in Waldo 
Township; Joseph, born Feb. 8, 1857, and died in 
infancy; Mary Ida, born Oct. 13, 1858, married 
Adam Jacob Schreck, has three children, and lives 
in Waldo Township; Wilhelmina, born Jan. 3, 
1862, and lives at home; Rosina, born Feb. 24, 
1864, married Hugo Hendricks, and lives in McLean 
County. Mrs. Huber was born Jan. 16, 1822; she 
is now sixty-six years of age but is as spry and 
active as a woman of forty. Mr. Iluber votes the 
Democratic ticket and has held the offices of Road 
Commissioner three years, Township Clerk nine 
years, Assessor five years, and School Director for 
six years. He was reared a member of the Catho- 
lic Church, but is very liberal and tolerant in his 
religious views. Since his residence in Livingston 
County, by his many sterling qualities he has pop- 
ularized himself with the people of the county. 




ARRY HILL, deceased, late of Pontiac 
Township, was born in Miami County, Ohio, 
Jan. 21, 1835. His parents, Henry and 
Sarah A. Hill, were also natives of the Buck- 
eye State. They came to Livingston County when 
their son was a young man during the early settle- 
ment of Central Illinois, and built up a home from 
the uncultivated soil, experiencing in common with 
hundreds of others the hardships and difficulties of 
that time. 

Mr. Hill received a common-school education 
and was reared to farming pursuits. He was united 
in marriage July 4, 1863, with Miss Emeline, 
daughter of Philip Rollins, a pioneer of Liv- 
ingston County, whose biography appears elsewhere 



T 



I* 



540 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in this volume. Of this union there were four chil- 
dren: Carey W., born Feb. 16, 1864, was married 
to Miss Elizabeth Smith, Jan. 23, 1887; Nettie was 
born Feb. 10, 1866; Tillie L., Nov. 7, 1875, .-mil 
Harry L., Aug. 8, 1878. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hill after their marriage located on 
a tract of land which constitutes the present home 
of the widow, and which now includes a comforta- 
ble farm residence with good barns and out-build- 
ings. Mr. Hill labored industriously and built up 
a worthy record as a member of society, the head 
of a family, and a man interested in everything 
that pertained to the welfare of his community. 
He departed this life at the homestead Aug. 1 1 , 
1881, when in the prime of life, forty-six years of 
age. He left to his family a comfortable property, 
120 acres of land under good cultivation with the 
improvements already mentioned. The farm is 
now carried on by Carey W. Mrs. Hill is a lady 
greatly respected among her neighbors, and a de- 
voted member of the Christian Church. Her chil- 
dren are being carefully reared and well educated, 
and the family rank among the worthy and sub- 
stantial residents of Pontiac Township. 



\H OSEPH M. PORTER. The gentleman whose 
name heads this biography, and who is a 
representative farmer and stock-raiser, occu- 
pies a fine homestead on section 19, Owego 
Township, where he is comfortably situated, and is 
in the possession of all the comforts of life and 
many of its luxuries. The worldly goods of which 
he is possessed have been accumulated solely by 
the exercise of his own industry, as he never re- 
ceived any legacy to assist him on the high road to 
prosperity. He has been a resident of the Prairie 
State for a period of twenty-seven years, and dur- 
ing that time has established for himself a reputation 
as:i fair and honest man and a good citizen. 

The subject of this biographical sketch is a na- 
tive of Licking County, Ohio, and was born on 
the 1'Jth of June, 1837. He is the son of David 



and Elizabeth Porter, natives of Pennsylvania and 
Virginia respectively, who were the parents of 
twelve children, of whom the following survive: 
John, of Livingston County; Joseph; Jane, wife of 
William Priest, of Licking County, Ohio; Martha, 
wife of Morgan Willey, of Licking County; Ezra 
N., of Licking County; Matthew T., of Ohio; 
Perry, of Pontiac, 111. ; Francis M., who was a 
soldier in the late Civil War; and Minerva, wife of 
Garrett Gifford, of Linn County, Kan. 

Until after attaining his majority Mr. Porter re- 
mained in his native State, devoting his time to 
work upon the farm, and when it was possible for 
him to do so, attended the common schools in his 
section'of the State, and succeeded in securing a 
lair common-school education. Preceding his re- 
moval to Illinois, which event occurred in 1860, 
he engaged in school-teaching for four terms. 
Upon his arrival in Illinois he went directly to 
Livingston County, where he procured employ- 
ment in Owego Township, and in 1874 settled upon 
his present farm, where he has since continuously 
resided. 

Mr. Porter was married, on the 9th of October, 
1861, to Elizabeth M. Porter, daughter of Luther 
Porter, of Vermont, and she had also been en- 
gaged in the occupation of teaching for several 
years. To Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been born 
six children, two of whom, John W. and Eva J., 
are living, the four deceased being as follows: 
Rosa B., David L., Frank E. and Milo. Mr. Por- 
ter and his wife are both zealous members of 
the Baptist Church, as is also their daughter, and 
at the present time he is serving as Trustee of the 
church, both being respected members of society, 
and on account of their amiability are much be- 
loved by their neighbors. Mr. P. is now officiating 
as President of the Owego Township Sabbath- 
School Association, in which he takes a great in- 
terest, and also devotes much time to the cause of 
temperance and his church. So far as politics go 
he has use for no other party than the one which 
will prohibit the manufacture and sale of ardent 
and malt liquors. Mr. Porter has served as Clerk 
of Owego Township, as Tax Collector for one year, 
and Trustee of the Owego Township schools for 
ovor twenty years. In the discharge of the duties 



\ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



543 




of these various offices his sound judgment and 
practical knowledge of affairs have stood him well 
in hand. 



ICHARD HANNA, a resident of the Prai- 
rie State for the last thirty-seven years, has 
spent the most of his time since coming 
here in this county. He is now pleasantly 
located on section 27, Indian Grove Township, 
where he has 120 acres of valuable land under a 
high state of cultivation, with a neat and commod- 
ious dwelling, a good barn and all the other farm 
buildings required by the progressive agricultur- 
ist. He has been prominent in the affairs of this and 
Belle Prairie Townships, having held the offices of 
Collector, Commissioner of Highways, School Treas- 
urer and Director, and while in Belle Prairie Town- 
ship, adjoining, was a member of the County Board 
of Supervisors four terms, and Chairman of the 
Finance Committee. He has discharged the duties 
of the offices to which he has been called in a 
highly creditable manner, and comprises no unim- 
portant factor of an intelligent community. 

Mr. Hanna is the- scion of an excellent old fam- 
ily of Welsh and Irish descent, whose ancestors 
settled in Pennsylvania more than a century ago. 
He was born in Fayette County, that State, Nov. 
26, 1825, and is the son of Jesse and Sineah (Will- 
iams) Hanna, also natives of the Keystone State. 
Jesse Hanna was born in Fayette County in 1801, 
and departed this life at his home in Belle Prairie 
Township, in the fall of 1868. In addition to 
general farming lie was also a stock-trader of con- 
siderable note, and at the time of his death had 
been a resident of Illinois for a period of eighteen 
years, having come here in 1850. He located first 
in Woodford County, whence he removed five 
years later to Belle Prairie, which remained his per- 
manent home. He also was Supervisor of Belle 
Prairie Township and served as Assessor and 
Treasurer, besides holding the other offices. The 
Baptist Church recognized in him one of its chief 
pillars, and he was ever a liberal and cheerful con- 
tributor to those enterprises calculated for the good 
of the community. 



The parents of our subject were married Feb. 
25, 1824. The mother was born in February, 1801, 
and survived her husband six years, her death tak- 
ing place in 1 875. She was a lady who enjoyed 
the highest esteem of all who knew her, being re- 
markably kind and gentle in disposition, and ful- 
filling in all respects her duties as a wife and 
mother, rearing her children carefully, and instill- 
ing in them those principles which are the basis of 
all good citizenship. The household included 
eight sons and four daughters, namely : Richard ; 
Thomas, now deceased ; Johanna, who became the 
wife of Richard Crouch, died June 4, 1887; Will- 
iam, deceased; Mary, David, Robert; Margaret, 
the wife of George R. Conn; Alpheus, Nancy, 
James and John M. The paternal grandfather of 
our subject was of Irish birth and parentage, and 
emigrated to this country in 1774, in time to serve 
as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He mar- 
ried a Welsh lady, and they spent their last years 
in Pennsylvania. 

Our subject was reared to farm pursuits and re- 
ceived his education in the common schools. He 
came to Illinois with his parents in 1850. Five 
years before, however, he had left the farm and 
engaged at boiler-making at Pittsburgh three years, 
and for two years afterward was with the firm of 
Lippincott & Co., shovel manufacturers in the 
same city. He was first married in Erie County, 
Pa., to Miss Eliza J. Miller, a native of Crawford 
County, and they became the parents of two chil- 
dren Leslie P. and Jessie -F. the latter died in 
infancy. Leslie, who is a youth of more than or- 
dinary intelligence, is pursuing his studies in Wes- 
leyan University at Bloomington, in the Sopho- 
more class, and seems naturally adapted for the 
legal profession. The mother of these children 
died at her home, Sept. 18, 1865. Mr. Hanna was 
subsequently married, in 1872, to Miss Phebe A., 
the daughter of Owen D. and Ann (Thompson) 
Hanna. She was born in Butler County, Ohio, 
Jan. 16, 1841). Her parents were natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Ohio respectively, the father born 
Oct. 5, 1819, and the mother Dec. 14, 1822. They 
were married Feb. 20, 1844. They reside in Piatt 
Countj'. The parental household included eight 
children, of whom one died in infancy unnamed. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



The others were named respectively, Mary E., Al- 
bert J., Phebe A., Sarah E., Samuel L., Benjamin 
F. and Stephen A. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kanna are the parents of four 
children Orestes D., Edna H., Harold A. and Liz- 
zie E. Mr. H. is a member of the Missionary Bap- 
tist Church, and was one of the five who organ- 
ized the society at Fairbury in 1858. He was at 
that time appointed Clerk, and has since been one 
of the most liberal and cheerful contributors to the 
support of the cause. 




I 



PRINGER DIXON came to Livingston 
County in 1866, and has since been a resi- 
dent of Forest Township. Since coining 
to the West he has resided in Iowa and 
several localities in Illinois, but was not quite satis- 
fied with any of them until he stopped in Forest 
Township, where he will probably spend the bal- 
ance of his days. He owns and occupies one of 
the most ample farms of the county, which consists 
of 400 acres, and every acre of it is rich, product- 
ive ground. Mr. Dixon is a native of Fayette 
County, Pa., and was born March 1, 1833. The 
paternal grandfather, James Dixon, was a native of 
the North of Ireland, and carne to the United States 
when a young man and married Miss Montgomery. 
Of six children, the third also bore the name of 
James, and he was the father of the subject of this 
sketch. 

Mr. James Dixon in early life engaged in a 
woolen factory, and afterward became a merchant, 
in which line of business he obtained success. The 
later years of his life were spent in farming, and 
he died in Pennsylvania at the age of about sixty- 
six years. The mother of our subject was Lucy 
Ann Springer, who was also born in Fayette Count}-, 
Pa. She was of Dutch ancestry, but the Springers 
settled in Delaware previous to the Revolutionary 
War. She was the mother of four children. 

Mr. Springer Dixon was educated in the common 
schools of his day, and during his boyhood and 
young manhood assisted his father in conducting 
the affairs of the store. In the spring of 1854 he 
was married to Mary Sampey. a daughter of James 



and Rebecca Sampey, who was born in Fayette 
County, Pa. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Dixon, 
accompanied by his wife, emigrated to Davenport, 
Iowa, where he worked in a sawmill and gristmill 
for about two 3'ears. He then removed to Putnam 
County, III., where he rented land and engaged in 
farming for a time. lie afterward removed to La- 
Salle County, and from there came to Livingston 
County in 1866, and settled in Forest Township, 
locating on his present farm four years later. He 
now owns 400 acres of land, and engages exclus- 
ively in raising grain. To Mr. and Mrs. Dixon 
have been born six children Charles, Lincoln, 
George, Ellen, James and Adeline. In their relig- 
ious beliefs Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are adherents of 
the doctrines taught by the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which they are active members. Polit- 
ically, Mr. Dixon is a Republican, and gives to the 
men and measures of that party a hearty support. 
In all their conditions Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are hap- 
pily situated. Their large and productive farm 
affords them remunerative crops. With a large 
circle of friends, and with loving children, verily 
their lines are cast in pleasant places. 



"Sp^lDWARD BUNTING, who is successfully 
|Wj engaged in farming in Dwight Township, 
/i' ^l this State, comes of a family of English 
origin. He was born in Stanfield, Norfolk Co., 
England, in 1827. He is the son of Robert and 
Hannah (Belcham) Bunting, who spent their lives 
in England, where they were engaged in farming. 
His father held the position of steward of the same 
farm for a period of forty years. Young Edward 
spent the principal part of his time at work upon 
the farm until he was twenty-six years of age, and 
during that time became skilled in all the details 
of practical fanning. His parents afforded him 
such facilities as were possible for acquiring a com- 
mon-school education, and by hard stud} 1 and close 
application he made considerable advancement. 

In 1853 Mr. Bunting was married to Miss Har- 
riet Place, daughter of William and Hannah (Hoi- 
den) Place, of Norfolk County, England. In a 
short time after their marriage they left England 



1 ' 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



545, L 



t 



for this country, in company with three brothers of 
Mr. Bunting. His brother John and himself were 
married on the same day, and together with their 
wives took passage on the same vessel. After a 
pleasant and safe voyage they arrived at the city 
of New York, where they remained a short time. 
Edward and his wife came West, first stopping in 
Ohio, where they remained for nine months, during 
which time Mr. Bunting was engaged at work upon 
a farm. In 1854 he moved to Illinois, and settled 
on a farm in DuPage County, where he remained 
until 1865, and then moved to D wight Township, 
Livingston County, and rented a farm. In 1880 
Mr. Bunting bought 1 GO acres of landjn this town- 
ship, where his son Robert now resides. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bunting have had three children, 
all of whom are living William J., Robert E. and 
Frank A. J. Frank resides at home with his.par- 
ents; Robert E. occupies the farm above named, 
and William J. is living on a farm in Dwight Town- 
ship. The boys partake largely of the characteris- 
tics of the father, particularly in matters of enter- 
prise, economy and good management. They are 
all succeeding in the enterprises in which they are 
engaged, and are substantial and estimable citizens. 



LFRED DES VOIGNE, dealer in harness, 
sewing-machines and organs in Odell, this 
county, was born in Switzerland on the iltli 
of February, 1 S4.j, and was the only child 
of John Peter and Elizabeth (Colon) Des Voigne, 
who were natives of Switzerland, although the 
mother was of French blood. The father was a 
cabinet-maker by trade, and followed that occupa- 
tion in his native country until 1H45, when he sailed 
from Havre to America and landed in New York, 
where he engaged at his trade and remained until 
his death, with the exception of a few years spent 
in the West. 

The subject of this sketch was born in New York 
City, where he attended school one year, when his 
parents removed to Ottawa, 111., and he had no fur- 
ther opportunities for education. He was engaged 
for four years on the telegraph line for the million- 
aire C'aton, and then came to Odell, where he en- 




gaged at harness-making, while his father followed 
his trade, until, at the age of sixteen years, he left 
home and set out in life for himself. He went to 
Peoria, and there followed his trade nearly a year. 
The Civil War was then in progress, and in the 
month of May, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 
(!8th Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into the 
service at Springfield. This regiment was uniformed 
and drilled as a Zouave regiment, and was composed 
exclusively of young men, most of whom were 
reared in or near Bloom ington. They were first sent 
to the Shenandoah Valley, and the first engagement 
in which they participated was the second battle of 
Bull Run, where the regiment was under the com- 
mand of Col. Stewart, and the company to which 
the subject of this sketch belonged was under the 
command of Capt. Moore. The regiment was mus- 
tered in for three months, but served in the Shen- 
andoah Valley, skirmishing and doing guard duty, 
for five months, and was then ordered to Spring- 
field and discharged. 

Mr. Des Voigne returned to his work at his trade 
in Peoria, but six months later he went to St. Louis 
and enlisted in Company F, 1st Missouri Light Ar- 
tillery, which was commanded by Capt. Morse. 
The company was mustered in at St. Louis, and sent 
by boat down the Mississippi River to Memphis, 
thence to Helena, Ark., and on to Duvall's Bluff, to 
the interior of Arkansas on White River, where they 
remained a short time on guard duty. They then 
went to Little Rock, where there was a light en- 
gagement with the rebels under Gen. Marmaduke, a 
detachment of Gen. Price's command. Here they 
made their headquarters for a considerable time, de- 
fending the city. All the troops which had been 
concentrated here were called off to accompany 
Sherman on his famous march to the sea, excepting 
twelve artillery companies left to guard the city. 
The rebel General, Price, endeavored to checkmate 
Sherman by threatening the city, but the artillery 
companies impeded his progress so much by felling 
trees and destroying roads that lie was unable to ac- 
complish his purpose. The remainder of Mr. Des 
Voigne's service was with these companies, guarding 
the city of Little Rock and skirmishing in the sur- 
rounding country until Lee and Johnson surren- 
dered their armies. Five months later thev were 



546 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



called to St. Louis, where they were discharged, and 
he was given transportation home to Odell. 

At the close of the service our subject found 
himself the possessor of $500, and the first six 
months after his return he went to school. At the 
close of this school term -he opened a shop, which 
he sold in 1873 and went to Canton, Ohio, where he 
again opened a shop, but remained only one year. 
He invested some money in land in this county on 
his return, which proved to be a very profitable 
transaction. He then erected the first brick build- 
ing in the town of Odell, and he now owns one- 
fourth of the block in which his business is 
conducted. For one year he engaged in business 
in Bloomington, but never gave up his interest, in 
Odell. Besides the business he conducts here he is 
largely interested in western lands, and now owns 
more than 1,000 acres in Nebraska and Kansas. 

Mr. Des Voigne was married, on the 26th of De- 
cember, 1868, to Adele Chenot, who was born in 
France, and is the daughter of George and Kat- 
rina Chenot, who were natives of France, but be- 
came residents of the United States about the time 
of the war. Our subject and wife are the parents 
of two children, named Ida and George, both of 
whom are at school. Mr. and Mrs. Des Voigne arc 
supporters of the Congregational faith, and are act- 
ive in all matters that pertain to the welfare of the 
community. Mr. Des Voigne is not very active in 
politics. He is a genial man in his social intercourse, 
and has a good and kind word for every one. In 
business affairs he is shrewd and enterprising, and 
has been very successful. 




) DWARD A. BANGS, banker and merchant 
Chatsworth, is the oldest business man of 
the place, having located here in 1861, when 
the present thriving village was an unimportant 
hamlet. He spent his younger years upon his fa- 
ther's farm in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where his 
birth took place Dec. 15, 1835. He has made good 
use of his time and opportunities and possesses 
those manly traits of character which have made 
him dignified and pleasing in manner, and indicate 
a gentleman born and bred. He is also of that se- 



date and thoughtful mien which at once commands 
respect, while the kindly undercurrent of his char- 
acter is evident here and there as he walks in and 
out among his fellow-citizens, by whom he is held 
in high esteem. 

The Bangs family is of pure English ancestry, of 
whom the first representatives in this country crossed 
the Atlantic probably 200 years ago. The}' located 
in New England and formed a large proportion of 
the substantial and reliable element of Massachu- 
setts and Vermont. Heman .Bangs, the grand- 
father of our subject, for a long period carried on 
farming and stock-raising in the Green Mountain 
State, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. 
He reared a fine family of sons and daughters, 
among them being Heman A., the father of our 
subject, who was born in 1779, and followed farm- 
ing principally, though for a time he conducted a 
hotel. He migrated to St. Lawrence County, N. 
Y., while still a young man, and was there united 
in marriage with Miss Almira A. Phillips, a native 
of his own State. They resided in New York State 
until 1848, then removed to Sheboygan County, 
Wis., and thence to Illinois in 1851, and for a pe- 
riod of nearly twenty years were engaged in farm- 
ing in Lake County. The labors of Heman Bangs 
were rewarded, and he became the possessor of a 
fine property. From Lake County he removed to 
Chatsworth, where he passed his declining years, 
retired from active labor. He folded his hands for 
his final rest in March, 1884. The mother is still 
living and has passed her eightieth birthday. She 
resides witU her son in Wymore, Neb. 

Heman Bangs, when first becoming a voter, 
identified himself with the Democratic party, but 
upon the organization of the Republicans, in 1856, 
wheeled over into the ranks of the latter, with 
whom he afterward remained. He was a man 
of fine business capacities, and possessed all the ele- 
ments of good citizenship. While a resident of 
the Empire State he served as Sheriff of Jefferson 
County, and wherever he made his abiding-place 
was recognized as a valued factor in the commu- 
nity. 

The parental household of our subject included 
six children, of whom the record is as follows: 
Charles G., a skilled mechanic, is at Waukegan, III. ; 






LIVINGSTON COUNT r. 



547 



4 



liis sister, Susan C., now Mrs. Whitmore, also re- 
sides there; Edward A., our subject, was the third 
in order of birth; Ann C. is the wife of A. W. 
Thompson, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; George is a 
resident of AVymore, Neb., and Milton, of Chats- 
worth, this county. 

The early educational advantages of Mr. Bangs 
were somewhat limited, but his sound common 
sense, and naturally keen observation, provided 
him with a good education for business and society. 
He was a youth of thirteen years when the family 
removed from New York to Wisconsin, and he re- 
mained under the home roof during their success- 
ive removals, and until after becoming residents of 
Chatsworth. During the winter of 1859 he was 
engaged in the lumber regions of Wisconsin, and 
after coming to Chatsworth followed for a few 
months the trade of a carpenter. In the fall of 
1861 he became associated with W. E. Esty, and 
under the firm name of Esty & Bangs, they estab- 
lished a store of general merchandise, with which 
Mr. B. has since been connected. Mr. Esty re- 
tired from the firm in 1868, and after that time 
George A. Bangs filled his place. Our subject 
established a private bank in 1877, and considering 
the fact that he enjoys the entire confidence of his 
community and the people of Livingston County, 
there is no question but that it will continue in the 
successful manner which is marking the first year 
of its operations. 

Mr. Bangs was first married in 1863, to Miss 
Harriet E., daughter of Moses Esty, and formerly 
of Lake County, ID. Of this union there were born 
two children, Frank II. and Gay, who are now 
twenty-one and thirteen years of age. The mother 
of these sons departed this life at her home in Chats- 
wortii in 1871. Seven years later Mr. Bangs was 
married to Miss Ann M. Crumpton, daughter of 
AVilliam and Nancy Crumpton. Mrs. Bangs was 
born in Maine, in 18 12, and has become the mother 
of one son, Hal C., who was born in 1878. The 
fiimity residence is pleasantly located, and is a 
neat and shapely structure, fully in keeping with 
the character of its proprietor, and the head of the 
family. Mr. Bangs gives his attention mainly to 
his business concerns, although he has held various 
local offices, and is warmly interested in the estab- 



lishment and maintenance of schools, and is now 
School Treasurer. He votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, is identified with the Masons, and in 
matters of religion is a Spiritualist and a Free- 
thinker. 



\fiOHN R. BIGHAM, a thrifty farmer and 
fruit-grower, located in the southeastern part 
of Livingston County, has a town residence 
in Chatsworth, and has been in this vicinity 
since the spring of 1867. His first recollections are 
of a country home near Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, 
where his birth took place Oct. 27, 1831. Since 
coming to this State he has engaged mostly in ag- 
ricultural pursuits, making a specialty of fruit- 
growing, and industriously engaging in the im- 
provement of his land, which comprises eighty 
acres on section 4. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, William 
Bigham, Sr., was born in Williamsburg, Va., Nov. 
1, 1750, and when a young man removed to Lan- 
caster County, Pa., where he married Miss Mary 
Reed, Nov. 25, 1779. This union resulted in the 
birth of thirteen children, of whom the youngest, 
William, born April 12, 1802, became the father of 
our subject. William Bigham, Jr., in due time re- 
moved with his parents to Butler County, Ohio, 
where he was reared to manhood and married, first, 
Miss Jane Clark, of Hamilton County. This lady 
died soon after her marriage. His second wife and 
the mother of our subject was, in her girlhood, Miss 
Martha C. Ross, who was born in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, Jan. 16, 1807. 

William Bigham, Jr., inherited a portion of his 
father's farm in Butler County, where he remained, 
cultivating the soil, until he rested from his earthly 
labors, Jan. 27, 1853. The mother has survived 
her husband for a period of thirty-four years, and 
is now living with her son, our subject. The par- 
ental family included eight children, five of whom 
lived to reach their majority: Lydia became the 
wife of Rev. James H. Burns, and is now deceased; 
John 11., our subject, was the second in order of 
birth; Caroline died in Ohio,"aged about eighteen 
years; William Ross is a lumber dealer at White 
City, Kan. ; Darwin L. is engaged in handling ag- 



I 



t 



548 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



rictiltural implements at Redwood Falls, Minn., 
and three children died in early life while the par- 
ents resided in Ohio. William Bighain was a true 
Christian man, and a member in good standing of 
the Presbyterian Church for a period of thirty-five 
years, and in 1 847 was chosen Elder, to .succeed his 
brother who had died. He was a man of few 
words, of quiet and unobtrusive manner, but one 
in whom his family and the community had abso- i 
lute confidence. He is remembered as a kind hus- 
band, indulgent parent and good citizen. 

The boyhood and youth of John R. Bigham were 
spent in the rural districts, where he entered upon 
his primary studies, and afterward completed his 
education in the academy at Hamilton, Ohio. He 
remained a citizen of his native State until 1856, 
and then concluded to seek the farther West. Af- 
ter his arrival in this State he purchased a quarter 
section of unimproved land near El Paso, in Wood- 
ford County, to which he gave his undivided at- 
tention until the spring of 1867. Then selling out, 
he removed within the town limits of Chatsworth 
and took possession of his town residence, where 
he has gathered around him all the comforts and 
many of the luxuries of life. In connection with 
his residence property he owns eighty acres of val- 
uable land within the town limits, where he gives 
full scope to his tastes for horticulture, and also 
raises corn and vegetables. Upon this he has 
erected a neat dwelling, with a good barn and the 
various out-buildings required by the modern 
farmer, the whole combined making one of the 
most attractive places in Chatsworth Township. 
The marriage of Mr. Bigham took place at Sparta, 
Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 11, 1859, the maiden 
of his choice being Miss Rose B. Traxler, who was 
a native of that county and born May 20, 1833. 
Her parents were Peter and Elizabeth (Kuhn) 
Traxler, natives of Pennsylvania and New York 
respectively, and now deceased. Of this union 
there were born seven children, of whom Rose died 
in 1872, when eighteen months old. Those sur- 
viving are Carrie, Elizabeth, Kate, William, Marv 
and John. Mr. Bigham has discharged the duties 
of the various local offices, and politically, uni- 
formly votes the Republican ticket. He became 
connected with the Presbyterian Church many 



years ago, in which he has been an Elder since 1 860. 
lie was a member of the Coroner's jury which held 
the inquest upon the remains of seventy-four vic- 
tims, whose death was occasioned by the terrible 
railroad disaster at Chatsworth, and which calamity 
will be remembered by the people of this section 
for many years to come. It was an occasion call- 
ing forth the sympathies of the whole community, 
and our subject was equal to the emergency and, 
in common with many others, assisted as far as 
possible in mitigating the terrors of the scene. 




McKAY, Treasurer of Liv- 
ingston Count}', was elected to his respon- 
sible office in November, 1886, for a term 
of four years. He is a gentleman in the 
prime of life, and has been a resident of this county 
for over twenty years. His native city was Mon- 
treal, Canada, where he began life on the 3d of 
January, 1842. 

The parents of our subject, James and Mary 
(McAllister) McKay, were of substantial Scotch 
ancestry, and natives of Scotland, as were also the 
grandparents, John and Margaret (Campbell) Mc- 
Kay, who spent their lives in the agricultural dis- 
tricts, where their remains now lie at rest. Their 
family included six children, of whom five are now 
living, but only two in America Estee and James. 
The other children are named Man 1 , Margaret 
and John. The maternal grandparents of our sub- 
ject were Godfrey and Jane (Wilson) McAllister, 
natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland. The}' 
emigrated to Canada in 1836, where the father en- 
gaged in farming on an extensive scale. The wife 
and mother departed this life in 1862, and Mr. Mc- 
Allister died two years later. Their family in- 
cluded ten children, seven now living, namely, 
John, Duncan: Mary, the mother of our subject; 
Ann, Mrs. Campbell; Jeanette, Mrs. McDermott; 
Margaret, Mrs. Montgomery, and Rachel, Mrs. 
McEwen. 

James McKay, the father of our subject, was 
reared to farming pursuits, and went to Canada in 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



549 



1836, when a young man twenty-one years of age, 
accompanied by his bride. He secured possession 
of a large body of land, upon which he operated 
until the spring of 1880, when lie removed across 
the Mississippi to Washington County, Kan., where 
he now lives, engaged as before in carrying on a 
large farm. He belonged to the militia of the Do- 
minion of Canada, and was given the rank of Major. 
The parental household included twelve children, 
eight now living, namely: John ; Alexander, our 
subject; Godfrey, Robert, Peter, Charles; Jeanette, 
Mrs. Galloway, of Dakota, and Mary, Mrs. Campbell. 
Robert and Peter are large stock-dealers in AVash- 
ington County, Kan., and operate together under 
the firm name of McKay Bros.; John is connected 
with a stage route in British Columbia, and God- 
frey is in the canning business in that portion of 
the Northwest; Charles is a teacher in Simcoe 
County. Canada. 

Our subject continued his studies in his native 
Province until fifteen years of age, and the follow- 
ing two years farmed with his father. He then 
served a four years' apprenticeship at harness-mak- 
ing, and in 1864 migrated to Chicago, where he 
followed his trade a year, and afterward continued 
it in Dwight, this county, until 1884. He was 
elected Justice of the Peace, and engaged in the real- 
estate and insurance business. He served three 
terms as Supervisor of Dwight Township, and was 
also a member of the School Board, besides being 
Village Trustee and Town Treasurer. His harness 
business at this place in due time assumed consider- 
able importance, and he gave employment to five 
hands. In the meantime he put up a substantial 
dwelling and a business house, besides other build- 
ings, from the rent of which he received a hand- 
some income. The famil}' residence which he pur- 
chased in 1887 is pleasantly located on Howard 
street, and is one of the most tasteful and comfort- 
able of its kind. 

The marriage of Alexander McKay and Miss Lou- 
isa Lytle took place at the home of the bride in 
Dwight, Nov. 23, 1865. Mrs. McKay was born in 
Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of James Lytle. 
a native of the same State. Of her union with our 
subject there are two sons: James L., born in 1869, 
and Harry A., in 1872. Mr. McKay is a decided 



Republican, politically, and a member in good 
standing of the I. 0. O. F. He also, with his es- 
timable lady, is connected with the Presbyterian 
Church. 




X HOIJCK has resided in Pontiac and 
vicinity for the last eight years, and is now 
comfortably located on a good farm of 
eighty-one acres on section 3, in Eppard's Point 
Township. He has all his life been familiar with 
farm pursuits, and at this vocation has met with 
fair success. His land is well cultivated and pro- 
ductive, and the buildings upon it neat and sub- 
stantial. 

Our subject was born near Troy, Miami Co., 
Ohio, in November, 1836, and is the son of John 
and Catherine (Rhodocker) Houck, the former a 
native of North Carolina, and born Oct. 4, 1788. 
The father of our subject left his native State when 
a youth sixteen years of age, and in 1804 located 
near Cincinnati, where he engaged in milling, and 
whence he removed, some years later, to Mi- 
ami County, and engaged in farming. There his 
death took place May 27, 1865. When a young 
man he had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and although not the hero of any particularly 
thrilling event, performed his duties in life in a 
worth)* manner, and did honor to his excellent 
German ancestry. His wife, Catherine, was born 
in Pennsylvania, April 28, 1800, and was married 
about 1818-19. Their twelve children were born as 
follows: William, born Jan. 31, 1820, died Februaiy 
11 following; Elizabeth, born May 14, 1821, died 
Aug. 14, 1822; Rebecca, born May 26, 1823, died 
November 26 following; Susanna, born Oct. 7, 1824, 
died Dec. 14, 1848; she was the wife of J. L. Dye, 
and the mother of two children. They were living 
in Indiana at the time of her death. Mary, born 
Jan. 25, 1827, is the wife of Jacob DeHaven, with 
whom she lives on the old Houck homestead, in 
Miami County, Ohio, and has four daughters; the 
eldest, Alice, is married and lives with her mother. 
John Houck, Jr., was born Oct. 8, 1829, and died 
April 9, 1844; Jacob was born Feb. 1, 1832, and 
died July 5, 1863, in the hospital at Memphis, 
Tenn ; he was taken ill at Vicksburg, and his 
brother Felix went to the South and took care of 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



him until his death. His remains fill a soldier's 
grave in the Chapel Cemetery on Spring Creek, 
two and one-half miles northeast of Troy, Ohio. 
He left a wife and three children who are still liv- 
ing. George t W. Houck was born April 7, 1834, 
and is engaged in the furniture business at Prince- 
ton, this State ; he has a wife and one son. James 
M. was born Oct. 20, 1840, and was burned to 
death in Winnebago County, 111.; he left a wife 
and two children. Sylvester, born Aug. 24, 1842, 
is a commercial traveler, and makes his home near 
Dayton, Ohio, where he has a wife. Mrs. Cather- 
ine Houck departed this life July 14, 1862. 

Our subject continued with his parents until 
about twenty-five years of age, and assisted in car- 
rying on the farm. When prepared to establish a 
home for himself, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Mary J. Ralston, who was born Oct. 13, 1840, 
and is the only daughter of David and Amanda 
(Sims) Ralston. She is a native of the same county 
as her husband, and became the wife of the latter 
on the oth of March, 1868, the wedding taking 
place at the home of the bride in Piqua, Ohio, Rev. 
Mr. Shepherdson officiating. The father of Mrs. 
Houck died when she was but a child, and her 
mother not many years later, in about 1867. Of. 
her union with our subject there have been born 
four children, namely, Mamie, born Dec. 9, 1871; 
Amie, Jan. 20, 1873; Edward Chase, Aug. 1, 1874. 
The youngest, George Sims, was born in Pontiac, 
Aug. 26, 1876. Mrs. Houck is a member in good 
standing of the Baptist Church, and our subject, 
politically, is independent. They enjoy the com- 
forts of a nicely located and tasteful home, and in 
addition to general farming, Mr. Houck carries on 
stock-raising with good success. 




I 



ILLIAM B. HEWITT, a very well-edu- 
ucated and intelligent gentleman, fond of 
country life, is one of the most extensive 
and successful fanners and stock-raisers of Eppard's 
Point Township, and finely located on section 31. 
His land has been brought to a high state of culti- 
vation, and the value of the property is enhanced 



by the existence of a flue stone quarry which lies 
along the banks of Rook's Creek. Mr. II. illus- 
trates in the highest type the modern and progres- 
sive farmer, who, in addition to the cultivation of 
the soil, has given due attention to the improve- 
ment of his mind. He also possesses considerable 
literary talent, and is at present compiling a sta- 
tistical work, which will be quite voluminous, 300 
pages being now ready for the press and more to 
follow. He has been largely identified with the best 
interests of Livingston County, and both as a busi- 
ness man and a member of society, is extremely 
popular. 

Mr. Hewitt was born in Fayette County, Pa., 
Feb. 4, 1836, and is the son of Jonathan and Eliza- 
beth Hewitt, the former born in 1807, and a native 
of the same county as bis son, where he spent his 
entire life, occupied mostly as a millwright. His 
death took place near Collinsville. Pa., at the house 
of his friend, James Collins, and was the result of 
an accident, he having strained himself by over- 
lifting around the machinery of a sawmill. A frac- 
ture of one of his limbs some years before had di- 
minished his muscular strength, and was indirectly 
a cause of the accident. He was a skilled me- 
chanic and a good man in the broadest sense of the 
word. He set the first 120-horse-power engine that 
was utilized in Fayette County, and was identified 
with many of its other enterprises. He was married 
at the age of twenty-one years to Miss Eli/abeth 
Brownneller, who was born and reared in the same 
county, and was the daughter of Frederick Brown- 
neller, of German birth and parentage. The lat- 
ter was married in his native Empire, whence he 
emigrated to America in the pioneer days. 

The mother of our subject was formerly Miss 
Elizabeth Brownneller. The parental household 
included eight children, who are recorded as fol- 
lows: Joab, the eldest, died in infancy; Rebecca 
married Thomas Warender, of Pontiac, and died 
in 1872, leaving eight children; John H. is a resi- 
dent of Chicago; Susan B. married Oran Wither- 
all, and resides in Normal, 111.; William B. of our 
.-ketch is the fourth child; Mary, Mrs. II. Stilllmm- 
mer, resides in Kansas; Elraira, Mrs. Elliott Mil- 
ler, lives at Jamestown, Dak., and David II. is car- 
rying on the real-estate business in San Diego, Cal. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



55:; 



The mother of these children died at Bloomington 
in 1878. She was born in 1804, and was conse- 
quently seventy-four years of age. 

The youth and boyhood of William B. Hewitt 
were spent on the farm in his native county, where 
he resided until sixteen years of age, and then 
started out by himself to seek a location in the 
West. He made his home with his uncle at Ton- 
ica, LaSalle County, two years, and after a visit of 
three months in his native State, crossed the Mis- 
sissippi and traveled over the States of Iowa, Ne- 
braska and Dakota. Upon returning to Illinois he 
settled down in Clienoa, where he purchased a tract 
of land and proceeded to build up a comfortable 
homestead. In the fall of 1874 he erected a 
handsome residence on his farm and moved there, 
occupying this house until the 27th of June, 1877, 
when it was destroyed by fire, together with most 
of its-contents. It was one of the most finely ar- 
ranged dwellings in McLean -County, and its de- 
struction was the cause of universal regret. Not 
long afterward Mr. Hewitt came to this county and 
took possession of his present farm, where he has a 
comfortable dwelling and a particularly fine barn. 

The wife of our subject, who became the sharer 
of his fortunes Feb. 13, 1860, was formerly Miss 
Rebecca Ellen Vanarsdale, their wedding taking 
place at the home of the bride in the city of Bloom- 
ington. Mrs. Hewitt was born in Owen County, 
Ky., Feb. 24, 1831), and is the daughter of Abram 
and Rebecca Vanarsdale. This union resulted in 
the birth of eight children, who are recorded as 
follows: Ellsworth, named after the well-known 
young hero of the late Civil War, died in in- 
fancy ; Charles H. is serving an apprenticeship at 
the blacksmith trade at Chenoa; Mary for the last 
two years has been teaching, and at the present 
writing (October, 1887) is visiting in Grand Rapids, 
Mich.; Arthur is connected with a wholesale car- 
pet store in Grand Rapids; Eleanor, Albert, How- 
ard and Edward H. are at home with their parents, ' 
the two latter attending school. Mr. Hewitt be- 
lieves most decidedly in giving to the young those 
advantages which will enable them to become intel- 
ligent and worthy citizens. His children form a 
bright family group, inheriting largely the talents 
of their father, and the love of study, which is one 



of his chief characteristics. The latter wields the 
pen of a ready writer, and exerts his influence in 
favor of everything which shall conduce to the 
welfare and enlightenment of the people. He is a 
stanch Republican, politically, and was a .great 
admirer of the martyred President, Abraham Lin- 
coln. He meddles little, however, with political mat- 
ters, and has steadily declined becoming an office- 
holder, although at one time he served as School 
Director. 



f OHN W. EAGLE, dealer in hard and soft 
coal at Pontiac, is transacting a profitable 
business, and has a convenient office and 
yard near the tracks of the Wabash, St. 
Louis & Pacific Railroad. He is one of the early 
settlers of the town, having come in when there 
were but eleven houses, and purchased the entire 
stock of lumber in the place with which to build a 
shanty, and then did not have ertough shingles to 
cover it. As may be supposed, he has watched with 
interest and satisfaction ihe growth of his adopted 
town, and has contributed in no small degree to its 
present importance. 

' Mr. Eagle, a native of Gallia County t Ohio, was 
born Dec. 20, 1819, and is the son of George and 
Susannah (Williams) Eagle, the former a native of 
Harrisburg, Pa., and the latter of Greenbrier 
County, Va. George Eagle was reared to farming 
pursuits, and left his native State when a young 
man, going into Greenbrier County, Va., where he 
married the mother of our subject. They removed 
to Gallia County, Ohio, in 1812, at an early period 
in the history of that State, and purchased Govern- 
ment land at $1.25 per acre. It was all timber and 
George Eagle secured possession of 1,700 acres. 
He was a man of great force of character, and 
strong physically, and cleared 500 acres of land, 
building up a fine homestead and becoming one of 
the most extensive farmers of that region. He and 
his wife occupied this place during the remainder 
of their lives, and both died on the 4th of July, the 
mother, in 1865, when seventy-five years old, and 
the father five years later, in 1870, after having 
reached fourscore years. He was Justice of the 
Peace eight years and County Commissioner twelve 






-),-, 1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i ' 

I 



years. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. The parental household included 
nine children, four now living, namely, Matilda, 
Mrs. J. Hughes, of Gallia County, Ohio; Sahrina, 
Mrs. A. M. Barlow, of Pomeroy, Ohio; John W., 
our subject, and Frances A., Mrs. J. Rhodes, a resi- 
dent of Missouri. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, also 
George Eagle by name, was born on the River 
Rhine in Germany, and learned the trades of cooper 
and carpenter. He emigrated to America before 
the Revolutionary War and entered the army as a 
wagonmaster, in which capacity he served until the 
struggle was ended. He then moved with his family 
to Gallia County, Ohio, in 1812, where he followed 
his trade and lived to be seventy-five years of age. 
His death occurred in 1836. His wife survived 
him several years, her death taking place when she 
was ninety-seven years old. The maternal grand- 
parents of our subject were William and Polly 
(Watts) Williams, natives of Greenbrier County, 
Va. Grandfather Williams was a farmer by occu- 
pation and spent the greater part of his life near 
Lewisburg, Va., where his death took place after he 
had reached the advanced age of one hundred and 
eight years; he was the father of nine children. The 
mother had preceded him to the silent land when 
about sixty-eight years old. 

The subject of this biography passed his boy- 
hood and youth after the manner of most farmers' 
sons, and received a limited education. His early 
studies were conducted in a log cabin two miles 
from his home, and which was finished and fur- 
nished after the manner of those days, with slabs 
for seats and desks and greased paper for window- 
panes. The floor was of puncheon and the roof 
covered with clapboards. The teacher, as was 
customary at that time, ruled with the rod and 
made liberal use of it. The children were taught 
to make obeisance to people whom they met. and if 
they failed in this were promptly punished. Young 
Eagle attended school during the winter season 
until twenty years of age, and remained under the 
home roof four years later. He was then united 
in marriage with .Teannetta Woneldorff, a native of 
his own county, and the daughter of Michael and 
.lane (Waddle) Woneldorff, natives of Ohio and of 



German descent. They spent their entire lives in 
the Buckeye State, and were the parents of eleven 
children, seven now living, and located as follows: 
Mary A., Mrs. G. W. Holmes, is a resident of In- 
diana; John, of Missouri; George, David, Francis 
and James are residents of Ohio. Jeannctta, Mr.-. 
Eagle, was the youngest of the family. 

Our subject and his wife after their marriage 
continued on a farm in their native county, where 
Mr. Eagle cultivated 240 acres of land for a period 
of eight years. He then sold out and repaired to 
Middleport, Meigs County, where he engaged in 
general merchandising four years. He then sold 
out, and in 1856 came to Livingston County, this 
State, and purchased 240 acres near Pontiac besides 
040 acres on Rook's Creek. The following year 
he lost 300 acres of wheat by wet and freezing 
weather, and the next year he lost (iOO acres, be- 
sides $5,000 in Ohio by a bad debt. These mis- 
fortunes ruined him financially for the time, and in 
the spring of 1859 he went to Pike's Peak, where 
he took up some fine claims and was cheated out of 
these b}- border ruffians who swore that they had a 
prior claim. His feelings as he returned home in 
the fall of 1861 can be better imagined than de- 
scribed. Resolving, however, to make the best of 
circumstances, he went to work at &1 per day, and 
by the exercise of the most rigid economy, sup- 
ported his family, and at the end of six months had 
150 ahead. He continued working by the day for 
two years longer, and in due time his fortunes be- 
gan to mend. He had assisted in organizing Liv- 
ingston County and the city of Pontiac, and in 
1865 was elected City Marshal, in which position 
lie served four years. Afterward he was made 
Deputy Sheriff. In 1867 he leased a quarter sec- 
tion of land in Pontiac Township, upon which he 
operated successfully four years, then returned to 
the town, where he has since resided. He estab- 
lished his coal business at that time, and in the 
winter of 1864-65 put up his present tasteful and 
substantial residence, which is located at the corner 
of Main and North streets. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eagle became the parents of three 
children, a son and two daughters, namely, George 
W., deceased; Mary E., the wife of C. L. Bige- 
low, engaged in a restaurant and bakery at Pontiac: 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Frances L. is the wife of B. W. White, engaged in 
the trade and manufacture of cigars. Mr. Eagle, 
politically, was in early manhood n member of the 
Whig party, but upon its abandonment identified 
himself with the Republicans. Of late years he has 
voted independently. 

The celebrated "Blue Jeans" Williams, ex-Gov- 
ernor of Indiana, was own cousin of our subject. He 
was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of La- 
fayette County. The sobriquet was applied to him 
from the fact that he wore a blue jeans suit while 
"stumping" the State during his candidacy for 
Governor. 




H. McDOWELL, who is one of the leading 
members of the bar of Pontiac and Master 
in Chancery for Livingston County, is a na- 
tive of Montgomery County, Ind., and was 
born on the Gth of March, 1840. He is the son of 
John and Elizabeth (Price) McDowell, respectively 
natives of Kentucky and Ohio; his father being a 
farmer by occupation. The latter died in Indiana, 
and after his death the mother, with her family, 
moved to Illinois in 1850 and settled in Livingston 
County. Of a family of nine children there are 
now only four living: Isaac P., President of the 
First National Bank of Fairbury, Livingston Coun- 
ty; Oliver P., of Fairbury, now retired; Mary E., 
now Mrs. Ladd, of Pontiac, and H. H. 

The subject of this sketch divided his time be- 
tween working on a farm and attending school un- 
til he was seventeen years of age, when he returned 
to Indiana and entered the Thorntown Seminary, 
located in Boone County, about thirty-five miles 
north of Indianapolis, .and remained there about 
three years. In May, 18G1, almost at the begin- 
ning of hostilities between the North and the South, 
Mr. McDowell enlisted in Compaivy B, 17th Indiana 
Infantry, and remained in that regiment for nearly 
one year, when he returned home and assisted in 
organizing the 12!ith Illinois Infantry, of which 
regiment he was made Sergeant Major, and subse- 
quently was commissioned a Lieutenant of Company 
E. He participated in all the battles in which this 
regiment was engaged, and with a few picked men 



he captured the noted guerrilla chief, Capt. Bur- 
ton, near Gallatin, Tenn. On account of his pe- 
culiar fitness for the position, he was detailed as 
an aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. Harrison who has 
since represented Indiana in the United States Sen- 
ate from Atlanta to Washington, and was mus- 
tered out in June, 1865. After his return from 
the war Mr. McDowell engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness at Fairbury, making hardware a specialty. At 
this time he began to read law, and after three 
years of study was admitted to the bar in 1872; 
then he located in Pontiac, where he has since re- 
sided, and devoted his time to the practice of his 
profession. Mr. McDowell has been a member of 
the Board of Education for ten years, and by ap- 
pointment of President Hayes was the Superintend- 
ent of the census of thirteen counties in 1880. He 
is the attorney for the First National Bank of Fair- 
bury, and in his practice is generally on one side or 
the other of all the important causes tried in the 
Livingston County Courts. 

Mr. McDowell was married on the 1st of January, 
1866, to Miss Emma C. Thayer, a native of New 
York, and daughter of Dr. Gilbert Thayer, Presi- 
dent of the Morgan Park Female College, of Cook 
County, 111. They have an interesting family of 
four children Julia M., Louis Donald, William 
Thayer and Isaac Price. Mr. McDowell is a Re- 
publican, and during the campaign preaches the 
doctrines of that party upon all proper occasions. 
He is an enthusiastic comrade of the G. A. R. He 
and his wife are both members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and take a lively interest in the 
affairs of that body. From the success he has at- 
tained in the past the prophecy of a brilliant career 
in the future of Mr. McDowell is amply justified. 




ALBRIGHT. This gentleman is 
one of the most striking illustrations of the 
good result of energetic and por>istent labor 
that can be found in the great State of Illinois. He 
commenced in life at the very foot of the ladder, 
without means and with little encouragement, hav- 
ing only his strong hands and resolute will. These, 



550 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



is will be seen, he employed to the very best ad- 
vantage. He is now the owner of 160 acres of the 
finest farming land in Central Illinois, and his home- 
stead is embellished with a set of farm buildings not 
excelled by any in the township. The residence is 
built in the most substantial manner, and finished 
and furnished in modern style. The barns and 
other out buildings are admirably adapted to all the 
requirements of the progressive agriculturist, and 
the homestead is the admiration of all who pass by 
it. A well seventy-three feet in depth and fed 
from a living spring of the purest water, is operated 
by a wind pump of the latest improved pattern, and 
the general machinery of the farm is of the most 
convenient description and finely adapted to the 
general purposes of agriculture. 

Our subject, a native of Bedford County, PH., 
was born Oct. 2, 1821, and is the son of Christo- 
pher and Margaret (Prakner) Albright. The former 
was born in Lancaster County and died while com- 
paratively a young man, in the spring of 1828. He 
was a good business man. a wagon-maker by trade, 
and also fond of farming pursuits. He owned a 
small tract of land, and in connection with his other 
business, carried on blacksmithing and the manu- 
facture of plows. He had already accumulated a 
good property, and left his widow in comfortable 
circumstances. The parental household included 
fourteen children, thirteen of whom lived to mature 
years. They were named respectively John, Cath- 
erine, Elizabeth, Christian, Susan, Hannah, Solo- 
mon, Mary, Uachel, Samuel, Jacob, Henry, George 
and Margaret. 

It will thus be seen that our subject was next to 
the youngest child of his parents. He received but 
a limited education and early in life was made ac- 
quainted with hard labor. He worked some at the 
carpenter's trade which was the main industry of 
his native county. He continued in Pennsj'lvania 
until in the fall of 1848, in the meantime having 
been married. He was not satisfied, however, with j 
the result of his labors in that section of country, 
and on the 15th of September started with his wife j 
and child for Washington County, Wis. He \v;is 
one of the pioneers of that section and took up a 
tract of land, where he opened up a fine farm of 240 
acres, and at the end of eight years was worth 



$8,000. He had gone there with a capital of $300. 
He spent many a week and month chopping down 
the forest trees, digging out stumps and preparing 
his land for cultivation, but in the end felt duly 
repaid for his labor. After a residence of twenty 
years in Washington County, in which he carried 
on carpentering as well as farming, he sold out in 
the spring of 1867, and coining to this county, 
purchased 160 acres of land in Pleasant Ridge 
Township. Eighty acres of this had been broken 
and he soon had the whole under a good state of 
cultivation. 

Mr. Albright, while a resident of Bedford County) 
Pa., was united in marriage with Miss Charity A. 
Smith, the wedding taking place at the home of the 
bride, July 2, 1 845. Mrs. Albright was born in 
Bedford County in 1826, and .by her union with 
our subject became the mother of four children. 
Of these Rebecca married William Bell, and lives 
in Pleasant Ridge Township; Margaret A. is the 
wife of Albert Gray, of Pleasant Ridge Township; 
and Bellzenia married George Gray, brother of the 
above, and they are living with her parents. Mr. 
Albright, politically, is a Democrat of the first wa- 
ter. He cast his first Presidential vote for William 
H. Harrison and nothing has availed to turn him 
from his first principle. Solomon and Samuel Al- 
bright, two brothers of our subject, are carrying on 
farming successfully in Washington County, Wis. 




ENRY HILTON, who resides on section 34, 
Avoca Township, is a native of England, 
and was born in Yorkshire, the laruv-t 
county in the Kingdom, situated in the north 
part, and having on the east the North Sea and land- 
ward the counties of Durham, Westmoreland, Lanca- 
shire, Cheshire. Derby, Nottingham and Lincoln. The 
Mirfaee is very much diversified. In the northwest 
are some of the highest mountains of England, and 
eWwhere barren moors, alternated with some of the 
richest tract> in the Kingdom. The rivers are all 
tributary to the Ouse and (lumber, excepting the 
Teo forming the northern boundary, and the Rib- 
ble in the extreme \ve>t. Yorkshire is an agricult- 
ural, grazing and manufacturing county of the lirst 



1 * 

tf 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



557 



rank, while the west division of the county is the 
chief sent of mining and manufacturing industry. 
York, the second city of England in point of rank, 
though not in size or commercial importance, is a 
parliamentary and municipal borough, and is the 
capital of Yorkshire. In this county the subject of 
our sketch was born on the 2d of August, 182-2. 

Henry Hilton is the son of James and {Hannah 
Hilton, both natives of England. In the spring of 
1830 with his parents he emigrated to America, 
taking passage at Hull on a sailing-vessel, and after 
an ocean voyage of about six weeks landed at New 
York City. His parents settled in Chautauqua County, 
N. Y., where they resided many years. They were 
the parents of nine children, six of whom survive. 
William died Oct. 13, 1887, in Chautauqua County, 
N. Y. ; John is in the East; James, in Indiana; 
Thomas, in Minnesota; Henry; Anna, Mrs. Thomas 
Starr, of Dunkirk, N. Y. ; Eliza, Mrs. Fox, also of 
Dunkirk, N. Y. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to man's 
estate in Chautauqiia County, N. Y., and received 
but a moderate education at the common schools in 
that count}'. In the spring of 1850, during the ex- 
citement consequent upon the discovery of gold in 
California, he went to that State, arriving in Au- 
gust, 1850. He remained there as a miner until the 
fall of 1 85 1 , when he went to Oregon, and was en- 
gaged there in various occupations. In going to Cali- 
fornia he went via the overland route and returned 
by the way of the Isthmus of Darien to New York 
State, where he remained for several years. 

On the 6th of January, 1863, Mr. Hilton was 
married to Harriett Odell, who was born in New 
York City on the 20th of March, 1 830. She was 
the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Odell, her 
father being a native of New York and the mother 
a Virginian by birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Hilton 
have been born six children, five of whom are liv- 
ing: Sophia is the wife of George Day, of Pleasant 
Ridge Township; Josephine, Mrs. Elliott Gifford, 
of Linn County, Kan. ; Belle, wife of George Cot- 
tingham, of McLean County, 111.; Emma and Julia. 
In 18(>5, with his family, Mr. Hilton came to Liv- 
ingr-ton County, and settled on his present farm in 
Avoca Township, where he has continuously re>ii led. 
He owns forty acres of well-improved land, which 



i> well equipped in the way of buildings and fence:-. 
He has been a hard-working man all his life, and 
whatever he possesses is the result of his own industry 
and good management. He has served as School Di- 
rector, in which position he has given good satis- 
faction. Politically he votes and acts with the Re- 
publican party, and he and his wife are both con- 
sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in the affairs of which they take an active interest. 
They enjoy the respect and esteem of all the people 
by whom they are surrounded. 






I 

9 



OIIN KINGDON. Our subject comes from 
original English stock, being a native of 
Devonshire, one of the best known counties, 
on account of the thriftiness of its people, 
in England. He is now successfully engaged in 
farming and stock-raising on section 17, Sullivan 
Township. His birth occurred on the 24th of No- 
vember, 183',), and he was the second in a family of 
five children. His parents were Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Westcott) Kingdon, natives of England. The 
paternal grandparents were Henry and Mary King- 
don, and the maternal grandparents were Christo- 
pher and Mary Westcott, who were born in En- 
gland. The father of our subject was a farmer and 
butcher in that country, and in the former occupa- 
tion our subject was reared. He received his edu- 
cation in the private schools, and was considerably 
advanced when, at the age of seventeen, he resolved 
to try his fortunes in the New World. On the 1 5th 
of April, 1858, he set sail from Plymouth on the 
sailing-vessel " C'ape St. Roque," and after a very 
pleasant voyage of four weeks, he landed at Quebec. 
From there he went direct to Pcoria County, where a 
brother was living, and immediately engaged at farm 
labor. In September of the following year he en- 
li>ted, in Pcoria County, in Company IT, 47th Illi- 
nois Infantry, and was in the service four and one- 
half years. During the time he was in the army he 
participated in the engagements at Corinth, Cuya- 
hoa'a. llollv Springs. N:i-hville. Yieksburg and other 
places. During the latter part of the war Mr. King- 
don served in the 2d Iowa Uattery. to which he had 
been transferred, but was again returned to his reg- 






558 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



inii'iit. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, 

111., in February. 1 *<'>."(, as Third Sergeant, and im- 
mediately went t<> Woodford County, where he en- 
irasrcd at farm labor for one year, and then attended 
rented land for one year. 

On the 1st of March, 1868, at Chillicothe, 111., 
Mr. Kingdon was married to Miss Mary Thome, 
who was born in Devonshire, England, on the 6th 
of November, 1847. She was "the fourth ina fam- 
ily of ten children born to William and Deborah 
(Passmore) Then-lie, who were natives of England 
and emigrated to this country in 1857. The father 
died in Peoria County in 1883, at the age of sixty- 
four years; the mother still resides in that county. 
The father of our subject came to this country, 
and after remaining for a while, returned to En- 
gland, and died at the age of sixty-five. The 
mother died two weeks after reaching America. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kingdon set- 
tled on a rented farm near El Paso, where they re- 
mained for one year. Mr. Kingdon came to Sul- 
livan Township, Livingston Count}', in February, 
18G9, having purchased eighty acres of wild prairie 
the previous fall. He had built a house upon the 
land, into which the family moved on the date 
above mentioned, and then began in earnest the 
work of improvement and cultivation. Since then 
he has added eighty acres, and now owns 160 acres, 
all under an excellent state of cultivation. The 
house and barn are among the best in the township. 
The barn now standing is the second he has- built 
upon the place, as the first one was destroyed by 
lightning when it was filled with hay, oats, imple- 
ments and horses, the latter being the only part of 
the contents saved. Mr. Kingdon has stocked his 
farm with Clyde and Morgan horses, graded Dur- 
ham cattle, Poland-China hogs and a limited num- 
ber of fine wool sheep. He has not been very act- 
ive in politics, but what attention he does give in 
that direction is in the interest and for the benefit 
of the Democratic party. He has been Overseer 
of Highways, and for twelve years has discharged 
the duties of School Director. 

Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and 
Mr-. Kingdon, and they are all living. Their 
names are Edwin James, Cora Elizabeth, John. 
William Ervy and George. They are all at home 



with their parents, and are being given all the op- 
portunities possible for procuring an education. 
They are all bright and intelligent children, and 
will doubtless live to be a credit to their parents 
and an honor to themselves. 




S. MclLDUFF. It is a notable 
fact that the larger per cent of the leading 
lawyers of Illinois of to-day belong to the 
younger generation, and this can be ac- 
counted for by the fact that within the past three 
or four decades the facilities for obtaining a legal 
education have been much increased, both in the 
schools and colleges, while the literature of the law 
has received important additions. The system of 
reports now in vogue in the States, and the numer- 
ous current publications peculiar to the profession, 
are great aids to the modern disciples of Blackstone 
which the older generations did not enjoy, and the 
libraries of the younger generation of progressive 
lawyers may be found freighted with all the neces- 
sary adjuncts. 

Mr. Mcllduff, the senior member of the firm of 
Mcllduff & Torrance, in reaching his present envi- 
able position at the bar, has availed himself of all 
valuable publications of the day, and has constantly 
kept himself abreast with the decisions and opin- 
ions of the best legal minds of the day. He is a 
Pennsylvania!! by birth, having been born in Hunt- 
ingdon County on the 1st of June, 1848, and is 
the son of James and Agnes M. (Speer) Mcllduff, 
natives of County Down, Ireland, and Huntingdon 
County, Pa., respectively. .County Down, Ireland, 
has furnished the United States some of her best 
Irish-American citizens. It is a county in Ulster, 
and contains a population of* 295,000, most of 
whom are intelligent farmers. Agriculture is car- 
ried on with great skill and success. The capital is 
Downpatrick. which claims to be one of the oldest 
towns in Ireland, having been the place of residence 
of the ancient native kings of Ulster, and the chosen 
residence of St. Patrick, who founded religious es- 
tablishments here and presided over them until his 
death, in 493. 

James Mcllduff came to America in 1834, and 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



559 



first settled in Philadelphia, engaging in a commis- 
sion house as accountant. He was a graduate of 
the Belfast Academical Institute at the age of 
twenty, and in his studies had fitted himself for a 
navigator, but his father protested against his en- 
gaging in that vocation. His father was John Mc- 
Ilduff, a farmer who lived and died in Ireland. He 
had a family of four children, two of whom are 
living James and Edward, the latter residing in 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 

James Mcllduff was married at Cassville, Hunt- 
ingdon Co., Pa., in 1847. From 1835 he owned 
and ran a line of boats on the Pennsylvania Canal 
until 1848, when steam knocked the canal-boat out 
of water. Subsequently he engaged in merchandis- 
ing at Cassville and Eagle Foundry, and continued 
in that business till 1854. Then, after settling up 
matters, he came with his family to Dwight Town- 
ship, Livingston County, in 1855, and engaged in 
farming, breaking the first farm ground in Dwight 
Township in 1855. He continued farming until 
1866, when he retired, and moved to the village of 
Dwight. where he has since resided. He served as 
Postmaster three years. Police Magistrate thirteen 
years, and has also held the offices of School Di- 
rector, Justice of the Peace, and Town Clerk. His 
children, all now living, are: Robert S. ; Agnes C., 
a teacher in the Dwight schools, and Thomas E., 
now engaged in the mercantile business at Memphis, 
Tenn. 

The parents of Agnes M. Speer were Robert and 
Agnes (Cowen) Speer, who were natives of County 
Antrim, Ireland, and came to America in about 
1822. They settled near Shade Gap, Huntingdon 
Co., Pa., where they engaged in farming, afterward 
removing to Cassville, where he carried on mer- 
chandising, lumbering, farming, and buying and 
shipping grain. They had a family of nine chil- 
dren, three of whom are living: Agnes M., Mrs. 
Mcllduff; Isabella II., Mrs. Baker, of Dwight, 111., 
and Hon. R. Milton Speer, of Huntingdon, Pa. 

Robert S. Mcllduff spent the years from 1855 
till 1866, except 1851) and 1860, on a farm, and 
had the usual experiences of Illinois fanners' boys 
of that period. He had the benefit of the public 
schools only of that time, working on the farm dur- 
ing the summer and going to school in the winter, 



either walking nearly three miles from home, or, 
vhen so fortunate as to get the opportunity, doing 
chores for his board for some one in town. From 
beginning school until he quit, in 1867, the entire 
time of his attendance would not aggregate more 
than five years, all at the Dwight school except one 
year at Cassville before his father removed to Illi- 
nois. The public schools of those days did not 
occupy the advanced position of to-day, and the 
Directors of the Dwight school forbade the Princi- 
pal. O. F. Pearre, now Police Magistrate of Pontiac, 
teaching Latin, geometry and trigonometry to By- 
ron Smith, son of Col. Smith, 129th Illinois Volun- 
teers, and Mr. Mcllduff. Mr. Pearre pluckily said 
he would hear thenf recite at recess and noon, and 
to Mr. Pearre the subject of this sketch feels 
greatly indebted. In the fall of 1867 he became 
Assistant Postmaster, and acted in that capacity 
till the spring of 1868, when he returned to Penn- 
sylvania, and began reading law with his uncle, 
Mr. Speer, remaining one year. During this time 
he took lessons in grammar, English and Latin. 
Upon his return to Dwight he was employed to 
teach the grammar department of the public school, 
and taught two terms, at the same time prosecuting 
his law studies. In the spring of 1870 he returned 
to Huntingdon to finish his law course, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar on the 1 3th of August, 1 870, by 
Hon. George Taylor, Presiding Judge, after an ex- 
amination by a committee of the bar appointed by 
the Court. 

After his admission to the bar Mr. Mcllduff re- 
turned to his home and there remained till Janu- 
ary, 1871, when he went to Bolivar, Polk Co., Mo., 
where he hung out his shingle, remaining five or 
six months. He then came back to Dwight and 
remained till the spring of 1872, having charge on 
two or three occasions of the Dwight schools dur- 
ing the temporary absence of the respective Prin- 
cipals. In the spring of that year he went to Kan- 
sas City and opened a law office, remaining till the 
fall of 1874, when his western ardor was cooled by 
the grasshopper plague. On his return to Dwight 
he formed a partnership, Oct. 20, 1874, with L. G. 
Pearre, for the practice of law, which firm contin- 
ued till April, 1878, when it was dissolved by mu- 
tual consent. Mr. Mcllduff continued the practice 



560 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of law at Dwight until the llth of October, 1881, 
when he removed to Pontiac, where he has since 
remained. In 1880 he was elected State's Attor- 
ney, in winch capacity he served four years, and 
during that time never had an indictment quashed. 
He reluctantly consented to be a candidate for re- 
election, but because of his vigorous prosecution 
of offenders against the laws, was defeated, al- 
though he led every other candidate on his ticket 
from Elector down. He was elected Alderman 
from the Third Ward in Pontiac, in 1885, and 
served one term. The present law firm of Mcllduff 
<fe Torrance was established Jan. 1 , 1 884. 

Mr. Mcllduff was married, on the llth of Novem- 
ber, 1875, to Miss Mary J. Paul, a native of West- 
moreland County, Pa., daughter of James and 
Martha (Braden) Paul, natives of the same county. 
They have three children Helen S., Gratia P. and 
Howard J. Mr. Mcllduff and family occupy a 
pleasant residence on South Mill street, and he and 
liis wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
in which congregation they stand high. Mr. Mcll- 
duff is one of the most prominent men at the Liv- 
ingston County bar. He is'an advocate of unusual 
force and power, and as a political orator his serv- 
ices are much sought in campaign time by com- 
mittees of the Democratic party. 

* J-4- 



J~?OHN II. CURYEA, in the spring of 1876, 
I came to Fayette Township and purchased 
j 320 acres of land not far from the village 
' limits of Strawn, where he has since carried 
on general farming and stock-raising, and is recog- 
nized as a prominent and well-to-do citizen. He 
keeps from forty to sixty head of graded Short- 
horn cattle, numbers of which he feeds and ships 
annually and receives therefor a good round sum. 
His skill and experience in agriculture have given 
him a leading position among the men of his class, 
where he is no less resected for his personal worth 
than for his excellent business capacities. 

Our subject is a native of the Old Dominion, 
born in Shenandoah County Nov. 3, 1830. His 
parents, John and Lydia (Sager) Curyea, were na- 
tives respectively of Virginia and Pennsylvania, 
and the father was a mechanic early in life, but 



later engaged in farming. He came to the West 
in 1843, locating in Ottawa, LaSalle County, where 
he followed milling for a period of over twenty 
years. Before coming to this State he had carried 
on shoemaking in Virginia and Ohio for a period of 
twenty years. He acquired a moderate amount of 
property, and spent his declining years retired from 
active labor. The parental household included 
four sons and five daughters, namely, Mary Ann, 
Cincinnati J., John H., William M.. Atha D., Julia 
Ann, Isabella, Emeline and George W. They are 
all living, with the exception of Atha, and all mar- 
ried except Isabella. 

The subject of this biography left home soon af- 
ter reaching his majority, and was employed as a 
farm laborer three months, and then for two years 
was occupied in mining in California. This was in 
1852 and 1853 and spring of 1854. Subsequently 
he engaged as a stock-dealer, buying and selling in 
Coles County. He then sought a new field of op- 
erations in LaSalle County, of which he remained a 
resident ten years, and at the expiration of that 
time accumulated a snug little sum of money, a 
part of which he invested in the land which he now 
occupies^ Upon this he lias effected great improve- 
ments since taking possession, so that it has become 
one of the most desirable homesteads in Livingston 
County. 

More than thirty years ago, on the 1 2th of Feb- 
ruary, 1856, our subject was united in marriage 
with Miss Manema McMunn, of Coshocton County, 
Ohio, and born in 1838. She is the daughter of 
Samuel and Sarah (Hurt) McMunn, who were 
among the most worthy members of the fanning 
community of Coshocton County, but passed to 
their long home many years ago. The young peo- 
ple first began housekeeping in Mattoon in 1857, 
and the household circle was gradually enlarged 
until they became the parents of nine children: 
Charles D., now a resident of Strawn ; Norah V. is 
the wife of Robert A. Hamilton, a general merchant 
of Strawn ; Sally married B. F. Landis, of Fayette 
Township; Frank married Miss Mollie Goembel, 
and is farming ir Fayette Township; Lucy, Ger- 
trude, Belle, John B. and George W. are at home 
with their parents. 

Mr. Curyea meddles very little with political 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



matters, but defends anti-monopoly doctrines. He 
was elected to represent Fayette Township in the 
Count}- Board of Supervisors in 187!>, which office 
he held three years, and has been School Trustee 
also for three years. He is considered entirely re- 
sponsible and reliable, and a solid citizen of whom 
the township may justly be proud. 



- jl- 




KLESTUS BEABDSLEY, of section 27, Es- 
men Township, is a model farmer and dairy 
keeper. He was born in the town of Mc- 
Donough, Chenango Co., N. Y., on the 22d of No- 
vember, 1823, and was the fourth child of a family 
of ten. His parents were Belah and Rebecca 
(Smith) Beardsley, natives of Litchfleld County, 
Conn., the father of the village of Kent, and the 
mother of Goshen ; their parents emigrated to New 
York during their youth. The paternal grandpar- 
ents were William and Rachel (Benton) Beardsley; 
he was a farmer, and fought in the War of 1812 as 
a private, being crippled in the hand by the burst- 
ing of a gun. The maternal grandfather was Jo- 
seph Smith. The father of Mr. Beardsley was a 
practicing physician the greater portion of his life, 
and died in his ninety-fourth year, on the 6th of 
July, 1887. He was born on the 5th of October, 
1793. His long and eventful career was one of 
great usefulness, and he was devotedly attached to 
his profession. His last days were spent with his 
children, who resided in New Jersey. His excel- 
lent wife was born on the 24th of April, 1795, and 
died in March, 1875. 

Mr. Beardsley was educated in the common 
schools, and worked on a farm until he was seven- 
teen years of age ; he then followed the tow path 
on the canal. At seventeen he left home, and for 
the next seven years his life was a checkered one ; 
he worked at all kinds of common labor, as oppor- 
tunities presented themselves, and on the 19th of 
August, 1847, at the age of twenty-four, he was 
married, the lady of his choice being Amanda 
Palmer, the second child in a family of six born to 
George R. and Mary Ann (Briggs) Palmer, natives 
of Rhode Island, where Mrs. Beardsley was born 
on the 9th of June, 1826. 

Our subject first settled in Qortland County, N. 



Y., where he bought a farm. Here he remained 
six years, and then left the farm and became a day 
laborer again ; after three years of wajidering he 
rented a farm in Chautauqua County, N. Y., which 
he managed for five years. He then bought a farm, 
and after working it for three years, sold it and 
moved to Illinois. In 1866 he settled on section 
27, where he lived on a rented farm for two years. 
He then bought forty acres of this land, and has 
resided on this tract ever since. He has added to 
the farm forty acres, which is all the land he owns, 
having given the balance to his children. He is 
the father of four children, all of whom are living: 
Oscar, born April 30, 1848; Arthur Eugene, Oct. 
4, 1853; Mary Ella, June 30, 1855; Dora Ellen, 
Sept. 17, 1862. In 1875 Oscar married Alice 
Palmer, and lives near his father's homestead ; Eu- 
gene married Ella Pearson, of Trinidad, Las Ani- 
mas Co., Col., where they now reside; he is a civil 
engineer and a graduate of Cornell University. 
Mary married John A. Cross, and they live in Da- 
kota, where he is engaged in farming; Dora is 
with her sister in Colorado. The parents took 
great pride in giving each of their children a good 
education, and each of them have taught school. 
Mr. Beardsley and his son Oscar jointly manage 
the farm, the active management being in the son's 
hands. 

Mr. Beardsley was elected Justice of the Peace 
and served five years, and has also served as .Road 
Overseer, but has never sought office. He is not 
very active in political affairs, but votes the Re- 
publican ticket. lie is an independent thinker 
and reasoner, and is a strong advocate of any 
cause he espouses. 

It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. 
Beardsley in connection with this brief sketch, as 
being that of a worthy and representative member 
of the farming community of Esmen Township. 



HILIP K. HILTON is one of Livingston 
County's prominent and highly respected 
citizens, and has met with success in his 
chosen vocation in life. He resides on his 
country estate of 315 acres of excellent land, free 
from encumbrances, on section 30, Snnbury Towu- 




I 



564 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



ship. He was born in Delaware County, N. Y., 
May 25, 1820, and is the son of John V. and Anna 
(Grummon) Hilton, natives of New York. The 
paternal grandparents, William P. and Martha Hil- 
ton, were also natives of that State, and the grand- 
father was a Revolutionary soldier, serving through 
the entire war. He was a physician by profession, 
and spent his declining years in the town of Blen- 
heim, Schoharie Co., N. Y. The father of our sub- 
ject was a farmer, and moved to Warren County, 
Pa., in 1 830, going by canal to Buffalo, and mak- 
ing the balance of the journey overland. Twelve 
years later he came to Illinois, and settled in Liv- 
ingston County, on Wolf Creek, where he remained 
for several years, his death occurring in October, 
1864. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, for 
which a pension was granted him, the certificate 
bearing the date on which he died. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm 
life, and received his education in the common 
schools. Five or six years after his father settled in 
Pennsylvania, our subject left home to do for him- 
self, starting away without any money, his entire 
possessions consisting of twelve pounds of maple 
sugar and a small surplus of clothing which he car- 
ried in a bundle. At Columbus, Pa., he sold the 
sugar for money to pay his fare to Erie, Pa., where 
he shipped on board a schooner, and worked for 
two months. In 1836 he took a trip through Michi- 
gan, but returned to Pennsylvania. In 1837 he 
went to Grand Haven, Mich., where he engaged in 
a sawmill, and there had a severe spell of sickness. 
In the same year he went to Will County, 111., and 
shortly afterward came to Livingston County, where 
he made his home with a brother on Mud Creek. 
This county has been his home since that time. 
Soon after coming here he worked on the Michigan 
Canal at and near Joliet for three years. At that 
time the settlements through this section of Illinois 
were located along the creek. The Indians had all 
disappeared, but the country was yet wild anc! un- 
broken, and there were plenty of wolves, deer, tur- 
keys and prairie chickens. He spent a season in 
Vermilion and LaSalle Counties engaged in saw- 
milling. In 1842 he went to Iowa, and thence to 
New Orleans with a flatboat loaded with corn. On 
the return up the river the boat was blown up. and 



several men were lost. Mr. Hilton had his face and 
hands badly scalded. In the fall of that year he 
returned to Iowa, and reached his home in Living- 
ston County in the winter. The following year he 
engaged at farming, and later on fanned on shares 
at Babcock's Grove. At this time he hauled wheat 
to Chicago, and sold it at fifty cents per bushel, and 
frequently hauled corn across the prairie, which was 
fed to the hogs that were being driven to Chicago. 
During those trips he was much exposed to the 
weather, and one time became belated, and had to 
remain out all night, surrounded by wolves, and 
was nearly frozen to death before reaching a house. 
It had rained until he became wet, and then sud- 
denly turned cold and froze his clothing. Two or 
three years later he returned to the neighborhood 
of Mud Creek. 

On the 9th of April, 1848, Mr. Hilton was mar- 
ried to Matilda S. Longnecker, daughter of Heze- 
kiah and Polly A. (Crouch) Longnecker, natives of 
Pennsylvania and Kentucky respectively. After 
marriage Mr. Hilton settled in Esmen Township, 
and began farming in earnest. He lived in the 
edge of the timber, and cultivated the prairie ad- 
jacent. Two years after marriage he took up a 
claim of 160 acres, and began improving it by 
building a log house and cultivating the land. He 
entered this land by 40-acre lots, during the sum- 
mer time being engaged in breaking prairie to ob- 
tain money for the support of his family, and to 
pa}' for the entry of the land. After this he bought 
an 80-acre tract, and through enterprise and good 
management, has been able to increase the farm to 
315 acres, of which eighty acres is well covered with 
timber. He remained on this farm without inter- 
mission until his wife died in 1857, leaving one 
child. She was a member of the United Brethren 
Church, and a lady of many excellent traits of 
character. 

After the death of his wife, Mr. Hilton rVmnined 
on the farm until 1^65, and then spent considerable 
time in travel through Michigan and Canada. He 
went to Niagara Falls, and thence to Schoharie, N. 
V.. afterward traveling in Pennsylvania, and re- 
turning home by Chicago. Accompanied by his 
son, he went overland to Iowa in 1873, and then 
liv team to Denver, Col., visiting all the parks. 



4 



KS, ' 'I 

-*- 

'4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



565 



springs, and mountain scenery in that State. In 
1874 he went to Boulder and spent the winter in 
teaming to the camps. On his trip to the West he 
went alone, and was the first to cross the plains 
after the Indian outbreak of 1874. At Boulder he 
sold his outfit and went to California, stopping at 
San Francisco, from which place he went by steamer 
to San Pedro and Los Angeles. From there he went 
by rail and stage-coach to San Jose, traveling in 
one day 116 miles by stage ; thence he went to Santa 
Cruz, and from there to see the big trees. He 
measured one tree which was sixty feet in circum- 
ference. He spent several months in travel in Cali- 
fornia, returning to San Francisco and back to Den- 
ver by rail. On the return trip he stopped at Salt 
Lake City, and attended a Mormon Church, and 
heard music made by the great organ in Brigham 
Young's Temple. He returned to this county in 
the fall of 1875. 

Mr. Hilton's farm being rented until September, 
1876, he concluded to again indulge his propensity 
for travel, and started East, visiting Chicago. Niag- 
ara Falls and Albany, and thence to New York 
City by boat. He spent eight days at the Centen- 
nial Exposition in Philadelphia, and from there 
went to Washington, where he visited the grave of 
the Father of his Country at Mt. Vernon. Thence 
by the way of Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit, 
lie went into the pineries of Michigan, to visit his 
brother, Alanson V. Hilton, now deceased. He re- 
turned to his home in Illinois in the spring of 1876, 
and in the spring of 1877 he started West again, 
going by the way of Yankton, and by river to Ft. 
Pierre, and with teams overland to Deadwood. He 
engaged in mining twenty-five miles west of Dead- 
wood, at Bear Gulch, for one season, and was fairly 
successful. While here the Indians were trou- 
blesome, and they were compelled to break camp 
and move out. He then went by team to Chey- 
enne, and thence by rail to Denver, returning home 
by the way of St. Louis. In 1884 he made a trip 
to Iowa, and wns in a railway collision near Des 
Moines, where one was killed and one wounded. 
After traveling nearly all over the East and the 
West, he returned to the farm and began to culti- 
vate it himself, which he has continued to do since. 
In 1885 he was disabled by nearly severing one of 



his feet with an ax. Since then he has made a trip 
to Denver for his health, and remained there five 
months. He partially recovered and returned home 
by the way of Iowa. 

Mr. Hilton is not very active in politics, but 
votes the Democratic ticket. He was the only one 
in Sunbury Township who voted the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket while the war was in progress. He is 
a member of the Royal Arch Masons, and united 
with the Masonic fraternity in 1858. He became 
an Odd Fellow in 1876, of which he has remained 
a member in high standing ever since. He has 
been a member of the Grand Lodge for two years 
as a representative, and attended the Grand Lodge 
of the State of Colorado in Denver. Mr. Hilton's 
extensive travel has made him a man familiar with 
nearly all sections of the country, and he is possessed 
of a valuable fund of knowledge on general subjects 
besides. 

We take pleasure in presenting on an adjoining 
page a portrait of Mr. Hilton. 



H. BECKER, one of the most highly 
esteemed citizens in Chatsworth Township, 
resides near the town limits, where he owns 
eight acres of land and a handsome and con- 
venient residence, with the out-buildings required by 
the suburban dweller. In another portion of the 
township he has a quarter section, the cultivation of 
which he superintends and from the proceeds of 
which he enjoys a handsome income. He is one of 
the self-made men of Livingston County, who came 
from across the Atlantic hoping to better himself 
both socially and financially, arriving here with but 
$15 in his pocket. He is now the owner of a good 
property, which he has accumulated by hard work 
and the exercise of the strictest economy. 

Mr. Becker was born in the Province of Olden- 
burg, Germany, in the city of Jever, July 6, 1825. 
lie was reared in the agricultural districts and re- 
mained near his birthplace until the spring of 1853, 
and until twenty-eight years of age. The labors of 
many years had been quite unsatisfactory in their 
results and he determined upon a change of loca- 
tion. Embarking on a sailing-vessel at Bremen, he 



\ 



4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



with quite a company of his f'cJlow countrymen 
bound for different places, set sail for the New 
World, and after a voyage of six weeks landed in 
New Orleans. A few days later he proceeded up 
the river to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to Peoria in 
this State. From there he went into Wood ford 
County, where he engaged in farming, and in due 
time made the acquaintance of his future wife, Miss 
Matha M. Williams, to whom he was married in 
the spring of 1858. 

Mrs. Becker was born in the Kingdom of Han- 
over, and came to the United States with her mother, 
brother and sister about 1 857. Her father had 
died in the old country. Our subject after his 
marriage came to Livingston County and located 
with his bride near Pontiac, where he engaged in 
farming, and from there he removed some years 
later to Charlotte Township, and occupied the farm 
which he now owns until 1882. He then abandoned 
active labor and took possession of his present home- 
stead, where he is passing his later years in the ease 
and comfort to which he is amply entitled. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Becker there were born only 
two children: Christian J., an enterprising young 
fanner of Charlotte Township, whose biography will 
be found elsewhere in this work; and Manno M., 
the wife of Henry M. Flassiier, a resident of Char- 
lotte Township. Mr. Becker, after becoming a 
naturalized citizen, identified himself with the Re- 
publican party, to which lie still closely adheres. lie 
and his excellent wife are members in good stand- 
ing of the Evangelical Church, and are held in the 
highest respect by the residents of Chatsworth and 
vicinity. Mr. Becker's only sister, Anna, is the 
wife of Carl Sigert, and lives in Chatsworth. 




iILLIAM BLAIX, who is not only an ex- 
it-tin ve farmer and stock-grower on section 
31, but a prominent man in all the affairs 
of Pleasant Ridge Township, was born in Orange 
Comity. X. Y.. on the 30th of September, 1821. 
He i> the son of Abia and Fannie (Baird) Blain, 
both natives of New York. The father was born in 
17!i:i. and died on the 23d of September. 1847. 
When .Mr. Abia lilain was a young man lie wa- ap- 



prenticcd to a wagon-maker in Newburg, and 
served for three years. After the expiration of his 
apprenticeship he opened a shop of his own at War- 
wick, where he remained for six years. From there 
he went to Butler, Wayne Co.. N. Y., where he re- 
mained until his death. He was a prominent mem- 
ber in the Presbyterian Church and belonged to the 
Democratic party. The mother was horn in 1800, 
and at the time of the writing of this sketch, in 
1887, is still living, and envoys fairly good health. 
She has been a widow since 1847, and has resided 
with our subject in Pleasant Ridge Township. She 
is the mother of seven children, William, our sub- 
ject, being the oldest; Sarah is the wife of Henry 
Lovely; Mary E. died Dec. 10, 18:ii;, aged ten 
years, four months and thirteen days; Cynthia mar- 
ried George B. Holland, and died Feb. 17, 1870; 
Paulina was born May 27, 1832, and died Jan. 5, 
1842; Christina, bom in October, 1835, married 
William Xeek, and died Jan. III. 18GC; Abia M., 
born July 15, 1838, died Jan. 18, 1847. 

William Blain, the subject of our sketch, was mar- 
ried to Mary II. Center, a native of the State of 
New York, on the 30th of September, 1851. She was 
born July 13, 1832, and is the daughter of 
Nathaniel and Mary (Dewey) Center, natives of 
New York State. Her father was born on the I Mi 
of December, 1793, and died at the age of fifty-six 
years: he was a farmer by occupation, and through 
industry and good management accumulated large 
property interests. The mother was horn on the 
9th of December, 1805. and died on the Kith of 
August, 1884, in LaSalle County, 111. They were 
the parents of the following children: Helen, born 
July 13, 1832; Hallet ('.. born Dec. 20, 1833; John, 
born May 11, 1830: Dow 1).. born Aug. 8, 1838; 
Eliza B., born May 12, 1841, and Harriet J., born 
Feb. 12. 1845. All these children are still living. 
To Mr. and Mrs. lilain have been born four chil- 
dren: Theron, Ann. 3(1, 1853: Ida W., Nov. 14. 
1855: Nathaniel A., Nov. 18, 18.V.I, and Fannie M., 
born Feb. 20. 1*05. and died on the (ith of Novem- 
ber, 1867. 

Mr. Blain came to Illinois in 1807. and purchased 
240 acres of land in Pleasant Ridge Township, upon 
which he now resides, lie also owns a snug little farm 
of seventv-nine acres in Ford County. 111. His early i I 










LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



5C.7 






education wae obtained in the district schools, and 
hv constant reading he has kept abreast of the times 
in the way of information about current events. His 
political beliefs are in harmony with the principles 
of the Democratic party, and in such official positions 
as he has been placed he has discharged his trusts to 
the satisfaction of the i>eople. In 1 872 he was 
elected Supervisor for Pleasant Ridge Township, and 
served in that capacity for two years. He takes a 
prominent part in the political, religious and busi- 
ness affairs of the township. He is a Trustee and an 
Elder of the Presbyterian Church at Fairbnry. and 
for lifteen years has served as School Director. He 
is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, 
in which lie has filled some of the principal chairs. 
In all respects he is a first-class citizen, a man who 
looks closely after his own business, and devotes but 
little time to the management of the business of 
other people. 



J^ OIIN T. MOBTIMOBE. No county in the 
great Prairie State can boast of such an ar- 
ray of intelligent agriculturists as Living- 
/ ston. Everywhere are evidences of thrift, 
wisdom and enterprise, and on section 33, Owego 
Township, is comfortably located the farm where 
one of Livingston County's good farmers is prose- 
cuting his chosen calling with success. This farm 
consists of eighty acres of finely cultivated land, 
with a tasteful and substantial farm building, a 
good barn, and all the accessories of the intelligent 
and progressive farmer, and here he spends his 
time as an industrious and law-abiding citizen, en- 
joying the respect of his neighbors and fulfilling 
the obligations incident to his station as a sub.-tan- 
tial member of the community. 

Mr. Mortiinore is a native of Putnam County, 
111., and was born on the sth of April, 1 858. He 
is the son of Henry T. and Hannah .1. Mortiinore, 
of Pontiac, the father a native of New Jer- 
sey, and the mother being born in Rochester, N. 
Y. The parents were married in Putnam County 
in 1857, and have been blessed with four children, 
whose names are as follows: John T., Frank M., 
llarvy O. and Mary L. The settlement of the 



parents in Livingston County occurred about 
twenty years ago, when they took up their resi- 
dence in Owego Township, where they remained 
until the spring of 1887, when they moved to 
Pontiac, where they now reside. ThcN' own 320 
acres of land in Owego Township; upon which they 
spent twenty of the best years of their lives. The 
father has always been an ardent advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party, and his fellow- 
citizens of Owego Township chose him as their 
Trustee. The father and mother are both active 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of 
which the father was for many years a Trustee, and 
a leading man in the management of church affairs, 
for which he was admirably fitted, on account of 
his good judgment and ability to grasp all ques- 
tions as they presented themselves. During their 
long and active life both of the parents labored 
zealously for the improvement of their neighbors, 
as well as themselves, and now that they have 
retired from active life to spend their declin- 
ing years in the city of Pontiac, they carry with 
them the best wishes and kindest regards of all their 
old neighbors of Owego Township. 

The parents of the Mibject of this sketch came to 
Livingston County when he was in the tenth year 
of his age, and his life from that period has been 
spent in this county, as a farmer boy, as a pupil in 
the common school.-, and as a farmer after he reached 
the age of maturity. His education is as thorough 
and complete as could lie obtained in the schools of 
the day. but lie has kept abreaM of the thought of 
the day by constant reading of the current publica- 
tions. 

Mr. Mortiinore was married, on the :id of Febru- 
ary. IKSli, to Ida A. Ililtabrand, of Owego Town- 
>hip, and one child has been born, upon whom they 
have conferred the name of Mytia J., its birth hav- 
ing occurred on the 20th of May, IMS?. As stated 
above, Mr. Mortimore's farm consists of eighty acres, 
every acre of which is tillable, and i> made availa- 
ble either in the production of annual crops or for 
grazing purpo-o. Mr. Mortiinore. as was his father 
before him, is a Republican in politics, and is thor- 
oughly imbued with all the modern and progressive 
teaching* of that party. He has served three years 
in the capacity of School Director, and in all edn- 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



cut ii uml w< >rks he enters with the ardor and enthusiasm 
of young manhood. Mrs. Mortimore is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the affairs of 
which she takes an active interest. 



1; 

4" 



J"~l OHN W. STEWART is one of the self-made 
| men of Long Point Township, and is now 
I engaged in farming on section 21. He was 
I born Jan. 10, 1833, and is the son of John 
and Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Stewart, who were na- 
tives of Pennsylvania. The father died Oct. 9, 
1858, at the age of seventy years, and the mother 
Jan. 2, 1867. To them were born the follow- 
ing-named children: Solomon, who was a steam- 
boat man on the Ohio River, and died from the ef- 
fects of an injury received in May, 1885, was 
married twice, and left a wife and children; John- 
son is unmarried, and a farmer living near Monon- 
gahela City, Pa.; Washington, who died in 1884, 
married Sarah Billeter, and was the father of three 
children, one of whom is deceased ; John W. is the 
subject of this sketch ; David married, and after 
the decease of his wife he enlisted in the Union 
army, and died at the end of two years, leaving 
two children ; William, who married Louisa Root, 
had six children, one of whom is deceased, and 
he died at Princeville, Peoria Co., 111., in August, 
1884; Harriet is now living with her brother in 
Pennsylvania; Joseph, who lives in Washington 
County, Pa.; Henry, who is married to Henrietta 
F. Borgordon, and lives in New Albany, Ind., and 
Mary, who is teaching school in Pennsylvania. 

John W. Stewart was married on the 27th of 
September, 1860, to Rosalie A. Kenyon, daughter 
of John and Betsy (Maxson) Kenyon, natives of 
New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon were born 
the following children : Thomas J., born May 9, 
1829, married three times, the names of his wives 
being Polly Church, of New York, Lucinda Allen, 
who bore him one child, and Hannah Maxson ; he now 
lives on a farm in Dakota. Maria, born in 1K30, 
married Joel Hakes, of New York, who died July 
10, 1K86, leaving two children; Rosalie, wife of 
our subject, born Oct. 30, 1832; Betsy Angeline, 
born June 20, 1834, married Joseph Fuller, of New 



York, has a family of five children, and now resides 
in Iowa; Luman K., born June 6, 1837, married 
Elizabeth Mason, has two children, and lives in Kan- 
sas; Mary Almeda, born Sept. 11, 1842, married 
Warren Lamphere, of New York, who died in 
1881, leaving six children. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have been born the fol- 
lowing-named children: Emma Louisa, July 28, 
1861, now married to George C'oleman, of Illinois, 
lias two children; George, born March 24, 18G7, is 
a farmer; William Henry, born Jan. 25, 1870, is at 
home attending the common schools in which he is 
making good progress. 

Mr. Stewart, the subject of this sketch, received 
a fair common-school education while he remained 
at home. At seventeen years of age he left home, 
and for three 3'ears was at work upon the river, 
and came to Livingston County in 1869, where he 
has remained most of the time since. He now 
owns 120 acres of land, eight} 7 of which are on 
section 21, where he has spent $150 in tile ditching, 
and forty on section 22, all of which is under cul- 
tivation. Mr. Stewart's home is four miles from 
Long Point, his post-office. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are both members in good 
standing of the Methodist Church. Her parents 
were Seventh- Day Baptists. Mr. Stewart in polit- 
ical matters acts with the Republican party, to 
which lie gives faithful adherence at all times and 
under all circumstances. He is a citizen who en- 
joys the confidence and esteem of all his neighbors. 



J~ ACOB E. BROWN, of the firm of J. E. 
Brown iV- Co., bankers, of Chatsworth, is the 
eldest of the family, and only son of Thomas 
Y. and Mary A. (Everett) Brown. He was 

born in Brownsville, Jefferson Co., N. Y., on the 

29th of September, 1838, and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools and academy at 
Brownsville, N. Y. When not in school he assisted 
in the lighter duties around the farm, and also for 
a time clerked in a store. In 1856, when he was 
in liis nineteenth year, his family moved to Living- 
ston County, 111., and settled in ("lermnnvillc 






f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 

569 il 



Township. He assisted in the work on a farm 
until the winter of 1859, at which time Chats worth 
sprang into existence, and he entered into the em- 
ploy of C. D. Brooks, Chatsworth's first merchant, ' 
Postmaster and Station Agent, as a clerk. In the ' 
spring of 1860 Mr. Brown returned to his home 
and took charge of his father's farm, which con- , 
tained about 1.200 acres. In August, 1862, his 
bosom thrilling with patriotism, he offered his serv- 
ices to the Government as a soldier, which were 
accepted, and he was mustered in and assigned to 
Company M, 9th Illinois Cavalry, and served as a 
member of that company until May, 1865, when 
he was mustered out. Upon entering the army he 
joined the company at Helena, Ark., then under 
command of Gen. Steele. He was detailed under 
different commanders as a scout, and served in 
different portions of Arkansas. After the downfall 
of Little Rock, in the spring of 1863, the cavalry 
command was removed across and up the Missis- 
sippi River to Memphis, Temi., and placed under 
the command of Gen. Grierson, and during the 
following year he served as detail at the headquar- 
ters of that General and Gen. Hatch, during the 
summer of 1864, doing like duty for Gen. Grier- 
son. Nov 19, 1864, he together with forty 
others, while on detached service, on Shoal Creek, 
near Florence, was taken prisoner, and was held by 
the rebels until April, 186."), a greater portion of 
the time being in the prison at Cahaba, Ala. When 
he was paroled, and while on parole, he was com- 
missioned Second Lieutenant, but being in very poor 
health he accepted a final discharge in May. and 
returned home. For one year he did but little, 
excepting that in the spring of 1866 .he took a 
course at Eastman's Commercial College in Chi- 
cago. Then he returned to the farm and was a tiller 
of the soil until 1874, when he removed to Chats- 
worth, but his health being so precarious he gave 
but little attention to business for that year. In 
1875 he was engaged as a clerk by the hardware 
firm of Hall A- Crane, where he remained until 
1877. In August of that year he accepted the posi- 
tion of book-keeper in the banking house of C. A. 
Wilson tt Co., from which position he soon became 
cashier and served in that capacity until 1 188f>, 
w'uen he. as senior member of the (inn of J. E. 



Brown <fe Co., succeeded C. A. Wilson <fc Co. in 
business. 

On the 16th of January, 1868, Mr. B. married 
Elizabeth Browne Pope, of Piper City, 111., daugh- 
ter of Thomas W. and Elizabeth J. (McKee) 
Pope. She was born in Rockeastle County, Ky., 
on the 7th of January. 1843, at which time her 
parents were passing a few months at their winter 
home, their permanent home being at Lancaster, 
Girard Co., Ky. In 1855 the family removed to 
Illinois and settled at Pope's Grove, Ford County, 
and later, in 1858, at Piper City. The mother 
died in 1875, aged fifty-seven years, and the father 
died Jan. 13, 1880, at the age of sixty-seven 3'ears. 
There were four boys and three girls in the family, 
all of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have 
three children Robert F., Bessie McKee and Madge 
Everett. Mr. Brown is an active member of the 
Republican party, and contributes of his means and 
time for the success of that organization. As a 
member of the Masonic fraternity he is a Knight 
Templar, and takes an active interest in the affairs 
of that noble organization. He was instrumental 
in organizing E. G. Trask Post No. 388, G. A. R., 
f nd occupied the position of Commander for two 
years. In his relations with his fellow-citizens he 
is courteous and cordial, and in business affairs is 
correct and conservative. He is a valuable citizen 
in Chatsworth, and takes a lively part in all move- 
ments intended for her advancement. 

Mr. Brown, while not a member, is a regular 
attendant of the Presbyterian Church, of which 
his wife and two eldest children are devout mem- 
bers. 




ORNELIUS BEUKMA, senior member of 
the firm of Beukma & Dow, druggi>t~ <>l 
iiunemin, is a native of Plainfield, N. J., 
:ind was born June :iO. 1854. His parents, William 
and Helen (Benckma) Beukma, were born on the 
other side of the Atlantic, in the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands, whence they emigrated to America in 
18.".<;, and in company with relatives, located in 
LaFavettc. Ind. Thence they removed eastward 
to New Jersey, where they located and remained 
until 1 *<;:!. In |8<;:> the parent> returned to Eu- 



- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



rope, but the mother died after landing at Bremen, 
Germany. The father now resides not far from 
the place of his birth. 

Mr. Beukma accompanied his father to Europe in 
1803, when a lad nine years of age, where he re- 
mained eleven years and completed his studies in 
the High School at Groningen, a noted institution 
under the supervision of highly educated instructors. 
The educational institutions of Holland have a 
world-wide reputation, and there young Beukma 
was admirably fitted for the further duties of life 
and gained a tine insight into business methods, also 
acquiring a valuable fund of general information. 
He returned to America in 1874, and taking up his 
abode near his birthplace, in Plainfleld, N. J., was 
there engaged one year as a book-keeper, then mi- 
grated to the West and to this county. Here he en- 
gaged as a drug clerk two years at Odell, and subse- 
quently entered the employ of Richard Evans, the 
well-known coal operator of Streator, where he kept 
books and made himself useful in the large interests 
centered at that point. Mr. Beukma came to 
Saunemin in 1 882, and entered the drug-store of 
Dr. C. C. Hemphill, with whom he remained two 
years, and in the meantime applied himself closely 
to the business. In 18X2 he received his certificate 
from the State Board as a licentiate in pharmacy 
and in 1884 he established himself in business at 
Pontiac, 111., where he continued three years. In 
the spring of 1887 he associated himself with his 
present partner at Saunemiu, and they have since 
been successfully engaged at their present location 
in building up a lucrative trade. Their correct 
business methods have established them in the con- 
fidence of the community and they are rapidly be- 
coming important factors among its leading inter- 
ests. 

Mr. Beukma, while a resident of Pontiac, was mar- 
ried, Sept. 4, 1884, to Miss Frances Camelin, the 
wedding talking place at the home of the bride in 
Nebra-ka Township, Livingston County. Mrs. B. 
wai> born in Nebraska Township April 2."), 18(11, 
and is the daughter of Thomas N. and Mary Came- 
lin, who located on a tract of land in Nebra>ka 
Township during it- earlie-t settlement, and built up 

a comfortable home where they >till rc-ide. Of 
this union there is one -on, William, born Nov. I, 



1885. Mrs. Beukma is a lady of intelligence and 
good biisincv capacity, and i> conducting a millinery 
business at Saunemin. 

Our sulrcct, politically, is a warm -npporter of 
Republican principles, and served one year a> Clerk 
of Saunemin Township. Socially he belong- (o the 
Masonic Lodge at Pontiac, and is also a member of 
the I. O. (). F. at the >ame place. He keeps him- 
self posted upon all matters pertaining to his bu-i- 
ness, and takes a lively interest in the enterpri>e> -et 
on foot for the general good of the community. 




UDWIG BISCIIOFF is well known through- 
out Avoca Township as one of its most in- 
dustrious and enterprising German farmers, 
who commenced life in this -ection practically with- 
out means, and by a continued course of indu>try 
and determination, has secured a good homotcad 
and a good position among his neighbors. Ili> 
property includes 120 acres of good land on section 
14, which is enclosed with neat and substantial 
fencing and supplied with good buildings. His 
farm stock and machinery are creditable alike to the 
man and the township, and bear fair comparison 
with those adjacent. 

Our subject was born in the Kingdom of Wurtem- 
berg. Germany, Aug. 17, 1828. Hi- parent-, Mat- 
thew and Margaret (Polus) Blschoff, were also of 
German birth and ancestry, and pa,-sed their entire 
lives on their native soil. Our subject, in common 
with the 3'outh of that Empire, which represents 
largely the education and cultivation of Europe. 
commenced his studies in the schools of his native 
Province when a lad six year.- of age and continued 
until fourteen. Thereafter he was employed in 
masonry and farming until twenty-six years of age. 
when, becoming dissatisfied with hi> condition and 
pro>pectr- in his own country, he determined to >eek 
his fortune across the Atlantic, lie set sail from 
I lay re in February, 18,"i4. and after a voyage of 
forty-two da\> on a >ailing-ve>sel. landed in New 
York City and came directly to the Prairie State. 
After a -liort time spent in the city of Chicago he 
came into Stephenr-on County, of which he 'a- a 
resident two year> and \va.- employed at farming. 



. 







RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH R . Kl NG , 5 EC . 24-, WALDO T P. 



- 



. 




RESIDENCE OF G. A . G ARR E LS , 5E C.16 .NEBRASKA T P. 




RESIDENCE OF JACOB Kl N G ,5EC . 14, WALDO TP. 



m 



t, 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



573 ' 



\ 



Thence he removed to McLean County, where he 
rented a tract of land several years, and came in 
1865 to his present farm in Avoca Township, where 
lie ha.- since resided. 

While a resident of McLean County Mr. Bis- 
ehoff was married. Oct. 25, 1860, to Miss Mary 
Alendorff, a native of Prussia, born in 1840. She 
became the mother of five children and departed 
this life at her home in Avoca Township April 27, 
1 884. She was a faithful and affectionate wife, a 
wise and kind mother, and performed all her duties 
in life in a praiseworthy manner. She is remem- 
bered by her family and friends as a lady who pos- 
sessed all the womanly virtues, and was greatly 
mourned by a large circle of friends. Mr. Bisehoff 
has but two children living 1 , namely, Wilhelm, born 
Feb. 5, 1862, and Matilda, Sept. 10, 186U. He 
meddles little with political matters, but n}X)ii occa- 
sions of important elections casts his vote with the 
Republican party. lie is recognized as a man hon- 
est in his transactions and as a valued factor in a 
community more than ordinarily intelligent. 



</OHN J. HOPWOOD, a thrifty farmer of 
Nebraska Township, is pleasantly located 
on section 9, where he raises some of the 
best crops of the Prairie State, and is also 
engaged considerably in stock-raising. He is num- 
bered among the reliable men and valued citizens 
of that localit}', as the worthy descendant of sub- 
stantial old German ancestry, the first representa- 
tives of whom in America crossed the water proba- 
bly 200 years ago. 

The parents of our subject were Moses and 
Sarah C. (James) Ilopwood, the former born in 
Virginia, in 1806, and the latter, in Tennessee, 
probably about 1818. The mother of our subject 
was the third wife of Moses Hopwood. Of her 
first marriage there was born one daughter, Eliza, 
who married William Spiers; by the second no 
children, and by the third there were seven, of 
whom our subject is the second. They were named 
respectively. Martha; John J., our subject; William 
M., Byron. Susan V., Allie Jane, and Mary Geneva. 
Mo>t of those live in Illinois; Susan is in Kansas. 



Byron enlisted in the Union army during the late 
war and took the smallpox when about twenty-one 
years of age. He was brought home and died, and 
was buried in Central Cemetery, Nebraska Town- 
ship. The parents are now deceased. 

Mr. Hopwood was reared to farm pursuits and 
received but a limited education. He remained 
with his parents until their decease. During the 
late war he was drafted into the Union army, and 
paid 1900 for a substitute, who afterward deserted, 
was captured and suffered a deserter's fate. His 
marriage with Miss Catherine Ann Simpson took 
place at the home of the bride in Woodford, 111., 
Feb. 18, 1865. Mrs. II. is the daughter of Harri- 
son and Maria (Combs) Simpson, and was the third 
in a family of eight children, all of whom are now 
living. She was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
Nov. 7, 1844, and came to Illinois with her parents 
when a child three years of age. She remained 
under the home roof until her marriage with our 
subject. Of this union there are six children, 
namely, Charles Harrison, Lorn Jan. 8, 1866; Carrie 
Ellen, born Dec. 7, 1867, and died June 7, 1872; 
Sarah M., born Feb. 18, 1870; Benjamin F., Dec. 
15, 1872; James A., Oct 31, 1876: John Edward, 
June 5, 1880, and Mark V., Feb. 26, 1886. 

The parents of Mrs. Ilopwood were natives respect- 
ively of Ohio and Virginia, the father born in 1811), 
and the mother in August, 1814. Harrison. Simp- 
son spent his last years in Collins County, Tex., where 
his death took place in January, 1885. His remains 
were taken to Minonk, 111., for burial. The mother 
is still living in Texas. Mrs. II.. like her husband, 
is of German descent on her father's side. 



i 



ONRAD MUN/, whose farm is located on 
section - f " ) ' an 'l '* Considered the finest in the 
township of Pleasant Ridge, was born in the 
canton of Tliurgau, Switzerland, on the 2!)th of 
April, 1841. This canton is in the northeastern part 
of Switzerland, and is separated from Baden by the 
River Rhine. It has an area of 270 square miles, 
and a population of about 100,000, of whom four- 
fifths are Protestants. The surface is undulating 
and fertile, and the country is watered by the Thur, 



574 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f 



the Sitter and the Murg Rivers. Agriculture, spin- 
ning and weaving arc the chief operations of the 
inhabitants. The parents of Mr. Mnnz were Jacob 
:iiid Elizabeth (Altwegg) Munz, who were natives 
of Switzerland. The father was born on the 1th of 
September, 1812, and died June 21, 1858. He was 
by occupation a fanner and wine dealer, and achieved 
considerable reputation for the vintage of his wines. 
The mother was born in Switzerland July 29, 1822, 
and died Jan. 3, 1801. They were both devoted to 
zealous Christian work. The names of the children 
were as follows: Conrad, Jacob, Ida, Emil. Anna, 
John and Wilhelmina, two of whom died in infancy. 

Mr. Munz came to America in 1873, and landed 
in New York October 28. lie came almost imme- 
diately to Livingston County, and purchased 120 
acres of land, to which he has added forty acres. 
He has erected a full complement of farm buildings, 
all of which are constructed with a view to comfort 
and beauty. lie has put in over 30,000 tiles, and 
Ins. therefore, a most completely drained farm. Tak- 
ing its appointments throughout Mr. Munz lias as 
fine a farm as there is in Pleasant Hidge Township, 
and he has recently purchased 104 acres of very ex- 
cellent land near Fairbury, Livingston County. 

August 2!), 1871, Mr. Munz was married in 
Switzerland to Catherine Blumer, who was born Feb. 
2, 184!). To them have been born the following 
children: Frieda, Annie. David, Paul. Jonathan 
and Conrad. Two children died in infancy. Mr. 
and Mrs. Munz are both members of the Omish 
Church, in which church they were both raised. 

Mr. Mimz is an enterprising cattle grower, and 
raises a considerable number of horses, but docs not 
make any pretensions to cultivating blooded horses. 
He has on his farm a large vineyard, and each year 
manufactures from six to eight barrels of wine. 
Mr. Munz procured the papers which made him a 
full citizen of the Fnited States only about two 
years ago. He has not taken a very active interest 
in politic-, csaring nothing for office-holding, and the 
only ollicial position hi 1 lias consented to hold was 
that of School Director, for which he was eminently 
titled by education. In his native country Mr. 
Mini/ received a high education, and while in that 
country he was engaged most of the time as book- 
kce[KT and clerk in a large silk and damask factory. 



a position which required considerable knowledge of 
business. At one time in Switzerland he was quite 
wealthy, but reverses overtook him which swept 
away the greater portion of his fortune. He is now 
one of the most enterprising and substantial men of 
the township in which he resides, and enjoys the 
confidence of everybody who knows him. 



AMES BESGROVE, of Belle Prairie Town- 
ship, is a prominent representative of its 
wealth and prosperity, and the proprietor of 
one of its choicest farms, comprising 1(10 
acres on section 1. He obtained the land while it 
was in its uncultivated state, purchasing first cightv 
acres which he improved, and then doubling the 
amount. He put up later a fine residence and all 
the other structures required by the intelligent and 
skillful agriculturist. For many years he diligently 
tilled the soil and took careful note of his expendi- 
tures, and ere long found himself on the high road 
to a competency. He wisely invested his surplus 
capital in additional land. Soon after coining to 
this section of country he was recognized as a valued 
addition to the community, and is resected no less 
for his straightforward business methods than for 
his kindly personal character. 

A large proportion of Livingston Count v is set- 
tled by substantial English residents, and our sub- 
ject was himself born in Somersetshire, Dee. 13, 
1846. His parents, Charles and Eliza (Browning) 
Besgrove. were also of English birth and parentage. 
and the father who died in 18(12 spent his entire life 
in his native land. The mother is still living in 
England, and is now a very old lady. The parental 
family included seven children, of whom one died 
in infancy. Those surviving were named respect- 
ively. William, Henry, Mary A.. James, of our 
sketch, Alfred and Charles. Most of the brothers 
and sisters are located in Missouri. 

Mr. Besgrove came to the I'liited States when a 
youth of sixteen years of age. starting out by him- 
self after the death of his father, and bidding adieu 
to the associates and friends of his childhood. Af- 
ter a tedious vovatreof live weeks and three (lavs on 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



575 



a sailing-vessel, he landed in the city of New York, 
whence lu> proceeded to Albany, where ho found 
himself penniless and a stranger. He found means 
to communicate with his brother Henry, who had 
preceded him to thi> country, and was located in 
McLean County. III., who sent for him, and he 
worked thereafter in that vicinity by the month 
about three years, at $200 per year. By the most 
rigid economy at the end of this time he had man- 
aged to save the sum required to make his first pur- 
chase of uncultivated prairie land. 

An important event in the life of our subject was 
his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mastis, which took 
place in Indian Grove Township, Jan. 1, 1872. Mrs. 
B., born Sept. 4, 1853, is a native of the same shire 
as her husband, and came to this country in 1870. 
Her parents died in England. Their family included 
four children Mary, Susan, Elizabeth and Sarah 
N. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Besgrove, seven 
living and one dead, were born as follows: Frank, 
Nov. 18, 1871!: Herbert J., Oct. 4, 1875; Mary ('., 
Oct. 4, 1877; Blanche E., Sept. 3, 1879; Fanny, 
Aug. '.), 1881 ; Charles, April 23, 1883; Annie, Jan. 
26, 18X5; and Eliza, born Sept. 12, 1887, and died 
Sept. 27, 1887. They constitute a bright and 
promising family, receiving a good education as 
they reach the proper age to attend school and bene- 
fit by its advantages. Mr. Besgrove is a Repub- 
lican in politics. 




jARAK M. BULLARD, the leading livery 
man at Forest, is a native Of Fullerville, St. 
Lawrence Co., N. Y., and was born on the 
6th of October, 1836. He is the son of 
Luther and Sallie M. (Lee) Billiard, natives of Ver- 
mont. Luther Billiard, in early life learned the 
trade of bellows-making, and subsequently engaged 
with others in the manufacture of potash and iron, 
operated a saw and grist mill, and thus became widely 
and well known. In the fall of 1844 the family 
removed to Bureau County, 111., making the jour- 
ney in wagons. While living there, the father be- 
ing of :i mechanical turn, adopted the trade of a 
carpenter, to which he applied himself during the 
remaining days of his life. He died in December, 



1847, while his wife survived him many years. 
She died in April, 1886, having lived more than 
seventy-five years. 

Four boys and two girls Constituted their family 
of children: one girl died in infancy, and one son, 
Cheselton, died of typhoid fever in 1847, one month 
prior to the death of the father. Those living are 
Lncian, who at present occupies the position of 
Postmaster at Forest; Lockhart was a carpenter, and 
resides in Iowa; Delcena is the wife of D. C. Igon, 
of Forest; Morenns resides in Kansas City, Mo., 
and B. M. is our subject. 

Mr. Billiard was eight years old when the family 
settled in Illinois, and has since been a resident of 
his adopted State;. He was reared to work upon 
the farm, and resided in Bureau County iintil 1861, 
when he enlisted and was mustered into the service 
in Company E, 33d Illinois Infantty. It was known 
as the Normal Regiment, as nearly all the officers, 
and many of the privates, were from the Illinois 
State Normal University, having been organized at 
Bloomington. The regiment was mustered in on 
the 15th of August, 1861, under Charles E. Hovey, 
formerly President of the Illinois State University. 
The officers and men were drawn from nearly all 
portions of the State, many of them being former 
students and teachers in the Normal University. 
On the 20th of September the regiment entered act- 
ive service at Pilot Knob, Mo., then a frontier post, 
where it remained for nearly five months. Three 
companies were stationed on the Iron Mountain 
Railroad, on guard duty. On the 15th of October 
two of the companies, to one of which Mr. Billiard 
belonged, were attacked, and he with others was 
taken prisoner. On the 21st of October the re- 
mainder of the regiment participated in the battle 
of Frederickstown, in which Jeff Thompson's army 
was routed with heavy loss. On the 1st of March. 
1862, the regiment inarched southward with Gen. 
Steele's column, which united with the main arm}' 
under Gen. Curtis at Batesville, Ark., and then 
made the celebrated inarch to White River Valley, 
in which the army was for some time lost to the 
knowledge of the Northern public, and suffered con- 
siderable hardships and privations. During this 
march, on the 7th of July, ti portion of the regi- 
ment was concerned in a severe fight at Ceche 



I 



576 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Bayou, in which Gen. Rust's Texans were defeated 
with great loss. On the 13th of July the army ar- 
rived at Helena, Ark., and the regiment was sta- 
tioned at and near Old Town Landing, below He- 
lena, until October, and during this time made fre- 
quent expeditions into the interior, and had numer- 
ous skirmishes with the enemy. 

At St. Genevieve in Southern Missouri, under 
(ten. Davidson, on the 16th of March the regiment 
embarked, and descended the river to Milliken's 
Bend, La., where it joined the expedition and en- 
gaged in the great campaign against Vicksburg. It 
composed a part of Carr's Division, of the 13th 
Army Corps, and at the battle of Champion Hills, 
on the Kith of May, it was in the foremost lines. 
After the surrender of Vicksburg, the regiment Was 
transferred, on the 19th of August, to the Depart- 
ment of the Gulf, which was under command of 
Gen. N. P. Banks. On the 19th of November it 
embarked on a vessel for Texas, and planted the 
Union colors on the walls of Ft. Esperanza on the 
30th of November. Afterward it occupied Iii- 
dianola, where the regiment re-enlisted in the veteran 
service, and in January, 186 1, departed for Illinois 
on veteran furlough. After spending thirty daysat 
home, the regiment returned to New Orleans, where 
it was largely increased by recruits. It then en- 
gaged in guarding railroads in Louisiana until the 1st 
of March, 1865, when it went to Mobile, and partici- 
pated in its capture. It then went to Montgomery, 
Ala., and was the first regiment of Union troops to 
appear in that city. The regiment was subsequently 
stationed at Meriden, Miss., and was mustered out 
of the service at Yazoo City in December, 1865. 

The first time our subject was under fire was at 
Big River Bridge, on the Iron Mountain Railroad, 
within forty miles of St. Louis, on the 15th of Octo- 
ber, 1861. There were only about forty men in 
the engagement, and the3' were surrounded by Gen. 
Jeff. Thompson's command, and taken prisoners. 
They were soon paroled, and in February, 1862, 
were exchanged, and on the 1st of March rejoined 
the regiment at Pilot Knob, Mo., and with it 
marched to Helena, Ark. On the march to that 
place our subject wa.- attacked by brain fever, and 
for fourteen days lay unconscious at Poealiontas. 
.Mo. On June 23, having partially recovered, he 



started with a provision train, and was soon again 
with the regiment. After the war he returned 
North, and settled in Pleasant Ridge Township. 
Livingston County, where he engaged in fanning. 

On the 27th of March, 1867, Mr. Billiard was 
married to Mrs. Mary (Hoover) Chambers, who was 
born in Richland Township, Marshall Co., 111. He 
continued farming until August, 1884, and then 
came to Forest, and engaged in his present business. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Billiard have been born five chil- 
dren, whose names are, Dell, Mason, John, Byron 
and Nellie. Mr. Bullard still owns his farm of 
eighty acres in Pleasant Ridge Township, and also 
owns properly in Forest. 

In politics Mr. Bullard adheres faithfully to the 
doctrines of the Republican part}', and gives to its 
candidates a cordial and hearty support. He was 
Assessor of Pleasant Ridge Township for twelve 
years, and in 1880 was the census enumerator. He 
has served as School Trustee for three years, School 
Director for five years, and was President of the 
Village Board for one year. He is a member of 
Forest Lodge No. 614, A. F. & A. M., and at the 
time of the writing of this sketch is Commander of 
Forest Post No. 114, G. A. R. In both of these 
orders he takes an active interest, and occupies a 
prominent position. 




GRACE W. W1NSOR, the owner of a fine 
and valuable farm of 160 acres in Dwight 
Township, traces his family history back to 
England, and tradition has it that the pat- 
ronymic and that of Windsor Castle, one of the favor- 
ite residences of the reigning Queen, were in some 
vague manner closely connected, although the lapse 
of years has partially obscured the detailed history. 
The family, however, are certainly of English de- 
scent and of great antiquity, and were the holders 
of valuable estates in England in the eighteenth 
century. Time, however, which works changes in 
all men and conditions, constrained one of the later 
defendant- to seek his fortune in the Neiv World. 
This gentleman. I he great -grand father of our sill iject, 
crossed the Atlantic during the Colonial days, and 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



.".77 



settled in Rhode Island near his kinsman, Roger 
Williams, the eminent champion of religious free- 
dom and the founder of the Baptist Church in this 
country. 

The Winsor family for many generations, true to 
their natural instincts and their early training, con- 
tinued Baptists of the Old School, and strictly ad- 
hered to the peculiar and strict doctrines of that 
faith. From this branch of the Winsor family 
there were two sons David and Charles, who after 
marriage located in Sterling, Windham Co., Conn. . 
David, the grandfather of our subject, married 
Miss Lydia Angel, of Situate, R. I., and they be- 
came the parents of thirteen children. David Win- 
sor was very successful in life and became the 
owner of a valuable farm of 200 acres, where he 
carried on agriculture, but only lived to be middle 
aged, his death occurring when he was forty-two 
years old. His wife, however, a lady of more than 
ordinary intelligence and excellent business capac- 
ity, kept her children together until they were old 
enough to go out into the world for themselves. 
She spent the remainder of her life upon the home- 
stead, and reached the advanced age of ninety 
years. 

Among the sons of David and Lydia Winsor was 
Daniel, the father of our subject. He was born at 
his father's farm near Sterling, Conn., Dec. o, 1794, 
and was the eldest of the children. He continued 
under the home roof, becoming familiar with all 
the employments of farm life, and was a youth of 
eighteen years at the death of his father. He then 
became manager of the farm and discharged his 
responsible duties with rare good judgment. He 
remained the support and counselor of his widowed 
mother for ten years following, when he was mar- 
ried to Miss Sallie Westcott, of Coventry, R. I. 
This lady was the daughter of Silas and Annie 
(Wicks) Westcott, and after her marriage repaired 
to the homestead of her husband, where they con- 
tinued five years. Mr. Winsor then purchased the 
farm adjoining, where he resided for a period of 
thirty years, and after the death of his wife came 
to the home of his son. our subject, where he spent 
his last days, his death occurring April 30, 1878. 
His life had been characterized by great energy 
and industry, and he was widely and favorably 



known as a quiet and inoffensive citizen, ever at- 
tentive to the call of duty, a kind neighbor and 
friend, and one who always had in mind the welfare 
and comfort of his family. The family included 
nine children, named respectively, Annie, Phebe, 
Horace W., Lydia, Lucy, Christopher, David, 
Lucy (2d) and Thomas, all born in Sterling, Conn. 
Of these two are living and residents of Livingston 
County. 

Horace W. Winsor was born at the old homestead, 
Oct. 14, 1822. In common with his brothers and 
sisters he received a fair education in the public 
schools, and learned the trade of a shoemaker, at 
which he worked seven years in Worcester County, 
Mass. Before reaching his twenty-third year he was 
married, April 7, 1845, to Miss Sabra, daughter of 
John A. and Polly (Barbar) Gallup. The parents 
of Mrs. W. were descendants of an old Puritan 
family, which is further referred to in the biogra- 
phies of Orrin and Daniel Gallup, found elsewhere 
in this volume. 

Our subject after his marriage assumed the man- 
agement of his father's farm, where he continued 
four years. Then, desirous of seeing something of 
the great West, he came to Illinois and purchased 
a farm near Waltham, LaSalle County, which he 
operated fourteen years, and from which he re- 
moved to his present homestead. Here, as else- 
where, he has been distinguished, like his fore- 
fathers, for his thorough-going industry, by the 
exercise of which he has built up one of the most 
desirable homesteads in this section, and is espec- 
ially noticeable for his strict integrity and blameless 
character. Politically he is a straight Republican, 
and, with his excellent wife, a member in good 
standing of the Congregational Church. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Winsor was made 
glad by the birtli of three children, two daughters 
and a son. The eldest, Emily A., in 1868 became 
the wife of Samuel McCord, a prosperous farmer 
of Audrain County, Mo.; Herbert E., a youth of 
more than ordinary intellect, perfected himself in 
the study of law, was graduated from Hillsdale 
College, and is now a practicing attornej' in Mar- 
shall. Mich, lie married Miss Mar}' Eldridge, of 
D wight; the}' occupy a pleasant home and enjoy 
the society of a large circle of refined and culti- 



f. 



578 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



vatod people: Helen M. Wiusor is the wife of 
James Almy, manager of a store of general mer- 
chandise at Glendive, Mont. Mr. and Mrs. Win- 
sor are thus left alone, but are frequently cheered 
by visits from the children, who find that "there 
is no place like home." 



t 



J~/OHN PATTERSON, who operates 155 acres 
of rented land near Streator, is also the 
owner of thirty-three acres of highly im- 
1 proved land at Long Point, twenty-two 
acres of which is devoted to the growing of small 
fruits, while the balance is in pasture. Mr. Patter- 
son also makes a specialty of hog-raising, a busi- 
ness of which he 1ms a good understanding and 
which usually yields him a handsome income. 

Mr. Patterson has been a resident of the Prairie 
State since 1803. His childhood was spent in 
Washington County, Southwestern Pennsylvania, 
where his birth took place June 14, 1835. His par- 
ents, Samuel and Eliza (Helium) Patterson, were 
also natives of the Keystone State, the former born 
Feb. 1C, 1810, and the latter March C, 1811, in 
Pennsylvania. They were reared in homes adja- 
cent, and became husband and wife in 1828. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
William and Annie (Cook) Patterson, also natives 
of Pennsylvania. Their son Samuel, like his father, 
followed farming as an occupation, and spent his 
entire life in his native State, his death taking place 
July 15, 1852. The household of Samuel and Eliza 
Patterson included a large family of children. 
Their eldest son, William, came to Illinois in 1852, 
and is now farming in LaSalle County; Thomas 
died in Pennsylvania when three years of age: 
Julia Ann was married in Washington County, Pa., 
to Newton Curry, and became the mother of five 
children, of whom but two are now living; they 
came to Illinois in 1855, and subsequently moved 
to Kansas, where the death of both took place. 
John, of our sketch, was the fourth child; Charles 
H., (Miring the l;tU> war, enlisted as a Union soldier 
in the 104th Regiment, and died in the hospital at 
St. Loui> in 18(!.'i. of consumption, brought about 
by exposure and hardship; Stephen II., married and 



the father of three children, is carrying on farming 
and stock-raising in Reading Township, this county ; 
Louis died in Pennsylvania when two years old. 
and Maria at the age of five; Susan J., the wife of 
Eben Hurton, is a resident with her husband of 
LaSalle County, and the mother of one son; Sam- 
uel, Jr., is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of 
LaSalle County, and makes a specialty of English 
draft horses; Eliza was born July 15, 1852, on the 
day her mother died, and is now deceased. Sam- 
uel Patterson was subsequently married to Miss 
Julia Ann Helium in 1858, and of this union there 
were born the following children : Andrew J., who 
died when about fifteen years of age in this county ; 
Sarah B., Mrs. Charles Howell, of Long Point, and 
Frederick, also a resident of Long Point, where he 
is engaged in laying tile. 

John Patterson left his native State about 1863, 
and took up his residence in LaSnllc County, 111., 
where he engaged in teaming. While a resident of 
LaSalle County he was united in marriage with 
Miss Maiy Brooks, and settling in that county be-- 
came the father of a large family of children, re- 
corded as follows: Charles is carrying on teaming 
at Long Point; Eliza is the wife of A. J. Long, 
who is farming in Pike Township; Rosa died in 
September, 1873, when three years of age, and Ste- 
phen in 1875, at the same age; Samuel and Martin 
continue at home with their parents; Ora died when 
t wo years of age ; Mary when two weeks old; Will- 
iam and Ralph, the two youngest sons, remain on 
the homestead. The residence is located in Read- 
ing Township, and the land which Mr. Patterson 
cultivates aside from his own property, is located 
on section 3. He is wide-awake and enterprising, 
and politically, a stanch adherent of the Democratic 
party. In 1876 he served as .Assessor of Reading 
Township, but gives little attention to politics, pre- 
ferring to confine himself to his business intere>!s. 



^LIVER P. YERRY, Odell Township. This 
gentleman is the proprietor of a good farm 
_ on section 8, and is the central figure of a 
history more then ordinarily interesting. It is not 
hmg since he passed his fifty-sixth birthday, and he 
i> an excellent representative of the result of good 



T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Tr 



habits and correct principles, and one who has made 
the most of his opportunities in life. After a va- 
ried career during his younger years, three years of 
which time was spent as a soldier in the Union 
army, he located permanently in this county, where 
for the last twenty-one years he has been success- 
fully engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is 
numbered among its most valued citizens. He set 
his mark high in the beginning of life, and resolved 
to earn the good-will and respect of his fellowmen, 
which he long ago attained, and fully realizes the 
truth of the theory that a life well spent brings its 
own reward. 

Mr. Verry is a native of the Prairie State, his 
birth having taken place near Jacksonville, Mor- 
gan County, June '26, 1831. He was the youngest 
of a family of eight children born to William C. 
and Lucinda (Horton) Verry, natives of Massa- 
chusetts, who spent their entire lives in the agricult- 
ural districts. William Verry was a resident of 
Taunton until 1820, then started overland for the 
West, and after a three months' journey landed at 
a point near Jacksonville, where he entered a tract 
of Government land, upon which he proceeded to 
build up a permanent home, and where he remained 
until his death, which occurred in 1877. Although 
quite well advanced in years, his life would prob- 
ably have been prolonged still further had it not 
been for an injury which he received in 1865, by 
being thrown from a horse. From this shock his 
system never recovered. He was born in 1795, 
and was consequently about eight3 r -two years of 
age at the time of his death. The mother contin- 
ued on the homestead in Morgan County, where 
her decease took place in 1880. 

Our subject, a farmer's boy, spent his early life 
mostly in the fields, receiving a limited education 
in the district schools. Upon reaching his majority 
he repaired to Sangamon County, and engaged in 
funning on rented land near Waverly. After thus 
gaining a start in life, and making his arrangements 
for a future habitation, he took unto himself a wife 
and helpmeet in Miss Anna Leonard, their wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride in Pennsyl- 
vania, Oct. 9, 1854. This lady is a native of Penn- 
sylvania, where her parents still live. Mr. and 
Mrs. Verry after their marriage located in Mc- 



Lean County, where our subject had purchased a 
quarter section of partly improved land, where he 
engaged in farming and stock-raising until the 
spring of 18(11. 

Mr. Verry was subsequently occupied at farming 
until in July, 1862, and then feeling that he could 
no longer restrain his patriotic impulses, enlisted 
in Company A, 117th Illinois Infantry, and after a 
brief stay at Camp Butler, Springfield, was detailed 
with his regiment to Memphis, Tenn. After fifteen 
months on guard duty at that point, they were sent 
by boat to Vicksburg. and from there inarched to 
Meridian, Miss., where they met the enemy in sev- 
eral skirmishes, tore up the railroad tracks in that 
vicinity, and then returned to Vicksburg. 

Not long afterward they went out with the Red 
River expedition to join the command of Gen. 
Banks, where at Pleasant Hill our subject first 
met the enemy in open combat. They returned 
fighting all the way back to Mississippi, and after 
meeting the enemy at different points and tearing 
up more railroad tracks, they were detailed to St. 
Louis, to keep the rebel General, Price, out of the 
city. They worked over the country in the Iron 
Mountain regions, and afterward took part in the 
battles of Nashville and Ft. Blakesley, the latter 
the last battle of the Civil War, which was fought 
April 14, and which is often designated as the 
" battle of Mobile." The regiment was mustered 
out at Springfield, 111., on the 6th of July, 1865. 
Mr. Verry was particularly fortunate, and after a 
three years' service came home without a scratch. 

Our subject at the expiration of his army life, 
returned to McLean County, and having sold his 
farm while in the service, located on rented land. 
; In 1867 he came to this county and purchased an 
unimproved tract of eighty acres. Upon this there 
were no buildings, and he began in earnest the es- 
tablishment of a permanent home. His industry 
and frugality were in due time rewarded, and he 
gradually brought about the improvements which 
are observed to-day with admiration by the passer- 
by, and stand as a fine illustration of the energy 
with which Mr. Verry pursued the object in view. 

Mr. V. has met with adversity, however, his first 
great affliction being the death of his excellent and 
amiable wife, who had shared with him his first 



580 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



trials mid labors, and had exemplified the most at- 
tractive qualities possessed by woman. Of this 
faithful counselor her family were bereft on the 
20th of September, 18C9. Her two children, Wai- 
tor (). and Lillian A., were then quite young. The 
former is now mining in Colorado, and Lillian is 
teaching in McLean County. Mrs. Verry was 
highly educated, and was also a teacher before her 
marriage. She was for many years a member of 
the Baptist Church, and labored for its prosperity. 
Her name is held in tender remembrance by her 
family and friends and the community who had 
learned to look upon her as one of its brightest 
lights. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Jan. 9. 1879, was formerly Mrs. Julia C. 
(Butterfield) Lewis, daughter of A. D. Butterfield, 
and widow of William A. Lewis. She was born 
in LaSalle County, Aug. 2, 1843, where her father 
was one of the earliest pioneers, and assisted in lay- 
ing out the count3 T into townships. The parents of 
Mrs. Verry spent their last years in LaSalle County, 
the father dying Sept. 15, 1887, and the mother 
in 1871. Of this marriage of our subject there 
have been born two children Claude, born Feb. 
8, 1880, and Earl, July 25, 1885. Mr. V. has 
served as School Director most of the time since 
coming to Odell Township, and although not par- 
ticularly active in politics, uniformly votes the Re- 
publican ticket, and stoutly upholds the principles 
of his party. 







,ENJAMIN HIERONYMUS. No man in 
the community where he so long resided 

J made a brighter record or was more highly 
esteemed than Mr. Hieronymus, of whom we 
give the following sketch: He was a native of Ken- 
tucky, and was born on the 13th of January, 1H18, 
his parents being William and Elvira (Darnell) 
Iliemnymus, both natives of Virginia. The great- 
grandfather of William came from German}' in the 
year ITii.'i. and settled near the Blue Ridge Mount- 
ains in Virginia, and in 1804 moved to Kentucky, 
where he died in 1831. The genealogy of this fam- 
ily has been traced back many centuries, and it is 
found that the tree began in Germany in the year 



330, the first of the stock being a minister who 
died in the year 420, at the age of ninety years. 
His name was Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus. 
Benjamin came from this ancient family, and pos- 
sessed many of the characteristics of his ancestors. 
He came to Logan County in 1828 with his parents, 
and endured al! the privations and hardships of the 
settlers of those days. In 1839 he came to Liv- 
ingston County and purchased land, where he be- 
came one of the leading farmers of the county. He 
augmented his estate until his farm consisted of 
600 acres of most excellent land. He was an en- 
terprising man, and devoted his energies largely to 
stock-growing, making a specialty of fine colts. He 
was a consistent member of the Christian Church 
for many years. He was a strictly honest and con- 
scientious man, and was highly esteemed by all who 
knew him. His death occurred on the 31st of 
December, 1885, and his loss to the community 
was keenly felt and duly mourned. 

The portrait of this esteemed gentleman, which 
we present in this connection, will be highly appre- 
ciated by his friends and neighbors. He was well 
known throughout the southern portion of the 
county, and doubtless had as many friends as any 
man within its borders. 

Let us now refer to the estimable wife of our sub- 
ject, who was married on the 19th of September, 
1 839, in Livingston County. At the time her parents 
settled in Indian Grove two tribes of Indians, the 
Pottawatomies and Kickapoos, numbering 400 
souls, occupied that territory, and the name of 
their chief was Shaubina. Mrs. II. was twelve 
years of age when her parents came among 
these tribes of Indians and took possession of 
land on which to make their future home. She 
was born in 1822 in Boone County, Ky., and 
is the daughter of Valentine M. and Rachel 
(Steers) Darnell, natives respectively of Virginia 
and Ohio. He came to Livingston County in 1830, 
and located in Indian Grove. At that time there 
were scarcely any settlements whatever of whites, 
the Indians being not yet wholly dispossessed of 
their lands by acts of Congress. 

Mrs. Hieronymus is the mother of eight children, 
three of whom are living William, Jasper and 
Elizabeth. Jasper married Miss Alvira Travis, and 



f 




(Jj 



LIVINGSTON COUNTS. 



583 



Elizabeth married Charles Westervelt, of Fairbury. 
Three died in infancy, and Martin and Emeline 
after reaching mature years. Mrs. Alvira M. Hier- 
onynuis lives on the home place, located on section 
4, Belle Prairie Township, and is surrounded with 
all the comforts of a rural home ; she has been for 
many years a consistent member of the Christian 
Church, and is a most exemplary lady possessing 
rare and lovable traits of both heart and mind, and 
was a worthy companion of the noble husband who 
so long and faithfully walked by her side. 




ANIEL GRAY. The man who made his 
advent into Illinois over fifty years ago, 
and has lived there continuously since, has 
witnessed great changes. Under his ob- 
servation the State has grown from a waste of wild 
prairie to a compactly settled commonwealth, whose 
farms are the best cultivated, most productive and 
most diversified in products of any in the Union. 
The great area of the State includes almost all va- 
rieties of climate, reaching from long winters which 
prevail in the region of the Great Lakes to the semi- 
tropical climate at the junction of the Ohio and 
Mississippi Rivers, and this enables the growing of 
Northern and Southern crops within the boundary 
of a single State. Fifteen years ago the population 
of the territory extending from what is now the 
Wisconsin boundary line to the Ohio River was not 
much greater than that now contained by indi- 
vidual counties, so that the man who has lived in 
Illinois for fifty years can look retrospectively at 
great growths and wonderful developments. This 
is illustrated in our subject, a farmer and stock- 
grower on section 18, Belle Prairie Township, who 
was born in Morgan County, Ind., on the 13th of 
June, 1833, and became a resident of Illinois in 1834. 
Daniel Gray is the son of Allen and Malinda 
<lray, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky respect- 
ively. The father was born in 1804, and was a 
farmer by occupation, and held very liberal views 
upon all theological questions, which he was able to 
present intelligently upon any and all occasions. 
For some years he was Supervisor of the township 



in which he resided, and was Postmaster at Crow 
Meadows, Marshall County, under Fillmore, which 
office he held at the time of his death, in 1 855. The 
mother was born in 1806 and died in 1877, and 
during her life was an ardent member of the 
Old-School Presbyterian Church. There were born 
to them nine children James, William, John, Dan- 
iel, Joseph, Robert, Samuel, Elizabeth and Sarah. 

Our subject's youth was spent upon the farm, 
and such education as he was able to obtain was by 
attendance upon the short terms of the common 
schools of those days. At the age of twenty-two 
years he was married to Miss Martha Richardson, 
on the 13th of September, 1855. She is a native 
of Huntingdonshire, England, and was born in 
1836, coining to the United States when sixteen 
years of age with her parents, Thomas and Rachel 
Richardson, natives of England. The mother died 
some years ago, but the father still survives. 

Mr. Gray was brought to Illinois in 1834 by his 
parents, with whom he remained and assisted in the 
work on the farm until he arrived at manhood. 
In 1881 he came to Livingston County and pur- 
chased 200 acres of fine land, to the fanning of 
which he has devoted considerable of his time. Mr. 
and Mrs. Gray have had eleven children: Allen, 
who died in infancy; Robert married Miss Eliza- 
beth Haynes ; Laura married Henry Patton ; Thomas ; 
Ella married Plummer Coffman; Minnie died in 
childhood ; Charles died at the age of seven ; Eben- 
ezer. Letitia, Jason and Stella, who are twins. Mr. 
Gray is a Democrat of the old Jacksonian school, 
but has never held any office except that of Col- 
lector, in Marshall County, for one year. Quite 
recently he sold his farm on section 18, Belle 
Prairie Township, and has purchased 1 00 acres on 
section 26, Saunemin Township. 



-*- 



ILLER HOTALING. Many of the old 
settlers have passed away, and from those 
who are living, in many cases, the mantle 
is falling upon younger and stronger shoul- 
ders. The subject of this history is the son of a 
farmer of New York State, who-died there in May, 
1881, namely, Richard Hotaling, the- representative 




.584 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






of a large family of that name, who were numbered 
among the most highly esteemed citizens of the 
Empire State. The mother is still living and has 
now passed her sixtieth birthday. 

Mr. Hotaling was born July 30, 1851. His par- 
ents, Richard and Helen Hotaling, were natives of 
New York State, which for many years had been 
the home of his paternal grandfather, who served 
as a soldier in the War of 1812. His great-grand- 
father fought on the side of the Colonists in the 
Revolutionary War, and spent his last years in 
Coxsaekie, N. Y. The brothers and sisters of 
our subject comprised a large family, and those 
living are named respectively: Annie, Mrs. John 
Jacobs, of Hazleton, Pa.; Augusta, Mrs. Harry 
Herr, of Athens, N. Y.; Adam, of Coxsaekie, N. 
Y. ; Allen, of Athens; William and Harry, of Cox- 
saekie; Mattie, Mrs. Orin Miller, of Windhnm, N. 
Y. ; May, of Schnectady, and Miller, our subject. 
Jacob enlisted as a Union soldier in the late war, 
and is believed to have starved to death in Ander- 
sonville Prison. *He spent twenty-two months 
within that terrible stockade, and those who were 
so solicitous for his welfare can only imagine the 
sufferings he endured. 

Our subject passed his boyhood and youth on 
the farm, coming to this State when a youth of 
seventeen years, and following the calling to which 
he had been accustomed in McLean County about 
four years. The latter part of this time he operated 
on rented land with fair results, and on the 24th of 
December, 1874, was united in marriage with Miss 
Flora, daughter of Lewis and Chloe (Chilson) Pul- 
sifer, the former now deceased and the latter resid- 
ing at Fairbury. The young people began life in 
a modes! dwelling, and became the parents of four 
bright children, namely : Lewis R., born Jan. 26, 
1877; Philip M., July 24, 1878; Leah, Nov. 24, 
1881, and Chloe H., March 16, 1884. Mrs. Hotal- 
ing departed this life Dec. 23, 1886. 

The property of Mr. Hotaling includes ninety- 
five acres of good land located in Avoca Township, 
which yields in abundance the choicest crops of 
Central Illinois. Each year adds something to the 
value and attractiveness of his homestead, and he 
has been uniformlysucees.sful in his farming opera- 
tions. Politically, he votes with the Republicans, 




and has served as School Director. About 
he identified himself with the Christian Church, in 
which he officiates as Superintendent of the Sunday- 
school and contributes according to his means to 
those enterprises calculated to promote the best in- 
terests of society. 



ILLIAM COTTRELL, whose farm i.- lo- 
cated on Congressional section 2, Pleasant 
Ridge Township, but judicially in Saune- 
min Township, is a Westerner by birth and life. 
He is a native of Michigan, and was born on the 
23d of January, 1838. He is the son of John and 
Catherine Cottrell, both natives of Ohio. When 
in his seventh year, our subject lost his father by 
death, and shortly alter that event he became a 
member of the household of John Arnold, of Knox 
County, 111., who was a maternal uncle, and with 
whom he remained until his eighteenth year. In 
18/io he came to Livingston County, of which he 
has since been a resident. He received but a lim- 
ited education in a district school, not having any 
of the advantages which are afforded boys and 
young men of to-day. 

In August, 1862, Mr. Cottrell enlisted in Com- 
pany C, 129th Illinois Infantry, which regiment 
soon afterward became a part of the army under 
Gen. Sherman. He participated in the battle of 
Resaca, and was badly wounded in the battle of 
Penchtree Creek, receiving a fracture of the bone 
of the right arm, and for six months was confined 
in various hospitals. After recovering from his 
wounds he rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C. 
After Lee had surrendered to Grant, his regiment 
proceeded to Washington by the way of Richmond, 
and participated in the grand review. He was dis- 
charged from the service at Washington in June, 
1865, and Immediately thereafter returned to Illi- 
nois. 

On the loth of February, 1872, Mr. Cottrell was 
married to Mary Blackmore, a native of Perry 
County, 111., who was born on the 21>t of Decem- 
ber, 1 S53. She is a daughter of Thomas and Jane 
Blackmore, the former being a native of England, 
and the latter of Virginia. Her parents came to 



r 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



585 



Livingston County in 1865, and resided here until 
they moved to Nebraska in 1879, where they still 
live. To Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell have been born 
nine children: Harry B., born May 21, 1873; 
Charles A., May 8, 1876; Addie J., Jan. 25, 1877; 
May J., March 31, 1879; Lucy B., Jan. 17, 1881; 
William T., Dec. 17, 1883; Henry, July 11, 1885; 
Alvah, Dec. 3, 1887, and one who died in infancy. 
Mr. Cottrell settled on his present farm in the 
spring of 1872, where he has spent the time inter- 
vening in cultivating and making material improve- 
ments upon it. This farm consists of 160 acres of 
good land, which annually produces most excellent 
crops. Mr. CottrelPs success as a farmer is such as 
necessarily comes to a man of great energy and 
good management. 

In politics, Mr. Cottrell votes with the Demo- 
cratic party, and in the campaigns gives that party 
his best efforts. He served as School Director of 
the Sixth District, and during his administration 
the schools were kept in admirable condition. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cottrell are both respected members of 
society, and enter heartily into all movements for 
its betterment. 



* - * 




AMUEL MORRISON, deceased, was a na- 
tive of the State of New York, and emi- 
grated to Illinois, being among the very 
earliest settlers of Avoca Township, when 
the land was composed entirely of raw prairie, and 
was compelled to undergo all the hardships and pri- 
vations which befall the first settlers of a new coun- 
try. During his life ho was twice married, the first 
time to Mary A. Rock wood, by whom he had five 
children, four of whom are living. John O., George 
D. ; Susan A., now Mrs. Herring, of Indiana; James 
II. and Samuel D. He married for his second wife 
Maria Phillips, who bore him seven children : Nellie, 
wife of J. E. Barker; Joseph C., William R., Harry 
L., Leonora, Mattie and Charles. Mr. Morrison 
died on the 1 st of May, \ 884. During his residence 
in Avoca Township he endeared himself to the peo- 
ple of that township, and had a large measure of 
their esteem and respect when he died. In his death 
the county lost an excellent citizen, one who had al- 



ways taken a pride in the advancement and develop- 
ment of the county. He was a Republican in poli- 
tics, and had served the people in the capacity of 
Road Commissioner and other minor positions. 
During his life he accumulated 240 acres of land, 
which at the time of his death was under a perfect 
state of cultivation, and had been finely equipped 
with all the most improved appliances used in farm- 
ing. 

Samuel D. Morrison, his son, who has charge of 
the father's estate, is a native of Livingston County, 
and was born on the 20th of October, 1857. He 
has always been a resident of Livingston County, 
with whose material interests he has closely identi- 
fied himself. He is devoting his attention entirely 
to farming, and resides on section 16, on the home 
farm leftby.the subject of this sketch. 




lEORGE C. KRACK, one of the well-to-do 
residents of Forest Township, is located 
just outside the village limits, where he has 
a fine residence, and in all other respects a valuable 
modern homestead. He owns 210 acres of land 
on sections 3 and 10, which is mostly devoted to 
stock-farming, and upon which he has effected fine 
improvements, which indicate him as a man of 
industry and enterprise, one who has availed him- 
self of modern methods and machinery, and kept 
himself thoroughly posted upon all matters of in- 
terest pertaining to his chosen calling. 

Mr. Krack was born in Tippecanoe County, Ind., 
Aug. 30, 1854, and is the sou of I. J. and Mary 
(Worrol) Krack, natives of Maryland and Indi- 
ana. They were married in Montgomery County, 
Ind., and in 1857 came with their family to this 
count}', making a permanent settlement in Forest, 
where the father carried on farming and is still liv- 
ing, retired from active labor. George C. spent 
his childhood and youth under the home roof, re- 
ceiving a good education in the common schools, 
and assisting his father until starting out in 
life for himself. After reaching his thirtieth 
birthda}- he was married, Oct. 22, 1884, to Miss 
Ollie, daughter of John and Charlotte (Hins- 



T 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




dale) Ross, and who was born in McLean County, 
June 26, 1855. The parents of Mrs. K. were na- 
tives of North Carolina and Connecticut respect- 
ively. The mother, who is now deceased, reared a 
family of five children. Mr. Ross now resides in 
McLean County, 111. 

Mr. Krack, in the midst of such extensive inter- 
ests as are his at present, finds little time to devote 
to the political questions of the day, but maintains a 
genuine interest in the success of Republican prin- 
ciples, and to this end gives his voice and vote as 
opportunity occurs. He is well-read and intelli- 
gent, and with his estimable lady, in a pleasant 
home, enjoys the esteem and the society of hosts 
of friends. Mrs. Krack is a member of the Chris- 
tian Church. 



ENRY ULBRIGHT, engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising, owns and occu- 
pies a very desirable farm located in Forest 
Township. Mr. Ulbright was born in Sax- 
ony, Germany, Oct. 4, 1833, and is the son of Fred- 
erick and Christian (Eckert) Ulbright, who were 
fanners in the old country, and both of whom are 
dead. They were the parents of eleven children, 
four boys and seven girls, seven of whom grew to 
the age of maturity. Our .subject remained at 
home until he was twenty-one years of age, during 
which time he was engaged at work upon the farm, 
and attended the district schools. Upon his arrival 
in the United States he went^to Tazewell County, 
111., where he engaged at work upon a farm for 
eight months, and attended school for a time. He 
then learned the trade of a carpenter, and worked 
in Galesburg for one year, after which he spent one 
year in Iowa and Nebraska, and then went to Chi- 
cago, where he engaged at his trade at intervals for 
about nine years. He then settled permanently in 
Livingston County, and bought eighty acres on 
section 9, and three acres on section 10, in Forest 
Township. He has since added to this tract ninety- 
eight acres on section 9, making 181 acres in all, 
one-half mile from Forest. 

Mr. Ulbright was married, Oct. 1, 1863, to Miss 
Mary Jane Krack, a native of Indiana. Her par- 
ents were farmers, but the father worked at car- 



pentering at intervals, at which trade he. had worked 
when a boy. Her mother is dead and the father is 
still living at the age of seventy years, retired from 
active work. There have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Ulbright three children : Jennie E., born July 
25,1864, died March 28, 1870; George E., born 
March 4, 1867, and Frank H., Feb. 13, 1870, both 
of whom are living at home. Mr. Ulbright is a 
Republican, and has held several township offices. 
In 1875 he was elected Road Commissioner, and 
held the office about nine years, and for nine years 
has been School Director of District No. '2, village 
of Forest. He and his family belong to the Meth- 
odist Church, of which they are active members. 
Mr. Ulbright is a representative man among the 
enterprising fanners of Forest Township, while he 
and his family occupy a high place in the esteem of 
the people among whom they live. As representa- 
tive of the buildings of this section of country we 
present on another page a view of Mr. Ulbright's 
residence. 



V~ ILLIAM T. BRYDIA, son of one of the 
pioneer settlers of Saunemin Township, 
and its first Supervisor and Justice of the 
Peace, has for many years been closely identified 
with its various interests, and is numbered among 
its most valued and popular citizens. He is a na- 
tive of Greene Countj', this State, and was born 
Nov. 2, 1837, at the home of his parents, Truman 
W. and Laura A. (Day) Brydia, near the town of 
Bluffdale. They were natives of Vermont, and the 
family was represented at an early period in the 
history of New England. The paternal grand- 
father, William Brydia. Si-., served as a soldier in the 
War of 1812, and was of Scotch-Irish descent, pos- 
sessing all the courage and substantial traits of his 
ancestry. He spent his last years in Illinois, and 
died about 18<>,">. He married a lady of Vermont, 
and they reared a fine family of sons and daugh- 
ters, whom, it is believed, are now all deceased. 

Truman W. Brydia grew to manhood in tin- 
Green Mountain State, where he was married and 
where he remained until 18:!2. Then, accompa- 
nied by his family, lie came to this State, and took 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I 



up a tract of land in Greene County shortly before 
the township organization was effected. He pos- 
sessed the elements mostly needed in the settle- 
ment of a new country, and contributed his full 
quota toward the development of its resources, and 
at the end of a long and useful life closed his eyes 
to earthly .scenes on the loth of February, 1887. 
The mother had preceded her husband to the better 
land, her death taking place at their home in Sau- 
nemin July 9, 1873. The parental family of our 
subject included four children, namely: William T. ; 
Mary C., the wife of Rodney C. Crook, of White- 
side County; Charles S., a resident of Saunemin, 
and Lucy M., the wife of Charles F. Carrithers, 
the present State's Attorney of Livingston County. 

In 1856 the Brydia family removed from Greene 
County to Saunemin Township, this county, whore 
thu father had purchased a tract of land on section 
33, and where he resided a number of 3'ears. In 
this locality he partially repeated the experience 
through which he had passed in Greene County, 
and opened up a good farm from land which had 
been but indifferently cultivated. Here, as before, 
he distinguished himself as a progressive citizen, 
and was identified with all the enterprises tending 
to the building up of its business and agricultural 
interests. He was a man of kindly and generous 
impulses, and if over he refused to lend a helping 
hand to the enterprises set on foot for the general 
welfare of the people, it was because he had some 
weighty and excellent reason. In his demise the 
county lost one of its best and most reliable citi- 
zens, and his descendants have reason to be proud 
of his record. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in Saunemin 
Township, and early in life became familiar with 
farm pursuits. lie naturally continued the life to 
which he had been trained, and like his father be- 
fore him, followed farming successfully until he 
had sufficient to retire from active labor. In 18K3 
he disposed of his lauded interests and removed to 
Saunemin, where he has a comfortable home and is 
spending his later years in the enjoyment of a com- 
petency. 

One of the most important events in the life of 
our subject was his marriage, which occurred over 
twenty years ago, on the 8th of December, 1804. 



The maiden of his choice, Miss Maggie Lilly,' was 
born in Madison County, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1839, and 
is the daughter of John and Mary (Smith) Lilly, 
who were also natives of the Buckeye State. Mrs. 
Brydia has been in all respects the suitable help- 
meet of an intelligent man, and the four children 
who in due time came to their household formed 
a family group of which the parents were justly 
proud. Of these but two are now living, namely, 
Laura F., the wife of Truman A. Harris, of Will- 
iamsburg, Kan., and Mary L., who is assistant 
cashier and book-keeper in the bank of Messrs. 
Dow & Co., at Saunemin. Henry S. and Fannie 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Brydia, politically, casts his vote with the 
Democratic party, and has been quite prominent in 
public affairs, serving as Assessor and Collector of 
the township for a number of years. He and his 
excellent wife are members in good standing of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and have their 
warmest friends among those who know them best. 




ICHARD RUSH PUFFER, who is engaged 
in the nursery and insurance business in 
Odell Township, was born in Sunderland, 
Franklin Co., Mass., on the 23d of Decem- 
1833. His father, Samuel L. Puffer, was born 
in Sudbury, Mass., and the grandfather, Samuel 
Puffer, was born in the same place, and was a farmer 
who moved to Sunderland about 1805, and was 
among the early settlers. He bought timber land 
and improved the farm on which he lived the re- 
mainder of his life. The father of our subject was 
but a mere boy when his father moved to Suuder- 
land. He learned the trade of a shoemaker in 
Greenfield, and resided at that place until 1857, 
when he moved to Putnam County, 111., and located 
at Mt. Palatine, where he followed his trade, and 
alM> engaged in farming until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1886, in his eighty-eighth year. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject was 
Kmily Graves. She was born In Sunderland, Mass., 
and died at Mt. Palatine in 1885, at the age of 
eighty years. To them were born eight children, 
six of whom grew to maturity: Samuel, who lives 



588 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in Chemung, 111. : Richard R., in Odell Township; 
Josiah G., in Union Township, this county; Annie 
E., in Juniata, Neb. ; Idelia Gallaher, and George 
M., near Mt. Palatine. 

Mr. Puffer was reared in his native town, and when 
twenty years of age went to Greenfield and learned 
the trade of edge-tool maker, at which he worked 
until 1857, when he came to Illinois and located at 
Mt. Palatine, Putnam County, where he worked at 
the carpenter's trade, except in the harvesting sea- 
son, when he worked on the farm. In 1859, in 
common with many others, he contracted the gold 
fever, as a result of the reports of the rich discov- 
eries of Pike's Peak, and started with a yoke of 
oxen for that place. He proceeded as far as the 
territory of Kansas, when he met many disappointed 
gold-seekers returning, and he turned his cattle 
around and retraced his footsteps to Mt. Palatine. 
Immediately upon his return he entered the Nor- 
mal School, at Normal, 111., which he attended un- 
til the breaking out of the war, when he left his 
books to enlist in Company II, 20th Illinois State 
Troops, for one month. Upon the expiration of 
this term of service he re-enlisted, in Company E, 
8th Illinois Infantry, and went to the front, where 
he served in the Western Army. He participated 
in the battles of Shiloh, the first engagement at 
Vicksburg, the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, 
Champion Hills, and the siege and capture of Vicks- 
burg. The regiment Mr. Puffer was in, was one of the 
best sent out by the State of Illinois, and its record 
shows that he made a good soldier. The engage- 
ments in which he participated, particularly in the 
rear of Vicksburg, were among the bloodiest of the 
war. At the expiration of his term of service he 
received an honorable discharge, and returned to 
Mt. Palatine. In 1865 he came to this county, 
and in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Wood- 
bury, engaged in farming in Union Township, and 
planted about ten acres of osage orange. In 1*69 
he came to Odell Township, and engaged in the 
cultivation of hedge fence, working also at the trade 
of a carpenter. In these occupations he continued 
until 1885, since which time he has been engaged 
in the sale of nursery stock and in the insurance 
business. In both of these lines of busines- lie 
represents some of the best firms and most reliable 




companies in the United States, and is meeting with 
remarkable success. 

On the 1 1th of March, 1869, Mr. Puffer was mar- 
ried to Paulina J. Calwell, who was born in West- 
moreland County, Pa. Her father, David Calwell. 
| was a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio, 
and spent the last days of his life in Crawford 
i County of that State. Her mother was Jane An- 
| derson, also a native of Pennsylvania. She died 
when Mrs. Puffer was three years of age, and the 
latter was reared by an older sister in Ohio. Mr. 
and Mrs. Puffer have had four children Emily 
Pearl, Rollie R., George Irving and Willie. The sec- 
ond child born died at the age of twenty months. 
Mr. and Mrs. Puffer enjoy the confidence and es- 
teem of a large circle of acquaintances and friends. 



AUL HE1SNER. The loyalty of German- 
born people to the United States stands 
unquestioned, and the rolls of those who 
participated in the war in the Union army 
show that a large percentage of our soldiers either 
descended from German ancestry, or are native 
born of Germany. The subject of this sketch com- 
plied with the laws of his country, which require 
military service by becoming a soldier for three 
years. Upon his arrival in the United States, he 
found this Government struggling with a gigantic 
Rebellion, and as he had determined to become a 
citizen, it was important to him that the Govern- 
ment be preserved intact; and almost immediately 
upon his arrival he tendered his services to the 
Government, as set forth further on in this sketch. 
He is now a prominent fanner and stock-raiser on 
section 20, Pontiac Township. He was born in 
(lennany on the 27th of June, 1837, and is the son 
of John and Elizabeth Ileisner, who were the par- 
ents of nine children, of whom the subject of this 
sketch was the second son. He spent a portion of 
his life in Germany, and received a fair education 
for the opportunities presented. Under the com- 
pulsory military law he was required to do service 
in the German army, and in compliance with its 
provisions served for three years, and for four 
years following his discharge from the army WM? 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



589 



I 



employed in a brickyard. In the spring of 1864 
he sailed from Bremen in n sailing-vessel, and after 
a voyage of more than seven weeks landed in New 
York City, and from there proceeded to Cook 
County, 111., where he engaged at work upon a 
farm, but soon learning of the questions at issue be- 
tween the North and the South, which were being 
settled by the arbitrament of arms, he concluded 
that his duty lay in supporting the Government un- 
der which he expected to live, and in October, 
1,S(>4. he became a member of Company B, 30th 
Illinois Infantry, and went to the front. He 
reached the regiment to which he was assigned in 
time to participate in Sherman's grand march to the 
sea, and took part in the siege of Savannah, and 
the battle of Goldsboro, N. C. He continued in 
the service untjl the close of the war, and received 
an honorable discharge in the summer of 1865. In 
the fall of that year he came to Livingston County 
and located three miles south of Pontiac City, 
where he cultivated forty acres of land for three 
years, and then for six years lived in Rook's Creek 
Township. In 1875 he moved to his present farm 
in Pontiac Township, which consists of 400 acres 
of very excellent land, which represents the indus- 
try and perseverance of Mr. Heisner since coming 
to this country. 

Mr. Heisner was married, in February, 1864, to 
Catherine Drender, and they have five children 
Philip, Frederick, William, Frank and Paul. Mr. 
Heisuer is identified with the German Evangelical 
Association, and is a liberal worker in all enter- 
prises that are calculated to upbuild the commu- 
nity in which he lives. During his residence in 
this country he has affiliated with the Democratic 
party. 

OVAL K. GOl'LD. one of the wealthy far- 
ir mers and stock-raisers of Long Point Town- 
<!*i\\\ ship, owning 200 acres located on section 2, 
^p)was born in Pennsylvania on the 23d of 
February, 1 848, and is the son of Philander and 
Patience M. (Benson) Gould, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania and Connecticut respect! vely. The 
father was born Oct. 21, 1801, and the mother 
Feb. 21, 1815. The former died in 1881, and the 
latter Oet. 12, 1880. To them were born eleven 



children: Fientte, on the 1st of June, 1836, mar- 
ried William Lane, and had one child named Grant, 
still living; she died on the 20th of December, 
1 883 ; George, born in January, 1 838, enlisted in the 
army at Rutland in 1862, and served twenty-three 
months; on the 27th of August, 1864, in a skirmish 
near Ream's Station, Va., he was shot over the right 
eye, and the ball came out over the left ear; dur- 
ing his term of service he was in forty-one battles 
besides skirmishes. Harriet was born March 20, 
1845, and died June 17, 1882; Reddington was 
born in April, 1846, and died in Pennsylvania Sept. 
1,1875; Royal, our subject, was born Feb. 23, 1848; 
Philander Erwin, born Dec. 4, 1849, married Minnie 
Marsh; they have one child, and live on the old 
homestead in Pennsylvania. LaFayette was born 
Sept. 24, 1851, and married Alta Marsh; they have 
three children, and reside in Bradford County, Pa.; 
Frank M. was born Sept. 30, 1853, and was married 
to Mabel Ridenhour, of Bradford County, Pa. ; she 
is the daughter of Daniel and Esther Rightrnire; 
they have one child, and reside in Ingham County, 
Mich. Mary C., born June 10, 1855, married Jake 
Williams, who died July 6, 1881, leaving one 
child; Floyd was born March 2, 1857, is unmarried, 
and lives in Bradford County, Pa.; Hannah A. was 
born May 31, 1861. was married to Albert Series, 
and has one child. 

On the 1 1th of May, 1876, Royal R. Gould was 
married to Mary L. Carlton, a daughter of Benja- 
min and Laura Carlton, whose biographies will be 
found in another part of this work. Mrs. Carlton 
was the wife of Lanson Miller, deceased, and her 
maiden name was Eaton. By her first husband were 
born three children: John L. was married to Mag- 
gie Stephenson, and resides in Colorado; Deloss is 
mining in Idaho; Laura J. was born Jan. 23, 1842, 
and died Jan. 29, 18(55; she was the wife of Gus 
Payne, and resided at Long Point. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Gould there have been born four children: 
Benjamin R., July 11, 1878; Lome W., Dec. 30, 
1879; Ina Ethel, Dec. 25, 1881; George Leland, 
Aug. 27, 1885. Mr. Gould's farm is well improved 
and finely cultivated. Its productiveness has been 
much added to by the construction of considerable 
tile ditches. 

In politics Mr. Gould acts with the Republican 






590 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



party, but wholly through motives of patriotism, as 
he has no desire to hold office, nor inclination to be- 
come an office-seeker. He is largely interested in 
the material welfare of his county and township, 
which he manifests upon all occasions. Mrs. Gould 
is an active member of the Christian Church, and 
devotes her best energies to good works. 




F OLLAND C'ATTON, a prosperous and indus- 
trious farmer and representative citizen of 
Fayette Township, was born in Lincolnshire, 
England, in September, 1822. His parents 
were Thomas and Mary (Clark) Catton, who were 
also born in England, and who spent their entire 
lives in Lincolnshire, the father following the oc- 
cupation of farming. They were quiet and law-abid- 
ing citizens, of modest means, faithful as parents, 
and useful as members of a well-ordered com- 
munity. 

The parental household of our subject included 
five sons and three daughters, of whom Holland, 
our subject, was the eldest; Joseph was burned to 
death when four years of age. The others are liv- 
ing, and are named respectively : William, John, 
Thomas, Joseph (2d), Alice, Mary and Ann. Hol- 
land, like his brothers and sisters, was trained to 
habits of industry and economy earl}' in life, and be- 
gan to make himself useful when but a lad. At 
fourteen he had started out for himself, but con- 
tinued to reside in his native county, employing 
himself at whatever he could find to do, until he 
was over thirty years of age. He then determined 
to seek his fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. 
Upon landing in Michigan, which he did in the 
spring of 1855, he remained then- during the sheep- 
shearing season. Thence he migrated to Brim- 
field, Peoria County, this State, where he was em- 
ployed as a farm laborer one summer, when he 
rented a coal bank, and was engaged , in mining for 
about twelve years. He then purchased the bank, 
which he operated on his own account for four years, 
and then, about the year 1869, sold out and came to 
this county. 

Mr. Catton, after coming into Livingston Count} 1 , 
took up his residence in that part of Belle 1'iairie 



Township which was afterward included in Fayette, 
and still holds possession of the land on section 4, 
which he purchased at that time. Here he carries 
on general farming and stock-raising, and is num- 
bered among the prosperous and well-to-do citizens 
of the township, and among the views of farm resi- 
dences shown in this ALBUM may very appropriately 
be found that of Mr. Catton. 

Mr. Catton, in 1845, while a resident of his na- 
tive county in England, was united in marriage 
with Miss Ellen Eyre, who was born about 1825, 
not far from the boyhood home of her husband. 
They became the parents of eight children, of whom 
six are living, namely: Mary, Martha, Benjamin, 
William, Sallie and Nellie. A little daughter, 
Martha (1st), died when about eight months old, and 
another, Nettie, passed away at the .interesting age 
of seventeen years. The parents are connected with 
the Methodist Episcopal- Church, and Mr. C. is one 
of the most reliable members of the Republican party 
in Fayette Township. He has been School Director 
in his district for some time, and is always interested 
in the projects inaugurated for the advancement 
and welfare of the people. 



M 



S) AMES H. LINN located in Charlotte Town- 
ship in the spring of 1860, where, on sec- 
tion 25, a few months previously, he had 
purchased an 80-acre tract of wild prairie 
He was not quite ready at that time, how- 
ever, to begin its improvement and cultivation. 
and the following spring rented another tract, which 
had been slightly improved, and he put up for 
his dwelling a shanty, partly slab and partly sod. 
in which he and his young wife made their home 
for quite a number of years. This house, however, 
stood on his own land, and in 1869 he put up the 
main part of the dwelling which he now occupies. 
He industriously set about building up a home- 
stead, and was prospered in his labors. lie in- 
vested his surplus capital as he accumulated it in 
additional land, and is now the proprietor of '.'in 
acres, which he has brought to a high state of cul- 
tivation and provided with suitable buildings. Be- 
sides this property, our subject and his children 




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ff 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



593 



have a claim upon 880 acres in Nebraska. The 
home farm is stocked with high-grade Short-horn 
and Hereford cattle, while in his stables are seen 
some fine specimens of Norman horses. All his 
farm operations are carried on in a regular and 
systematic manner, and the result is highly credita- 
ble to a man who commenced in life without means 
nnd dependent upon his own resources 

Mr. Linn was born in Clinton County, Pa.. Dec. 
3, 1835, and was the fifth child of Thomas and Ra- 
chel (Leyman) Linn, also natives of the Kej'stone 
State. His paternal grandparents, Andrew and 
Rachel Linn, were natives of Dublin, Ireland, and 
the parents of his mother, Michael and Rachel Ley- 
man, were born in Germany. Thomas Linn, upon 
reaching manhood, engaged in lumbering in his na- 
tive State, which he followed until 185G, when he 
came to Illinois and located on a farm in Kendall 
County. From there he removed to Chatsworth 
in 1874, where he and his wife spent the remainder 
of their lives, the latter passing away Nov. 27, 
1883, and the former Aug. 15, 1885. 

James H. Linn early in life learned that hi' must 
work for his living, and first followed the canal and 
lakes from Erie, Pa., to Chicago, which business he 
continued until twenty-two years old. Afterward 
he engaged in farming, and on Jan. 1, 1859, after 
coming to the West, was united in marriage with 
Miss Jane Parkhurst, who was born in Kendall 
County, 111., Nov. 7, 1841. Mrs. Linn is the 
daughter of Joel and Fidelia (Damon) Parkhurst, 
and was the eldest in a family of four children. 
Her parents were natives of New York State, but 
spent their last years in Kendall County, where 
they were pioneer settlers. Our subject and his 
wife were residents of that county until their re- 
moval here. They became the parents of eleven 
children, of whom but six are living, namely: Orrin 
I'., who, possessing the enterprise of his father in a 
marked degree, has taken up a homestead in Ne- 
braska; LoraL., who has finished her education, 
and is now at home with her parents; Gird on F., 
James Eugene, Delia E. and Ida L. Orrin P. 
completed his education at the Normal School at 
Valparaiso, Ind., and all of the children will receive 
the best advantages our well-regulated school sys- 
tem offers. 



Mr. Linn was the first Assessor of Charlotte 
Township, and has officiated as School Director for 
a period of eighteen years. He uniformly encour- 
ages those enterprises which are for the moral and 
intellectual welfare of the people, and nothing 
pleases him better than to note the progress of ed- 
ucation and those enterprises which will build up a 
community socially and financially. Although not 
at present connected with any religious organiza- 
tion, he is always interested in church matters. 
Mrs. Linn and her eldest daughter are connected 
with the Methodist Church at Chatsworth. On an 
adjoining page may be found a view of Mr. Linn's 
residence, which is certainly one of Livingston 
County's representative country estates. 




E W. BOEMAN, who is engaged in 
conducting livery, feed and sale stables, at 
Culloni, is a native of New Jersey, and was 
born in Hunterdon County on the 22d of February. 
1841. His parents were David and Mary (Sigler) 
Boeman, who were also natives of New Jersey. 
Our subjert was reared to farm life, in which he 
early evinced considerable interest, and was edu- 
cated in the common schools of his native State, 
lie resided in the State of New Jersey until he 
reached the years of his majority, and then came 
West and located in Bureau County, 111., where he 
farmed until 1871, coming then to Livingston 
County, and settling in Sullivan Township, where 
he purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land on 
section 14. He began at once the improvement of 
this land, and followed farming there until 1887. 
During this time he had placed it under a high 
state of cultivation, and erected good and suitable 
buildings, properly drained it, and built good fences. 
In 1887 he removed to the village of Cullom, and 
commenced in the business in which he is at present 
engaged. Before removing to Cullom, however, 
lie sold his farm to good advantage. 

In June, 181)0, Mr. Boeman was married to Sarah 
Martin, who is a native of Illinois, having been 
born in Bureau Count}'. She is the daughter of 
James and Caroline Martin, natives of New Jersey. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bocman have had two children, whose 



594 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



names are Sigler and Orlie. In U'62 Mr. Boernan 
entered the Union army, having enlisted in Com- 
pany B, !>3d Illinois Infantry, and remained with 
that regiment until the close of the war, participating 
with it in many of the hard -fought engagements and 
severest marches of the war. He took part in 
the memorable Vicksburg campaign, and in the bat- 
tles of Jackson and Champion Hills bore the brunt 
of the onslaught of the enemy. At the last engage- 
ment Mr. Boeman received a gunshot wound in the 
left thigh, and was taken prisoner, but as he was 
severely injured, he was paroled on the field, and 
in a few days was taken to the hospital. He re- 
mained in the hospital for about three months, 
when he rejoined his command, and remained with 
it until his regiment was mustered out at the close 
of the war. 

Our subject takes an active, part in politics, and 
in that direction gives his best energies to the main- 
tenance of the principles of the Republican party. 
For several years he has been Township Collector, 
and is at the present time discharging the duties of 
that office. He and his family belong to the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, and take considerable inter- 
est in moral and religious affairs. 







ENRY RINGLER, a leading general mer- 
chant of Strawn, carries a lanj'e a;id well- 
assorted stock of dry-goods and groceries, 
and in fact keeps nearly everything required 
in the household together with the lighter imple- 
ments of -the faun. His present store was estab- 
lished in 1877, and for the past twenty years he 
has enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the peo- 
ple of Kayette Township, where he has built up a 
lucrative trade among its best residents. His has 
been a life of industry, and the comforts with which 
he is surrounded to-day are but the just reward of 
his labors. 

Mr. Ringler is one of the finest representatives 
of that nationality to which the State of Illinois is 
M> greatly indebted for her present position among 
the commonwealths of the West. His early home 
was across the water in the Province of Hersfeld, 
( iiTimmy, where his birth took place June 1(1, 1844. 



His parents, Peter and Gertrude (More) Ringler, 
were of pure German ancestry, and emigrated with 
their family to the United States in 18(i(i. In the 
meantime there had been born to them seven sons, 
namely: Peter, George, John, Henry, William, 
Frederick and August. It has been the custom of 
the Emperor from time immemorial to bestow a gift 
of $42 upon the father of seven successive sons, 
and Peter Ringler was the recipient of this bequest 
from the present ruler of Germany, Emperor Will- 
iam. This remarkable incident occurs only about 
once in 10,000 families, and is well worthy of 
record. 

Upon setting foot on American soil the father of 
our subject resided for a time in New York State, 
and then came to this county, locating in Belle 
Prairie Township, where he engaged in farming and 
as a contractor and builder. He had at one time 
a large fortune which he lost through the schemes 
of a railroad company, and afterward abandoned 
contracting, and gave his attention exclusively to 
farming until his death, which took place in 1875. 
The mother died at the homestead in Belle Prairie 
Township about 1882. 

Our subject remained with his parents until his 
childhood was passed, receiving a good education, 
and then served a thorough apprenticeship at the 
blacksmith trade. While the family were in New 
York he followed his trade there, and three years 
later, on the 1st of March, 1868, was married to 
Miss Catherine Fox, a native of his own country. 
Her parents emigrated to America about 186(i and 
located in Chicago, where they remained until 1870. 
Subsequently they came to this county and took up 
their residence with their son-in-law, our subject, 
where they passed their last days, the mother pass- 
ing away in 1872, and the father in 1878. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Ringler, eight in 
number, were named respectively, Frederick, Au- 
gust, Lizzie, Henry. Mary, George, Katie and Will- 
iam. They form an interesting family group, 
which happily to this time has been unbroken, and 
they are all at home with their parents. Mr. Ring- 
ler has a brother in New York who has just pur- 
chased -'520 acres adjoining this city, and our sub- 
ject takes charge of it in the spring. 

Upon exercising the right of suffrage, Mr. Ring. 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



595 



ler identified himself with the Democratic party, 
and religiously, is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. The family residence is one of the most 
shapely and substantial in the village, and its in- 
mates enjoy the society of many friends. On an- 
other page may be found a view of Mr. Ring- 
ler's residence and place of business. 



J^AMES MONAHAN. Although a Pennsyl- 
vanian by birth, our subject has been a res- 
ident of Illinois nearly all his life, and this 
/ State has been the exclusive field of his oper- 
ations. Like nearly all Pennsylvanians he has 
be'en an enterprising farmer, a hard-working man 
and a good manager, and where these qualities are 
combined success is the result. Mr. Monahan is 
now engaged in farming and stock-raising on sec- 
tion 36, Saunemin Township. 

Our subject is a native of Dauphin County, Pa., 
where he was born on the 25th of March, 1834, 
and is the son of John and Margaret (Chambers) 
Monahan, the former a native of Ireland and the 
latter of Pennsylvania. The advent of the Mona- 
han family into Illinois was in the spring of 1838, 
and they settled in Richland Township, Marshall 
County. In this county the parents resided until 
their decease, the death of the father occurring on 
the 18th of August, 1871, and that of the mother 
on the 27th of January, 1883. They were among 
the very early settlers of Marshall Count}-, arriving 
there when houses were long distances apart, and 
settlements few and far between. They hart a fam- 
ily of twelve children, five of whom survive, whose 
record is as follows: John A., of Kansas; James, 
our subject; Margaret, Mrs. Garrett Wykoff, Charles 
ami William, all of Marshall Count}'. Our subject 
was reared to manhood in Marshall County, where 
he obtained his first knowledge of agricultural pur- 
suits, and received an elementary education in the 
schools of that day. and that early in the history of 
Illinois the common schools afforded very limited 
advantages. 

On the 23d of February, 18(54, Mr. Monahan 
was married to Susanna M. Jackson, who was born 
on I he 10th of April, 183U, and is the daughter of 



Andrew and Mary (Gray) Jackson, who settled at 
an early day in Marshall County. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Monahan have been born five children Elsie 
J., Mary E., Jane, Mabel C. and Kyle. Elsie J. 
was born Dec. 31, 1864, and is engaged in public 
school teaching; Mary E. was born Sept. 19, 1867, 
and is also a school teacher; Janet was born April 
(I, 1873; Mabel C., Dec. 14, 1877, and Kyle J.. Sept. 
10, 1886. In the fall of 1874, with his family our 
subject came to Livingston County, and settled in 
Saunemin Township, where he purchased 120 acres 
of land, upon which he has since resided. This 
farm is well improved and has been placed under a 
good state of cultivation. The parents as well as 
two daughters, are active members of the Christian 
Church at Saunemin, and the father is at present 
serving as Deacon and Trustee of that church. Po- 
litically, he is a Republican, and is at present dis- 
charging the duties of the office of School Director. 
He takes a deep interest in religious and moral af- 
fairs, and contributes liberally of time and means 
to each of these causes. 



ARION GALLUP, a representative young 
farmer and stock- raiser on section 29, 
Owego Township, has been a farmer since 
1880, although by education he fitted him- 
self for the profession of law. He is a native of 
Peoria Count}", and was born on the 20th of No- 
vember, 1854, his parents being Joseph and Cecelia 
Gallup, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. 
The paternal ancestors were of English descent, 
coming to this country previous to the Revolution- 
ary war, in which several of them served and also 
in the War of 1812. The founder of the present 
Gallup family was C'apt. John Gallup, who held 
that rank in the body of Colonial Troopers, which 
ho organized during the French and Indian war. 
The parents of the subject of this sketch emigrated 
to Peoria County in 1851 and settled in Hallock 
Township, in which the father still resides and 
where the mother died in July, 1877. They had 
born to them six children, five of whom are living: 
Jurtie A., wife of Harvey \Wtmore, of Dana, 111.: 
Loren, of Peoria County ; Sarah J., wife of Edward 




I 



596 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






Timmons, of Peoria County: Ellen J., wife of 
Dcvillo Potter, of Peoria County ; Elvira, deceased ; 
and Marion, the subject of this sketch. Joseph 
Gallup was a member nf the Illinois Legislature, in 
which he represented Peoria County in 1882 and 
1884, thus serving it two terms of two years each. 
For many years he served in his locality as Justice 
of the Peace, in which capacity he rendered efficient 
service on account of being well versed in legal 
matters. Politically he is a Democrat, and is one 
of the leaders of his party in Peoria County. To 
a very large degree he enjoys the confidence and 
respect of every one in his community. 

Marion Gallup attained his manhood in his na- 
tive county, where he attended the common schools 
during his earlier days, and in 1872 he began a 
course of study in the High School in Chillicothe, 
III., and was graduated on the 17th of June, 1875. 
He soon began the study of law under the instructions 
of Hopkins & Morran in Peoria, and with them 
continued for two years, when he was admitted to 
practice at the bar in June, 1880, having passed 
a critical examination very successfully at Spring- 
field. While not making any pretensions of prac- 
ticing law as a business yet he occasionally takes 
charge of a case in court. 

Mr. Gallup was married, on the 4th of October, 
1877, to Nellie L. Kimball, a native of Maine, who 
is the daughter of Ira and Lucy M. Kimball, now 
residing in Douglas County, Dak. Her father is a 
native of Maine and the mother a native of Con- 
necticut. In 1805 her parents emigrated to Illi- 
nois, where they resided until 1882, in which year 
they removed to Dakota, and where they have con- 
tinued to reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Gallup have 
been born three children: Cecilia, Oct. 2, 1878; 
Joseph K., Feb. 27, 1880; and Nellie J.. April 4, 
1881. He and his wife are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church at Pontiac, and take 
great interest in the affairs of the church. 

Mr. Gallup came to Livingston County in 1880, 
where he purchased 240 acres; of land, on which he 
now reside.-, and lias given his best energies to its 
cultivation and improvement. He is meeting with 
most excellent and gratifying success. In politics 
he generally acts with the Democratic party, but is 
a man of strong Prohibition proclivities, lit- has 




served the people of Owego Township as Tax Col- 
lector for one year, and School Treasurer for two 
years. Within the short time lie has resided in 
Owego Township he has gathered around him a 
wide circle of friends, in the confidence of whom he 
has firmly established himself. 



MOS C. HANDLEY, one of the reliable 
citizens and successful farmers of Owego 
Township, occupies a fine property located 
on section 27, where in addition to gen- 
eral agriculture he is giving much attention to the 
raising of stock. His snug homestead includes 
eighty acres of finely cultivated land, upon which 
he has erected good farm buildings, the location 
being one of the best in this section and command- 
ing an extended view of the beautiful surrounding 
country. 

Mr. Handley is a native of Licking County, 
Ohio, and was born on the 23d of July, 1837. His 
parents were John and Hannah Handley, both of 
whom were born in the State of Virginia. They 
were the parents of ten children, the roll of those 
now living being Daniel J., Lydia A., James W.. 
Sarah E., Amos C., John 8., Esther J. and George 
W. The younger days of Mr. Handley were passed 
in Licking County, where he received a more than 
average education, and after passing out of school 
he became teacher and taught for eight or ten 
terms, in Ohio and Illinois. 

On the 12th of January, 1865, in Ohio, Mr. 
Handley was married to Marinda E. Etnire, of 
Licking County, who died on the 1 1th of October, 
in the year of their marriage. He was married a 
second time, on the 26th of January, 1869, in Illi- 
nois, the wife of his choice being Sarah E. Chancy, 
a native of Brown County, Ohio, and to them were 
born eight children, six of whom yet live, their 
names being as follows: Ella A.. Marinda A., 
Clara E., Edward C., Nina B. and Roy C. ; the 
names of the two deceased are Gracie and Nora F. 

Mr. Handley first became a citizen of Illinois in 
1850, but did not remain long; he returned, how- 
ever, in 1858, and has resided in the State ever since 
and in Livingston County during the entire period, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



59; 



excepting seven years, which he spent in Cham- 
paign County. He owns eighty acres of excellent 
land, which he cultivates after the most approved 
method, and devotes considerable energy and en- 
terprise to the raising of stock. Me and his esti- 
mable wife are active and enthusiastic members of 
the Methodist Church, of which he is a Trustee and 
a Steward. They closely identify themselves with 
the affairs of the church, and all movements inaugu- 
rated for the improvement and elevation of the 
people among whom they live. They are both 
public spirited in a large degree, and give liberally 
to all the charities which have a right to demand of 
their bounties. 

Mr. Handley is a member of the Republican 
party, to which he yields devoted loj'alty upon all 
occasions when his services will be a benefit. He 
was elected as Treasurer of Owego Township in 
1 88fi, in the discharge of the duties of which office 
he has fully met the expectations of the friends 
who conferred their suffrages upon him. 



OHN HAYES RAYMOND, who after living 
I in various sections of Illinois, finally con- 
eluded that Odell Township, Livingston 
County, was about as good a place as a far- 
mer could find, located upon section 21, where he 
now resides, engaged in general farming and stock- 
raising. Mr. Raymond was born in Saratoga 
County, N. Y., sixteen miles from Saratoga Springs, 
Sept. 27, 1828. He was the eldest child born to 
Isaac and Esther (Hayes) Raymond, natives of 
Connecticut. The paternal grandparents were 
Abram and Hannah Raymond, and the maternal 
grandparents were John and Tina Hayes, all natives 
of Connecticut, where they were farmers and lived 
and died on their original farms. The father of 
Mr. Raymond was a farmer, and came West in June, 
1806. and settled in Tonica, LaSalle County, where 
he spent his declining years. Mr. Raymond's 
mother died when he was six 3 r ears of age, and he 
was thus deprived of her tender care. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to work 
upon the farm, and obtained a fair common-school 
education. At the age of twenty-seven years he 



left his home in New York State, and migrated to 
the prairies of Illinois. He first settled and farmed 
for one year in Putnam County, and then went to 
LaSalle County, where he farmed for two years. 
At that time he returned to his old home in New 
York, where he remained and engaged in farming 
for four years. Having had a taste of life in the 
West, he concluded to try his fortune here again, 
and returned to LaSalle County in 1863, where lie 
fanned on shares. 

On the 5th of October, 1865, Mr. Raymond was 
married to Miss Eliza L. Holcomb, who was born 
Sept. 1, 1842, in Crawford County, Pa. She was 
the oldest in a family of nine children born to 
William and Adeline (Temple) Holcomb, natives 
of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. Her 
father was a farmer and wagon-maker, and died in 
Pennsylvania. Her mother survived the father for 
many years and died at the residence of Mrs. Ray- 
mond. Her paternal grandparents were Asa and 
Lueinda (Miller) Holcomb, of English descent, but 
natives of Washington County, N. Y., and were 
born near Sandy Hook. The maternal grandpar- 
ents were Robert and Eliza (Allen) Temple, and 
were probably natives of New York. Robert was 
a drummer boy in the War of 1812. 

Immediately after marriage, Mr. Raymond pur- 
chased eighty acres of improved land and settled 
upon it. After erecting buildings and living upon 
this farm one year, he sold it and purchased a farm 
on the county line, upon which he lived three 
years. This farm he also sold and removed to the 
city of Tonica, where he lived one year. He then 
bought a farm of sixty-eight acres, upon which he 
lived for four years. In 1874 he came to Living- 
ston County, and bought the farm of 120 acres 
upon which he now resides. Here he has erected 
a commodious residence, and suitable barns and 
other out-buildings. Through enterprise and en- 
ergy he is rapidly pushing forward, and now has 
one of the best-equipped farms in Odell Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond are the parents of five 
children, all of whom are living at home William 
Isaac, Jessie Belle, George Elmer, John Holcomb 
and Bertha Ma}'. The parents take much pride in 
educating their children, the oldest showing much 
talent as an artist. They are all bright and active, 



5!8 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




1 



:ui(l take to education readily. Mr. Raymond is 
not active in politics, but votes with the Demo- 
cratic party. He does not desire office, but con- 
sents to serve as School Director because of the in- 
terest he takes in educational matters. 



LEXANDER R. IIOKE, representing the 
grain and coal business at Rugby, is one of 
the most wide-awake business men of Owego 
Township, where he has been widely and 
favorably known for many years. Like many of 
the early settlers of Central Illinois, lie is a native of 
Pennsylvania, and was born in Blair County Sept. 
16. 1850. His parents, Samuel and Laura Hoke, 
were also natives of the Keystone State, whence 
they migrated West in 1859, and became resident?, 
of Union Township, this county, staying there 
twenty -eight years. The father then retired from 
active labor and took up his residence in the village 
of Odell, where, 'with his estimable wife, he still re- 
sides. 

Samuel Iloke and his wife were the parents of 
seven children, six now living, namely: Alexander 
R., our subject; Ilaiuia M., the wife of J. "\V. Hou- 
ehins; William E., Charles H.. George K. and Frank 
L. Our subject was reared to manhood and received 
a practical business education, taking his preparatory 
course in the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. 
and completing his studies at Dixon College in Lee 
County, where lie took the full scientific course, and 
being ambitions to excel, made the most of his op- 
portunities, lie is also a graduate of the commer- 
cial department of the s:ime institution. He there- 
after engaged in teaching in various townships of 
this county. 

On the 13th of December, 1882, Mr. Iloke wa- 
united in marriage with Miss Morev, of Ohio. They 
commenced life together in a snug dwelling in l"n- 
ion Township, where Mr. Iloke then engaged in 
farming, which he carried on until the fall of 1 88(>, 
when he removed to Rugby :ind embarked in his 
present venture, lie has made good progress so far. 
and there is little doubt that it will be entirely suc- 
cessful, lie handles large quantities of wheat, oats 
and corn, and besides his coal transactions intends. 



:i> soon as arrangements can lie made, to establish a 
trade in lumber. 

Mr. Iloke takes a genuine interest in the welfare 
of the people around him, and is recognized as a 
valuable addition to the community. lie is a 
worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
politically votes the straight Republican ticket. 
While a resident of Union Township, he served as 
Assessor for two years and Road Commissioner 
three years. He keeps himself well posted upon 
current events, and believes in giving to the young 
all the possible advantages which shall enable them 
to carry on business pro]>er-ly and fit them for worthy 
and desirable citizens. To this end he encourages 
the establishment and maintenance of schools, and is 
clearly destined to a position of prominence among 
the unobtrusive but working philanthropists, who, 
although perhaps silent, are always effective. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hoke have become the parents of three 
children Frank F., Luella M. and Samuel L. 



EV. ALEXANDER B. POWELL, who has 
been engaged in the ministry of the United 
Brethren Church for twenty-seven years, is 
comfortably situated on a well-improved 
farm of 1GO acres on section 3, Newtown Township. 
He occupies a comfortable residence, and his farm 
products and domestic animals are cared for in a 
commodious barn. During his ministiy, Mr. Pow- 
ell served for five years as Presiding Elder of the 
Illinois Central Conference of his church. 

Mr. Powell was born in Knox County, Ohio, on 
the 13th of March, 1835, and is the son of Thomas 
Powell, who died when our subject was but nine 
years of age. The grandfather, who was killed in 
the Revolutionary War, was a native of South 
Wales, and came to this country at an carry day, 
when he was a young man. He was married, and 
had four children, of whom the youngest, the father 
of our subject, married Margaret Engle, a native 
of Ohio. They were the parents of nine children, 
of whom seven are living: Curtis Powell is married, 
and an active minister in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, a member of the Illinois Conference, and 
located in Bowen, 111.; one of his sons is also a 




/ 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



minister in the same church. William, who has 
been a minister in the Protestant Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, is now a practicing physician in Schuy- 
ler County, 111.: Mary J., a twin sister of William, 
died at about the age of eighteen years; Thomas, 
married, has three daughters, and is engaged in 
farming in Meiiard County, 111.; David resides in 
Mason City, Mason Co., 111., where he was a banker, 
but is now a .member of the firm of Powell & 
Tucker, boot and shoe dealers; he has been married 
twice, and has a family of three daughters and one 
son by his first wife. John, married and living 
with his second wife in Kansas, was a local minister 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now a 
member of the United Brethren Church, in which 
denomination he has a license to preach ; Alexander 
B. is our subject; Martha Ann is the wife of Jacob 
Ogle, a retired farmer living in Salem City, Ore. ; 
they have three children living. Jefferson S. went 
to Wisconsin when he was a young man, where he 
married and then removed to Oregon, where he 
now resides and has a family of six children ; Mar- 
garet died when she was three years of age. The 
father came to Illinois in about 183C,and first set- 
tled in Menard County, whence he removed to Ful- 
ton County, near Astoria, and entered land, and 
there his death occurred in 1845. Some time after 
the father's death, the mother returned to Menard 
County, where she remarried and soon after died. 
During her entire life she was an active member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Alexander B. Powell remained at home until his 
mother discontinued housekeeping. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools, and in 18(50, at the 
age of twenty-five, entered the ministry. On the 
8th of August, 1858, Mr. Powell was married to 
Mary C. llaffner, of Fulton Count}', 111., daughter 
of Daniel and Diana (Lutz) Haffner, natives of 
Augusta County, Va., who came to Illinois in 18aO 
and settled in Fulton County. To them were born 
eight children, seven of whom are now living 
John B., Mary C., Samuel H., Sarah, Elizabeth. 
William and Andrew, all of whom are married. 
John B. and Andrew reside in Kansas, Elizabeth in 
Iowa, Henry in Schuyler County, 111., William in 
Fulton County, on the home place, and Sarah ir 
Schuyler County. The father died Aug. 4, 1*86. 



at the age of seventy-one years, nine months and 
three days; the mother is still living in Fulton 
County. They were both active members of the 
United Brethren Church, and Mr. Haffner was very 
much interested in the work and financial affairs of 
the church. 

The following-named children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Powell: William O., born July 10, 
1859, is married and is a practicing physician in 
Tazewell County, 111., with a diploma from the 
State Medical Board; he was educated at Westfield, 
111., and was married to Angeline Stites, daughter 
of Dr. Stites, of Pontiac. Charles Andrew, born 
Sept. 8, 18G1, married Susanna Hoobler, daughter 
of Frederick Hoobler, has three children, and is 
engaged in farming near Saunemin, Livingston 
County; Esther Florence, born Dec. 8, 1863; Dan- 
iel Thomas, May 15, 1867; George Ellsworth, June 
8, 1869, and Jessie Roy, Feb. 3. 1882. Mr. Pow- 
ell came to Livingston County in 1864, and located 
where he now resides. He was appointed by the 
Conference to which he belonged to take charge of 
the church at New Michigan, where he lived for 
about ten years. He then went to McLean County, 
where he had lived before coming to Livingston 
County, and traveled, engaged in church work, for 
six years. In 1878 he returned to Livingston 
County, where he has since lived. Mr. Powell's 
family are mostly church members, those who do 
not belong to his, being members of some other 
church denomination. 




WILLIAM McKINDLEY, who is engaged in 
fanning and stock-raising on section 16, 
Waldo Township, is a son of Andrew and 
Delilah (Graham) Melvindley, and wa> born in High- 
land County, Ohio, about fifty miles cast of Cincin- 
nati, on the 11 tli (if May, Itf47. lie was reared on 
a farm, receiving a common-school education, and 
came to Illinois with his parents in the fall of 1 *<!;">. 
when lie \\.-i- about eighteen years old. driving 
through with wagons and locating in Peoria County, 
where he remained for about two years. From that 
county they moved to Waldo Township, Livingston 



' ' COO 



LIVINGSTON COUNTS. 



County, where our subject purchased forty aero of 
land, upon which lie now resides. He bought thi> 
land a few months before he was twenty-one year- 
of age. His parents lived with him, and shortly 
after coining to this locality his father died. 

Mr. McKindley's father was born in County Down, 
Ireland, in 1KO;>. lie was of Scotch descent and came 
to America when thirty .years of age, locating in 
Canada, where he remained for nmny years. While 
living in Canada he was seized with ague, and the 
doctors failing to cure him, he was finally advised 
to cross the ocean, but before he had arrived upon 
the other side he found himself so much improved 
that he became a sailor, and followed that occupa- 
tion for several years. He returned to Canada and 
participated in the so-called ''Patriots' War," and was 
at the bombardment of Navy Island and at several 
important council meetings. After that war was 
over he went to Ohio, where he was married. He 
died in Waldo Township, Livingston County, May 
il, 1870. Mr. McKindley's mother was born in 
Highland County, Ohio, March 22, 1821. She was 
the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Bevans) 
Graham. The father was of Scotch descent, and 
left Scotland when but fifteen years of age, locating 
in New Jersey. He afterward resided in Penn>yl- 
vania and Ohio, and died in Peoria County, 111., in 
1857. 

On the 2itt.li of February, 1872, Mr. McKindley 
was married to Miss Jane Gee, daughter of William 
and Ellen Gee. She was born in England on the 
30th of May, ls.">2. and came to America with her 
parents when about three years of age. She is the 
eldest child in a family of three. Her brother John 
married, ha> two children, and resides in the State 
of Nebraska. Her sister Ellen married Thomas Gard- 
ner, has four children, and lives in Barton County, 
Kan. Mrs. McKindley's mother is deceased, and 
the father is living near El Pa>o. 111. 

Mr. and Mrs. McKindley have had six children, 
as follows: Maria, who was born March :!0, 1873: < 
Frank, Oct. it, 1874; Elizabeth, July lit, 187C; Till- ! 
man, May l.~>, 178; Clara, July .">. 1 s0 ; Rebecca. 
Oct. _'. I*,s7. Mr. McKindley i> the elder child in 
a t'.-miily of two, the other being a >i>tcr named 
Klizabeth. born Aug. 22. 1849; she was never mar- 
ried, and dieil Aug. .">(>, 1878. Since he< ling a 



citi/.en of Waldo Township Mr. McKindley ha> met 
with good >uccc in his occupation as a farmer and 
stock-raiser. He is comfortably situated on a very 
snug farm, and has the good-will and esteem of all hi- 
neighbors. 



JASPER N. MORRISON. About the mo>t 
| independent men in this county, whose voca- 
tion is closely allied to agricultural pursuits, 
are those who devote their time to the prop- 
agation of fine blooded stock. They are generally 
men of large natural intelligence, and quite fre- 
quently of splendid education. There is some- 
thing about the graded-stock business which seems 
to require comprehensive minds which can appre- 
ciate, analyze and utilize certain laws of nature, 
and apply them intelligently in mingling strains of 
blood in animals so as to produce the best results. 
When a man of broad comprehension once engages 
in the stock business, and particularly that branch 
which involves thoroughbred and expensive ani- 
mals, he becomes wedded to it and grows enthusi- 
astic, just as the scientist does when he discovers 
the solution of a great problem. Much advance 
has been made in stock-breeding, particularly as it 
relates to horses, within the last few years, and no- 
where has this attained to a greater extent than in 
Illinois, which is fast becoming the great tine-stock 
propagating State of the Union. 

One of the most enthusiastic young stock-raising 
farmers of Livingston County is the subject of this 
sketch, born in Livingston County on the 17th of 
June, 1856, and now located on section 5 in Avoca 
Township. He is the son of Joseph C. Morrison, 
of whom mention is made in the biographical sketch 
of Albert J. Morrison. He was reared to manhood 
in this county, where he has always made his home. 
He devotes most of his attention to farming, 
and has the general supervision of his father's ex- 
tensive stock farm, following his specialty of rais- 
ing fine blooded stock. In 1883 he accompanied 
his father to Europe, and assisted in the purchase of 
forty-two head of French draft horses, which they 
imported and shipped to their Livingston County 
farm. Mr. Morrison is the owner of six imported 
French draft mares, valued at $SOO each, lie owns 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



CO.", 



eighty acres of excellent land, which is well im- 
proved in the way of buildings, fences and ditches. 
Both his farming and stock operations are con- 
ducted on a liberal basis and a large scale. 

While Mr. Morrison has but little time to look 
after political matters he affiliates with the Repub- 
lican party. He has served as Director of the 
schools of his district for several years, and takes 
deep interest in educational matters, as well as in 
everything that has a tendency to improve the con- 
dition of the people of his township. 



T 



J-~>OHN VIRGIN. Remarkable strides have 
been made in the improvement of the qual- 
dity of horses and other domestic animals in 
this country within the past few years, and 
in Livingston County may be found some of the 
men who have accomplished so much in this re- 
spect. One of these gentlemen, whose name is 
known throughout the country, resides at Fairbury. 
He is engaged in importing, breeding and dealing 
in French draft horses, and brings to bear in his 
business a rare amount of enterprise and skill. To 
him belongs the honor of first introducing this 
stock of horses into Livingston County, and since 
those pioneer days in the development of this noble 
animal in this section of the State, no man has done 
more and deserves higher praise than he, and in 
presenting his portrait, which we do in this connec- 
tion, we give to our patrons the picture not only of 
an enterprising business man, but an estimable and 
worthy citizen. He takes special interest in all 
movements for the public good, and contributes 
liberally botli of his time and means to every good 
work. 

Mr. Virgin is a native of Indiana, and was born 
in Carroll County on the 10th of August, 1838. He 
is the son of Thomas and Lucinda (Girard) Virgin, 
who were natives of Ohio. The former was reared 
to manhood in that State, moved to Indiana and 
was there married. He was a farmer by occupation 
and became a citizen of Illinois, where hi; continued 
the cultivation of the soil up to the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1870. His widow and 
family of eight children are all still living. 



Our subject came with his parents to Illinois in 
1854, and located near Pontiac, where he worked 
on a farm until 1 870, and during that year moved 
to Fairbury. In 1868 he began the breeding of 
French draft horses, which, as above indicated, 
was before anyone else had inaugurated this en- 
terprise which has since proved to be of such vast 
importance, not only to the agriculturists of the 
country, but to the business interests of the great 
cities. In 1872 he made the first importation of 
these horses to Livingston County, bringing at that 
time three splendid animals. Of late years the 
purchase of these horses in France is effected 
through a resident party in that country, who buys 
the finest stock and consigns them to Mr. Virgin 
for sale. Since beginning the business he has shipped 
between 400 and 500 animals, and the sales now 
amount to $30,000 or $40,000 annually. When 
Mr. Virgin began the business he had no capital 
with which to operate, and the first money used 
was borrowed at a time when he was a farm tenant. 
His splendid success from such a beginning cer- 
tainly indicates rare business talent. 

Mr. Virgin was married, Jan. 26, 1865, to Miss 
Sarepta J. McDowell, of Fairbury, the ceremony 
being performed by Rev. John Houston, of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Virgin was 
born in Livingston County April 5, 1842, and 
came from a pioneer family who settled in Avoca 
Township in 1832. The names of her parents were 
John and Elizabeth (Moore) McDowell, natives 
respectively of Ohio and Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. 
Virgin have had four children: Georgie, who was 
born Oct. 23, 1866, and died Sept. 12, 1881; 
Minnie, who was born Aug. 18, 18(58; Alta, Aug. 
4, 1870, and Daisy, Feb. 25, 1875. 

Mr. Virgin was a member of Company K, 3d 
Illinois Cavalry, for three years. He entered as a 
private Aug. 7, 1861, and was promoted Orderly 
Sergeant, in which capacity he acted for nearly three 
years. He participated in all the heavy battles of 
the West, and was taken prisoner Nov. 25, 18G3, at 
Vermillionville, La., and was held for thirty days 
when he was paroled. lie remained on parole seven 
months, during part of which time he served as Quar- 
termaster in the parole camp, and upon being ex- 
changed remained in this capacity until the expir- 



f 



. > r,n.t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ation of his term of service. He was discharged 
Sept. 4, 1864, at Springfield, 111; 

The firm of Virgin, Brown & Co., own 400 
acres of fine land in various tracts which is 
specially devoted to raising fine stock. Much of 
this land is under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. 
Virgin is a Republican, and takes great interest in 
both the National and local campaigns managed by 
that part}-. Mr. V. is and has been a member 
of the State Board of Agriculture for the past four 
years, and is now General Superintendent of the 
State Fair and fat-stock show. He is one of the 
charter members of Fairbury Post No. 75, G. A. R., 
and has occupied most of its posts of duty and is 
now Commander. He takes great pleasure in at- 
tending State Encampments and meeting his old 
comrades. He and his estimable wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contribute 
liberally to the support and maintenance of that 
organization. 



ffl GUIS METTE, a prosperous grain merchant 
of Chatsworth, came to this section over 
twenty years ago, bringing with him the 
industrious and reliable traits of his substantial 
German ancestry. He set out for himself in life 
with the sole capital of his strong hands and reso- 
lute will, and now presents the pleasing picture of 
a man of property, and occupies a comfortable 
home, surrounded by that which makes life most 
desirable. On the other side of the Atlantic he 
was a shepherd boy, and probably while watching 
his flocks had cast many a glance to the future and 
saw more to hope for in the New World than he 
could probably attain in the old. He was not long 
in putting his plans into execution, and at the early 
age of sixteen years bade adieu to his family and 
friends and embarked on a sailing-vessel at Bre- 
men, from which he landed at New Orleans eleven 
weeks and five days later, and there commenced 
the struggle which has been so fortunate in its re- 
sults. He is the youngest of a family of eight chil- 
dren, and is the only one who came to the United 
Steles. 

Our subject was born in the Dukedom of Bruns- 
wick, near the Hartz Mountains, Feb. 27, 1829. 
< 



His parents were John and Johanna (Leur) Mette, 
also natives of Germany, where the father and 
brothers were employed as shepherds. The father 
died in the spring of 1846, a few weeks before his 
son Louis left his native land. Our subject re- 
mained in the Crescent City until the spring of 
1847, then engaged in steamboating on the Missis- 
sippi, Ohio, Missouri and other rivers until 1858. 
He had now been absent from his home and friends 
a period of twelve years. He had occupied his 
time industriously and had saved some means, and 
felt justified in appropriating a part of his hard- 
earned money toward treating himself to a trip to 
the old country. He there spent three months and 
then returned to the New World, greatly refreshed 
in mind and body, the result of again looking upon 
the faces of his family and childhood friends. 
Upon returning he set out for Pike's Peak, in the 
spring of 1859, and spent a year traveling over the 
western country, employing himself at times in re- 
munerative labor. Finally, coming east as far as 
Illinois, he took up his abode at Minonk, where he 
commenced dealing in grain, and was thus success- 
fully occupied until 1865. He then changed his 
location to Chatsworth, where he continued his 
former business and in due time erected the ele- 
vator which is now owned by Searing & Messier. 

Mr. Mette, in 1868, once more crossed the Mis- 
sissippi, and going to Kansas City, Mo., commenced 
dealing in Texas cattle. Two years later he em- 
barked in the grocery trade, and in 1875 returned 
to Chatsworth, still continuing in the grocery busi- 
ness. In 1879 he resumed his operations in grain, 
which have 3'ielded him excellent results. In 1 883 
he invested a goodly amount of his surplus capital 
in a fine tract of land, seventy acres in extent, part 
of which lies within the town limits. Upon this he 
erected a handsome residence and lias effected 
other admirable improvements. Of late years he 
has given considerable attention to the breeding of 
draft horses, and has been fully as successful in this 
as in his other ventures. His stables contain some 
fine specimens of the equine race, and Mr. Mette 
has already attained quite a reputation as a breeder. 

The mariage of Mr. Mette took place in the 
spring of 1861, at Minonk, 111., his chosen bride be- 
ing Miss Mary Wienand, who was born in the 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



COo 



Kingdom of Prussia, and emigrated to the United | 
States when a young girl, with her parents, Joseph 
and Theresa (Susewind) Wienand, natives of Prus- 
sia. Our subject and his wife have had two chil- 
dren, a boy and girl who died in infancy, but some 
years ago they adopted a boy whom they named 
Louis, and who is now nine years of age. Mrs. 
Mette is an adherent of the Roman Catholic faith, 
and our subject, religiously, is a German Lutheran. 
He votes the straight Republican ticket, and has 
worthily discharged the duties of the various town- 
ship offices. 

In the pictorial department of this ALBUM may 
be found a view of Mr. Mette's residence and its 
surroundings. 



, *-^ "^ 

' * ' _ 

"^. 



ACOB PHILLIPS owns 900 acres of valuable 



land in Newtown Township and has his 
home on section 7. The greater part of his 
real estate is under a good degree of culti- 
vation, and the balance includes 180 acres of tim- 
ber. The family residence is a substantial and 
convenient structure, and the large barn in the 
rear one of the finest in the township. Our subject, 
as one of the oldest settlers of Livingston County, 
is looked upon with peculiar respect. He came to 
this locality in the spring of 1837, with his parents, 
who located near the creek but a few feet from the 
present residence of our subject. 

The gentleman of whom we write is the son of 
Edward Phillips, who was born in Maryland about 
1768, about eight years prior to the Revolutionary 
War. He continued in his native State until reach- 
ing middle life, in the meantime having married 
and become the father of a familj'. Then with his 
wife and seven children he emigrated to Ohio, 
where the mother subsequently died, and the father 
was married to Mrs. Barbara (Welsh) Loman, the 
widow of James Loman, a native of Maryland, who 
died six weeks after reaching Ohio. They had be- 
come the parents of eight children, and Mr. Loman 
had been an acquaintance of Mr. Phillips. The 
Loman children grew up under the protecting care 
of their step-father, but only one is now living, 
Arthur B., who came to this State many yeai> ago 



and is engaged in farming and stock-raising near 
Ottawa. 

The children of Edward Phillips' first union are 
recorded as follows: James, born in Maryland and 
died in Logan County, this State, leaving a wife 
and large family of children; William died in Ohio 
when about twenty-one years old ; John engaged in 
farming in Newtown .Township, and died about 
1879-80, leaving a widow and five children; Ed- 
ward died in Iowa leaving a family; Rebecca died 
in Ohio when about twenty years of age. Of the 
second marriage of Edward Phillips there were 
born four children, namely : Barbara, the wife of 
a wealthy farmer living near Odell; Jacob, of our 
sketch: Rachel, of Fairmont, Neb., and Mary, Mrs. 
William Ziegler, of Newtown Township. The 
mother of these children died at her home in New- 
town in 1863, and her remains were laid to rest in 
the cemetery not far from the residence of her son, 
our subject. The father had died in 1847, when 
seventy-nine years old, and the mother was about 
the same age at the time of, her death. Both were 
members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church for many years, in which the father 
officiated as Class-Leader, and was one of the or- 
ganizers of the society at Bethel. He had enjoyed 
only limited advantages during his youth but pos- 
sessed a remarkable memory, and being more than 
ordinarily intelligent, kept himself well informed 
upon matters of general interest. He preserved 
his health and strength remarkably and when sev- 
enty-four years old would walk eight or ten miles 
to attend church. He was of a resolute and de- 
termined disposition and greatly respected by'his 
neighbors. 

Jacob Phillips was but thirteen j'ears of age 
when his parents came overland to Illinois, and he 
remembers many incidents of the journey and the 
after difficulties which the family experienced as 
pioneers. He continued with his mother until her 
death, and when twenty-two 3'ears of age was mar- 
ried to Miss Amy Jane Lundy, born Jan. 28, 1848, 
and the daughter of Amos Lundy, now deceased. 
The young people commenced housekeeping in 
Newtown Township, and in due time became the 
parents of two children, namely : Orville F., now 
married and living in Dakota, and Mary Melissa, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the wife of Levy Snyder, of Newtown Township. 
The mother of these children lived only a few 
years after her marriage, her death taking place at 
her home in Newtown Feb. 28, 1851. 

Mr. Phillips was married the second time, Oct. 7, 
1852, to Miss Mary Ziegler, of Indiana. This 
union has resulted in the birth of the following- 
named children : Frederick E., W. A. Phillips, 
Elizabeth B., Salsbury E., Jacob D., John M., Lu- 
cretia R., and Minerva A., who remains at home 
with her parents. They have been carefully trained 
and educated and those who are married the father 
has assisted to a good start in life. Both parents 
and children belong to the United Brethren Church 
in which Mr. Phillips and his wife are active work- 
ers. Mr. P. has been quite prominent in township 
affairs, officiating as Supervisor four years and 
serving as School Director in his district. In early 
manhood he identified himself with the old Whig 
party but upon its abandonment cordially endorsed 
Republican principles, to which he has since given 
his support. 







KOESTNER. It is a serious step 
in life when one leaves the roof which has 
sheltered him for twenty-eight years, and 
bids farewell to relatives, and starts on a journey 
which is to put a vast ocean between him and them 
for the balance of their lives; yet this is just what 
the subject of this sketch did when, with his young 
bride, he set sail for America where they expected 
to shape for themselves a home in which to live in 
comfort, and rear to manhood and womanhood the 
children which Providence might give them. Mr. 
Koestner, who is the Supervisor of Germanville 
Township, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 
23d of March, 181<>, and is the son of John and 
Fearkalp Koestner, who had a family of four chil- 
dren, the other three, daughters, remaining in Ger- 
many. George being the only member of the family 
who came to this country. In 1844 he was married 
to Sophia \\achter, who was born in the same town 
' ' in which Mr. Koestner was born. Very soon after 



T 



their marriage the young couple concluded to seek 
a home in the New World, and sailing from Bre- 
men, after a voyage of seventy-two days entered 
the port of New Orleans in December, 1 844, where 
they remained until the following May. when thev 
ascended the Mississippi River as far as St. Louis, 
and there Mr. Koestner followed the occupation of 
carpenter for some time, receiving a compensation 
of $1 per day. In 185f> he removed to Marshall 
County, 111., where he engaged in farming, and re- 
sided there until 1809, when he came to Livingston 
County, and settled in Germanville Township, 
i where he has since resided. The farm which he 
now owns contains 240 acres of land, which is very 
productive and considered valuable. Good build- 
ings have been erected upon this farm, and his res- 
idence is one of the most comfortable in the ueigli- 
hood. The wife he married in Germany, and who 
accompanied him to this country, died in Marshall 
County in 186C, leaving eight children: Frank; 
Mary, wife of Henry Bartel: Conrad: Anna, wife of 
Gustav Koehler; Michael, John; Abby, wife of 
Adolph Koehler, and Henry. 

In 18C7 Mr. Koestner married Sophia Ilertel, who 
was also a native of Bavaria, and by this marriage 
seven children have been born, five of whom are 
now living Adam, Andrew, Peter, Sophia and 
Maggie. When Mr. Koestner first arrived in the 
United States the outlook for the future was ex- 
ceedingly gloomy. When he and his wife stepped 
ashore at New Orleans all the money the}- possessed 
in the world was $4, and his first employment was 
work upon the river which yielded him but seventy- 
five cents per day; but they were economical and 
lived within that income until they could do better. 
He had received a good education in his native 
country, and readily learned to read and speak the 
English language: and during his years of residence 
in this country has kept himself well posted upon 
internal and foreign affairs. The doctrines of the 
Democratic party appeared to him most wholesome 
when he began to study the ixilitics of this country, 
and he espoused them, and lias remained a member 
of that party ever since. In an ollicial capacity he- 
has served the people three terms as Supervisor, nine 
years as School Director, twelve years as Commis- 
sioner of Highways, and seven times : is member of 

* 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4- 

007 ' 'I 



the Grand Jury within the past eight years. He is 
:i member of the Kunian Catholic Church, to whicli 
he i> devotedly attached. 



T 



ETHAN ANGELL. This aged and highly 
respected resident of Odell Township, after 
the labors of a well-spent life, during which 
he was prospered, ha.- now passed nearly fourscore 
and ten years, and surrounded by the comforts of 
life, is patiently waiting for the call which shall 
liriiia' to him his higher reward. His course in life 
lias been such that it has earned him the good-will 
and esteem of all who have known him, and the 
children watching his declining years with affec- 
tionate solicitude, in this manner illustrate the pre- 
cepts of their early training. 

Mr. Angell was born in Providence, R. I., Nov. 
6, 17U8, and was the fourth in a family of five chil- 
dren, whose parents were natives of the same State. 
He was reared to farm life, and being in a locality 
where there were no schools, never had a day's in- 
>t ruction in one of these institutions. lie was, how- 
ever, naturally bright and well balanced, and 
acquired a suflicient knowledge of business to insure 
his future success. While yet a boy his parents re- 
moved from Rhode Island to Pleasant Valley. N. 
Y., where the father put up a hotel and a cotton 
factory, which he operated successfully and also the 
farm which he had purchased. Young Ethan soon 
became the leading spirit of his father's business, 
and was of that temperament by which he became 
known far and wide and was a general favorite 
among his associates. The family subsequently re- 
moved to Ithaca, and Ethan remained under the 
home roof until his marriage. His chosen bride was 
Miss Martha Dudley, who was a native of New 
York State, whose parents were of English birth and 
parentage. They emigrated to this country just at 
the close of the Revolutionary War while unmarried. 
making their acquaintance upon the vessel which 
brought them over, and united their fortunes soon 
after. 

Mr. and Mrs. Angell began life together on a farm 
near Ithaca, hut four years later removed to Wayne 



County, where our subject purchased a tract of tim- 
ber land which he transformed into a good farm and 
which he occupied for a period of thirty -five years. 
He became the father of twelve children, of whom 
two died in infancy. Those now surviving are 
William D., Elizabeth, Cornelia, Lucinda, Martha, 
Calista and Harriet. Lu Fannie and Eseck died 
Nov. -20, 1886, and May G, 1841, respectively. 

In 1868, the children of Mr. and Mrs. Angell all 
being married, and settled in homes of their own, 
they disposed of their property in the Empire State 
and migrated to Illinois, locating at once in Odell 
Township, where Mr. Angell purchased 200 acres of 
land and where he has lived since that time. He 
commenced in earnest its improvement and cultiva- 
tion, repairing the old buildings and putting up new, 
and it was not long before he was recognized as an 
important addition to the community. In the 
meantime he also crossed the Mississippi and pur- 
chased land farther west. His faithful and affec- 
tionate wife departed this life on the loth of Janu- 
ary, 1872, and since that time he has made his home 
with his married daughter. 




AMUEL L. MARSH, one of the model 
farmers of Saunemin Township, located on 
section 27, and whose farm and its improve- 
ments are attractive and valuable, is a native 
of Worcester County, Mass., and was born on the 
loth of February, 1820. He is the son of Albi- 
gence and Catherine (Clemans) Marsh, both of 
whom were natives of Massachusetts. The pa- 
ternal ancestors were of English descent, and came 
to America previous to the war for the indepen- 
dence of the United States. Our subject was 
reared to manhood in his native State, where he 
received a good English education, and after leav- 
ing school engaged for a time in teaching. When 
about eighteen years of age, he learned the trade 
of a carpenter and joiner, which he followed as 
his occupation until 1856. In that year he immi- 
grated to Illinois fora permanent settlement, hav- 
ing, however, been on a prospecting tour of the 
State one year previously. lie first located in 



608 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1856 for a time in LaSalle County, and came to 
Livingston County in 1H58, and settled on his pres- 
ent farm, on section 27, Saunemin Township. At 
this time and place he purchased 100 acres of land 
from Joseph E. Wilson, who entered it directly from 
the Government. At the time of his settlement 
upon these lands there had never been a furrow 
turned, and it was covered with prairie grass which 
had never been disturbed. He has continued mak- 
ing improvements upon this farm until it is now 
considered one of the most complete in all its de- 
tails in Saunemin Township. The farm, at the 
present time, consists of ninety acres, he having 
disposed of seventy acres some years ago. 

On the 20th of June, 1848, Mr. Marsh was mar- 
ried to Miss Maiy Lee, who was born in Worces- 
ter County, Mass., on the 21st of April, 1820. 
She is the daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca 
(Sloan) Lee, both natives of Massachusetts. Her 
paternal ancestors were of English-Irish descent, 
and on the maternal side of Scotch descent. Her 
maternal great-grandfather, Jonathan Pierce, and 
three sons, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. 
During her girlhood Mrs. Marsh was afforded am- 
ple educational facilities, whereb3 r she made her- 
self competent for school teaching, in which pro- 
fession she was engaged some, years previous to 
her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have been 
born seven children, five of whom are living: 
Myra C., born Jan. 20, 1858, and now the wife of 
Webster Pearson, of Saunemin Township: Abbie 
R., born Aug. 3, 1860, now the wife of George C. 
Erwine, of Saunemin Township; Elvira L., born 
July27, 1862; Henry S., born Feb. 10, 1800, and 
Frank H., born July 13, 1860. Emily and Wil- 
lard L. died in infanc3'. In their religious opin- 
ions, Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are inclined to the doc- 
trines of the Universalist Church. In political 
matters, Mr. Marsh acts independently of any of 
the organized parties, and votes for the man whom 
he considers the best qualified to discharge the 
duties of the office and possesses the best reputa- 
tion for honor ami integrity. He has several years 
served as Road Commissioner, and for twent3'-two 
3'ears has discharged the duties of School Treasurer 
with credit to himself and to the satir-l'action of his 
constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh are now in their 



declining years, but their pathway down the de- 
cline of life will be made less rugged by the de- 
voted friends who surround them. 




AKSHALL B. KNIGHT. Among the 
counties of Pennsylvania which have fur- 
nished a large quota of the present popu- 
lation of Illinois, none sent hither a more 
intelligent or enterprising class of citizens than 
Susquehanna, which is located in the northeastern 
part of that State, bordering on New York. It is 
one of the principal counties of Pennsylvania, with 
a diversified surface, and is extensively covered 
with forests of beech, oak, chestnut, pine, ash and 
silver maple, and the products are ha3', oats, corn, 
potatoes, butter, cattle and wool. It is drained b3" 
the Susquehanna, Tunkhannock, Wyalusing Creeks, 
and the Lackawanna River rises in the eastern part, 
and transportation facilities are afforded by the 
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad and a 
branch of the Erie Road. The subject of this 
sketch, who is a prominent fanner of Livingston 
County residing in its extreme southeastern part, 
and whose farm comprises the south half of section 
13, German ville Township, bordering on Ford 
Count3 r , is a native of Susquehanna County, Pa., 
where he was born on the 5th of April, 1831, and 
is the son of Amasa and Lovina Knight, who were 
natives of Vermont. In about 1845 the family 
migrated to Illinois, and first stopped near Ottawa, 
where the3' engaged in farming. The father died 
in about 1850, and the mother, who lived some 
3'ears longer, died of smallpox in Bureau Count}'. 
There were nine children: Mar}' married Kdward 
Stricklin, and died in Pennsylvania; Lydia married 
Myron Fairchilds, and died in Pennsylvania; Plurbe 
married Samuel Lindse}'; Huldah married M. L. 
Minder, and died in Bureau County, III.: Fannie 
married William Smith; Austin, Marcus, Albert 
and M. B. 

Mr. Knight was about fifteen 3'ears old when the 
famil}' emigrated to Illinois, and he was reared on 
a farm until the death of his father about the time 
he was twent3' 3'ears of age. He then began the 
struggle of life for himself, and engaged in fanning 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



609 



i- 



in Bureau and LaSalle Counties. In 1851 he mar- 
ried A. C. Tillotson, who is a native of Ohio, 
and after marriage continued farming in LaSalle 
County, and then for a time in Will County, and 
next in Ford County, where he purchased 160 acres 
of land. In 1874 he sold this farm and purchased 
the one he at present owns, which consists of 320 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Knight have eight children : 
Mary, the wife of F. D. Pettis; Almeda, now Mrs. 
Charles Rudd; Ellen, now Mrs. William Marsh; 
Alice, the wife of M. J. Davis; Eva, Warren, Ira 
and Elmer. In his early life Mr. Knight was so 
situated that lie could not even avail himself of the 
meager advantages those days afforded for obtain- 
ing an education, but in later life he has improved 
the opportunity to learn the rudimentary branches, 
lie is a Republican in politics, but has never been 
an aspirant for office, preferring to displaj' patriot- 
ism by his devotion to his party rather than by seek- 
ing it for office. 




?ILLIAM COWLING is the proprietor of 
the Cottage Hotel at Chatsworth, and pos- 
sesses all the qualifications necessary to 
make a popular public entertainer. He is a veiy 
genial gentleman in his intercourse with the public 
and has fixed views on the subjects upon which all 
intelligent citizens are supposed to be posted, and 
while he shows great respect and consideration for 
the opinions of others he is not afraid to express 
himself upon any question. He is a rnan of sharp 
judgment and lias a keen eye to business, while he 
is ever ready to assist any public enterprise which 
has for its object the betterment of the community 
in which he lives. In his capacity as proprietor of 
the Cottage Hotel he is deservedly popular, not 
only with the traveling public, but with his fellow- 
citizens, and in their esteem his wife holds an equal 
place. 

Mr. Cowling was born on the 20th of November, 
1X48, iu St. Stephens, near St. Austell, Cornwall 
County, England, and is the son of William 
and Elizabeth (Trethewey) Cowlings, who fol- 
lowed the occupation of fanning. The father died 



in 1885, aged sixty-six years, and the mother is 
now living at the age of sixty -seven. To them 
were born ten children, all of whom grew to the 
age of maturity, named as follows: Catherine, 
Charles, William, Sarah, Emily, Richard, Lewis H., 
Arthur, Mary and Bessie. Catherine married 
Samuel Williams, and now resides in Australia; 
Charles and Sarah reside in England; Emily mar- 
ried Arthur Cunday, and died in England; Rich- 
ard resides in St. Louis, Mo.; Lewis H. and Arthur 
died in England; Mary, wife of F. Richards, re- 
sides in London, and Bessie resides with her mother 
in England. 

Mr. Cowling spent his youthful days upon the 
farm, and attended the common schools in his na- 
tive country until 1869, when he bade his friends 
farewell and sailed for the United States, taking 
passage at Liverpool and landing in New York in 
the month of October. He at once started west- 
ward, making short halts at Philadelphia, Harris- 
burg and Pittsburgh, terminating his journey at 
Chicago. He soon after came to Chatsworth, being 
induced to do so from the fact of having met a 
gentleman upon the steamer who gave him the ad- 
dress of M. L. Sullivan, the king farmer of Illinois; 
but when he arrived in Chatsworth instead of going 
on the farm he worked for some time by the day 
at whatever he found to do. He then engaged as 
a night watchman of a firm which manufactured 
tow from flax. In 1871 he entered the employ of 
Hall & Crane, hardware and grocery merchants, 
whom he served for nearly four years, and then en- 
gaged in the hotel business at Forest for two years, 
when he returned to Chatsworth, and in 1876 took 
possession of the Cottage Hotel, which property he 
had purchased in 1875. Soon after taking posses- 
sion of the hotel he enlarged the building materially 
and improved it in various ways; it is now the only 
hotel in Chatsworth. A barn has been purchased, 
and lie conducts a livery stable in connection with 
the house. To illustrate how hardly pressed Mr. 
Cowling was when beginning his business career it 
can be stated that in 1870 he carried a letter in his 
pocket for three weeks because he did not have the 
money with which to purchase a postage stamp; 
but b.y industry and the observance of due econ- 
omy he has been successful and is now numbered ' 



610 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Ji 



among the substantial business men of Chatsworth. 
He became a citizen of the United States five years 
after arriving in this country, and has ever since 
affiliated with the Republican party, and has been 
a member of the Village Board for several terms. 
He was reared under the influences of the Episco- 
pal Church, but since coming to the United States 
has not attached himself to any religious organiza- 
tion. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
in which he is a Knight Templar, and stands high 
among the members of that ancient and honorable 
fraternity. 

Mr. Cowling was married, in May, 1872, to Miss 
Martha Jane Lyons, a native of Washington 
County, N. Y. They have one boy, named Harry 
Stuart. Mrs. Cowling is an active member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and takes deep interest in all 
things which pertain to the welfare of that organi- 
zation. She occupies an enviable position in the 
society of Chatsworth, for which her education and 
experience in life peculiarly fit her. 

On another page we present a view of Mr. Cow- 
ling's Cottage Hotel. 



MIEL HARMON, a gentleman of French 
birth and parentage, came to America with 
his parents when a child nine years of age. 
After setting foot upon the soil of the 
United States they proceeded directly westward to 
Illinois, of which State our subject has since been ;i 
resident. He is now proprietor of one of the best 
farms in Forest Township, comprising 160 acres of 
land on section 35. His agricultural operations 
have been conducted skillfully and successfully, 
and he is numbered among the public-spirited citi- 
zens of the county. 

Our subject was born in France in the Province 
of Alsace, now part of Germany, on the 2d of Jan- 
uary, 1842, and is the son of John B. and Adeline 
(Abury) Harmon, also of French birth and parent- 
age. Their first home in this country was in Ot- 
tawa, LaSalle County, near which place the father 
engaged in fanning many years, and where his 
death took place Feb. 1C, 1886. The mother had 
also died at the old hoine.-tead two years before, 




May 14, 1884. The parental family included six 
children, four sons and two daughters, namely: 
John, Joseph, Kate, Amid. Louisa, and Phelix, who 
died in infancy. 

Young Harmon left the parental roof when 
nineteen years of age, and soon after the outbreak 
of the late Civil War. He had now become thor- 
oughly Americanized, and determined to indicate 
his sympathy with the Union sentiment in a de- 
cided manner. He accordingly enlisted, Sept. it, 
1801, in the 4th Illinois Cavalry, and followed the 
fortunes of war until its close, receiving his honor- 
able discharge Jan. 10, 1866. He participated in 
many of the important battles, including the sieges 
of Fts. Henry and Donelsou, and was present in 
the engagements at Shiloh, Corinth, and the siege 
of Vicksburg, besides meeting the enemy in man}' 
other minor engagements and skirmishes. Like 
many of the old veterans, he speaks little nowadays 
of the hardships and dangers which he endured. 

Upon returning to civil life Mr. Harmon sought 
his old haunts in LaSalle County, and remained 
with his father until September, 1866. On the 
27th of that month he was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary Cashion, who was born in New 
York City in 1842. and vvas a few months younger 
than her husband. Her parents, Michael and Mary 
(Murphy) Cashion, were natives of Ireland. The 
father died in about 1.S44, and the mother emi- 
grated to the United States, where she is still living 
in LaSalle County; Mrs. Harmon was their only 
daughter. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harmon are the parents of seven 
children, five sons and two daughters. They com- 
prise an interesting family, and are being carefully 
trained and educated. They were named respect- 
ively: Florence Adeline, Albert, Joseph, Louis, 
Charles, Harry and Mary Louisa. Mr. Harmon, 
after marriage, operated his father's farm for about 
eight years with good results, and in 1875 invested 
his capital in the land lying around his present 
homestead. It was then a tract of wild prairie, 
but now presents a finely cultivated farm with 
good buildings and modern improvements. In the 
fall of 1887 he put up a fine barn, and is now quite 
extensively engaged in stock-raising, producing 
good grades of cattle and excellent Norman horses. 



7 



r 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



613 




He was reared in the Catholic faith, to which he 
still closely adheres, and is one of the most liberal 
and cheerful supporters of his church at Strawn. 
He votes the Democratic ticket, and has officiated 
as School Director. 

On an adjoining page of this work may lie found 
a view of the residence of Mr. Harmon. 

ERRY M. POTTER, widely and favorably 
known throughout Indian Grove Town- 
ship as one of its most extensive and suc- 
cessful breeders of fine horses and cattle, 
has a valuable tract of land 220 acres in extent, on 
section 14. where he spends the most of his time 
and takes pride in the superiority of his stock, and 
the general excellence of his farm products. He 
operates mostly in Short-horn cattle and pursues 
the methods adopted by Mr. Haaf, of Henry County. 
His herd comprises fifty head of fine animals, in- 
cluding a magnificent bull, while his horses are of 
the English draft, and models of symmetry and 
strength. Mr. Potter located on his present farm 
in 18G6, and has bent his energies to its improve- 
ment and embellishment. As a financier he is a de- 
cided success, displaying the same judgment in this 
direction which is illustrated in his financial opera- 
tions. The main points in a history unusually in- 
teresting are substantially as follows: 

Our subject was born in Windsor County, Vt., 
Dec. 11, 1833, and is the son of Benjamin and 
Clarissa (Robinson) Potter, natives of Massachu- 
setts, whence they removed to Vermont, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives. The father was 
borii in 1786, and departed this life in 1848. He 
served in the War of 1812, and when but a lad had 
the honor of sharing in the victory of Commodore 
Perry on Lake Erie. He was fortunate enough to 
receive a liberal education, and subsequently 
learned ship carpentering and also the trade of a 
millwright. Politically he was identified with the 
old Whig party, and was a man of decided views 
and fearless in the expression and advocacy of 
them. The mother was born in 1798, and survived 
her husband about seven years, her death taking 
place in 1855. 

-Mr. Potter was fairly educated and started out 



for himself early in life, engaging first in a hotel at 
Boston, where he remained six years. He then em- 
barked as a sailor on the whaling ship "C'allao," and 
sailed around Cape Horn to the Sandwich Islands, 
whence lie voyaged to the Arctic Ocean and back, 
when he was taken ill and confined in the hospital 
at Highlow three months, and subsequently in that 
at Honolulu. In nowise discouraged by this little 
stroke of misfortune, as soon as able Mr. Potter 
shipped for Hong Kong, China, and after his arri- 
val there staid three weeks, when he embarked for 
Australia, landing at Melbourne, where he remained 
with the ship's crew two months. In the mean- 
time he experimented in gold mining, with little 
success, however, and boarded a vessel for San 
Francisco, Cal., revisiting the Sandwish Islands on 
the way, and landed at the Golden Gate in July, 
1858. Here he once more engaged in mining, with 
indifferent success two years, finally migrating to 
Vancouver Island, and thence up the Frazier 
River, still in search of the yellow ore. Here he 
was more successful, remaining untilJanuary, 1860. 
He then returned to San Francisco, and a year later 
he started home via the Isthmus, landing in Fair- 
bury, this county, in the vicinity of which he has 
since been contented to remain. 

Mr. Potter met with some thrilling incidents 
during these years. In making the return trip to 
Vancouver Island he started down the Frazier 
River in December, and before reaching their des- 
tination there came a sudden cold snap which 
formed ice so rapidly that they were unable to pro- 
ceed. They were obliged to leave their vessel in 
the midst of the stream, and proceed on foot from 
the mouth of the Harrison to Ft. Langley, now New 
Westminster, in British America, and thence on to 
the Pacific, a distance of forty-five miles over four 
feet of snow. Mr. Potter with his companions was 
without food nearly six days, and when reaching 
the end of his journey was comparatively without 
clothing, having only a Hudson Bay blanket with 
which to cover himself, his clothing having been 
literally torn from him by the brush through which 
he had been obliged to labor. The weather a> in- 
dicated was cold, and upon this trip 150 out of 500 
men perished. The survivors were first taken to 
Vancouver Island and thence to San Francisco, ex- 






614 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i: 



tremely glad, as may be supposed, to again enter 
the bounds of civilization. 

The marriage of Perry M. Potter and Miss Eliza- 
beth Vanarsdale was celebrated on the 28th of 
February, 1806, in Pontiac. Mrs. Potter was born 
in Utica, N. Y., in 1844, and is the daughter of 
Aaron and Elizabeth (Cooper) Vanarsdale, a prom- 
inent family of German descent whose ancestors 
settled on the Mohawk River. The parents after- 
ward became residents of Grundy County, this 
State, where their decease occurred. Of the union 
of Mr. and Mrs. Potter there have been born nine 
children, namely : Eva E., the wife of Charles W. 
Keck, of Fairbury ; Charles P., Eunice. Dean, Mary, 
Kirk, Grace, Clarissa and Lura. The last is a babe 
of twelve months. The family residence, of which 
we present a view on another page of this work, is 
a convenient ai.d commodious structure, finely fin- 
ished and furnished, and in all respects in keeping 
with the tastes and means of the proprietor. The 
homestead attracts universal attention from the 
passing traveler and with its embellishments forms 
one of the most attractive spots in the southern 
part of Livingston County. Mr. Potter is a mem- 
ber of the Fair Association at Fairbury, where he 
is in the habit of carrying off first premiums by the 
half dozen, and to the interests of which he has 
added largely by his stock operations. Politically, 
he is confined to no particular party, usualby voting 
independently. 




WILLIAM D. ANGELL. In the subject of 
the following sketch we find an excellent 
example for young men just embarking in 
the field of active life, of what may be accom- 
plished by a man beginning comparatively without 
capital, but honest, prudent and industrious. Mr. 
A. in early life enjoyed only ordinary advantages, 
having followed the plow until a youth of eighteen 
vears. He became acquainted early in life with 
the fact that he must rely mainly upon his own 
efforts would he achieve success. This he lias 
realized to a marked degree, not alone in the sense 
of accumulating wealth, but by his large-hearted- 
iirss and public spirit as a citizen, winning the re- 



spect and esteem of those who have been familiar 
with his career. He has distinguished himself in 
business as careful and conscientious, and both in 
public and private matters has been guided by the 
dictates of his conscience, and the principles of 
honor and honesty in which he was reared by most 
excellent parents. 

Mr. Angell was born in Wayne County, N. V., 
Jan. 25, 1824, and was the eldest in a family of 
twelve children. His parents, Ethan and Martha 
(Dudlej') Angell, were also natives of the Empire 
State. William D., in common with his brothers 
and sisters, was reared to the pursuits of country 
life, and attended the district school, completing 
his studies by attendance one winter in the city 
school at Clyde, N. Y. When eighteen years of 
age, thinking he would like other pursuits better 
than fanning, he repaired to the town of Clyde, in 
his native county, and served an apprenticeship of 
two years at the tinner's trade. Then, on account 
of failing health, he was obliged to return home, and 
spent two more years upon the farm. Afterward 
he clerked in a general store, first at Clyde, and 
then in Tompkins County, but the results not prov- 
ing satisfactory, either in point of health or finan- 
cially, he once more returned to the home roof, 
and contented himself with farm labor until his 
marriage, which took place on the 25th of Septem- 
ber, 1850. The lady who then became the sharer 
of his fortunes was Miss Mary Jane Harvey, who 
was born in Borodino, Ouondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 
21, 1831. She is the only child of Leonard and 
Jane (Rathbone) Harvey, natives of New York, 
who passed away many years ago, the mother in 
her native State, and the father in Kendall County, 
111. 

Upon his wedding trip, and while passing through 
the city of Newfield, Mr. Angell was solicited to 
enter the mercantile business at Newfield, Tump- 
kins County, where he had formerly filled the posi- 
tion of clerk. This he accepted, and was thus pros- 
perously engaged three years. He had, however, 
a yearning for the untried West, as the most de- 
sirable outlook for the young and enterprising man, 
mid after a year's stay at the old homestead, set out 
for Illinois. He reached Will County in August, 
1854, and entering into partnership with Mr. Mini, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



615 






an Eastern gentleman, engaged in general merchan- 
dising at Chaiinahon. Here, however, he was not 
so successful, and after seven mouths the firm 
dissolved, and Mr. Angell served as clerk one sum- 
mer, and then storing his household goods, he jour- 
neyed to Virginia to visit his wife's parents. Leav- 
ing Mrs. A. with her people, Mr. A. started out and 
traveled through the East considerably, being pres- 
ent in the city of New York during the riots of 
1855, before the beginning of the three months' 
Buchanan-Fremont campaign. In the meantime 
he employed himself teaching school, and returned 
to Illinois in December, 1856. Thereafter for a 
time he had charge of a branch store belonging to 
his former employer, Mr. Lewis, of Channahon. 
The following year, however, the numerous bank 
failures in the country also had their effects upon 
this business, and the store was closed. 

In 1857 Mr. Angell purchased 160 acres of wild 
land one mile north of Minooka, upon which he set- 
tled, and began its improvement and cultivation. 
This he transformed into a good farm, which he oc- 
cupied until 1865, when, selling out, he came to this 
count}', and having in view the idea of a home, and 
a brief rest from active labor, purchased a snug 
dwelling, and one acre of land in the city of Odell. 
He had intended now to cross the Mississippi, but 
circumstances led him to employ his time otherwise 
and not long afterward he was appointed assignee 
of a dry-goods business which had failed, and was 
probably a year in settling up the business. After 
these various changes he decided to return per- 
manently to farm life, and made first a purchase of 
forty -seven acres near the limits of Odell. Subse- 
quently he purchased forty acres north of the city, 
and while still having his residence within the town 
carries on farming and stock-raising after the most 
approved methods, enjoying a handsome income, 
and taking life as easy as i> consistent with the over- 
sight of important interests. His farm land is sup- 
plied with all the conveniences for the care and 
breeding of stock, and all his farm operations are 
conducted after the most modern and approved 
methods. His residence in town is a handsome and 
tasteful structure, standing in the midst of fine 
grounds, and indicates in all its surroundings the 
existence of cultivated tastes and ample mears. 



Mr. and Mrs. Angell are the parents of one child 
only, a daughter, Elvena I., who was born Sept. 10, 
1 869, and remains at home with her parents. She 
lias been finely educated, is a graduate of Odell 
High School, and an expert stenographer. She is 
also one of the most active members of the Chau- 
tauqua Society, keeping thoroughly educated in its 
various departments. 

Mr. Angell, while in Kendall County, was a mem- 
ber of the Town Board of Seward Township, and 
has served in a similar manner at Odell. He is one 
of the most important factors in the business inter- 
ests of the town, and politically, although not tak- 
ing a very active part in public affairs, uniform!}' 
votes with the Republican party. 

During the Centennial year Mr. Angell wisely ex- 
pended a sum of money in a visit to the Exposition 
at Philadelphia, and later visited the World's Ex- 
position at New Orleans with his family, the trip 
being very profitable as well as pleasant. 




ON. PERRY F. REMSBURG, of Chats- 
worth, one of the prominent citizens of Liv- 
ingston County, is a native of Fremont, 
Ohio, where he first saw the light on the 
10th of February, 1825. The Remsburgs were 
originally from Germany, but the last few genera- 
tions have resided in the United States. 

The father of the subject of this sketch, Casper 
Remsburg, was born in Frederick County, Md., on 
the 24th of February, 1787. On the 26th of De- 
cember, 1809, he was married to Mary Bo wins, who 
was born in Maryland on the 19th of November, 
1792. In 1822 they emigrated to Ohio, and set- 
tled at Lower Sandusky, now named Fremont, 
which was then an Indian trading-post. Thus they 
were among the pioneers of the Buckeye State. 
Casper Remsburg followed his trade, which was 
that of a millwright, and as he was one of the very 
first millwrights on the Sandusky River, he either 
built or put the machinery into many of the mills 
in that part of the State. As long as he was able 
he followed that occupation, and then passed his 
remaining days on a farm near Fremont, dying in 
August, 1849. His wife survived him seven years, 



I 



1 fi 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



- 



dying at Chatsworth on the 13th of June, 1886. 
The father was a member of the United Brethren 
Church, and the mother of the Methodist Protest- 
ant Church. Their family consisted of ten chil- 
dren, one of whom died in infancy ; the others 
grew to maturity. Their record is as follows: 
Matilda was born in 1810, married John Ellis, and 
died Feb. 8, 1874, at sixty-four years of age; Hez- 
ckiah was born Feb. 2, 1812, and is an attorney -at- 
law-at Fremont, Ohio; William was born Oct. 23, 
181-'!, is a minister of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, and resides at Des Moines, Iowa; Ann 
Rebecca died in infancy; Mary Ann was born Nov. 
3, 1817, married James Rosenberger, Nov. 2, 1843, 
and "resides near Fremont, Ohio; Susannah was 
born April 13, 1819, married Emanuel Crowell, 
and resides at Milan, Rock Island Co., 111.; she was 
married twice, her last husband being William 
Brown. Rebecca was born Nov. 10, 1820, married 
Samuel A. Crowell, and died Aug. 26, 1859; Perry 
F is the subject of this sketch ; John was born Oct. 
8, 1826, and died Nov. 29, 1847; Lewis E. was 
born Dec. 28, 1831, and resides at Ohio, Bureau 
Co., III. 

Mr. Rcmsburg's early life was spent upon a farm, 
and he received his education in the public and 
select schools of Fremont, Ohio, in which town he 
grew to manhood. On the 15th of February, 1852, 
he was married to Miss Mary L. Brown, daughter 
of Stanton H. and Elizabeth (Whiting) Brown; she 
was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, on the 6th of 
September, 1833. Mr. Remsburg engaged in farm- 
ing until 1857, when he removed to Ft. Des Moines, 

O ' 

Iowa, and engaged in farming for two years near 
that place. In 1859 he removed to Ohio, Bureau 
Co., 111., where he tilled the soil, except during 
three years when lie was a merchant at Ohio, until 
1881, when he sold his farm of 280 acres and re- 
moved to Chatsworth, where he now resides. He 
owns nearly 400 acres of land, sixty of which lies 
within the incorporated limits of Chatsworth, and 
on which he erected a splendid residence, and com- 
fortably situated himself and family. He is Re- 
publican in politics, and represented Bureau Coun- 
ty in the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, and 
has filled the offices of Supervisor, Justice of the 
1'eace, and other local ollices. He has always taken 



an active part in politics, and the honors which his 
party have conferred upon him have been recipro- 
cated on his part by faithful adherence to its prin- 
ciples, and zealous efforts in its behalf. In relig- 
ious matters he believes in the doctrines enunciated 
by the Protestant Methodist Church, of which he is 
a member. Mr. and Mrs. Reuasburg have had thir- 
teen children, six boys who died under the age of 
twelve years. The names of the survivors are, 
Laura Augusta, Casper, Louisa, Sarah Ellen, Grant 
S., William F. and Estella M. Laura Augusta is 
the wife of Leander Mercer, and Louisa of T. J. 
Lovell; both reside in Chatsworth Township. Sa- 
rah Ellen is the wife of James Bullock, and resides 
near Longford, Dak., where Casper also lives; 
Grant S. and William F. reside in Bureau County, 
111., and Estella M. is at home with her parents. 
As representative of the buildings in this part 
of the country, we present on another page a view 
of Mr. Remsburg's residence. 



eHARLES ELLIOTT SMITH is prominently 
identified with the agricultural interests of 
Saunemin Township, in which he is located 
on section 19. He is a native of England, and was 
born in Cambridgeshire on the 4th of October, 1845. 
He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Edwards) 
Smith, natives of England, of which country they 
have chosen to remain citizens. Of the six chil- 
dren born to his parents the following named sur- 
vive: William, Charles E., Pha-be, Elizabeth and 
Thomas. The name of the deceased was Arthur. 

The subject of our sketch remained in England 
until he reached the years of maturity, and was 
afforded fairly good opportunities for obtaining an 
education. With the exception of a short time 
spent in merchandising and four years at brick- 
making, and coal-mining, Mr. Smith has been a 
farmer all his life. He emigrated to America in 
1867, taking passage at Liverpool, and within ten 
days after leaving that port he landed in the city 
of New York, and proceeded at once to the great 
We>t, of which he had heard so much while in the 
old country. He stopped in Illinois, and for five 
years resided in Marshall County, where he engaged 



f* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in farm work. In the spring of 1874 he came to 
Livingston County, and for the next three years 
farmed as a renter. In the 3'ear 1877 he purchased 
the farm on which he has since resided, consisting 
of eighty acres of most excellent land, which is 
susceptible of the highest state of cultivation, and 
lias invariably produced bountiful crops. 

On the 3d of July, 1871, Mr. Smith was married 
to Sarah Elizabeth Norman, who was born on the 
4th of October, 1847, and is a native of England. 
She is the daughter of William B. and Mary A. 
Norman, also natives of England, who emigrated 
to this country in 1852, and are now residing in 
Saunemin Township. When they first came to 
Illinois they settled in Marshall County, where 
they remained until their removal to Livingston 
County in 1877. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of four chil- 
dren : Mary Elizabeth, who was born May 23, 1872 ; 
Millie Belle, Nov. 14, 1873; William Henry, Dec. 
21,1877, and Robert Ernst, Sept. 21, 1878. Mr. 
and Mrs. Smith are members of the Christian 
Church and stand prominently as active members 
of the congregation. Mr. Smith is a Republican 
in politics, and contributes to the success of that 
party as much of his efforts as possible. He is a 
peaceful and law-abiding citizen, and has firmly es- 
tablished himself in the confidence and esteem of 
his neighbors and fellow-citizens generally. 






HARLES H.TUESBURG, Acting Supervisor 
if of Odell Township, to fill the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the death of Matthias Tombaugh, 
was born on the 29th of December, 1844, in the 
village of Tremont, Tazewell Co., 111., and grew 
up to village life. His' early education was ob- 
tained in the country schools, and his last three 
winters were spent in the High School conducted 
by Mr. H. O. Snow, in the old court-house. At 
the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Pet- 
tis <fc Ingalls, with whom he remained until May, 
1 86 i, and then on the 4th of that month he enlisted 
in Company C, 139th Illinois Infantry, under Capt. 
Dietrich Smith, of Pekin, and Col. Davidson. The 
regiment was mustered in at Camp Lyon at Peoria 
on the 1st of June, and soon afterward was placed 



on garrison duty at Carroll. The first expedition 
of the regiment was into Kentucky, in August, and 
their duty was to return deserters and bounty 
jumpers to their commands. Mr. Tnesburg was 
commissioned First Corporal, which position he 
held until the close of his term of services. The 
enlistment was for 100 days, but the company re- 
mained fifteen days over time, and then returned 
to Peoria. They had scarcely reached there when 
they were ordered to Missouri to aid in heading off 
the rebel General, Price. He was with his com- 
pany in the expedition to Missouri, but was never 
put into active service, and was discharged on the 
28th of October, 1864, at Peoria, after serving 
about six months. Immediately afterward he en- 
gaged with Ingalls, Spaulding & Co., general mer- 
chants in Tremont. 

In the spring of 18(>5 Mr. Tuesburg left the 
store, and prepared to buy a piece of land for fann- 
ing. Accordingly he went to Chenoa to look for 
an opportunity of purchasing on easy terms. After 
consulting with Mr. Scott he came to Livingston 
County, to look at land belonging to that gentle- 
man, lie located a quarter of section 21, and re- 
turned to report. In June lie went and examined 
the land again, and not being so well satisfied he 
made a new selection on section 35, where in No- 
vember he bought 160 acres at $10.50 per acre. 
At this time the country for miles and miles around 
was wild. The first time he crossed the land a fine 
drove of deer arose from the grass on the knoll 
where his residence now stands. In April, 1*66, 
he came with a team and plow and broke forty 
acres which he planted in corn. The crop was al- 
most a failure, and he spent the remainder of the 
year in the store at Tremont with his old employ- 
ers. In the spring of the following year he gave 
up his position in the store, and made arrangements 
to permanently occupy the farm. At first he 
boarded one and one-half miles from his farm, but 
on his second attempt he bought some rough lum- 
ber and built a house with his own hands in which 
he and his mother lived. This season he put in 
sixty acres of corn, and about this time his grand- 
mother died and his mother went home to care for 
her father. 

Mr. Tuesburg now having no housekeeper rented 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



his farm and went to his mother at Kappa, four 
miles from El Paso, where he spent the winter of 
1867 and the summer of 1868 working on his grand- 
father's farm. The next spring he returned to his 
own farm, bringing his mother with him. This 
year was very wet, but nothing daunted he plodded 
on in the face of many difficulties, setting out 
twenty-five acres of orchard, which proved a fail- 
ure. In the spring of 1869 he built a better house, 
and a little later erected another which he fitted up 
in excellent style. 

On the 27th of March, 1873, Mr. Tuesburg was 
married to Sarah K. Dunn, who was born near 
Farmington, Fulton Co., 111., Nov. 16, 1843, the 
fifth child born to John and Elizabeth (Bevins) 
Dunn, of Virginia and Ohio respectively. Her 
parents settled near Farmington at a very early- 
day, and reared a large family of children, all of 
whom became heads of families. One year ago 
they all stood around the mother's death bed as she 
quietly passed to the unknown shores. Her death 
was the first in the family for forty years. The 
father, inured to the hardships of pioneer life, is 
still hearty. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tuesburg are the parents of four 
children, all of whom are living: John Albert Sid- 
ney, born Feb. 12, 187.5; Lillian Annetta, July 4, 
1877 ; Charles Elmer, March 7, 1879 ; William Han- 
son, Aug. 18, 1882. Mr. Tuesburg sixteen yearsago 
took charge of the land belonging to Dr. John W. 
Scott and sisters, of Lexington, Ky., and is now in 
charge of all their landed interests in Illinois, 
amounting to 5,500 acres. During the years 1884 
and 1885, he devoted his entire attention to under- 
drainage. putting in more than 160 miles of tiling. 
Besides the Scott property he has charge of other 
lands, altogether 7,600 acres. This is continuously 
occupied by sixty-five tenants. The tenant houses 
are all neatly painted and well-kept. Mr. Tues- 
burg has purchased 480 acres additional which he 
lias tiled and highly improved, and the last three 
years has leased to tenants. He is an ardent tem- 
perance worker, has served as Clerk of the School 
Board for fifteen years, and is President of the 
Home Insurance Company, organized under the 
State laws governing Township Insurance Com- 
panies. This society is of twelve years' standing, 



is prosperous and has a capital of $2,000,000. Mr. 

and Mrs. Tuesburg, although formerly Congrega- 
' tionalists at Odell, are now members of the Meth- 
i odist Episcopal Church, aiding to build up a church 

society in their own neighborhood. 




ARKIN L. SNYDER owns and occupies a 
comfortable homestead in Dwight Town- 
ship, on section 24, and since his residence 
here has thoroughly identified himself with the in- 
terests of the people of his township. His father, 
Isaac Snyder. a German, was born in East Tennes- 
see, and married Miss Matilda Wilson. They were 
the parents of nine children John, Henry, Rich- 
ard, Ellen, Samuel, Jane, Ann, Lark in L., and 
James, who died in infancy. Isaac Snyder owned 
a farm in East Tennessee, which consisted of 160 
acres; here he lived for many years, and here all 
the children were born. He was a very reliable 
and honorable man. but becoming involved for the 
sake of his son, who failed in business, he was 
obliged to sell his farm, and then, in 1860, came to 
Illinois with but $500 in money. He rented a farm 
in Fulton County and remained there for four years, 
and then purchased a farm of 220 acres in Kendall 
County. He paid for this by dint of personal in- 
dustry and economy. He and his wife were de- 
vout members of the Christian Church, and were 
sincere believers in the doctrines of Christianity. 
In his political opinions he was in harmony with 
the Republican party, and always supported its men 
and measures. He died in 1881 at the age of sev- 
enty-five years. It can be trulj' said of him that 
he lived the life of a Christian, and died in the full 
faith. 

Larkin L. Snyder, the subject of our sketch, was 
born in East Tennessee and received little or no 
education, as the schools at that time were few and 
far between, and of little account. Mr. Snyder 
early learned to perform farm work, and on the hill- 
sides of East Tennessee labored with the most primi- 
tive tools. The corn was cultivated by hand, and the 
grain was reaped with a sickle, after the fashion of 
the olden times, and two men could care for but 
ten acres of corn. He came to Illinois with his 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



619 



father when but thirteen years of age, and worked 
for him until he began for himself. 

On the 16th of May, 1872, Mr. Snyder was mar- 
ried to Miss Annie Drollinger. who is the daugh- 
ter of Matthias and Amelia (Lloyd) Drollinger. 
The young couple remained for a year and a half 
with Mr. Snyder's father, who then gave them a 
farm consisting of forty acres in Will County. 
Here they built a home and lived for one year, and 
then sold this farm and purchased one of eighty 
acres in Grundy County, where they remained for 
one year. In 1885 they moved to their present 
homestead near Dwight. Their household has been 
blessed with one child, named Minnie A., who is 
an intelligent little girl of eight years, and is now 
attending the district school. 

Mrs. Snyder was horn in Wabash County, Ind., 
and came with her parents to Kendall County, 
when she was seventeen years of age, and was mar- 
ried to Mr. Snyder in her nineteenth year. She is 
a devoted member of the Church of God, and her 
daily life is that of a Christian. Mr. Snyder be- 
longs to the Republican party, to which he gives a 
hearty and cordial support at all times. He is an 
industrious and upright man, and among the peo- 
ple who know him enjoys an enviable reputation. 



ACOB FARR, of Nebraska Township, has 
been a resident here since a youth of seven- 
teen years, having come to this section with 
his parents in the fall of 1861. With the 
exception of three years spent in the army, he has 
employed his time principally in farming pursuits, 
and is now one of the most experienced agricultur- 
ists and stockholders- in the western part of Liv- 
ingston Count}'. His property includes a beautiful 
tract of 160 acres thoroughly drained with tile, 
where he has a neat and substantial residence, a 
good barn and the out-buildings required for the 
shelter of stock and the storing of grain. He raises 
Norman and Belgian horses, of which he makes a 
specialty, and is also giving considerable attention 
to Poland-China swine. 

Our subject was born in England, May 14, 1844, 



where he lived until a lad six years of age, and was 
then brought by his parents to America. His father 
first located on a small tract of land near Canastota, 
Madison Co., N. Y., where the}- resided twelve 
years, and then, in 1801, migrated west to this 
county. He had previously purchased eighty acres 
on section 2, in Nebraska Township, of which they 
now took possession, and where the parents spent 
the remainder of their lives. Soon after locating 

O 

here, the outbreak of the Rebellion called for vol- 
unteer troops, and young Jacob, true to the senti- 
ments to which he had been trained by his honored 
parents, was anxious to distinguish himself as a 
soldier of the Union. Although but a youth of 
eighteen years, he enlisted, in August, 1862, in the 
129th Illinois Infantry, marched to the scene of 
conflict with his comrades, and was present at the 
battles of Resaca, Dallas Woods, Marietta, Ken- 
nesavv Mountain, Peachtree Creek and Atlanta. 
From this latter city he joined Sherman's army on 
its march to the sea, and took part in all the prin- 
cipal battles of that campaign. He was remarkably 
fortunate in his military experience, escaping serious 
sickness, wounds and capture, and received his hon- 
orable discharge in June, 1865. 

Mr. Farr upon leaving the army, returned to his 
old haunts in this county, and commenced farming 
for himself. On the 24th of January, 1867, he 
took to his home a wife and helpmeet, in the per- 
son of Miss Charlotte A., daughter of Benjamin S. 
and Mary (Hitchner) Gilman. Mr. and Mrs. Fan- 
became the parents of six children, two of whom 
they laid away in early graves. Clarence W. was 
born Dec. 9, 1867, and died on the 10th of May, 
1871. when an interesting little boy nearly four and 
one-half years of age; Mary E. was born June 22, 
1870, and continues at home with her parents; 
Laura B. was born June 15, 1873, and died Aug. 
20, 1875; Jennie A. was born Aug. 10, 1875; Ar- 
thur E., Nov. 5, 1879, and Edwin J., May, 23, 1884. 

Our subject is the son of Joseph and Eliza (Bas- 
queby) Farr, and the eldest of four living children. 
His sister, Mary A., is the wife of Thomas Richard- 
son, of Long Point Township, and the mother of six 
children; John married Miss Nettie Moulds, and 
is farming in Saunemin Township, and is the father 
of five children; Harriet F. married Albert Moulds, 



C20 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



lives in Long Point Township, and 1ms throe chil- 
dren. Joseph Farr was born in England, Dec. '!, 
1814, and his wife, Eliza, in the same locality, Feb. 
1, 1814. They were married about 1840. The 
mother departed this life March 2, 1869, and the 
father ten years later, March 25, 1879. They lie 
side by side in Mt. /ion Cemetery, Nebraska Town- 
ship. 

Benjamin S. and Mary (llitchner) Oilman, the 
parents of Mrs. Farr, were born in Cumberland 
County, N. J. Their daughter Charlotte was bom 
in the same count}' Sept. 19, 1846. When she was 
a child eight years of age, they emigrated to the 
West, locating in Nebraska Township, where the 
mother died Sept. 22, 1870, and her remains were 
also interred in the cemetery at Mt. Zion. 

Soon after marriage our subject purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 4, Nebraska Township, 
which he occupied about eight years, when he sold 
out and purchased 160 acres on section 24, of which 
he still holds possession. He has one of the finest 
homesteads in this part of the county, and is looked 
upon by his neighbors as a model farmer and valued 
citizen. He united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church about 1870, and has since been one of its 
most active and zealous members. He east his first 
Presidential vote for Gen. Grant, and has since 
been an ardent supporter of Republican principles. 




S. MUNRO has been a citizen of the State 
of Illinois for thirty years, and a resident 
of the county of Livingston for nearly 
twenty years, and during that time he has 
made a reputation for himself as a farmer and 
stock-raiser co-extensive with the county. Mr. 
Miinro is a Massachusetts man by birth, and first 
saw the light of day on the 14th of September. 
1836. He is the son of Joseph and Olive (Brown) 
Miiuro, both New EnglamU-rs by birth. It is sup- 
posed that his paternal ancestors came over on the 
Mayflower and landed at Plymouth Rock. They 
were of Scotch descent, and his maternal ances- 
tors were English. His great-grandfather. Aaron 



Brown, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, 
and served under the immediate command of Gen. 
Washington. His father, Joseph Munro; was a 
soldier in the War of 1812, in which he served 
from 1811 to 1814. The father remained in Mas- 
sachusetts after the close of the War of 1812 un- 
til his death, which occurred April 23, 1863. The 
mother died in Watseka, 111., on the 8th of Octo- 
ber, 1878. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living: Melvin, of Wis- 
consin; Cortland, of Wisconsin; Brown, of LaSalle 
County, 111.; Joseph, of Washington Territory; 
Seneca W., of Wisconsin; Warren C., of Saunemin 
Township, and our subject. The names of the two 
deceased were William and Mason C. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
State, where he attended the common schools, and 
in which he received a very fair education. He 
began the work of a farmer, which has been his oc- 
cupation all his life. In 1856 he emigrated to Illi- 
nois and settled in LaSalle County, where he re- 
mained until 1 869, in which year he came to Liv- 
ingston County, and settled in Saunemin Town- 
ship on the farm where he now resides. 

On the 28th of January, 4868, Mr. Munro 'was 
married toLydia F. Franks, who was born on the 
8th of March, 1847, in Muskingum County, Ohio. 
She is the daughter of Isaac and Hannah Franks, 
who now reside in Muscatine County, Iowa. They 
were both natives of Virginia, and for a short pe- 
riod were residents of Muskingum County, Ohio. 
Mr. and Mrs. Munro are the parents of nine chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows: Ada F., born 
Jan. 16, 1870; Eva M., April 23, 1871 ; Bertha E., 
Feb. 5, 1873; Walter G.. born Jan. 5, 1875, died 
Sept. 1, 1883; Harmon S., born Jan. 5, 1878: 
Ralph K.. Jan. 5, 1880; Herbert, July 25, 1882; 
Everett L., March 26, 1884, and Elmer E.. Fob. 
20, 1887. 

When Mr. Munro settled on his present farm the 
land was in its primitive condition, but during his 
occupancy he has converted it into one of the 
finest farms in the county, comprising 120 acres, 
well supplied with a good class of farm buildings. 
Mr. Munro is a Republican in politics, and while 
not taking a very active part in political affairs, 
always votes that ticket at the elections. He and 




1 



r 

(y^Z^rrtAsw 




I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



625 



ir 




his wife are both members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, he having served that denomination 
in the capacity of Steward. Mr. and Mrs. Munro 
are both respected members of society, and their 
influence is always felt in the cause of religion 
and morality. The}' are generous and hospitable, 
and devote much of their time to all good works. 



HILIPPINA GIRARD, widow of the late 
1) Albert Girard, of Long Point Township, is 
the proprietor of a fine homestead on 
section 29, which includes 200 acres of 
highly cultivated land, the fields mostly laid off 
with handsome hedges, and the farm buildings of 
the best description. The passing traveler at once 
observes that the hand of taste and industry has 
been here employed to good advantage, and the 
farm with its appurtenances, besides its value in 
itself, lias added largely to the attractions of the 
surrounding country. 

The gentleman who was mainly instrumental in 
building up this beautiful home was born in the 
Kingdom of Prussia Oct. 22, 1838, and departed 
this life at his home in Long Point Township Aug. 
7, 1887. He emigrated to this country when about 
eighteen years of age, becoming a resident of Long- 
Point Township, and commenced life mainly de- 
pendent upon his own resources. In his subsequent 
career he displayed in a marked degree the sub- 
stantial and industrious traits of his reliable Ger- 
man ancestry. He was recognized as a thorough 
and skillful farmer, a worth}' citizen, and one who 
fulfilled his entire duty toward those dependent 
upon him. 

Mrs. Girard, also a native of Prussia, was born 
Sept. 24, 1848, and is the daughter of John and 
Margrctla (Betz) Binz, natives of the same country 
as their daughter, where the father spent his entire 
life, his death taking place in 1850. The mother 
wa- born in 1808, and is still living in her native 
Province. The parental family included four chil- 
dren: Frantz, the youngest, died in infancy; John, 
the eldest, continues in his native land, where he is 
following farming and brick manufacturing; he is 
married, and the father of two children. Lenora is 
the wife of John Miller, and the mother of eight 



children ; she lives in Germany. Philippina came 
to this country alone in 1867, and was married 
Feb. 10, 18C8. 

The husband of Mrs. Girard was the son of Fritz 
and Theodora Girard, the former of whom died in 
Illinois in 1871, while the latter is still living, and 
was seventy-nine years old on the 9th of October., 
1887. The children of Albert and Philippina Gi- 
rard are recorded as follows : Maggie was born 
Nov. 21, 1868, and died on the 2d of October, 
1875; Frederick was born June 24, 1871, and is 
living at home with his mother; Henry was born 
Dec. 13, 1873; Alice, Sept. 30, 1876; and Ida, 
April 15, 1879. Mrs. G., since the death of her 
husband, has superintended the affairs of her large 
and valuable estate with rare good judgment, and 
is giving careful attention to the education of the 
children. She is a lady held in the highest respect in 
the community, and is a devoted member of the 
German Evangelical Church. 



ACOB KUNS is not only one of the largest 
farmers and stock-raisers in Newtown Town- 
ship, but one of its most highly respected 
citizens. He lives on section 13, where he 
owns (MO acres of well-improved land, on which 
there are erected as comfortable and commodious 
buildings as can be found in Livingston County. 
He is the most extensive farmer in the township, 
owning altogether 818 acres. He has been a resi- 
dent of Newtown Township since 1852, in which 
year he entered 240 acres of Government land. 
To this he has added from time to time, on the 
section upon which it is located and on section 
24, until he now owns the magnificent tract of 
land above mentioned. It must certainly be highly 
gratifying to him, as well as showing his substan- 
tial worth as a business man, to know that on this 
vast property there is no encumbrance, and no 
claim of any kind against its owner, save one of 
$400. 

Mr. Kuns was born in Union County, Pa., on 
the 16th of May, 1823, and is the son of Dan- 
iel Kuns, who was born in the same State. The 
grandfather, John Kuns, was a soldier in the Rev- 



I 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



olutionary War. and was also in the War of 181 '2, [ 
serving a.s a substitute for another man. He died 
in Union County, Pa., at about eighty years of age. 
He was the father of five children, three of whom 
lived and died in Pennsylvania. Their names were 
Daniel, Samuel, John, George, and a girl, name not 
now remembered, who married and went to Ohio, 
and no tidings have been received from her ex- 
cepting once shortly after she located in that State. 
Daniel, the father of our subject, was born in the 
year 1790, in Pennsylvania. He was a weaver by 
trade, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He 
was married to Louisa Speace, who was, perhaps, 
born in Germany, and came to this country with 
her parents, who were early settlers in Pennsylvania. 
Daniel lived in Pennsylvania until our subject was 
about sixteen years of age. 

When Jacob was about nine years old his father 
purchased his first horse, at a public sale at the res- 
idence of his wife's parents. The horse was about 
fifteen years of age, was totally blind, and cost him 
the sum of 112. From this animal he raised a team 
which hauled him and his family to Ohio, where 
they settled in Pickaway County in 1838. They 
remained there for four years, during which time 
they were engaged in farming. From there the 
father removed to Vermilion County, 111., making 
the journey in a wagon drawn by the same horses 
which took him and his family from Pennsyl- 
vania to Ohio. His first purchase of land consisted 
of eighty acres, which be improved and resided 
ui>on until his death, which occurred in 18(il, at 
the age of fifty-three years. His wife died before 
he left Pennsylvania, at the age of forty years. To 
them were born nine children, three of whom are 
living, as follows: Jacob, our subject; Samuel, who 
lives on the old home place in Vermilion County, 
and which he owns; the place consists of about 
400 acres of most excellent land; lie is married 
and has a family of three children. Elizabeth, 
wife of Henry Gillman, residing in Newtown Town- 
ship. The names of the deceased children are 
deorge. who died in youth: John, who died in 
Ohio at the age of twenty -two: Daniel, who mar- 
ried, moved to Wisconsin, and died, leaving a wife 
and three children; Su>an, who died in Ohio, at 
the acre of nineteen ; Lear, who died in Vermilion 



r 



County, 111., at the age of eighteen, and William. 
who died in the same county at the age of sixteen. 

Jacob Kuns lived at home until he was about 
twenty-four years old, during which time he was 
engaged with his father in trading and farming. 
On the 20th of October, 1*49, he was married 
to Jemima Hoobler, daughter of Rev. John Hoob- 
ler, of whom a sketch is given in another part of 
this ALBUM. She was born on the 10th of January, 
1824, in Ohio. Her parents left that State and 
moved to Indiana, and from there to Vermilion 
County, 111. On the way from Ohio Jemima met 
with an accident, which made her a cripple for life. 
She fell from the wagon in which the family \\as 
being transported, and one of the wheels ran over 
and severed one of her legs. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Kuns have been born eight 
children: John D., who was born Aug. 22, 1 8.JO, 
is now living on a portion of the home place; he 
was married to Phiebe Brooker, who was born in 
Livingston County, Sept. 2, 1871, and they have 
seven children. Marion Franklin, born Nov. 20, 
1S.V2, was killed by the kick of a horse on the 
head; Mary C., born July 6, 1805, was married to 
Benjamin Ziegler, who was born in Indiana: they 
have had five children, three of whom are living 
and two dead; the}- live on a part of the home 
place. Sarah R., born Jan. 7, 1858, is the wife 
of Frederick Ide; they have three children, two of 
whom are living, and reside on section 24, New- 
town Township. Margaret E., born Nov. 11,1 860, 
died Nov. 1, 1*62: Elizabeth Ann, born June 12, 
1.S62, died in September, 1867: Andrew J., born 
Dec. 14, 1865, died Sept. 2:>, 1867; Isabella, born 
June 2.">, 1869, is unmarried and resides at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Knns were married in North 
Fork, Vermilion Co.. 111., Oct. 20, 1849, the Rev. 
A. Peterson of the United Brethren Church, oili- 
ciating. Three yours later they came to their pres- 
ent location, where they have the finest farm in 
Newtown Township, a view of which is presented in 
this volume. Politically, Mr. Kuns is an Inde- 
pendent, voting for the men whom he prefers on 
whatever ticket they may lie. In 1884 he cast his 
vote for Grover Cleveland for President, believ- 
ing that he would make a better executive than 
either of the men who ran in opposition to him. 








LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



627 



Mr. Kuns is a man of correct business methods, 
and is prompt and reliable in all his transactions. 
His agricultural and stock operations are on a large 
scale, and they are invariably successful. 

Among the numerous portraits presented in this 
volume, none are of more highly esteemed or re- 
spected people than those of Mr. and Mrs. Kuns, 
which are presented in this connection. 




flLLIAM H. CHAPMAN, who is now en- 
gaged in farming on section 6, Fayette 
Township, is a young man who has had ex- 
perience in varied lines of business, and is one of 
the most systematic and intelligent agriculturists in 
Livingston County. He is a native of Maryland, 
and was born in the city of Baltimore May 15, 
185(1. He is the son of Jonathan J. and Emma 
(Ackerley) Chapman, who were natives of Ohio and 
New York respectively. The father was quite ex- 
tensively engaged in glass manufacturing in the 
city of Baltimore for a considerable time, and in 
that line of business achieved success. During the 
war he served as Provost Marshal, and took an active 
part in the war proceedings in that section of Mary- 
land. His first wife died in 1869, and was buried 
in Baltimore. The father was married to his second 
wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Saner, in 1871. By 
the first marriage there were eight children, all of 
whom were boys, and four of them are now living, 
named Jonathan George, Alfred A., Charles B. and 
William H., the latter being the subject of our 
sketch. The names of the deceased children are 
Thomas C. and Theodore, and two died in infancy. 
By his second marriage Mr. Chapman has had three 
children Robert Howard, Walter Johnson and 
Annie Elizabeth. 

At eighteen years of age our subject engaged 
himself as a clerk in Baltimore, in the commission 
house of J. A. Hutchins & Co., where he remained 
for three years, and gave good satisfaction to his 
employers. For about a year after leaving this 
house he carried on the commission business on his 
own account. On the 10th of February, 1880, 
Mr. Chapman was married to Miss Sarah Elizabeth 
Boll, a native of Maryland, who was born Feb. 24, 



185G. She is the daughter of Edward J. and 
Sarah (Button) Bell, who were farmers by occupa- 
tion. The father died in January, 1874, and the 
mother is still living in Maryland. They were 
the parents of ten children, of whom five were boys 
and five girls. By a former marriage Mr. Bell had 
four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have 
been born four children, whose names are Elizabeth 
Belle, Carrie Ackerley, Julia Maria, and a daugh- 
ter unnamed. Mr. Chapman's farm consists of 
160 acres of choice land, which has been ex- 
cellently improved. He engages in general farm- 
ing, and raises all the various grains for which this 
section of Illinois is so well adapted. He also en- 
gages extensively in raising various kinds of stock. 
During his short residence in -Fayette Township 
Mr. Chapman has endeared himself to the people 
by his uniform courtesy and upright demeanor. 
He has held the office of Tax Collector of Fayette 
Township since 1885, and is still the incumbent of 
the same, and also School Director of District No. 
1. In these official capacities he displays unusual 
intelligence and good judgment, and his adminis- 
tration gives eminent satisfaction to the people 
whom he serves. 




lEORGE W. CLINE, one of the important 
members of the farming community of 
Chatsworth Township, is widely and favor- 
ably known by the people of this section among 
whom he has lived eighteen years. His birthplace 
and early home were in Tazewell County, where he 
first opened his eyes to the light Dec. 21, 1829. 

John Cline, the father of our subject, a native 
of Maryland, was born May 3, 1784, and passed his 
boyhood and youth in his native State. Thence he 
migrated to Virginia, where he made the acquaint- 
ance of, and married Miss Elizabeth Hill, who was 
born in what is now West Virginia Aug. 4, 178'.). 
Soon after uniting their hearts and fortunes, the 
young people removed to Ohio, where the husband 
purchased land in Licking County and there fol- 
lowed agricultural pursuits until 1823. He then 
resolved to join the caravan that was inarching 
westward to the younir and rapidly growing Prai- 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



rie State, and upon his arrival chose for his location 
a spot in Elm Grove Township, Tazewell County, 
where he was among its earliest pioneers. He en- 
tered 240 acres of land and at once began the cul- 
tivation of the primitive soil, remaining there the 
balance of his life and transforming the once wild 
waste into a comfortable and valuable homestead. 
There his death took place in 1844. The wife and 
mother survived him for a period of twenty-seven 
years, and spent her last days at the home of her 
son, our subject, at Chatsworth, passing away with 
the fall of the leaf in 1871. 

Of the thirteen children born to John and 
Elizabeth Cline, nearly all attained their majority, 
married, and located in homes of their own ; only 
three are now living. John is a resident of Taze- 
well County and his sister Elizabeth makes her 
home with him and with our subject. The latter 
with his brothers and sisters attended the district 
school, and as soon as large enough his services 
were utilized on the farm. He remained with his 
parents during his childhood and youth, and on the j 
1st of May, 1856, was united in marriage with Miss 
America, daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ann 
Fishbern. Mrs. Cline was born in Middletown, Pa., 
Feb. 12, 183G, and can.e with her parents to Illi- 
nois during its early settlement. They located in 
LaSalle County, where she continued with her par- 
ents until her marriage with our subject, after 
which the young couple spent eight years in La- 
Salle County. In 1 864 they came to this county, 
and took possession of the land which Mr. Cline 
has since transformed into a comfortable home- 
stead. He began the struggle of life without other 
capital than his strong hands and stout heart, and 
the result is one which can afford only entire satis- 
faction. He has lived his life simply and unosten- 
tatiously, and probably has derived more real sat- 
isfaction in the quiet seclusion of his country home 
than many who have perhaps attained to larger 
possessions with their added cares. 

The household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Cline has 
been completed by the birth of eleven children, of 
whom ten are living. The eldest daughter, a bright 
and interesting girl of fourteen years, was taken 
from the household by death in 1871. Those sur- 
viving are: Emma, Charles, George, Harry, Frank, 



Ida, Kate, John, James and Eugenia. Mr. Cline 
when first exercising the right of suffrage voted 
with the Democratic party, but in 1874 identified 
himself with the Greenbackers. He has always 
been greatly interested in the success of the tem- 
perance movement and is a decided Prohibitionist. 
He represented Chatsworth Township in the County 
Board of Supervisors six years, and has been the 
incumbent of various other local offices. Socially 
he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 

On another page is shown a view of Mr. Cline's 
residence, as indicative of the taste of the agricult- 
urists of this section of country. 



-*- 



( j|p3)MMETT R. SUTTCN. This gentleman, 
who has a fine and true appreciation of the 
possibilities of farming as carried on in a 
scientific manner, has contributed in no small de- 
gree to the establishment of his leading ideas, 
which are those of the most intelligent men of the 
country, being interested in the invention of the 
self-governing spring motor, applicable to pumps 
on the farm or in mills, and to both upright and 
rotary motions, and which can be utilized equally 
well upon street cars or corn-shellers. There are 
evidences that this, in time, will be the nucleus of 
a snug fortune to it.s patentee, Obediah Smith. 
While Mr. Sutton gave the principal idea, be baa 
only one-half interest. 

Mr. Sutton is agreeably located on section 34, in 
Pleasant Ridge Township, where ho owns 100 acres 
of land, supplied with good buildings and all the 
other appurtenances of a modern country estate. 
On another page of this Ai.ur.M we present a 
view of Mr. Sutton's residence. He was born in 
Seneca County, N. Y., April 17, 18-'iM, and is the 
son of Benjamin B. and Arittn (Sherwood) Sutton, 
natives of Seneca County, X. Y. The father was 
born Jan. 5, 1800, and died at his home in Seneca 
County Feb. 20, 18<!7. The mother was born 
February 4 of the same year as her husband, and. 
surviving him several years, departed this life 
Dec. 18,1871). Benjamin B. Sutton. Sr., the pa- 
ternal grandfather of our subject, was, like his two 
male descendants already mentioned, a man of 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



629 



more than ordinary ability, a farmer and a mill- 
wright, and spent the greater part of his life in the 
Empire State, where his death took place about 
1840. The children of Benjamin, Jr., and Aritta 
Suttou, ten in number, were named respectively : 
Stephen S., Warren M., Benjamin S., Wakeman 
S., Marinda, Mary, Emmett It.. Rebecca A., Ed- 
win and Natt. These all lived to mature years, 
and five of them married and became parents; 
Mary and Wakeman are deceased. 

Emmett It. Sutton came to Illinois in 1861, lo- 
cating in Bloomington, where he remained until 
.Inly, 1862. The war now being in progress, he 
enlisted in the 94th Illinois Infantry, and marched 
with his regiment to the Southwest, vhere he met 
the enemy in battle, first at Springfield, Mo. 
Subsequently he was at the siege of Vicksbnrg, and 
assisted in the loading of the captured cotton upon 
steamers, and from there, with his comrades, was 
detailed ' to New Orleans, where he served in the 
convalescent camp until the April following, when 
he was given charge of a department on the river 
hospital boat which ran between New Orleans and 
St, Louis, where he remained until Oct. 10, 1863. 
He was then permitted to return home on a fur- 
lough, when he had the pleasure of casting his 
Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He re- 
joined his regiment in time to march on Spanish 
Fort, and was at Mobile at the time of the blow- 
ing up of the magazine, which resulted in the loss 
of hundreds of lives and hundreds of dollars' 
worth of ammunition. He spent the 4th of July, 
1865, at Galveston, Tex., and was mustered out 
five days later, receiving his discharge on the 
17th. 

Mr. Sutton now went to the East, and engaged 
as a school teacher for the next two years; he had 
taught school before entering the army. In the 
meantime he had been married, Feb. 7, 1867, to 
Miss Minerva Kinne, who was born in Seneca 
County, N. Y., July 5, 18:i8, and is the daughter 
of David W. and Mary L. (Stone) Kiune, natives 
of New York, and for generations back of New 
England ancestry. The mother was a devoted 
Christian lady and a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. She departed this life March 1 1 , 
\^7'>. and the father is still living on the old home 



place. Their children, eleven in number, were 
respectively: Minerva, Emma, Sarah, Ada, Lucy, 
Smith, Charles, Mar}-, Ella, Wisner, and one who 
died in infancy unnamed. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have three children Ella, 
Frederick W. and Emi. Mr. S., politically, is 
one of the most reliable members of the Repub- 
lican party, and belongs to the G. A. It., Post No. 
114, at Forest. He has established one of the finest 
homesteads in Pleasant Ridge Township, and is a 
leader in the enterprises tending to the advance- 
ment of the people, both morally and intellectually. 
lie is quite an extensive reader, and is greatly 
interested in the success of the temperance move- 
ment, lie has been connected with the manufact- 
ure and sale of windmills for a number of years, 
and expects in the near future to begin the manu- 
facture of his invention, which is patented in 
England, Canada and the United States, and is 
called the Obediah Smith Motor. 




18 REISING is favorably known 
throughout Saunemin Township, as a suc- 
cessful German farmer of moderate means, 
and owning a comfortable homestead, which he has 
built up b}- the labor of his own hands. His early 
home was in the Kingdom of Bavaria, where his birth 
took place Sept. 17, 1824. His parents, Nicholas 
and Catherine (Helendall) Reising, were also of 
German birth and parentage, and Nicholas was 
their only son. He was consequently carefully 
watched over during his childhood and youth, and 
received an excellent education, being placed in 
school at the early age of six years and continuing 
there until fourteen. He took kindly to learning 
and has since followed up the course of reading 
which he commenced soon after being able to mas- 
ter his native language. His parents lived upon a 
small farm in Bavaria, where he assisted them in 
plowing, sowing and reaping, and became familiar 
with agricultural pursuits as carried on in Germany, 
although as may be supposed, the methods were 
quite different from those in this country. 

Mr. Reising continued a resident of his native 
Province until thirty-three years of age, and then 



t 



630 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



not being satisfied with the result of his labors and 
the prospect held out to him in the future, resolved 
to join the large number of his countrymen in the 
New World. He accordingly repaired to Antwerp, 
where he embarked on the steamship ' Constitu- 
tion," and after an ocean voyage of eleven days, 
landed in New York City. This was considered a 
very quick trip, and most assuredly was a wide 
contrast in point of comfort and rapidity to the 
journey made on a sailing-vessel by many of his 
countrymen. 

From the metropolis of the East, Mr. Reising 
proceeded direct to this State, locating in Wood- 
ford County, where he remained until the spring of 
18(iG. He then came to Livingston County and 
purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land upon 
which scarcely a furrow had been turned, and where 
there were no buildings. Pie was aware that it 
would take years of labor and require hundreds of 
dollars to effect its transformation into a good 
farm, but this outlay he was willing to make, and" 
entered at once upon his labors. The results are 
eminently satisfactory, for he can now look around 
him upon a fine and fertile farm with good build- 
ings, a fair assortment of live stock and the other 
appurtenances of a comfortable homestead. He 
has labored hard, and cart now relax his efforts as 
he has laid the foundation for a competency in his 
old age. 

While a resident of Woodford County, Mr. Reis- 
ing made the acquaintance of a most estimable 
young lady, one of his own country-women, Miss 
Maggie Foltz, and they were married on the 14th 
of October, 1858, at the home of the bride in 
Woodford County, and commenced housekeeping 
in that place. Indue time the home circle was en- 
larged by the birth of eight children : Mary, who 
was born Nov. 14, 1858; John and August N. 
(twins), Jan. 4, 18C1 ; Henry, Feb. 4, 1863; Jo- 
seph, June 20, 1805; Annie M., Oct. (>, 1868; Su- 
san B., Dec. 16, 1870, and Matilda, who was born 
March 4, 1873, and died Feb. 13, 1880. 

Our subject and his wife were reared in the faith 
of the Roman Catholic Church, to which they 
closely adhere, and Mr. R., politically, usually 
votes the Democratic ticket, although exercising 
I lie right of :in independent American citizen, and 



willing to give his support to men of other parties 
whose qualifications and political views meet his 
approval. He, however, meddles little with poli- 
ties, preferring to devote his time mostly to his 
farming interests. 




THEODORE WIENAND. The thrifty Ger- 
man citizen is found all over Livingston 
County, sandwiched between its most en- 
terprising and industrious agriculturists, where he 
holds his own and often outstrips the native-born 
American in the extent of his possessions and his 
value as a citizen and business man. The subject 
of this biography is one of the foremost of his coun- 
trymen in this part of Central Illinois, and is lo- 
cated on section :!5, in Charlotte Township, where 
he has built up a good homestead and is largely 
engaged in general farming and stock-raising. 

The early home of Mr. Wienand was in Arens- 
berg, Germany, where he first opened his eyes to 
the light Dec. 11, 1829. He was the sixth in a 
family of eleven children, the offspring of Joseph 
and Theresa (Susewind) Wienand, also of German 
birth and parentage. Joseph Wienand was a man 
of good education and possessed great musical 
talent, employing himself as a teacher of music in 
the city of Oldenburg. Theodore was reared at 
home with his brothers and sisters, receiving a good 
education in his native language, and after leaving 
school at the age of fourteen years, served an ap- 
prenticeship at harness-making and followed this 
trade for a period of seventeen years. 

Young Wienand, however, being of an ambitious 
turn of mind was by no means satisfied with the 
result of his labors, and resolved to seek a new 
field of operations on this side of the Atlantic. 
Accordingly, in the spring of 185o, after passing 
his twenty-fourth birthday, he repaired to Hamburg, 
and on the 17th of April boarded a sailing-vessel 
bound for New York City. After a rough voyage 
of about forty days he landed in the great metrop- 
olis, where he remained two months, working at 
his trade. Thence he migrated east to Harring- 
ton, Muss., and from there, in I 8.V>, started for the 



LIVINGSTON COUNTV. 



6:; I 



West. After coining into Woodford County, this 
SUite, lie secured employment in a harness-shop at 
Panola and worked two years at $18 per month. 
He then in connection with his brother-in-law pur- 
chased the shop and its equipments, which he con- 
ducted about two years. 

Mr. Wicnaud continued in Panola until the spring 
of I860. In the meantime he was married, March 
8, 1858, to Miss Wilhelmina Cook, one of his own 
country- women, born in the Province of Mecklen- 
burg Oct. 1,18:!4. She is one of a family of nine chil- 
dren, most of whom were born on the other side of 
the water. Only four are now living, all in the 
I'nited States. Two years after his marriage Mr. 
\Vienand invested a part of his surplus funds in 
forty acres of parth' improved land near Oliver 
Grove, this county, to which he removed after put- 
ting up a small house and otherwise making things 
comfortable for his family. It was a wild section, 
although near the town, and infested with rattle- 
snakes, of which he killed thirty-two in the space of 
three weeks. He soon tired of this kind of farming 
and traded the property for a store building in 
Chatsworth, where he opened a harness-shop and 
worked at his trade two years. 

Although Mr. Wieuand's first farming venture 
proved unsatisfactory, lie determined to give coun- 
try life another trial, and now traded his store 
with its contents for eighty acres of improved land 
where he now resides. This experiment proved 
highly satisfactory; he was prospered in his farm 
operations, and invested his spare cash in additional 
land until he is now the owner of 240 acres, 160 of 
this being in Ford County. It has all been brought 
to a high state of cultivation and the homestead 
embellished with first-class buildings and stocked 
with mixed grade* of Jersey, Durham and Short- 
horn cattle, besides Norman and Clydesdale horses. 
The fences are neat and substantial and the farm 
machinery embraces some of the best inventions of 
the day. 

Mr. Wicnand has become thoroughly Ameri- 
canized, and takes an active interest in politics, 
casting his vote with the Democratic party. He 
assisted in organizing the different school districts 
in his township and has otliciated as Director for 
some time. He and his excellent lady are among 



the most valued members of the German Evangeli- 
cal Church at Chatsworth. They have a blooming 
family of children, nine in number, and named 
respectively: Amelia, Clementine, Louisa, Theo- 
dore, Joseph, Lewis, Otto, Olga and Minnie. 
Amelia was born March 8, 186;!; Clementine, Aug. 
24, 1K64; Louisa, Aug. 20, 1866; Theodore, Dec. 
8, 1867; Joseph, April 6, 1860; Lewis, Jan. 11, 
1871; Otto, Nov. 8, 1872; Olga, April 11, 187;"); 
Wilhelmina, Dec. 8, 1877. The eldest daughter, 
Amelia, is the wife of Lewis Meisenhelder, a pros- 
perous farmer operating near the \Vienand home- 
stead ; Clementine married Frederick Meisenhelder, 
and also lives not far from her parents; Louisa is 
keeping house for her brother iu Ford Count}-, and 
the younger children are at home with their par- 
ents. They have received all the advantages pos- 
sible, being well educated, while the son Joseph, 
who is attending school at Chatsworth, is a youth 
of more than ordinary ability and will doubtless 
choose one of the professions for his calling in life. 
Mr. Wienand has accumulated his property by the 
sweat of his brow, having never been afraid of 
hard work, and will have a snug income for a rainj- 
day. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country, we present on another page a view of 
Mr. Wienand's residence. 



cfl WILLIAM A. MYER. It is no small honor 

\&J/I ^ ^ )e ^h e son f one f those men who 
^7X5 early in life signalized the resolute enter- 
prise of their character by breaking away from the 
common routine and seeking in a new country to 
build up for themselves a home and a reputation 
which could not be otherwise than an honor to 
their posterity. The subject of this history occu- 
pies this enviable position, being the son of Eli 
Myer, who came to Illinois nearly forty years ago. 
Eli Myer was a native of Alleghany County, Md., 
and was born Oct. 18, 1796. He was the son of 
John Myer, also a native of Maryland, where he 
spent his entire life and reared a large family, of 
whom Eli, William and Peter came to the West. 
William located in LaSalle County during its 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



t 



curliest settlement and there spent the remainder 
of his life, passing away at a ripe old age. Peter 
located in Shelby County, In<l., where he also died. 
Their brother, John, continued in his native State. 
Elizabeth, Nancy and Sarah lived in the same 
neighborhood, but on the borders of three States, 
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. 

Eli Myer, the father of our subject, was reared 
within five miles of Cumberland, Aid., and con- 
tinued there with his parents some time after his 
marriage. Then, accompanied by his wife and one 
child, he started overland for Ohio, in May, 1831, 
and located in Licking County, where he engaged in 
fanning until the fall of 1H50, then came to Illinois. 
He had a Mexican land grant of 1(!0 acres, and 
took up a claim on section 29, of Eppard's Point 
Township. He was prospered in his labor of till- 
ing the soil and invested his surplus capital in 
more land until he became the. owner of 478 acres. 
This he willed to his children, the home place of 
320 acres being divided among the three youngest 
boys. He was public-spirited and liberal, and 
took a genuine interest in the welfare of the peo- 
ple around him, doing much to encourage emigra- 
tion and holding up the hands of the faint-hearted 
bv his counsel and encouragement. He was the 
first Supervisor after the organization of the town- 
ship and served as Clerk several years. He identi- 
fied himself with the Baptist Church, serving as 
Deacon and contributing largely of his means for 
the maintenance of the society. He also left a 
bequest for the purpose of putting up a church 
edifice at Ocoya, a sum equal to one-fourth its 
cost, and which was used as he designed. He was 
also foremost in the establishment of educational 
institutions and taught the first school organized 
in Eppard's Point Township. After a well-spent 
life he folded his hands for his final rest on the 
30th of December, 1808, at the age of seventy-two 
years. 

The mother of our subject was in her girlhood 
Miss Catherine I mphenour. She was a lady in 
every respect fitted to be the companion of her 
husband, standing bravely by his side in all his 
projects and plans for the general welfare of the 
community, and taking an active part in church 
work. She survived her husband about six years, 



her death taking place in 1874, at Fairbury, where 
she was on a visit with her daughter. She was 
born in 1809, and was nearly sixty -six years of age 
at the time of her death. Eli Myer and his wife 
were of German ancestry. The record of their 
children is as follows: Emily was born in Mary- 
land, is the wife of O. P. McDowell, a prosperous 
hardware merchant of Fairbury, and the mother of 
seven children; William, of our sketch, was the 
second of the family; Joseph E. was born in Ohio, 
and is farming on section 22, in Eppard's Point 
Township, where he has a wife and three children; 
Matilda is the wife of Rev. W. C. Knapp. who is 
carrying on a nursery near Normal, McLean 
County; she has been twice married, her first hus- 
band, James McDowell, being killed in the army 
near Vicksburg, and has two children living and 
one deceased; Benjamin F., born in Ohio, is fann- 
ing on section 20, in Eppard's Point Township, 
and has a wife and three children; Samuel G. and 
Charges F. occupy the old homestead ; both are 
married, the former has two children and the latter 
one. Nelson J., the youngest, was born in Eppard's 
Point Township, where he now lives on section 21, 
and has a wife and two children ; he was elected 
Supervisor in 1883. 

William A. Myer was born in Licking County, 
Ohio, Dec. 31, 1833, accompanied his parents to 
Illinois, and remained with them until taking pos- 
session of his present homestead. In the meantime 
he had worked two years as a farm laborer, and 
with the means thus accumulated was ready to lay 
the foundations for a future home. With this end 
in view he was married, April 21, 1859, to Miss 
Eliza St. John, who was born in Warren County, 
Ind., June 25, 1838. She is the daughter of Sam- 
uel and Margaret (Coldron) St. John, natives of 
Ohio, and the parents of five children. Their eld- 
est son, Seth, served as a soldier in the Union army 
and was captured by the rebels, by whom he was 
held a prisoner until his death at Florence, S. C'.; 
William Isaac is farming in Long Point Township, 
this county ; Ada C. is the wife of Samuel G. Myer; 
Ruth Ann died when about nineteen years of age. 

The household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Myer was 
eoinpleted by the birth of seven children, and they 
were called to part with three of these in their in- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



63:! 



fancy. Rosa Olive is the wife of Lewis Dillon, and 
resides in Logan County; they had one child, 
Kntie, who died at the age of one year and ten 
months. Margaret C. married C. N. Wicksizer and 
lives in Vernon County, Mo.; Seth E. and Samuel 
.1. are at home with their father. The wife of our 
subject. departed this life at her home in Eppard's 
Point Township. Nov. 15, 1872, aged thirty -four 
years. She was a lady to whom her family and 
friends were greatly attached, and a devoted mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Myer has never aspired to office, although serving 
as Township Trustee for a period of twelve years 
or more. He is a firm adherent of the Republican 
party, and takes a genuine interest in the welfare of 
his community, and is ;i man always approachable 
at those times when assistance is needed to further 
a worthy enterprise. 



OMER J. CLARK, junior member of the 
firm of Lowry <fe Clark, editors and proprie- 
tors of the Pontiae Sentinel, is connected 

_ with the pioneer and leading Republican pa- 
per of Livingston County, which was established 
thirty years ago, in 1857. The office contains an 
unusual amount of valuable material, with power- 
prcsses and all the other appliances necessary for the 
successful carrying on of steam printing. 

Mr. Clark is a young man, having been born 
Sept. 20, 1853, in Peoria County, this State. His 
parents, John L. and Laura (McManns) Clark, 
were natives respectively of Washington and 
Chautauqua Counties, N. Y., where they both, be- 
fore marriage, were engaged in school teaching. 
The former, before this time, had removed with his 
father's family to Michigan, then a Territory, where 
they settled in the town of Raisinville, near Mon- 
roe, and where he pursued his education as best he 
could till he arrived at the age of eighteen years. 
He then returned to New York State, and entered an 
academy at West Avon, where he acquired the rudi- 
ments of an English education, and began teaching 
in Livingston County, N. Y. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Dr. 
Thomas Clark, was a native of Scotland, and emi- 




grated to the United States with his parents when 
young, with whom he settled in Washington County, 
N. Y. Choosing a professional life, he began the 
study of medicine, and after graduating at a medi- 
cal school, engaged in practice in Argyle, N. Y. 
Here he married a Scotch lady by the name of Isa- 
bella Campbell, and subsequently removed to Michi- 
gan, where he spent the balance of his life, his 
death taking place in 1824. 

The parents of our subject were married in Michi- 
gan, in 1848, where the mother, Miss Laura McMa- 
nus, was engaged in teaching, and immediately went 
East to the home of her father. Rev. Joseph Mc- 
Manus, near Forestville, Chautauqua Co., N. Y. 
Here they remained the two succeeding winters, the 
father teaching school, and in the summer he was 
engaged with a corps of civil engineers in survey- 
ing the line of the first railroad west from Roches- 
ter to Attica, N. Y. After the birth of their first 
child they removed to Peoria County, 111., where 
Mr. Clark was employed as a teacher for about 
twenty years, and then retired to his farm in Trivoli 
Township, until 1882. The death of the mother 
then broke up the family, and Mr. Clark retired 
from business. He now divides his time between 
the residence of the subject of this sketch and that 
of his married daughter, Mrs. Martha E. Bitler, who 
resides in Knox County, Mo. The parental house- 
hold included three children by a former wife, two 
of whom are now living, and two children of the 
mother of our subject, of whom only the latter is 
living. His half-sisters are Mrs. Isabella Walford 
and Mrs. Martha E. Bitler. 

Mr. Clark attended the school taught by his 
father, and worked on the farm until eighteen years 
old. His education was continued afterward at a 
private school in Peoria, where he attended six 
months, and then commenced teaching. After a 
fevv terms thus occupied he entered Monmouth Col- 
lege, in Warren County, 111., where he studied dur- 
ing the years of 187(1-77. He afterward resumed 
teaching in the common schools for a few j^ears, 
and then accepted the principalship of the Prince- 
ville graded school, where he continued two years. 
We next find him located in Gibson City, Ford 
County, occupying a similar position in addition to 
being Superintendent of the city schools. He re- 



I 



634 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



signed two years later to take the position which 
he now holds, and to which he is admirably adapted 
by his natural talents and education. 

The marriage of our subject with Miss Julia Scott 
was celebrated at the home of the bride, Oct. 30, 
1878. Mrs. Clark is a native of the same county 
as her husband, and was born Oct. 30, 1800. Her 
parents are John A. and Philancy (\Vatrous) Scott. 
also natives of Peoria County, where her father 
operates extensively as a farmer. Mrs. Clark is their 
only child, and by her marriage with our subject 
has become the mother of two sons, Lawrence A. 
and Bruce E., and a daughter, Grace Eleanor. Mr. 
Clark is one of the most reliable members of the 
Republican party, and with his accomplished wife, 
is :i member in good standing of the Presbyterian 
Church. 



<T||AMES M. MARTIN. This gentleman, al- 
though in the prime of life, has been the 
subject of many interesting experiences and 
is a fine illustration of the results of self- 
reliance, resolution and industry. He began in life 
without means, dependent upon his own resource-, 
and with little encouragement. His education had 
been -ailly neglected but he was inclined to reading 
and study, and in this manner picked up consider- 
able information. After an experience in the army 
of three and one-half years, lie rented a tract of 
land two years in Marshall County, III., and in 1 N<>7 
came to this county with small means and purchased 
forty acres where he now resides in Neliraska Town- 
ship. This lie has carefully cultivated and lias given 
considerable attention to stock-raising. He is re- 
garded as a praiseworthy and reputable citizen, and 
is tilling his sphere in life to the best of his ability. 

Mr. Martin is a native of this State, having been 
born in liclle Plaine Township. Marshall County. 
Dec. 12. ISlo. His parents. James and Charlotte 
(Ferris) Martin, were people of modest means who 
could do little for their children, and Janie.- M. 
"hen a lad of thirteen years left the parental roof 
and commenced working by the month for himself, 
being permitted to receive his own wages. When 
fourteen years of age he was employed by Joseph 



Irving-ton, of Marshall County, fora period of eight 
months, and at the expiration of this time, upon de- 
manding his wages, found that he was to lie disap- 
pointed, as he did not get a cent of the entire 
amount. This was a severe trial to the indiistriou* 
boy but there was nothing to do except to go at it 
again, which he did under another employer, and 
thus labored until the fall of 18(11. 

Our subject was then only eighteen years old but 
was well developed and intelligent, and upon in-of- 
fering his services as a soldier of the I'nion was 
accepted, and became a member of the tth Illinois 
Cavalry, to continue for three years. He partici- 
pated in the battles at Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg 
Lauding and Corinth, and met the rebels in various 
minor engagements and skirmishes, receiving in the 
meantime a shot through the wrist. Being now 
unfitted for service for a time, he was left behind 
his regiment at Trenton, Tenn., and afterward, in 
the engagement at Trenton Station, Tenn., was 
taken prisoner by Forrest's Cavalry, and for about 
seven days he had scarcely any food. Shortly af- 
terward, however, he was paroled anil escorted to 
the Union lines, when he was sent to Benton liar- 
racks. He concluded that as he could not light for 
his country he would go upon a visit to his friends, 
which he did without leave, and upon reporting for 
duty the following May, was fined about fcl2f, for 
his absence, which was at least an improvement 
upon being shot for a deserter, although he had by 
no means intended to desert. lie was returned to 
his regiment in October following, when near the 
expiration of his term of service, and mustered out 
on the 3d of November. 1SIII. receiving his honor- 
able discharge. 

Mr. Martin, the second time, after leaving the 
army, repaired to Marshall County, and spent the 
winter following in attending school, in the mean- 
time working for his board night and morning. A- 
the spring opened, the war still being in progress, 
he resolved to again become a soldier, and enlisting 
March >. \*i'<~>, in the 11th Illinois Cavalrv. con- 
tinned with his company until again honorably dis- 
charged the following September. Upon returning 
to Illinois he purchased a team and crossed the 
Mississippi into Kansas and back. He had expected 
to locate farther wot, but changed his mind and 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



635 



concluded their wa> no better place than the Prairie 
State, of which lie has since been a resident. 

After becoming satisfied that he could comfortably 
maintain a family, Mr. Martin was united in marriage, 
Sept. Id. 1868, with the maiden of his choice, Miss 
Rachel A., daughter of Benjamin S. and Mary 
(llitchner) (iihnan. They first began housekeep- 
ing in a modest home where they at present reside, 
and in due time the household was enlarged by the 
birth of nine children: Eugene V. was born May 
_>'.), 18611; Harvey Benjamin, Oct. >, 1870; Walter 
M., March 7, 1872; Linden t'., July 3, 1874; Will- 
iam Ferris, May (!. 1877; Lulu May, April 8, 187!t; 
Rachel E., Oct. 1, 1880; Charlotte B., May 1!), 
1882; and Hope Emma, May 21, 1885. 




AVID F. SMITH. The tendency of the 
vegetable productions of nature is to de- 
teriorate, and particularly is this so in the 
case of fruit. In order to maintain a high 
standard of quality in apples, peaches, pears, grapes 
and other fruits which enter so largely into the con- 
sumption of the world, the constant attention of 
man is required not only in preparing the soil which 
is to nurture them, but in grafting and interming- 
ling the varieties. This business has so many nice 
and delicate points involved in it that much intelli- 
gence and constant study are required to make a 
success of horticulture, and to be a competent Horti- 
culturist a thorough knowledge of botany is re- 
quired. When these two lines of business are com- 
bined and carried on where the climatic and soil 
conditions are right they are a .source of much pleas- 
ure and profit. 

The subject of this sketch is engaged in Horticult- 
ure and horticulture on section 3, Indian Grove 
Township, one-half mile north of the town of Fair- 
bury, III. He was born on the 21st of January, 
1 *!">, in Perry County, Ohio, and is the son of 
George and Mary (Fisher) Smith, the former a na- 
tive of Ohio, and the latter of Switzerland ; they are 
both living, he at the age of seventy -eight years 
and she at eighty. This venerable couple were the 
parents of eight children, the eldest of whom is the 
Milled of this sketch; the names of the others are: 



Sarah, Lena, Elizabeth, Susan, Eve, Rebecca and 
George F. Sarah is the wife of Peter Humbarger; 
Lena, of Isaac Foucht; Elizabeth, of Mr. Sehrider: 
Susan, of Charles Poorman ; Eve, of Alfred Mech- 
I ing, and Rebecca, of Lev i Ilumbarger; George F. 
married Sarah King. 

On the 20th of September, 1867, Mr. Smith mar- 
ried Miss Clara Smith. Our subject's advent into 
Illinois was on the 18th of April, 1865. He came 
alone and at once entered into the nursery business. 
His place consists of seven acres of land which is 
well planted in small fruit trees, and other nur.-ery 
stock, and "on which he has erected two fine hot- 
houses, which are fifty feet in length. During the 
time he has been in business he has built up an ex- 
tensive trade in Livingston and adjoining counties, 
and gained an enviable reputation for his trees and 
shrubs wherever they have been introduced. On 
this small farm he has erected one of the finest 
dwelling-houses in the county, and in its surround- 
ings Mr. Smith has displayed much taste. In 1 853 
he met with an unfortunate accident, losing his 
right hand by the explosion of a gun. In political 
matters he votes and works with the Democratic 
party, but under no circumstances does he permit 
political matters to interfere with his business affairs. 

In our illustration department we present a view 
of Mr. Smith's residence and surroundings. 



<- OHN N. GUTHRIE. While it is not one 
of the principles of our Government that 
the State shall provide food or raiment, 
home or money for its citizens who are 
able to care for themselves, without a return on 
their part of some sort of an equivalent, there are 
in all the minor branches of our Government, 
systems of charity and benevolence, maintained by 
taxation, whereby the indigent of all ages and 
nationalities are cared for. The States have pro- 
vided asylums for the deaf and dumb, blind and 
feeble-minded, and hospitals for the insane. The 
General Government has founded homes where 
those who lost their health or their limbs in the 
service of the country may spend their days in 
comparative comfort, and the counties of the 



636 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



*^t 



States have provided houses of refuge for the des- 
titute, who may have no claim upon either the 
State or the General Government. The County 
1'oor House is not a palace in any sense of the 
word, Init under the systems in vogue in most of 
the counties it is a comfortable home for the un- 
fortunate men and women who have not where to 
lay their heads. Nearly all these houses are man- 
aged upon humanitarian systems, and are in the 
hands of i>eople of true benevolence. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is the Superintendent of the 
Asylum for the Poor of Livingston County. 

Mr. Guthrie was born on the 21st of February, 
1828, in Fountain County, Ind. He is the son of 
John and Jane (Melntyre) Guthrie, the former 
born in Rockbridge County, Ya., in 1788, and 
who died, at the age of eighty-one years, in Ep- 
pard's Point Township, at the residence of the sub- 
ject of this sketch. When the father left Virginia 
he went to Cincinnati, where he lived until 1810, 
and then removed to Washington County, Ind., 
where he was married and lived until about 127, 
following fanning and carpentering. His wife's 
parents were from Virginia, and came to Indiana 
in about 1816, when 1 the father died when he was 
over eighty years of age. The names of Mr. 
Outline's maternal grandparents were Robert and 
Sarah Melntyre. Robert was a Representative in 
the Legislature from Fountain County, Ind.. and 
\\a.-u Deputy Sheriff for several years. He was a 
man of good business qualifications and was highly 
respected. 

To the parents of our subject were born seven 
children Indiana, George W., Mary J., Margaret, 
Robert M., Catherine and John Nelson. Indiana 
wn> born in Washington County, Ind., and married 
John Jones, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and they had one boy, Joseph W. Jones, 
now a lawyer in Danville, III., who has served as 
State's Attorney for several years; Indiana died 
in 1850, in Fountain County, and her husband was 
married a second time and died soon after in Wi-- 
consin. George W. wa- born in Washington 
County, .Ind., is married, has a family of live, chil- 
dren, and lives in Franklin County, 111.: Marv J. 
wa- born in Washington County. Ind., and died in 
Fountain County, at the age of seventeen: Mar- 



garet .was, born in Washington County, married 
Daniel Brown, and died in 1 8(iO, in Jasper County, 
Ind., leaving four children; Robert M. was born 
in Washington County, Ind., was a wagon-maker 
by trade, and died in Fountain County, at the age 
of twenty-five; Catherine was first married to 
Philip Lickenhons, who died one year afterward; 
she is now the wife of the Rev. Jeremiah Clark, of 
Cedar County, Mo., and has a family of seven chil- 
dren. 

The subject of this sketch is the youngest of the 
family. His mother died when lie was about four- 
teen months old, and he lived at the home of a sis- 
ter until he was old enough to take care of himself. 
At the age of twenty-three years, on the 1 itth of 
September, 1X50, he was married to Ann Auter, the 
daughter of James and Martha (Marlatt) Auter, 
natives of Ohio, who came to Indiana about 1831, 
at which time she was about six months old. Her 
parents had six children Harvey, Peter, John, 
Mary J., Elizabeth, and Ann, the wife of our sub- 
ject. Of these, three are living: Mary J., the 
widow of Allison Virden, of Pontiac; Elizabeth, 
who lives in Pontiac: and Peter, who lives in 
Fountain County, Ind. The father died when 
Ann was a child. 

Mr. Guthrie has been a farmer ever since he was 
eleven years of age, and for the past year and a 
half has been Superintendent of the County Poor 
Farm, of which he has a lease for three years. 
His management of this farm has given great satis- 
faction to the people and the authorities. He has 
served in an official capacity as Trustee and 
Assessor of the township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie have been bom five 
children Martha J., Florence A., Lillie, Cora, and 
one who died before being named. Martha J. was 
born Sept. 6, 1851. and acts as Matron of the 
asylum. She was married to William Ilalsted, of 
New York, who came to Illinois when quite young 
and died on the 25th of August, 1878, leaving 
one child, Florence A. Halsted; Florence A. died 
in infancy; Lillie was born April 14, 1803, and is 
the wife of Lewis Thrasher: she is a teacher In- 
occupation. Cora married George Woolcy. and 
lives in Avoca Township: they have three sons. 
The wife of Mr. Guthrie died of consumption on 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




the 5th of M:nvli, 1887. In M;iy, 186, she went 
on a visit to her brother in Douglas County, and 
while waiting at the depot was exposed to the 
weiither and contracted a cold which resulted in 
her death. 

Mr. Guthrie is .an active member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, in which for many years 
he has served as Steward. He is Democratic in 
politics and takes quite an active part in the cam- 
paigns of the township and county. He is a man 
of excellent business reputation, which is justified 
by his record in this county. 



oILLTAM G. MESSLER is the junior mem- 
ber of the firm of Searing & Messier, deal- 
ers in grain and agricultural implements 
at Chatsworth, and is numbered among the enter- 
prising and reliable business men of the county. 
He is a native of Illinois, having been born in the 
town of Cuba, Fulton County, on the 14th of Oc- 
tober, 1849. 

Benjamin W. Messier, the father of our subject, 
was a native of the State of Maryland, but when a 
young man he moved to the State of Ohio, locat- 
ing near the city of Dayton, where he was united 
in marriage with Mary E. Cline, a native of Vir- 
ginia, where she was born June 25, 1820. Imme- 
diately after their marriage the young couple 
loaded their household goods into a wagon and 
started westward, and after a weary journey ar- 
rived in Fulton County, 111., where they were num- 
bered among the early pioneers. The father at 
first [engaged in merchandising at Farmington, but 
a few years later located on a farm, which he soon 
after left, and became a hotel-keeper in the town of 
Liverpool. He next removed to Cuba, near which 
place he resided and followed fanning for several 
years, meeting with marked success. He continued 
in this occupation until 1863, when on account of 
his advanced age, he moved into the village, where 
he passed his remaining years in retirement from 
active business, and died in the year 1871, at the 
age of fifty-six. Mrs. Messier is still living, and re- 
sides at Cuba. Their family consists of six chil- 
dren: Hannah, the wife of W. H. Heller, resides 



on a farm adjoining Cuba; Elizabeth, the wife of 
H. E. Heiffner, resides in Beardstown; John C. 
lives near Crete, Neb. ; William G.; Benjamin F. 
resides in Farmington, and George F. at Havana. 

Mr. Messier was reared on a farm, and received 
a good education in the public schools at Cuba. 
When about twenty years of age he learned teleg- 
raphy, and was employed as operator at Canton, 
HI., for the C'., B. & <J. R. R. After discharging 
his duties faithfully for three years for this com- 
pany, he entered the employ of the Toledo. Peoria 
& Western Railroad Company, for which he worked 
about ten years, being located at intervals at State 
Line, Gridley and Chatsworth, serving as operator 
and Station Agent. In 1883 he became associated 
with A. B. Searing in the business in which they 
are at present engaged. 

On the 2d of April, 1874, Mr. Messier was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary L., daughter 
of Martin F. and Man" J. Wright, and born near 
Lewistown, Fulton Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1848. They 
have three children Bloice N., Gertrude Etta and 
Alta Bernice. Politically, Mr. Messier affiliates 
with the Democratic party, but never takes any in- 
terest more than to perform the duties of a citizen 
by casting his vote. Office-seeking has no allure- 
ments for him, and the only position he has ever 
accepted was a membership in the Town Council. 
He is an ardent member of the Masonic fraternity, 
is a Knight Templar, and for three years served as 
Master of Chatsworth Lodge No. 539. The firm 
to which he belongs is a very reliable one, and has 
large transactions with the people of Livingston 
County, whose confidence it enjoys in a large 
measure. 

A view of Messrs. Searing and Messler's elevator 
is shown on another page of this work. 



EDWIN G. MITCHELL. The time was when 
a farmer was simply a man who devoted his 
? time to putting the seed in the ground, and 
harvesting the crops that grew therefrom when 
ready for garnering; but during the past few years 
the Illinois farmer has discovered that there are 
accessories to farming that pay a profit which fully 




688 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



justifies him in including in his calling that of 
breeding live stock. Some stock-raisers devote 
their attention to raising cattle simply for the food 
markets, while others with higher ambitions, strive 
to improve the strains of certain breeds of horses 
and cattle. The subject of this sketch has a parti- 
ality for raising fine Belgian horses and has been 
quite successful, one stallion of that breed in his 
stables pulling the beam at 1,500 pounds, and is 
one of the finest specimens of horses in all Living- 
ston County. In horse culture Mr. Mitchell com- 
bines great ambition with much sagacity. His farm 
is located on section (5, Belle Prairie Township. 

Mr. Mitchell was born in Calhoun County, Mich., 
on the 22d of January, 1840, and is the son of 
George W. and Clara M. (Brainard) Mitchell, both 
of whom are natives of the State of Connecticut. 
The father was a farmer by occupation, in which he 
met with much success. During the early days he 
was a Captain in the State Militia, in which position 
he served for many years. He emigrated to Michi- 
gan soon after his marriage in 1837, and died in 
1849. The mother, who was born in 1818, is still 
living. To them were born four children Melissa 
A., Edwin G., Myba M., and Clara M., now de- 
ceased. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
until he was eighteen years of age, devoting his 
time to learning the rudiments of farm work, and 
obtaining a common-school education. In 1858 
lie moved to Marshall County, Kan. where he re- 
mained two years and thence went to Burlington, 
Iowa, where he remained for three years, when he 
came to Illinois, in which State he has since resided. 

In 1874 Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Fran- 
ces Travis, daughter of Martin M. and Eliza 
(Thompson) Travis, both natives of Tennessee. 
She was born on the 13th of June, 1854, and is the 
mother of three children Zelpah, Martin E. and 
Clayton. Mr. Mitchell owns a farm of sixty-five 
a<T(>s, which is thoroughly tile drained and highly 
cultivated. He lives in a model residence, which is 
a credit to him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members in good 
standing of the Christian Church, and take unusual 
interest in church affairs. He is an enthusiastic 
member of the Republican party, to which he gives 




willing and ready allegiance, on all occasions de- 
fending its principles, and votes for its nominees. 
At the present time he is School Director, and 
takes great interest in all matters pertaining to the 
schools of his township, and to education in general. 



ANIEL McCOY, a farmer and stock-raiser 
on section 33, is the owner of one of the 
best-cultivated and improved farms in 
Reading Township. It consists of 160 
acres of fine land, all of which is under cultivation. 
Mr. McCoy is a native of Ohio, and was born on 
the 23d of October, 1834. He is the son of John 
and Tacy (Slaughter) McCoy, natives of Virginia. 
The father died on the 8th of September, 1879, 
and the mother in June, 1843. The father was a 
farmer by occupation, and at the age of twelve 
years accompanied his parents to the State of Ohio. 
He and his father Joseph were the first settlers in 
the southeastern portion of Ohio. 

Daniel McCoy, the subject of this sketch, is one 
of a family of nine children as follows: Henry, 
Millie, Lucinda, Elizabeth, Eliza, Penny Ann, Mary 
Ann, Daniel and Molona. He was educated in 
the common schools of Ohio, where he remained 
until 1862, when he came to Livingston County 
and located where he now resides. In 1869 he re- 
moved to Missouri, but after living there about 
four months, returned and occupied the same farm 
and house from which lie had removed. 

On the 4th of January. 1855, Mr. McCoy was 
married to Isabelle McGrew, who was born on the 
27th of November, 1827, and is the daughter of 
Nathan and Mary McGrew, natives of Pennsylva- 
nia. Her parents had a family of nine children, 
whose names are, Eliza, Mary, Margaret, Isabelle, 
Finley, Lucinda, Nathan, Sarah and George. To 
Daniel McCoy and wife four children have been 
born William, John Finley, Sarah Maria and Tacy 
Bell. William was born on the 1st of October, 
1855, and died at the age of eleven months and 
eighteen days; John Finley was born March s. 
1857, married Elizabeth Blacklidge, and had one 
child, now deceased; he is a lawyer and resides 
in Kansas City. Sarah Maria was born Dec. 13, 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I860, and attended the Normal School at Valpa- 
raiso, Ind., from which she was graduated in the 
teachers' course, in 1884; Taey Bell was born Dec. 
27, 1864, and attended the same school, being 
graduated in the scientific and classical departments 
in 1 886. Both of these daughters are now at home 
with their parents. 

Besides general farming, Mr. McCoy makes a 
specialty of fine horses and other stock. He is at 
present the owner of two Abdallah horses, and a 
grade of Norman strains in others. He has earned 
considerable reputation as a stockman, and in all 
the affairs of the township he is considered a lead- 
ing as well as a representative man. 



JACOB STREAMER, proprietor of the fine 
store of drugs and varieties located on Mad- 
ison street, Pontiac, came to Illinois in April, 
' 1844, settling first at Magnolia, Putnam 
County, where he engaged in the practice of med- 
icine. Six years later he removed to Reading, this 
county, and became book-keeper in a store of gen- 
eral merchandise. On the 22d of May, 1852, he 
came to Pontiac, when nothing but the name sug- 
gested a town, for there were but seven persons in 
the place. He, however, engaged a room in one of 
the new buildings which had been put up, and be- 
gan the tailoring business which he had learned 
in his youth. In connection with this he put 
in a stock of drugs, and to eke out a slender 
income, carried the mail in his hat and was digni- 
fied by the name of Postmaster in connection with 
J. P. Garner. It is hardly necessary to say that he 
has been the witness of many and great changes 
since that time, and has been no unimportant fac- 
tor in the growth and development of this part of 
Livingston County. He served twelve years as 
Justice of the Peace in Pontiac Township, and has 
been largely identified with those enterprises tend- 
ing to the moral and intellectual advancement of 
the people. Considering the fact that he came to 
this section of country with a cash capital of $15, 
and that now he is the owner of a fine property, it 
is hardly necessary to say that he has been diligent 
in business and judicious in his investments. 



Mr. Streamer was born in Williamsburg, Blair 
Co., Pa., Feb. 8, 1818. His parents were Chris- 
tover and Elizabeth (KnerHer) Streamer, natives 
respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania. Chris- 
tover Streamer emigrated to America when a young 
man, settling first in Baltimore, Md., where he fol- 
lowed his trade of tailor. He was born July 7, 
1779, and died in AVilliamsburg Aug. 11, 1849. 
The mother was born Jan 30, 1792, and died Dec. 
2, 1873. They were the parents of eight children, 
six of whom are now living, namely : Jacob, our 
subject; Mary, Martha, Christover, George and 
Francis. The paternal grandfather of our subject 
was Dr. Francis Streamer, a native of Germany, 
who emigrated to America and settled first in Lan- 
caster County, Pa., whence he afterward removed 
to Williamsburg, where he remained through life. 
The maternal grandfather was Dr. Jacob Kneffler, 
a native of Germany, who after coming to the 
United States also located at Lancaster, Pa., where 
he followed the practice of his profession and passed 
the remainder of his life. 

Jacob Streamer attended school until eighteen 
years of age, and then employed himself in the 
tailor shop of his father. His tastes, however, in- 
clined otherwise, and he spent considerable time 
among the medical works in the office of a physi- 
cian. He obtained a good knowledge of diseases 
and their remedies, and became admirably qualified 
as a dealer in drugs and medicine. He also availed 
himself of the works of the best authors of the pres- 
ent day, and one of the most attractive features of 
his present home is a library for which he has re- 
fused 15,000. 

The marriage of Jacob Streamer and Miss Salina 
Sturman took place at the home of the bride in 
Pontiac, April 14, 1853. Mrs. Streamer was born 
in Virginia Oct. 3, 1831, whence her parents re- 
moved to Ohio when she was but a babe, and after- 
ward came to Illinois and settled in Rook's Creek 
Township. They are now deceased. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Streamer have been born four children, all 
living: Joseph is a resident of Chicago; Mary E., 
of Pontiac; Frances M. and Hattie E., of Boulder, 
Col. Mr. Streamer was born and reared a Demo- 
crat, and has adhered loyally to first principles. 
Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. He is a 






640 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



public-spirited citizen, and nothing pleases him 
better than to note the progress and advancement 
of the town which was hardly a hamlet even when 
he came here. He donated the lot upon which to 
build the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is noted 
for his hospitality and kindness of heart. He has 
been the especial friend of the poor and needy, to 
whom he deals out the remedies for their physical 
ills without money and without price. 




forming Chatsworth Township from an ex- 
panse of raw prairie to a township com- 
posed of highly cultivated farms, is the subject of 
this sketch, who became a resident of Livingston 
County in 1868, locating on section 31. He is a 
native of Canada West, where he was born Jan. 7, 
1830. His father, Archibald McMtillen, was born 
in Scotland, and possessed all the peculiar traits of 
that splendid people, and his mother, Jane (Boyd) 
McMullen, was born in the North of Ireland. The 
parents were married in Canada, and resided there 
during their entire lives. The father was killed by 
the fall of a tree in 1 844, and the mother died in 
1852. They were the parents of five children, 
three of whom are living: Mary Jane, Mrs. John 
Karsting; Eliza, Mrs. Robert Baggs, and Archibald. 

Our subject resided in Canada until nineteen 
years of age, when he crossed over the line to find 
a future home in the United States. Journeying 
west he first stopped at Ottawa, LaSalle Co., 111., 
where he secured employment first as a farm hand, 
and then in rafting for three months on the Mi>-is- 
sippi River. He subsequently rented land and 
farmed on his own account for six years. In 18G8 
he came to Livingston County, and first rented 
land near the village of Forest, where he remained 
until 1870, when he settled in Chatsworth Town- 
ship, where he has since resided. The farm which 
he owns and cultivates contains U>0 acres, which 
was raw prairie when he took possession of it, not 
a plowshare ever having been sunk in it, and now 
is one of the best improved farms in the county. 

In the month of March, 1800, Mr. Mi-Mullen \v.-i< 



.., KCHIBALD McMULLEN. One of the 
' I men vho are entitled to credit for trans- 



married to Louisa Harman, who was born in France 
Nov. 7, 1846, and is the daughter of John and Ade- 
laide (Obrey) Harman, who with their family came 
to the United States in 1850, and became settlers 
of LaSalle County. She has one sister and three 
brothers John, Amil, Joseph and Kate. Mr. and 
Mrs. McMullen are the parents of ten children, one 
of whom, Lizzie, died in infancy, the nine living 
being: George, Ella, John, Addie, Louisa, Jennie, 
Josie, Stella May and Ethie Vera Arzelle. Mr. 
McMullen votes and acts with the Republican party, 
and has discharged efficiently the duties of School 
Director. He and his family are attached to the 
Presbyterian Church, of which they are worthy- 
members. 




B. DURKEE is one of the many 
excellent farmers and stock-raisers of Read- 
ing Township, whose home is. pleasantly lo- 
cated on section 27. He is a native of the State 
of New York, was born on the 29th of March, 
1837, in Tioga County, and is the son of George 
W. and Linda (Swartwood) Durkee, the father be- 
ing a native of Vermont, who was born in 1806 
and died in 1862. The mother was a native of New 
York, born in 1810, and died there Feb. 6. 18*1. 
The father was a carpenter, which trade he followed 
nearly all his life, both in his native State and in the 
Stilt e of Virginia, to which he removed in 1*2*. 
He was married in the year 1832, and became the 
father of five children, whose name- arc: Mary 
Durkee, born July 14, 1834, married A. P. Gordon, 
a carpenter by trade, ha- six children and now re- 
sides in California; George B., our subject; John, 
born Oct. 10, 1839, has followed various occupa- 
tions, and resides in New York; Charles A., born 
Sept. 14, 1842, married Ellie Kinney, has a family 
of three children, and resides in Virginia, where he 
is a farmer and merchant; Frank E., born in Sep- 
tember, 1848, married Warren Knapp, a merchant, 
ha- two children; and resides in Waverly, N. Y. 

The subject of our sketch resided at home until 
about twenty-three years of age, during which time 
he received a good common-school education. On 
the Oth of April. 1*00, lie was married to Carrie 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tir* 






Poyer, a native of New York, who was born Dec. 
17, 1838. She was the daughter of Richard and 
Sarah Poyer. By this marriage there were born 
the following-named children: George M., born 
June 21, 1862, at Little Rock, Ark., who was a 
soldier in the, regular army, his term of service ex- 
l>iring in October, 1887; Fred C., born June 21, 
1868; Annie, born Oct. 10, 1873, and Linda, born 
June 8, 1877. 

Mrs. Carrie Durkee, our subject's first wife, died 
on the 6th of April, 1 880, and on the 30th of Au- 
gust, 1881, Mr. Durkee was again married, to Mrs. 
Emma (Fillingham) Rien, the widow of J. W. Rien, 
who died Aug. 28, 1877. By her first marriage 
she was the mother of one child, who died in in- 
fancy. Mrs. Emma Durkee is the daughter of Levi 
and Eliza (Savage) Fillingham. Her father was 
born on the 29th of September, 1817, and her 
mother was born April '20, 1818, and died April 
20, 1886. They were both natives of England and 
came to America in the year 1847. They were 
the parents of the children whose record is as fol- 
lows: Sarah Elizabeth, who married Miles Corkin, 
has :i family of seven children, and resides in Liv- 
ingston County; Esther, who married Orris Barto, 
has a family of three children, and resides at Colfax, 
111. ; Phnebe married John Collins, a drayman by 
occupation, has a family of five children, and re- 
sides in Colfax, 111.; Edmund L. married Hadusa 
Maxwell, has a family of four children, and resides 
in Woodford County, 111.; Mary A., born Feb. 
8, 1857, married Henry Zinck, a farmer by occu- 
pation, has a family of nine children, and resides in 
Nebraska: Emma, the wife of our subject, born 
June Ki. 1853: Naomi Jane, born Oct. 15, 1855, 
married James Black, a farmer and carpenter, has 
one child, and resides in Nebraska: Annie M., born 
May 28, 1857, married John Black, a carpenter and 
poultry dealer, has two children, and resides in Eu- 
reka, 111.; and two brothers now deceased. 

Our subject owns eight}- acres of land in Pontiac 
Township, which is under good cultivation, and is 
well improved, containing a good house, commodi- 
011- barns and a fine orchard. This farm is located 
on section 3, in the above-named township, but the 
farm which Mr. Durkee cultivates consists of a 
quarter section of land near Ancona, Reading 



Township. He has the reputation of being a first- 
class farmer, and conducts his business systemati- 
call}-. Politically he has identified himself for 
several years with the Greenback party, and is an 
earnest and intelligent advocate of its doctrines. 




ILO M. MILLER, of Chatsworth Town- 
ship, is of New England birth and parent- 
age, and migrated to the West when a 
young man, in 1855. Eight years later he 
became a resident of this county, where he has 
since remained, and is numbered among its most 
valuable and enterprising citizens. He is the owner 
of a good farm property located on section 17, 
and also carries on the manufacture of brooms. 

Our subject is a native of Adams, Berkshire Co., 
Mass., where he began life Nov. 15, 1830. His 
father, Caleb Miller, was a native of Rhode Island, 
whence he removed during his early manhood to 
Adams, Mass. He there met and married Miss 
Nancy Mitchell, a native of his own State. They 
located on a farm near the town of Adams, Mass., 
where they became highly esteemed citizens and 
spent the remainder of their days. They became 
the parents of eight children, four sons and four 
daughters, seven of whom grew to mature years. 

Milo Miller was the youngest of his parents' fam- 
ily, and in common with his brothers and sisters 
received the advantages of the Adams schools. He 
remained a member of his father's household until 
a youth of fifteen years, and then commenced for 
himself by working for his brother-in-law. He con- 
tinued with him about four years, and in October, 
1849, migrated to East Whitley. and securing a 
position in a broom manufactory, served a thorough 
apprenticeship, and afterward worked as a journey- 
man in Hatfield. In the spring of 1851, becoming 
wearied of the monotony of his trade he boarded 
a whaling-vessel from Provincetown, and in his 
subsequent voyages passed through the Gulf of 
Mexico, and visited the Bermudas and the const of 
Africa. His vessel was principally engaged in the 
capture of sperm whales, which only frequent trop- 
ical waters. After a six months' cruise they re- 



t 



<U2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



turned to the New England coast, and young Mil- 
ler at the first opportunity engaged himself to the 
commander of a merchant vessel. They did not 
sail, however, until the following January, and set 
out for Apalachicola, Fla., with a cargo of ice. 
and returned to Baltimore with a load of cotton. 
He next shipped on a vessel bound for New Or- 
leans. The sea still possessed for him a wonderful 
fascination, and after the completion of this voyage 
he entered the United States Navy on the 28th of 
May, and started with the Perry expedition for 
Japan. When they reached Norfolk, Va., our hero 
was transferred to another vessel bound for the 
Mediterranean. He was very well satisfied with 
the change and continued in the naval service three 
years, visiting all the principal ports of that sea. 
He found himself once more on the New England 
coast in the spring of 1855, and landed in Philadel- 
phia May 17. 

Mr. Miller now concluded he would try terra firma 
for a time. He accordingly cast aside his sailor's 
suit, and donning the outfit of a landsman set out 
for the West. Upon arriving in Chicago he con- 
tinued there during the winter of 1855-56 engaged 
at his old trade, the manufacture of brooms. In 
the spring, feeling a little homesick he returned 
East, and in the fall of 1856 came back to Illi- 
nois and took up his location at Marengo, MeHenry 
County. He there followed his trade and at the 
same time formed the acquaintance of Miss Kate 
L. Rathbun, who became his wedded wife on the 
4th of June, 1857. 

Mrs. Miller was born in New York State, Aug. 
7, 1834, and removed with her parents when a 
child first to Michigan and later to Illinois. She is 
the daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Sceurman) 
Rathbun, natives of New York and New Jersey 
respect! vely. The mother is now deceased: the 
father still lives in Chicago, 111. Our subject and 
wife began life together in a modest dwelling at 
Marengo, where they continued until 1859, and 
then Mr. Miller concluded to try Chicago once 
more. He, however, spent but one winter there 
engaged at his trade. Wo next find him in the 
citv of Detroit, where he continued with his family 
until March, 1863, and then came to Fairbuiy, of 
which he was a resident seven years. 



Mr. Miller by a course of industry and economy, 
in which he was ably assisted by his excellent wife 
and helpmeet, had saved a little sum of money 
which he now wisely concluded to invest in real 
estate. Accordingly ii, the spring of 1870 he pur- 
chased a small tract of land, to the cultivation of 
which he gave all his spare time and attention, and 
in the meantime prosecuted his trade. lie is now 
the owner of a snug farm of eighty acres, with a 
neat and substantial dwelling and the various con- 
venient out-buildings required for his comfort and 
the profitable management of his farm. 

The household circle of our subject and his wife 
was completed by the birth of four children, 
namely: Alice B., who was born March 10, 1858; 
BrentonL., Nov. 15, 1861 ; Sylvia M., April 1,1871 ; 
and Cora M., who was born Jan. 20, 1868, and 
died March 30, 1872. Mr. Miller cast his first 
Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and since 
that day has continued a Republican of the first 
water. He is regarded as one of the most intelli- 
gent citizens of his community, always interested 
in its advancement and welfare, and has served as 
Road Commissioner and School Director. Socially 
he is a member in good standing of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to Chatsworth Lodge No. 539. 



R. BURT, a leading farmer of Forest Town- 
ship, located on section 17, is a native of 
Cheshire County, N. H., and was born on 
the 14th of January, 1846. He is the son of Jo- 
seph E. and Harriet M. (Hodskins) Burt, nativesof 
Vermont and New Hampshire respectively. The 
mother died on the 26th of October, I860, and the 
father on the 3 1 st of July, 1879. The latter was 
engaged in farming during his life. He arrived in 
Illinois on the 27th of November, 1856, and first 
located at Brimficld, Peoria County, where he 
bought eighty acres to which he afterward added 
eighty more. On this place he followed general 
farming and stock-raising until his death. He was 
a Republican and took .111 active part in political 
affairs. He was the father of the following chil- 
dren: E. Roscoe, Clifford W., Laura II., Eva 
L., Charles H., Cora A., Abbie U. and Alta E. C. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



643 



W. was married to a Miss Alice Himes, and he lo- 
cated in Brimfiekl Township, Peoria Count}', en- 
gaged in farming, and died in 1876. leaving a wife 
and two children, named Maud and Philip, both of 
whom are in New York State with their mother. 
Laura H. died in Peoria Count}- at the age of 
twenty-seven years; Eva L. died in infancy. The 
father was married a second time, to Mrs. Himes, 
and by this union there was one child, named 
above, Alta E., who died of typhoid fever in 1876, 
aged fourteen years. On the father's side the an- 
cestors were of Scotch-Irish descent. 

The subject of our sketch remained at home un- 
til he was twenty-one years of age, assisting at 
work upon the farm and attending school nine 
months in the year. Upon leaving home he rented 
a farm in Forest Township for one year of Thomas 
Weeks, next of C. C. Bartlett, on which he re- 
mained for three years, after which he rented a 
farm on section 20, which he occupied and tended 
for one year. Dec. 23, 1871, Mr. Burt was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Jennie (Stuckey) Howard, daughter 
of Edward and Margaret (Gillett) Stuckey. The 
father died about 1864, and one year later the 
mother died. They were farmers and became 
residents of McLean County in 1858. They were 
the parents of twelve children, named as follows : 
George, Daniel, James, Charles, Adolphus, Mary 
Ann, Job, Walter, Jennie, Arthur, Thomas and An- 
nie. Job and Walter died while serving in the Union 
army, and James died after coming back from the 
army. Four brothers enlisted in the 52d Illinois 
Infantry on the 17th of September, 1861, and re- 
enlisted as veterans at Pulaski. Tenn., on the 25th 
of December, 1863. E. R. Burt, the subject of 
our sketch, enlisted in Company I, 146th Illinois 
Infantry, on the 26th of August, 1864, and was 
discharged on the 8th of July, 1865, at Springfield, 
because of the close of the war. A number of men 
enlisted in his company had been in the army 
before and were experienced soldiers. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Burt have been born three 
children: Eva J.. Sept. 2!), 1872 ; Mabel H., Oct. 
18, 1874, and Walter A., Feb. 23, 1877. Mr. 
Burt has been Collector of Forest Township for 
one year, and is at present School Director of Dis- 
trict No. 4, which office he has held for fifteen 



years. Mrs. Burt has been married twice, her first 
husband being Philip Howard, with whom she was 
united in marriage in 1868. He was a native of 
New York State, a farmer by occupation and a 
Republican in politics. One child was born to 
them, on Nov. 23, 1869, named Lola L. Mr. 
Howard died in February, 1870. 



J~ AMES MADDEN is a man whose residence 
in Livingston began at a time when neigh- 
bors lived from thirty to forty miles apart, 
and the nearest mill and market for the 
farm products were fifty miles distant. He has 
witnessed the wonderful growth of one of the re- 
markable counties of Illinois from its birth to its 
full manhood. He now resides on section 5, South 
Sullivan Township, where he is engaged in farming 
and stock-raising. 

Mr. Madden was born in Ohio County, Va., near 
the city of Wheeling, Oct. 28, 1828. He was the 
elder of two children born to John and Nancy 
(Tolan) Madden, natives of Pennsylvania. The 
paternal grandparents were Henry and Nancy 
Madden, natives of Ireland. The Tolans on the 
maternal side were of German descent. Grand- 
father Madden was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
army. The father of our subject was a stonema- 
son bv trade, which occupation he followed until 
his death, which occurred during the cholera epi- 
demic in 1832, of which he was among the first 
victims. The mother of our subject died when he 
was very young. 

Our subject lived at Wheeling, Va., until he was 
about seven years old, and in the year 1835, in 
company with James Kain, with whom he resided 
until he was twenty-one years of age, went to Put- 
nam County, 111., and located at Columbia, now 
known as Lacon, Marshall County. They went 
down the Ohio River on a steamer that became dis- 
abled, which compelled them to re-ship on the 
steamboat Argos, which was bound for St. Louis. 
At that city they transferred to the boat Compan- 
ion, on which they proceeded to Lacon. Mr. Mad- 
den remained at that place until 1852. During the 
first twenty years of his life he engaged at farm 



f 



644 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



labor, and in that time cleared out nearly 300 acres 
of timbered land; in the meantime he attended the 
common schools as much as possible, and gained a 
fair education. At the age of twenty he learned 
the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked for 
one 3 - ear. 

On the 19th of November, 1851, Mr. Madden 
WM> married to Susan Hush, daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Cutwright) Hush. She is a native of 
Ohio, born on the 24th of May, 1831 ; her paternal 
grandparents were Pringles, natives of Virginia. 
Immediately after marriage Mr. Madden and his 
wife moved to Livingston County, where he had 
entered 120 acres of wild prairie land on section 
18. At the time of settling on this farm the 
nearest neighbor was one Mazou, twenty-three 
miles north, and the next was forty miles east. The 
nearest market place was Pontiac, and many times 
he had to travel fifty miles to mill. He began the 
improvement of eight}" acres of the land, and in 
1852 built a log house, in which the family lived 
until 1864. Mr. Madden then sold his farm, and 
bought 1 20 acres on section 8 and fort} 7 acres on 
section 5, town 27, range 8. This farm, which was 
partially improved, he sold at the end of one year 
for the purpose of buying 160 acres on section 5, 
upon which he now lives. His present farm has 
been ver3' much improved, and contains three 
dwelling-houses, in one of which Mr. Madden and 
his family reside. He has stocked his farm with 
high grades of Durham cattle and Norman horses. 

During his residence in Livingston County Mr. 
Madden has filled many positions of trust and re- 
sponsibility. In 1861 he was the enrolling officer 
for the Government, and the military draft which 
was made during the latter years of the war was from 
bis enrollment. He takes an active part in politics, 
and acts with the Republican party. He has held 
all of the various township offices, being Assessor 
twenty-two years, Justice of the Peace twenty years, 
and School Director for thirty-three years, which 
latter office he holds at the present time. He is 
now serving his twenty-second year as Commis- 
sioner of Highways. He has always held an im- 
portant relation to the schools of the township, and 
was one of the active men in the organization of 
the school district. During his official career he 



has helped to build several school-houses in Sulli- 
van and Pleasant Ridge Townships. lie was the 
first Congressional Township Clerk of Saunetnin 
Township, which was subsequently divided into 
Saunemin, Sullivan, Pleasant Ridge and Charlotte 
Townships. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Madden have been born ten 
children, six of whom are living George W., Cas- 
sius M., Laura E., James C., Stella R. and Carrie 
L. George W. is in the grain business, and is 
railroad agent at Charlotte; Cassius is married, and 
is farming on the old homestead; Laura, Mrs. J. 
H. Fellows, resides near by on section 7 ; James C. 
is on the old homestead ; Stella R., now Mrs. Up- 
hoff, resides on section 0, Charlotte Township, and 
Carrie L. is still at home. Mr. Madden has given 
all his children good opportunities for securing an 
education, which they have availed themselves of 
to the fullest extent. He is a self-made man, and 
whatever he has of this world's goods was secured 
through his own efforts, hard work and good man- 
agement. He began his life without capital or the 
backing of friends, and has made the fight alone, 
excepting that he has been ably seconded through 
his entire career by the unselfish efforts of his ex- 
cellent wife. 



J "JOSEPH MIES, proprietor of 400 acres of 
valuable land in Saunemin Township, has 
I been in possession of his present homestead 
' on section 3 since the spring of 1 869. He 
is largely engaged in stock-raising, and from a 
modest beginning in life has accumulated quite a 
fortune, for which he is indebted alone to his own 
industry and perseverance. 

Central Illinois has been largely settled by the 
thrifty and enterprising German nationality, who 
possessed the sturdy resolution so essential to the 
development of a new country. Our subject was 
born in the Kingdom of Prussia, Feb. 14, 1834, and 
is the son of Godfried and Elizabeth (Shutz) Mies, 
natives of the same Province as their son. The 
latter received a good education in his native lan- 
guage, and spent his early years on the farm of his 
father who carried on agriculture in a small \v:iv 



T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



(Ho 



ami lived the quiet and unostentatious life of an 
honest man and a good citizen. Joseph remained 
a member of the parental household until twenty 
years of age, and in the spring of 1854 repaired to 
Antwerp and took passage on a sailing-vessel bound 
for America. After an ocean voyage of forty- 
seven days he landed in New York City, and pro- 
ceeded directly to Michigan, where he remained 
until the following year. He came to this State in 
1855, locating first in LaSalle County where he re- 
mained until the outbreak of the late war. He was 
one of the first to respond to the call for troops to 
preserve intact his adopted country, enlisting on 
the 10th of September in Company C, 2d Califor- 
nia Volunteers, and was assigned to guard duty 
principally along the Pacific coast. He was thus 
occupied until in December, 1864, and his term of 
enlistment having expired, he received his honora- 
ble discharge and was mustered out. 

Mr. Mies upon retiring from the army located 
in Omaha. He was boss carpenter on the Union 
Pacific Railroad and built all the water tanks along 
that line. On the 4th of Februaiy, 1867. he was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Ennenbach. They be- 
gan housekeeping in a modest dwelling at Omaha, 
where our subject engaged in farming,, and from 
winch they removed in 1869 to their present home- 
stead, hi due time their household was enlarged 
Ply the birth of nine children, of whom eight are 
living, namely: William K., Henry J., John C'., 
Frank P., George*;., Jacob I?., Anna E. and Joseph 
A. One died unmarried. The children are receiv- 
ing all tin' advantages which education and ample 
mean.-- can beMow, besides careful home training 
from wise and judicious parents. Mr. Mies was 
reared in the faith of the German Catholic Church, 
and after becoming a naturalized citizen, identified 
himself with the Republican party, whose principles 
he has since upheld with all the earnestness of his 
character. Socially he belongs to the G. A. K., at 
Sauucmin, and has always been pleased to encourage 
by his means ami influence' whatever project was 
inaugurated for the benefit of the community 
around him. 

The wife of our subject is a native of Prussia 
and was born in July, 1X47. Her parents, Jacob 
and Anna M. Ennenbach, were natives- of the same 



place, whence they immigrated to America in I* 17, 
and located in LaSalle County, this State, during 
its early settlement. Their family included eight 
children, of whom six survive, namely : Theresa, 
Catherine, Henry, Elizabeth, William and Frank. 
Mrs. Mies was reared in the same religious faith as 
her husband and like him continues a member of 
the German Catholic Church. The Mies estate is 
one of the finest in Saunemin Township, and as the 
result of the labors of the self-made man, is highly 
creditable to the youth who landed in America 
with scarcely money enough to pay for a night's 
lodging. 



eHARLES W r ILSON, now engaged in farm- 
, ing and stock-raising on section 23. Waldo 
Township, was born in Bloomingtou, 111., 
Dec. 4, 1 860. He is the son of John A. and Electa 
A. (Holcomb) Wilson, and is the fourth child in a 
family of ten, as follows: John A.. Jr.. born 
Dec. 13, 1855, is unmarried and lives in Saline 
County. Kan.; Catherine, born May 12, 1867, mar- 
ried David Wilson, has two children, and lives in 
McLean County, III.; Annie. Mrs. Martin Wilson, 
was born Sept. 14, 1859, has three children, and 
lives in Missouri; Charles is our subject; Mary, 
born Dec. 22, 1X61. lives with her father in Bloom- 
ingtou, 111.; she is a short-hand reporter, and writes 
for Ewing (fe Phillips, attorneys-at-Iaw, of Blooming- 
ton. Leila died at the age of three years; Julia, 
born July 4. 1805, is a teacher in McLean County; 
Ida. born March 1, 1868; William, March 26, 1869. 
Albert died in infancy. 

The father of our subject was born in Kentucky, 
Feb. 5. 1M28. and his mother was born in the State 
of New York. Sept. 24. 1833. They both moved 
to Bloomington, 111., where they became acquainted, 
and were married near that city Sept. 5, 1854. 
They reside in Bloomiugton, 111., at the present 
time. Alexander Wilson, the paternal grandfather 
of our subject, was born in Massachusetts in 1800. 
He moved to Kentucky where he married Eliza- 
beth Dorothy, and in 1x54 came to Illinois, where 
his son had already located, and died in 1875. Our 
subject's maternal grandfather, Birdsy Holcomb, 



646 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



was born in Connecticut, Jan. 30, 1 807, and moved 
to Wyoming County, N. Y., whence he came to 
Bloomington, 111., where he died on Thanksgiving 
I):iy, Nov. 23, 1886. 

Charles Wilson was reared on a farm until about 
twelve years of age, when his father discontinued 
fanning and engager] in the real-estate business in 
Normal, 111. Here our subject lived until twenty- 
two years of age, attending the public schools, until 
he received a good common -school education. At 
the age of nineteen years he made a trip to Kansas 
for the purpose of looking after some lands which 
his father owned in that State. While there he 
purchased 160 acres of land and remained one sum- 
mer. After returning to Illinois, he engaged in 
teaming in Normal and Bloomiugton for about 
three years. 

On the 20th of June, 1883, Mr. Wilson was mar- 
ried to Miss Polly A. Clayton, the Rev. Samuel 
Connor of the Christian Church, of Normal, 111., 
being the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Wilson was 
born in Orange County, Ind., Dec. 7, 1862, and 
was- the youngest child in a family of nine. Her 
father died when she was one and a half years of 
age, while her mother died in 1879, and in 1880 
she came with her cousin to Edgar County, 111., 
where' she remained with an uncle for about two 
years. Her uncle afterward moved to Normal, and 
it was here that she became acquainted with the 
gentleman who is now her husband. Of the broth- 
ers and sisters of Mrs. Wilson there are four living: 
Christian J., a Union soldier during the war, is now 
married, lias seven children, and lives in Indiana; 
Matilda, Mrs, William Lee, has two children, and 
lives in Indiana; Elijah is married, has one child, 
and lives in Indiana; Martha 8. lives in Gridley. 
111. 

After Mr. Wilson's marriage, he lived on a farm, 
win-re he engaged in work by the month for about 
two vc:ir>. and in the spring of 1886 he moved upon 
the farm of George Ay res, of Gridley, where he 
now resides. To him and his wife has been born 
one child, a bright little boy named Frank ('., \vhor-e 
birth occurred July 30, 1884. Mr. Wilson is a 
member of the Democratic party, and comes of 
l)emocratic stock on his father's side. His mother 
i> of Republican parentage. He is an active mcm- 



her of the Christian Church, 'and for a man of hi> 
age has obtained a creditable position and standing 
among the men of that section of the county, while 
the future evidently has a bright prospect for him. 




UCIAN BULLARD, Postmaster, Notary 
Public, and otherwise a prominent and act- 
ive citizen of Forest, is a native of St. Law- 
rence County, N. Y., where he was born Oct. 31, 
1831. In the fall of 1844 he came with his father's 
family to Bureau County, 111., the entire distance 
being made in a wagon and occupying thirty days. 
The parents of our subject, Luther and Sally M. 
( Lee) Billiard, were natives of Vermont, where the 
father was born Feb. 1, 1797, and the mother Dec. 
1, 1810. They were married in Fowler, N. Y.. 
April 15, 1827, and became the parents of seven 
children. After their removal to Illinois the fam- 
ily were stricken with typhoid fever, from which 
the father died Nov. 25, 1847, while a son, Chessel- 
tou, had died twenty days before the decease of his 
father, Nov. 5, 1847. The other children were 
named respectively: Lucian, our subject; Lockhart, 
Barak; Delsena, the wife of D. C. Igou; Olla, who 
died in infancy, and Morenus. The mother sur- 
vived her husband nearly thirty-eight years, her 
death taking place at Forest, April 10, 188<i. from 
paralysis. 

After the death of his father Lucian Bullard and 
the family purchased eighty acres of land from the 
Government at $1.25 per acre. This our subject 
labored upon during his younger years, remaining 
with his mother's family until 1852. Hitherto his 
education had been extremely limited, and desir- 
ous of obtaining more book knowledge he entered 
the academy at Granville, 111., and afterward took 
up a course of study in the preparatory department 
of Knox College, at that time under the Presidency 
of Rev. Dr. Blanehard, later of Wheaton College. 
Young Bullard the following year, after a time 
spent as a teacher, took up the study of medicine 
at Victoria, Knox County, which, after prosecuting 
for a term of nine months he was obliged to aban- 
don on account of ill-health. He retired to the 
farm for a time, but unwilling to relinquish his idea 
of becoming a member of the medical profession, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f>47 






returned to his studies, which to his great disap- 
pointment he was compelled to give up a second 
time for the same reason as before. 

Mr. Bullard next engaged at cabinet-making for 
three years, and then returned to the farm. In 
LSI; 1 lie disposed of his land in Bureau County and 
the year following came to Livingston County, and 
purchased the southwest quarter of section 34, in 
what was then township 27. In I860 he took up 
his abode in the village of Forest, where he soon 
became prominently interested in local affairs. In 
1 s7i) he was made Notary Public, receiving his com- 
mission from Gov. John M. Palmer, and still holds 
the office. He has been a Republican since the or- 
ganization of the party. In 1875 he was appointed 
Postmaster under the administration of Gen. Grant, 
and has been continued in the office since that time, 
no change having been made during the general 
hegira of Republican office-holders upon the incom- 
ing of the Democratic administration. Mr. Bullard, 
in connection with his official duties, to which it is 
not necessary to give his entire attention, keeps a 
full line of books, periodicals, stationery, notions 
and wall-paper, and enjoys a profitable trade. He 
represented Forest Township in the Count}' Board 
of Supervisors one year, officiated as Justice of the 
Peace three years, as Town Clerk one year, Assessor 
fifteen years, and has been Township Treasurer for 
the past twelve years. 

The course of Mr. Bullard has been steadily up- 
ward from the beginning, and in 1872 he was 
elected to represent the Eighteenth District in the 
Twenty-eighth General Assembly of the Illinois 
Legislature. In this body he served acceptably 
and with good judgment upon various important 
committees. His life has been stirring and active, 
and his natural industry has led him to find his 
greatest pleasure, in employing his mind and hands 
al -oinetliing which should be of benefit not only to 
himself but to the world around him. 

The marriage of Luciau Billiard and Miss Lizxie 
Clement, of Bureau County, was celebrated on the 
31-1 of December, 18(11. Mrs. Bullard is the 
daughter of Gilbert and Lucy Ann Clement, who 
came from "Vermont to Lamoille, 111., in Ls:!0, and 
is the eldest of ten children, eight girls and two 
lioys. She is a lady of much intelligence, a mein- 



her of the Congregational Church, and an enthusi- 
astic worker in the \V. C. T. U. Four years ago 
she was chosen Treasurer of the Ninth District, 
embracing the counties of Woodford, Marshall, 
Livingston, Iroquois and Kankakee, in which office 
she is still retained. Mr. and Mrs. Bullard are the 
parents of two children Nettie and Nerva. The 
former is the wife of Howard P. Smith, and an ac- 
complished teacher of vocal and instrumental music; 
Nerva is a graduate of the Forest High School, and 
at present is the main assistant of her father in the 
post-office. Mr. Bullard is a warm advocate of the 
principles of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Knight 
Templar, being also for a period of five years Mas- 
ter of Forest Lodge. 

Our subject came near being a victim of the ter- 
rible wreck of the Niagara excursion train on the 
Toledo, Peoria <fe Western Railroad on the night of 
Aug. 10, 1887. He narrowly escaped with his life, 
being terribly bruised about the chest and shoul- 
ders, and disabled for months afterward. The 
scenes of that dreadful catastrophe will never be 
effaced from his memory, and form an experience 
which comparatively few men have passed through. 



ENRY WEN DEL is' well known throughout 
Pleasant Ridge Township as one of its 
youngest and most enterprising farmers. 
Although but thirty-four years of ago he 
has a fine start in life and a valuable property, in- 
cluding 480 acres, which is under a thorough state 
of cultivation, drained with 9,000 rods of tile, and 
exceedingly productive. The farm buildings are 
of the most substantial description, and everything 
about the well-kept premises indicates the industry 
and standing of the proprietor, as will be seen by 
an examination of the view which is presented on 
an adjoining page as a fitting adjunct to this sketch. 
Aside from general farming he is largely engaged 
in stock-raising, buying and shipping annually large 
numbers of cattle and hogs. lie came to this 
county in 1875, and at once established himself on 
his present homestead, where he has effected 
marked improvements since it came into his pos- 
session. 

Mr. Wcndel was born in Bureau Count}', this 




048 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



State, Sept. 12, 1853, and is the son of Frederick 
and Margaret (Druekenprot) Wendel, natives of 
Germany, born in the Province of Bavaria, and the 
representatives of old and excellent families. They 
crossed the Atlantic in 1847, and coming' to the 
West located in Bureau County, where the mother 
died in 1864. The father is still living, and con- 
tinues a small farm which he operates near Men- 
dota, LaSalle Co., 111., although he is practically 
retired from active labor. 

Mr. Wendel was reared on a farm in Bureau 
County, where he attended the district school and 
passed his boyhood and youth. In 1876, the year 
after coming to this county, and after having se- 
lected his future location he was married to Miss 
Margaret Fauber, who was also born in Bureau 
County, July 31, l^.'il. Her parents, John and 
Elizabeth (Rechdenbaugh) Fauber, were natives of 
Germany and of German ancestry. The young peo- 
ple commenced life together under the roof which 
still shelters them, and have become the happy par- 
ents of three children Fred E., Lilly D. and Harry 
J. G. Mr. Wendel keeps himself well posted upon 
matters of general interest, and uniformly casts his 
vote with the Republican party. There seems to 
be no limit to his industry, and with his fine con- 
stitution and excellent health there is scarcely a 
question that he will become one of the most prom- 
inent citizens of Central Illinois. In his agricult- 
ural operations he avails himself of modern meth- 
ods and the latest improved machinery. The cattle 
upon the farm are supplied with water from two 
wind-pumps, the fluid coming from a fine under- 
ground spring- which never fails. The farm is finely 
located, and invariably attracts the attention of the 
p:i>sing- traveler as forming one of the most desira- 
ble homesteads in the southern part of Livingston 
County. 






\w" OHN NASER. A good volunteer soldier 
generally makes a good citizen. A man who 
has served three or four years in defense of 
l '"' Union in the late war, doing his duty 
conscientiously, has learned many things which aid 
in tempering- him to the conditions of life afterward. 



Being disciplined as a soldier, he is capable of dis- 
ciplining himself in such manner as to make the ills 
of life less rugged and more easily borne. The 
subject of this sketch has an enviable war record, 
which it is our pleasure to give somewhat in detail 
in this notice. Mr. Naser is a farmer, stock-raiser 
and mechanic, whose farm is located on section 16, 
in Rook's Creek Township. He is the son of John 
and Barbara (Clump) Naser, and was born in Ma- 
rion Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, on the 1 2th of 
October, 1841. His father died of Asiatic cholera 
when our subject was about six years old, and his 
mother's death had taken place three years previ- 
ously. He was reared on a farm by his uncle, 
Matthias Walters, where his opportunities for edu- 
cation in the common school were very limited, 
though he received some instruction in a private 
school, conducted under the auspices of the German 
Lutheran Church. Our subject formerly spelled 
his name "Nauser." but in 1870, by correspond- 
ence with relatives, found that the correct way was 
as it appears at the head of this sketch. 

At the age of eighteen Mr. Naser entered into 
a contract with E. P. Jackson to learn the trade of 
a carpenter. At this occupation he was engaged 
when the first call for volunteers was issued by 
President Lincoln, and he responded at once by 
enlisting in the three months' service in Company 
A, 17th Ohio Infantry, on the 6th of April, 1801. 
After serving three months Mr. Naser re-enlisted 
for three years, this time in the 61st Ohio Infantry, 
but was transferred to the 58th Ohio Infantry. Dur- 
ing his service in the army he participated in the 
following skirmishes and battles: Ft. Donelson, 
Shiloh, Milliken's Bend, Haynes' Bluff, Greenville, 
Bolivar Landing. Ft. Morgan and Arkansas Post. He 
was also detached for duty on the United States gun- 
boat 'Piltsburg," on which lie was in action at 
Rolling Forks, and while running the blockades 
at Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, Ft. Beauregard and 
Simsport. He rejoined his regiment on the 12th 
of October, 18C3, at Vicksburg-. On account of 
disability received during service at Arkansas Post 
he was sent to the Marine Hospital at St. Louis, 
and was then stationed at the Transportation I'.nr- 
racks, where he was Assistant Quartermaster, and 
had charge of the accounts of the officers with 



PASTURE 40 ACRES . 



PASTURE 4-0 ACRES 







RESIDENCE 80 BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF FARM PROPERTY 



HOMESTEAD LOOKING NORTH 



CORN 60 ACRES . 










HENRY WENDEL .SECTION 32.PLEA5ANT RIDGE TOWNSHIP 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



653 



the Government, remaining there until August, 
18114, when he rejoined his regiment, which was 
doing provost duty at Vickslmrg, and remained 
with it until it was mustered out of the service 
Jan. 8, 18G5, receiving an honorable discharge, and 
complimentary mention from his Captain. He bore 
the rank of Corporal. After his return to Ohio he 
worked on a farm by the month. 

On the 12th of October, 1865, Mr. Noser was 
married to Caroline Good, daughter of Daniel and 
Sarah (Gaster) Good, of Fail-field County, Ohio. 
He then worked at a portable sawmill for about 
two years, during which time the eldest child, Mary 
M., was born, on the 8th of August, 1866. In 1867 he 
moved to Livingston County, 111., where he bought 
120 acres of land on section 1G, in Rook's Creek 
Township, forty acres of which he afterward sold. 
While living here the second child, Laura Ida, was 
born, on the 14th of December, 1867. In the fall 
of 18C8 Mr. Naser sold his farm, and in the spring 
of 1869 moved back to Ohio, where he remained 
four years, devoting a part of his time to work at 
his trade. While living in Ohio his third child, 
Annie Florida, was born, on the 25th of May, 1869. 
and the fourth child, John Henry, on the 5th of 
February, 1871. In November, 1872, Mr. Naser 
moved back to Illinois to the same farm he had 
previously owned, where his remaining children 
were born: Laman Monroe, on the 25th of March, 
1873; Seth Beadress, on the 19th of December, 
1875; Rosina Caroline, Feb. 5, 1877; Lillie Doro- 
thea, Oct. 17, 187!) ; and Jessie May, on the 4th 
of July, 1886. 

Mr. Naser has added to his farm from time to 
time until it now contains 160 acres, on which he 
erected a good house. A portion of it has been 
tile drained, which has added very materially to its 
productiveness. In addition to cultivating his farm 
he devotes considerable time to carpentering. He 
is very progressive in his ideas and is very zealous 
in his efforts to promote the educational interests 
of lii~ township, serving eight years as Director of 
the schools. He ha? also been very active in pro- 
moting the cause of Christianity, and has labored 
for the advancement of the Sunday-school. He has 
always been a Republican and cast his first vote for 
Abraham Lincoln. 



Mr. Naser's parents, born in Germany the 
father in Wurtemberg, and the mother in Baden 
came to this country when children, and were mar- 
ried in Ohio. Mr. Naser had one half-brother, 
i Christopher Clump, who died leaving six children, 
in Shelby County, 111.; and one sister, Rosina. who 
has been married twice, first to Marcus Schwartz, 
by whom she had two children, who live at Co- 
lumbus, Ohio; and second to Henry Schwartz, 
brother of Marcus, by whom she had six children. 
Mrs. Naser's mother was of German descent; 
her father's ancestors originally came from Virginia. 
She is the third child in a family of six, as follows: 
Anna Eliza, married, and has a large family, living 
in Ohio; Mary, married, has six children, and lives 
in Indiana; Caroline, wife of our subject: Jacob, 
married, has five children, and lives in Ohio; John, 
married, has two children, and lives in Indiana; 
Samuel Thomas, married, has one child, and lives 
in Ohio. The mother died in 1864, and the father 
married again. By this marriage there were four 
children Amanda J., Henry 1)., Lavina K. and 
Charley. 



ICIIAEL MORRIS, located on section 2S, 
in Forest Township, was born in Niagara 
County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1843. He came 
to the West when a young man eighteen 
years of age, locating ;it once in Belle Prairie Town- 
ship on the extreme southern line of this county. 
He was here engaged as a farm laborer a year, and 
the late Civil War being then in progress he finally- 
decided to enter the service, and enlisted Sept. 7, 
1862, in Company E, 129th Illinois Infantry. 

Mr. Morris was mustered into service as a Union 
soldier at Fairbury, and marched with his comrades 
to the scene of conflict, thereafter engaging in 
many of the important battles of the war, namely. 
Resaca, Dallas, Peachtree Creek, and other points 
in the South and Southeast. At Atlanta he joined 
the army of (i en. Sherman and was one of those 
who participated in the famous march to the sea. 
He afterward went up through the Carolinas, being 
at Raleigh when the surrender of Gen. Lee took 
place at Appomattox. From there the regiment 
marched to Richmond and thence to Washington, 




I 



654 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



where Mr. Morris was given an honorable discharge, 
and soon afterward set his face westward, return- 
ing to his old haunts in Belle Prairie, and engaging 
in fanning as before for a period of five years. He 
purchased land mi section 32, and lias now 160 
acres under a high state of cultivation. This he 
utilizes mostly in the breeding of fine stock, includ- 
ing blooded Durham cattle, Norman horses and 
Poland-China swine. Me 1ms effected line improve- 
ments. the beautiful homestead being the admira- 
tion of the country around. 

Our subject has an interesting family, includinga 
wife and four children. The former was, in her 
girlhood, Miss Nancy Jane Bradsha w, who was born 
in Tnscarawas County, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1848. Her 
parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio re- 
spectively, and are now living in Fairbury, 111. Of 
this union there were born four children, all living, 
namely : Thomas Sherman, Mary Alice, Flora May 
and Edward Carl: they are all at home with their 
parents. Mr. Morris bears the reputation of a lib- 
eral and public-spirited citizen, and uniformly 
casts his vote with the Republican party, lie is 
one of the leading men of his community, and fur 
the last three years has officiated as School Director. 
Mr. Morris is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 
7.">, Fairbury, 111. 




4 



TEPHEN TRONC, one of the most exten- 
sive land-owners of Livingston Count}', 
possesses a model farm which he built up 
from the uncultivated soil, and where he 
has established one of the most valuable and at- 
tractive homesteads in Avoca Township. His ca- 
reer has been distinguished by industry, good judg- 
ment and intelligence, and he lias always seemed 
to do the right thing at the right time and in the 
right place. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
Mile of the Atlantic, in the Province of Knr-1 lessen, 
(id-many. where his birth took place July 21, 1842, 
at the modest home of his parents, Alexander and 
Catherine (Lndwig) Tronc. The father was of 
French birth and ancestry. ;in<l the mother <>f (ier- 

*. - 



man. Stephen Tronc is a direct descendant of a 
French Hugeuot family, and is the only son of his 
parents. He was reared in his native Province un- 
til a youth nineteen years old, and then crossed the 
Atlantic, making the voyage, which occupied six 
weeks, on a sailing-vessel from Bremen. lie landed 
in the city of Baltimore, whence he started directly 
westward, and took up his abode for a short time 
in LaSallc County, this State, in September, isiid. 
The outbreak of the Rebellion had necessitated an 
urgent call for troops, and he was thus enabled to 
most clearly signalize his intention of becoming an 
American citizen by enlisting in the defense of the 
principles which the majority of Americans hold 
most dear. He enlisted in Company I, llth Illi- 
nois Infantry, and marching with his comrades to 
the scene of conflict, engaged in some of the most 
important battles of the war. After participating 
in the engagements at Fts. Henry and Donelson, 
they moved upon Shiloh, and in the encounter 
with the rebels there Mr. Tronc was wounded in 
both legs, which necessitated his removal to the 
hospital. He was not content to remain long in 
confinement, however, and by the very force of his 
will in a short time recovered so that he rejoined 
his regiment, and had the satisfaction of being- 
present at the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He 
subsequently escaped injury, although meeting the 
enemy in several minor engagements and skirmishes. 
After a service of a little over three years he re- 
ceived his final discharge and was mustered out in 
September, 1864. He then returned to Illinois, and 
in 1868 located near Forest, in this county, whence 
he removed to his present farm on section 2. The 
extensive tract of land which is the property of Mr. 
Tronc lies in Owego and Avoca Townships, and 
embraces one of the most fertile tracts in Central 
Illinois. It is liardlv necessary to state that its 
present condition has been effected by continuous 
and arduous labor, which has been richly rewarded, 
as the property is now very valuable. 

Mr. Tronc took for his wife one of his own coun- 
try-women, namely, Miss Helena Frederick, to 
whom he was married Oct. 16, 1864. at the home 
of the bride in Bureau County. John Frederick, 
the father of Mrs. Tronc, was a native of the same 
Province as Mr. Tronc. He died in April, 18K7. 
H 



t. 



LIVINGSTONC OUNTY. 



600 



Of this union there were born ten children, of 
whom two, Otilla and Rosa S., died in early child- 
hood. Those surviving are Frederick A., Henry 
A., Eliza M., Emma E., Lena S., Birdie A., Katie 
L. and Stephen W. Most of these are at homo 
with their parents. Mr. Tronc having been reared 
in a country which compels its youth to be edu- 
cated, is naturally in favor of the establishment and 
maintenance of schools, and in giving the young 
those advantages to which they are entitled. He 
has served as Director in his district for many years, 
and is a citizen who is among the first to be con- 
sulted upon 'matters tending to the general welfare 
of the people around him. He has served as Road 
Commissioner of Avooa four years, and religiously 
is identified with the Evangelical Association. 
Upon becoming a voting citizen he joined the 
ranks of the Republicans with whom he has since 
affiliated, and is a member of Pontiac Post, G. A. R. 



OSES W. MOULTON, engaged in farming 
and stock-raising on section 36, Pleasant 
Ridge Township, was born in Ionian 
Township, Crafton Co., X. II., on the 6th 
of January. 1837. He is the son of Gabriel G. and 
Sophia P. (Walker) Moulton, both natives of that 
State. The mother died about thirty-seven years 
ago, and the father is now a retired farmer, and still 
lives in New Hampshire at the age of seventy-seven 
years. The paternal grandfather, Jonathan, was :i 
Revolutionary soldier, and died in IMS or 18411 at 
the age of eighty-nine years. He was one of seven 
brothers, all of whom except one lived to be from 
seventy to ninety-three years old. The Moulton 
family has always been noted for its longevity. For 
many generations back they have been farmers by 
occupation and their origin was Scotch-Irish. 

Mr. Moulton was reared upon a farm and ob- 
tained his education in the common schools with a 
short term at an academy. Before he was eighteen 
years of age he began to teach school, and continued 
in that occupation for twelve years. In IS.'IM he 
came West and located at Bloomington, 111., where 
he continued to teach school until 18(17. except 
tlnve years spent, in the army: in the meantime 




he came to this county, and purchased eighty acres 
of raw prairie land, which lie has now in an advanced 
state of cultivation. 

In August, 1862, Mr. Moulton enlisted in Com- 
pany I, !>4th Illinois Infantry, as a private, but 
when the organization of the company was effected 
he was appointed Corporal, and during his service 
was promoted to a Sergeantey. During the time of 
his enlistment the regiment to which Mr. Moulton 
belonged experienced some hard service, endured 
many hardships and participated in several very 
destructive engagements. Mr. Moulton was at the 
capture of Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863, and 
also at the capture of Spanish Fort, near Mobile, at 
Brownsville, Tex., and Pascagoula. Miss. During 
the time he was in the army he received no wound, 
but had a severe spell of typhoid fever, and contracted 
a disease which compelled him to remain for some 
time in a private house under the care of physicians. 
He was mustered out of the service on the 1st of 
August, 180f>, after campaigning for three years. 
Upon his return home from the army Mr. Moulton 
taught school the following two winters. 

On the 2d of April, 1867, Mr. Moulton was mar- 
ried to Miss Julia W. Moulton, who was born in 
Vermont on the 20th of August, 1841, and died on 
the 16th of October, 1870, leaving two children 
Maud A. and Minnie J. On the 20th of February, 
1*77, Mr. Moulton was married again, his choice 
being Kate E. Raber, who was born in Iowa on the 
22d of May, 1848. By a former marriage she had 
one child, named Ettie E. 

Mr. Moulton was elected to the ollice of Super- 
visor of Pleasant Ridge Township in 1*70. and 
was re-elected in the year 1878, serving eight years in 
succession in that office, and for two years was 
Chairman of the Board. lie has held the office of 
Township Treasurer and is still the incumbent. He 
has also been School Director for several years, in 
which capacity he served with much efficiency, hav- 
ing a practical knowledge of school matters. Mr. 
Moulton is one of the leading fanners of Pleasant 
Ridge Township, and manifests considerable pleas- 
ure in assisting all public enterprises. For the last 
twenty-seven years he has been a permanent mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and for two years has 
been Master of Forest Lodge No. 614, while he 



I 



(I r,:,r, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



has filled the other ullices of the lodge. Mrs. Moul- 
ton is a member of the Congregational Church, and 
her two daughters are members of the Christian 
Church. Mr. Moulton is a Universnlist in his re- 
ligions belief, and politically is an adherent of the 
principles of the Republican party. In all respects 
he is a model farmer and an excellent citizen. 




IIARLES E. AXT was appointed Postmaster 
of Odell in 1886, the duties of which office 
he has discharged faithfully and conscien- 
tiously, and in which he has taken a genuine inter- 
est. He has introduced many improvements in the 
methods of conducting the business, and also in 
regard to the appearance of the place, which he has 
caused to be rejuvenated and supplied with new 
and neat furniture which is as much a benefit to 
the office by increasing its importance to the com- 
munity as it is a credit to the Postmaster. With- 
out in any manner neglecting his official duties, 
Mr. Axt is also carrying on a successful jewelry 
business which he established at Odell several years 
ago. 

The early home of Mr. Axt was on the western 
banks of the Mississippi, at Ft. Madison, Iowa, 
where he was born Feb. 19, 1853. He is the eldest 
child of Carl and Elizabeth ( Litchie) Axt, whose 
family included himself and Julius II., and three 
half-sisters Mrs. Annie Anthes. Johanna Litchie 
and Elizabeth Hammer, all residents of Ft. Madi- 
son, Iowa. Carl Axt was born in the city of Koe- 
nigsberg, on the North Sea, in Prussia, where he 
spent his childhood and youth, and learned the 
trade of a locksmith. He served his allotted time 
in the Prn.-ian army and subsequently, at the age 
of twenty-six years, crossed the Atlantic, landing 
first at New Orleans, where he was employed fora 
lime, and then went to St. Louis, and afterward to 
Ft. Madison, Iowa. In the latter place lie took up 
his trade vigorously, adding to it hlacksiuithing ami 
wagon-making, and operated thus several years, 
when, being quite comfortably supplied with mean- 
he resolved to indulge himself with a vi-it to his 
native laud. lie sailed in the summer of I *.")*, and 



remained until the early part of 18511. l ; pon the 
homeward voyage lie contracted a severe cold which 
resulted in typhoid pneumonia, from which he died 
on the 2d of February following. The mother is 
still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. 
Annie Anthes. of Ft. Madison. Iowa. Her other 
son, Julius II., is a druggist at Keokuk, Iowa. 

Mr. Axt was but six years of age at the time of 
his father's death, and afterward made his home 
with his married sister. When of suitable year- he 
took up cigar-making, which employment, however, 
not being congenial to his tastes, he left at the auc 
of thirteen, and engaged with the Northern Line 
Packet Company as cabin boy. I Us close attention 
to his duties led to his promotion, and he soon be- 
came Steward. One season he wa> employed in run- 
ning from St. Louis to New Orleans, and the other 
two which he spent upon the river he ran north 
from St. Louis to St. Paul. When sixteen years of 
age he abandoned river life and returning to Ft. 
Madison, served an apprenticeship at the jeweler's 
trade, and spent the time until he was twenty years 
of age principally at that place. On the loth of 
October, 1873, occurred one of the most important 
events of his life, namely, his marriage with Mis- 
Nellie E. Stewart. The young people commenced 
life together in the city of Ft. Madison, and thence 
removed to Lincoln, 111., where Mix Axt was em- 
ployed at his trade one year, and then coming to 
Odell on Thanksgiving Day in 1874, opened a store 
and established the business in which he ha- since 
been uniformly successful. 

The excellent qualities of Mr. Axt as a citizen 
and member of society soon developed themselves, 
and he was called to various local offices, being first 
elected Village Clerk, which position he held ten 
vear- in succession. Being Democratic in politics, 
upon the change of administration it was not long 
before he wn> -elected as the proper incumbent of 
the post-office, to which position he was a]>)M tinted 
on the 7th of January. 1 S,sc,. The office was then 
rated as fourth-cla>s. and Mr. Axt put forth all his 
energies to place it in a better position, and finally 
received his appointment direct from the President. 
at which time the office was rated as third-cla . 
lie has given much of his timeand attention beyond 
what was naturally required to make it of Sufficient 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



(if, 7 



importance to the people of this .section, and it now 
is the source of a neat revenue, which adds accord- 
ingly to the salary Of the position. 

Mrs. Axt was born in West Point. Iowa, June 22, 
1853, and is the eldest child of Alexander and Mary 
(Marsh) Stewart, natives respectively of Maine and 
Ohio. Her maternal grandfather, William Marsh. 
was a native of Maine, and for many years a Pre- 
siding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The parental family included five children, who are 
now mostly residents of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Axt 
are the parents of three bright and winsome little 
girls : Linnie. born Feb. 1 8, 1875 ; Maymie E., Aug. 
21, 1879, and Anna Grace, Aug. 25, 1881. Mr. 
Axt belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being Master 
of Odell Lodge No. 401, and is also one of the 
Grand Trustees of the Grand Lodge, I. O. M. A., of 
Illinois. 



. "if 1 OSEPH M. BURNHAM is one of the leading 
agriculturists of Dwight Township, living on 
a 240-acre farm located on section 27. He 
is from an old New England family, of which 
there are three distinct branches, one in Massachu- 
setts, one in Connecticut and one in Maine. This 
family traces its ancestry back to a time when four 
brothers were living on a farm near London, En- 
"iMiid. Three of these brothers came to this coun- 
try in 1683, and settled in the States respectively 
named above, each founding a distinct branch of 
the family. The fourth brother remained in En- 
gland, and died a bachelor on the farm which was so 
near London that it formed a suburb, finally becom- 
ing a part of the city itself, and consequently was 
very valuable property. The fourth brother died 
without a will or English heirs, and the American 
heirs taking no interest in recovering the estate, 
this property reverted to the Crown, and thus be- 
came lost to its rightful owners. Several attempts 
have since been made to recover it, but they have 
never been pushed vigorously enough to meet with 
success. 

Nathaniel Biirnham, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Maine, where he was one of the 
first settlers of Harrison Township, Cumberland 
County. He was married to a Mi>s Scribnor, who 



was from an old Maine family. The great-grand- 
father was killed while felling a tree in what was 
1 then a wilderness, Bridgton Centre, Me., but which 
1 is now quite a large town. A Baptist Church stands 
upon the spot where he fell and where he was buried. 
Nathaniel Burn ham, the father of our subject, was 
born on the old homestead at Harrison, Me. The 
old house was built of the best "'pumpkin " pine 
and kept well painted, and stands to-day in a good 



state of preservation, with a prospect that it will 



last for centuries to come, although it is now over 
eighty years old. Maine in those days was'covered 
with the primitive forests, and pine and other trees 
grew luxuriantly and were immense in size. The 
early settlers were men of iron frame and great 
mental vigor, and from such descends the Burnham 
family. They were men who went fearlessly into 
the wilderness, and cut out homes from the forests, 
fearing nothing and no one but God. 

Nathaniel Burnham was a farmer, and married 
Miss Mary Mustard, whose mother was a Thomp- 
son, and was a niece of Samuel Thompson, of Top- 
sham, Me., who was a man of great wealth, but 
known as an eccentric character, and generally 
called " old Sam Thompson." Mr. Burnham by 
his first wife had but one son, our subject, who was 
born on the 21st of April, 1840. His first wife died, 
and he married Miss Olive Sawyer, of Madison, 
Me. Mr. Burnham drove the stage from Anson to 
Augusta, and sometimes to Portland, in the days 
when staging was the only means of transportation. 
In 1865 he came to Dwight, 111., where he died at 
the home of his son, Joseph M. He was a Baptist 
in his religion, and a Republican in politics. 

Joseph M. Burnham, our subject, was born on 
the old homestead built by his father, and was af- 
forded a common-school education. He learned 
the details of practical farming, and at the age of 
twenty-four, in March, 1864, came to Odell, 111., 
where he engaged in herding cattle and farming 
until 1857. 

On the i8th of February, 1867, Mr. Burnham 
was married to Jane W. Gray, daughter of John 
and Mary (Urquehart) Gray, who were early set- 
tlers in Grundy County, 111., and came to this coun- 
try from Scotland in 1830, at which time Mrs. 
, Burnham was an infant in her mother's arms. In 



658 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1868 Mr. Burnham inherited from Samuel Thomp- 
son, of Topsham, Me., $14,000 as his share of the 
estate. Mr. Thompson did not intend th.it Mr. 
Burnham should ever receive a dollar of his money, 
lint he died without a will, and but for the circum- 
stance that Mrs. Thompson outlived her husband a . 
few hours, thus coming into possession of the greater 
part of the entire estate, which she willed away, 
Mr. Burnham would have fallen heir to a large fort- 
une. In 186!) Mr. Burnham bought his present 
farm of '240 acres, which he has improved by the 
erection of good buildings, the sinking of an arte- . 
sian well, etc. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Burnham five children have 
been born Nathaniel F., John S., Mabel M\, Car- 
rie .1. and Clarence E. Nathaniel F. died in in- 
fancy. In the year 1870 Mr. and Mrs. Burnham 
went on a pleasure trip through the Eastern States, 
visiting Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Bos- 
ton, Portland, Me., and the familiar scenes in the 
old Pine Tree State. These scenes he had held 
vividly in his memory, and upon revisiting them 
the old song recurred to his mind, " How dear to | 
my heart are the scenes of my childhood, when fond 
recollection recalls them to view." 

For many years Mr. Burnham has taken consid- 
erable interest in political matters, affiliating with 
the Republican party, and in official capacities has 
served as Road Commissioner, and filled several 
other township offices. Both he and his excellent 
wife are held in high esteem by all who have the 
pleasure of their acquaintance. 



yS=7T'ACHARIAII WALTER, who has attained 
/// considerable prominence as an entevpriMiig 
jML^i} farmer, and a progrosive stock-raiser, i.- loca- 
ted mi section 13, Reading Township. lie was burn 
on the 14th of December, 1831, in the State of 
Pennsylvania, and is the son of Henry and Eliza- 
beth (Werner) Walter, natives of Pennsylvania. To 
the parent- were born the following-named chil- 
dren: Elizabeth Henry, Sarah, Mary, Xachariah, Al- 
len, Susan, Leah, Lydia, and one who died in in- 
fancy. They afterward removed from Pennsylvania 
to Ohio, in 1834, where the father followed the oc- 



cupation of a farmer, although he had followed the 
trade of a tailor in Pennsylvania. The mother was 
of a family of nine children, all of whom are now 
deceased excepting one brother who resides in 
Ohio, and a sister who resides in Pennsylvania. 

Zachariah Walter, our subject, was but three years 
of age when his parents moved to Ohio, where he 
resided until 1 850. In the winter of that .year he 
came to Marshall County, 111., and remained un- 
til the spring of 1851, when he moved into Read- 
ing Township, where he has since resided. On the 
llth of August, 1853, Mr. Walter was married to 
Miss Malinda Deffenhnugh, a native of Ohio, who 
was born on the 2d of August, 1 835. To them 
were born a large family of children, four of whom 
are deceased. The record of the children is as 
follows: Oliver, born Jan. 18, 1855, married to 
Miss Belle Ryan, who died leaving two children; 
he married a second time, and is a bridge carpen- 
ter by occupation, living in California. Nelson, 
born May 18, 1K56, and died about 1868; Melissa, 
born Nov. 20, 1857, died in infancy; Andrew, born 
Jan. 7, 1 860, married Margaret Buzzard, and they 
have one boy; William, born March 25, 1862, and 
died June 2:3, 1886; he married Lizzie Mont- 
gomery, by whom he had two children, one of whom 
is deceased. Lewis, born March 8, 1864, is unmar- 
ried and resides at home; Charles, born Dec. 19, 
1866, and died when quite young; Jones, born 
Sept. 30, 1868; Cora, born July 22, 1871 ; Louisa, 
born Sept. 28, 1873; an infant born Feb. 28, 1876, 
deceased ; Morris, born March 2i, 1 877 ; Jessie, 
born Oct. 27, 18711. Melinda Walter, the mother 
of these children, died on the 2d of October, 1 880. 
She was one of a family of nine children, the names 
of the others being Lewis, Oliver, Louisa, Eliza- 
beth, Caroline, Rachel, Catharine and Marion. 
Lewis died in the army, leaving a wife and one 
child. Oliver, deceased, was married, and had 
two children, one of whom died; Louisa had a 
family of five children, two by her first husband 
and three by her second husband; Elizabeth died 
leaving a family of three children, one of whom is 
deceased; Caroline died leaving one child, who 
has since died; Rachel died leaving three children; 
Catherine has four children, and resides in Kan.-a-; 
Marion has one child and lives on a farm in Kansas. 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



fin 9 



Our subject owns n farm of 200 acre.-*, which he 
cultivates after the most approved method, and has 
adorned by the erection of substantial buildings. 
Besides the homestead there is another house occu- 
pied by a tenant. In politics Mr. Walter goes with 
the Democratic party. He has been School Director 
for twelve years, and was chosen as Road Commis- 
sioner, but after serving for a time he resigned. 
Since his residence in Reading Township Mr. Wal- 
ter has thoroughly identified himself with whatever 
might promote the interests of the people of the 
township. He is a citizen who has attained an en- 
viable reputation for promptness and reliability, 
and enjoys the confidence of all his neighbors. 




B. SHEPHERD. A farm of 160 
acres of land located almost anywhere in 
Livingston County is considered of great 
(igii) value, but a tract of that size on section 
31, Chatsworth Township, is considered particu- 
larly valuable, because of the peculiar fertilitj' of 
the soil and other advantages. The subject of 
this sketch may therefore consider himself fortunate 
that when he settled there in the spring of 1869 he 
became the possessor of this identical farm. 

Mr. Shepherd is a native of Adams County, 
Ohio, where he was born on the 21st of March, 
1 841 . His parents were Johnson and Mary (Henry) 
Shepherd, who were natives of Brown County, 
Ohio. Johnson Shepherd grew to manhood in his 
native county, where he married Malinda Living- 
ston, and in 1833 came to Illinois and settled near 
Hennepin, Putnam County, where he engaged in 
farming. While living there his wife died, leaving 
to his care two children William W. and Ellisson 
L. William W. resides in Putnam County, and 
Ellisson L. in Macon County, Mo. After the 
death of his wife Mr. Shepherd returned to Ohio, 
where he married Mary Henry, the mother of the 
subject of this sketch. In 1861 he again came to 
Illinois, settling in Putnam County, and in 1869 
removed to Chatsworth Township, where he died 
on the oth of August, 1874. His widow died on 
the 10th of January, 1883. They had four chil- 
dren Sarah Ann, Mary E., Agnes and Henry B. 



Sarah is the wife of R. L. Patton : Mary E. was 
married three times, her husbands being William 
Thompson, K. Gibson and W. Meyers; she died on 
the llth of September, 1878. Agnes, now Mrs. 
James Moore, resides in Pawnee County, Neb. 

The subject of this sketch is the only son, and 
was reared on the farm, obtaining what education 
he has in the common schools. He accompanied 
his parents to Illinois in 1861, and on the 16th of 
May of that year enlisted in the army, but was 
assigned to duty with the State Militia of Ohio 
until the following October, when he was discharged. 
When Mr. Shepherd came to Illinois he followed 
the occupation of a farmer until 1869, when he 
came to Livingston County, where he settled. He 
now owns 160 acres of land, which is well improved 
and is among the best farms in the county. 

Mr. Shepherd was married, on the 20th of March, 
1866, to Hannah M. Husted, a native of Franklin 
County, Ind., and the daughter of William and 
Rachel Husted. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the 
parents of eight children, as follows: Mauriel K., 
Mary A., Ethelwyn O., Millie T., Sigmund C., 
Jacob H., Lyle J. and Bernice. Mr. Shepherd is 
an active member of the Republican party, and re- 
gardless of political matters has been chosen to fill 
several local offices. He is held in high esteem by 
the people of the surrounding neighborhood, with 
all of whom he is on good terms. Socially he is a 
member of the I. O. M. A. 

As illustrative of the homesteads which attract 
the attention of the traveler in this section of 
country we present on another page of this Ai.nr.M 
a view of Mr. Shepherd's residence and environ- 
ments. 



OHN WADE. The subject of this sketch 
has been a resident of Eppard's Point 
Township for only six years, but during 

that time he has demonstrated the fact that 
^^^/ 

he understands how to make a success of farming, 
and performs the many details of a farmer's life in- 
telligently and practically. He is a man of excel- 
lent education and considerable experience in 
affairs. When a boy he was blessed with educa- 




660 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



tional advantages that few of tbe sons of pioneers 
enjoyed, and his army experience broadened his 
ideas of the responsibilities of life. lie comes of 
an excellent family, the reputation of which he is 
maintaining admirably. 

Mr. Wade's farm, on which he has been located 
but six years, is situated in Eppard's Point Town- 
ship, where he removed from McLean County, 
where he had been engaged in farming in Yules 
Township since 18C6. Mr. Wade was born on the 
25th of September, 1840, in Oberlin, Ohio, and re- 
mained at the home of his father, assisting on the 
farm and attending school at Oberlin College until 
the 25th of August, 1861, when he enlisted in the 
16th Ohio Light Artillery, which was comtnadned 
by Ciipt. James A. Mitchell, who was killed dur- 
ing the siege of Vicksburg. This battery soon left 
Ohio and camped for the first time in St. Louis, 
and was for a considerable time engaged in cam- 
paigning in Missouri and Arkansas. It was in all 
the battles and inarches under the command of 
Gen. Curtis, including the battle of Pea Ridge. 
Soon after the siege of Yicksburg Mr. Wade took 
sick and was sent to the United States Hospital at 
Keokuk, Iowa, from which he was discharged by 
order of the United States Inspecting Officer, in 
1K63. Mr. Wade had a brother named Ira, a 
member of Company E, 124th Ohio Infantry, who 
was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and buried 
by the rebels, but as his grave was unmarked it has 
never been identified. He was a senior in the Ohio 
Class at Oberlin College, and held the rank of 
Corporal in the company to which he belonged. 

After Mr. Wade was discharged from the army 
he returned to his home in Ohio. In I860 he came 
to McLean County, 111., where he occupied lands 
which he had purchased the year before, five miles 
southeast of Chenoa, upon which he lived until 
1881, when he sold his land there and purchased 
320 acres on section 30, Eppard's Point Township, 
Livingston County, upon which he now resides. 
This is one of the best farms in the county, and 
contains an excellent stone quarry. 

Oliver Wade, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Decrfield, N. II., in 1814. and 
the grandfather was Caleb M. Wade, who was a 
native of the same State, while the family dates 



back to its early settlement. He died in 1870 
at St. John's, Mich., and was over one hundred 
years of age. For many years of his life he was a 
Baptist minister. Oliver, the father of the subject 
of this sketch, had a family of five children, four of 
whom are living, as follows: Laura E. C. ; George, 
who was a member of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery; 
Franklin, and the subject of this sketch. 

John Wade was married to Susan Squire, a native 
of Ohio, and they had four children: Lydia, Mrs. 
C. A. Little, of Yates Township, McLean County; 
Edward, Emma and Ira. Mr. Wade was a second 
time married, to Martha St. John, daughter of John 
St. John, of Eppard's Point Township. To them 
have been born four children Olive, Eva, Oliver 
and Erwin. Mr. Wade is a member of the G. A. 
R. Post at Chenoa, of which order he is an enthusi- 
astic comrade. 




H ARLES SHOLL, the subject of this sketch, 
is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 20, 
Long Point Township. He is a native of 
New York, and was born in 1858. All the knowl- 
edge that he has of his parents is that his father's 
name was David Sholl, and that his mother died 
in the State of Michigan. He has never known 
the tender care and affection of a mother, and has 
never had the advantages of the counsel and en- 
couragement of a father. Had the system of pre- 
serving the records of the lives of parents and 
children in biographical albums been in vogue 
during their lives, as it is now, Mr. Sholl would 
have had preserved to him a knowledge of his 
parents and their ancestors. As it is, the source 
from which he springs is not known, and the his- 
tory of the family before him is a closed book. 
Whatever of success, therefore, which he has at- 
tained in life is wholly through his own efforts, 
unaided by kith or kin, and his record up to this 
time in the battle for a place among mankind is 
one of which he has reason to be proud. Through 
industry, economy and good management he hns 
already put himself in a position in which he can 
live comfortably during his life. 

During his younger days Charles Sholl was cared 



; 




RES, OF MATILDA M?.VAY, SEC. 8. AMITY TOWNSHIP. 




RES. OF JONAS 1. Ho WELL, SEC. 20. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



601 



for by a sister until old enough to go out into the 
world for himself. As soon as he was old enough 
to work he came to Illinois and secured employ- 
ment on a railroad which was being constructed 
through Bureau County. His work consisted of 
getting out timber and preparing it for use on the 
road. By dint of industry and economy he saved 
sufficient money to pay for 120 acres of land, 
located as indicated above. He has worked in- 
dustriously and continuously to place this land 
under a good state of cultivation and has succeeded 
admirably. Mr. Sholl is unmarried and prefers, 
as he expresses it, to remain so. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, but does not take an active part in 
political matters, being content simply to vote at 
all the elections for the nominees of his party. 



^ OHN T. PHILLIPS, one of the most promi- 
nent men of Pike Township, has a fine prop- 
erty on section 10, where he took up his 
abode in the fall of 1885. Mr. Phillips is a 
native of Tazewell County, where he was reared 
and farmed nine years. He then purchased 120 
acres of wild land, from which he built up a good 
farm, which he sold at a handsome sum in 1874. 
With a part of the proceeds he purchased his pres- 
ent homestead, and has now fully identified himself 
with the interests of the people of this section. He 
has been Assessor for the last ten years, and has 
officiated as census taker, Town Clerk and School 
Director. He cast his first Presidential vote for 
Abraham Lincoln, and has been a Republican since 
becoming a voting citizen. 

Mr. Phillips was born in Tazewell County, this 
State, Sept. 14, 1837. His grandfather, Cornelius 
Phillips, was a native of North Carolina, who was 
born Oct. 29, 1767, and was united in marriage in 
his native State to Miss Rhoda Moore. Grand- 
mother Phillips was a native of the same State as 
her husband, and born in 1771. After marriage 
they removed to Wayne County, Ky., where the 
grandfather purchased a tract of land, and there they 
spent the remainder of their lives, his death taking- 
place Sept. 20, 1834, and that of his wife Feb. 17. 



1847. Their fourteen children were named Mary, 
Alfred, Macajah. James, Sarah, Elizabeth, Abner, 
Ephraim, Hiram, Nancy, Pleasant B., John W.. 
Minerva and Lucinda. The eldest was born Nov. 
9, 1793, and the youngest, Aug. 4, 1814. 

Alfred Phillips, the father of our subject, was 
born in North Carolina, Dec. 31, 1794. and com- 
menced his education in the schools of his native 
county. He was a lad of ten years when his parents 
removed to Kentucky, and he staid with them until 
his marriage in 1824, with Miss Susan Culloin, who 
was born Jan. 15, 1804. Six years afterward they 
emigrated to this State, and Mr. Phillips entered 
300 acres of land in Tazewell County in the fall of 
1830. He proceeded at once with the cultivation 
of his land, and continued making improvements 
until his death, on the 6th of May, 1857. The wife 
and mother survived until May 28, 1875. Both 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
with which Mrs. Phillips had been connected for 
over fifty years. Their remains rest side by side 
in Buckeye Cemetery, Morton Township, Tazewell 
County. Alfred Phillips had been prominent in 
the local affairs of Tazewell County, serving as 
Sheriff, and occupying other offices. The parental 
household included nine children, namely : Eliza- 
beth, the wife of Jacob Banta, of Eureka, Woodford 
County; Hiram L., deceased; Micajah S. died in 
August, 1887; William C., Alfred C.; John T., our 
subject; James M., Edward M. and Isaac N-> the 
latter an attorney-at-law in Bloomington. 

John T. Phillips was borii Sept. 14, 1837, and 
fairly educated in the schools of his native county. 
He lived at home until after reaching his majority, 
and was married, Feb. 28, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth 
S. Monroe, a native of Arbroath, Forfarshire, Scot- 
land, her birth taking place Jan. 22, 1839. She is 
the daughter of William and Margaret (Nicols) 
Monroe, and came to the United States with her 
parents when a young girl fourteen years of age. 
Mr. Phillips after his marriage rented land in Taze- 
well County, as we have said, and his career since 
that time has been uniformly fortunate. His family 
includes eleven children, of whom the record is as 
follows: Lilly was born March 0, 1862, and is the 
wife of J. H. Sandmoyer, of McLean County; Isa- 
bolle was born June 10, 1863, and is teaching school 



\ 



662 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in Pike Township; William A. was born April 9, 
1865; Edward A., Jan. 5, 1867; Lucius C., Jan. 7, 
1869; Susan M., July 3, 1871; Maurice M., Feb. 
24, 1873; Nora was born Dec. 6, 1874, and died 
Nov. 8, 1877; Maude was born May 28, 1877; 
Jane P. was born Oct. 25, 1878, and died November 
8 following; Ralph W. E. was born Dec. 8, 1881. 
Mrs. Phillips is a lady held in high esteem, and a 
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. 




EVY SNYDER, who has been a farmer and 
stock-raiser at his present location, on section 
1 a, Newtown Township, for the last six years, 
was born in Butler County, Pa., on the 7th of April, 
1 843, and was about five years of age when his par- 
ents came to Illinois and settled in what is now 
known as Newtown Township. They located on sec- 
tion 17, whore they resided until their death. 

John Snyder, the father of our subject, was born 
in Butler County, Pa., May 15, 1807, and was the 
son of Phillip Snyder, whose parents were natives 
of Germany, who came to Pennsylvania at a very 
early day. He was married twice, and the chil- 
dren by the first wife were John, Phillip, Betsy and 
Jane. By the second wife there were five Hiram, 
Jonathan, Eleanor, Rebecca and Deborah who 
are all living in the same county in Pennsyl- 
vania where they were born. John Snyder was 
first married to Mahala Hill, and by her two chil- 
dren were born, Thomas and Sarah ; the mother died 
when Sarah was a babe. Thomas died when but 
ten or eleven years of age, and Sarah grew to 
womanhood and married Men-it Williams, who died 
about one year after ward, leaving one child. About 
three years afterward Sarah was married to Will- 
iam Lawton, a native of England, who came to this 
country and settled in Livingston County when 
about twenty years of age. To them were born 
three children, whose names were Merrit E., Lucy 
and Julia; they are all married, and live in Carroll 
County, Iowa. 

The father was a second time married, to Mary 
Mortland, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them 



were born three children: Clinton I), is married, 
and engaged in farming in Newtown Township: he 
has three children Phillip, Nancy Margaret and 
Nora May. John Calvin, deceased, and Levy. 
John Calvin was born June 11, 1838, in Penn>yl- 
vania; lie came to Livingston County with his par- 
ents, and married Phoebe Jane Thomas, daughter of 
Joel and Rachel (Leonard ) Thomas. Her father was 
born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1X1 1, and now 
lives in Hardin County of the same State; the 
mother was born in Washington County, Pa., May 
26, 1815. They were the parents of nine children, 
five of whom are now living: Phoebe Jane and 
George W., in Ohio; William L., in Michigan ; John 
and Angelina, in Ohio. Phoebe Jane, the wife of 
J. C. Snyder, came to Illinois with her uncle, Sam- 
uel Pope, and settled in this township. John and 
Phcwbe Jane Snyder were married on the 29th of 
August, 1X61, by Rev. Joseph Robertson, pastor of 
the United Brethren Church. The)' lived in Read- 
ing Township, and came to this locality in 1868. 
To them were born the following-named children : 
John McClelland, Joel Thomas, George Erastus, 
Rachel Ellen and Lillie Victoria. John Calvin 
Snyder died on the 18th of August, 1874, and is 
buried in the cemetery at Phillips. The widow is 
now living on a snug farm near Manville. Levy, 
our subject, was the third child, and the mother 
died in Indiana about eight months after he was 
born. Three or four years after this the father was 
again married- in Indiana. 

The father moved from Indiana just after the 
death of his second wife, and engaged in fanning. 
Through a disease called milk-sickness he lost his 
wife, one child, and all his livestock, in the year 
1843. The father's third wife was Nancy Kilgore, 
a native of Ohio, and of this union was born one 
child, Elizabeth, who died when about two and one- 
half years of age. The father was married in the 
evening, and on the next morning started for Illi- 
nois, b) 1 the pioneer conveyance. He bought lands 
here, which lie improved, and devoted his time to 
fanning. His hist wife died in 1.S79, at the age of 
about seventy-three years, and is buried in Phillips 
Cemetery: she was a member of the Presbyterian 
Church, to which she was much devoted. The fa- 
ther died in May, 1880. He was reared a Seceder, 



jm 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



663 



and during the later years of his life was a religious 
enthusiast, but did not hold active connection with 
any church denomination. 

Levj' Snyder, the subject of this sketch, remained 
at home with his parents until his marriage, which 
event occurred in Newtown Township, Dec. 18, 
1867, the lady of his choice being Mary M. Phillips, 
daughter of Jacob and Amy J. Phillips, of Newtown 
Township. The ceremony was performed by Rev. 
Joseph Robinson, a local minister of the United 
Brethren Church. The result of this marriage has 
been five children: Orville Perry, born Sept. 4, 
1868; William Amos, Sept. 9; 1871; John Frank- 
lin, Feb. 19,1874; Jacob Marion, Jan. 19, 1879; 
George Henderson, born Dec. 24, 1881, and died 
June 25, 1887. In 1881 Mr. Snyder purchased his 
present farm of 147 acres, upon which he located 
in 1882, and since that time has been extensively 
engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has made 
many material improvements about the place, in- 
cludingjditches, fences, and the erection of necessary 
buildings. Mr. Snyder is a man of strong political 
convictions, and may he written down as a radical 
Republican. He takes great pride in the achieve- 
ments of that party since its organization, and con- 
gratulates himself on the fact that he has contrib- 
uted in every way possible to its success. By the 
people of his neighborhood he is considered a thor- 
oughly good citizen, and enjoys the esteem, respect 
and confidence of all. 




T 



ILAS D. DUELL, of Fairbury, is an ex- 
tensive dealer in horses, and is a man of 
much knowledge of that business. He 
is a native of New York State, and was 
born on the 29th of June, 1837, in New London. 
He is the son of Wilbur and Betsy (Andrews) 
Duel), natives of England and Massachusetts re- 
spectively. The father was an owner of a steam- 
boat, and was also captain of a steamer. He lost 
his life by a blast from a stone quarry in New 
York in 1847, and his wife died in that State in 
1885. They were the parents of five children: 



Laura A., Mrs. Phillips; James, who married Miss 
Mary A. Linate; Silas D. ; George, who married 
Mary Nerber, and Jane, now Mrs. Cook. 

Silas D. Duell was married to Miss Cordelia Ma- 
honey on the 25th of April, 1855. She was born 
in Lewiston, Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1836, and is 
the daughter of Patrick and Hannah (Smith) Ma- 
honey, the former a native of Canada, and the lat- 
ter of New York; both her parents are now living, 
the father being seventy-four and the mother sev- 
enty-two years of age. They are the parents of 
seven children : Hannah, now Mrs. Duell; Edwin, 
who married Casey Cumston; Susan, now Mrs. 
John Morris; Almira, Mrs. Stuckey; Josephine, 
Mrs. Moore; Jennie, now the widow of Mr. King, 
who was killed in a coal shaft in 1886; and Effa, 
Mrs. T. Sterling. 

Mr. and Mrs. Duell have three children Charles 
i D., Lydia L. and Frank. Charles D. married Miss 
: Ida Cook; he has two children by a former wife. 
Lydia L. married George Enslow, and has one 
child living in Alexandria, Neb. Mr. Duell had 
very meagre advantages in the way of early edu- 
cation. From infancy he was kept on board of 
the vessel of which his father was captain, on the 
Erie Canal, and as soon as he was old enough was 
put to steering the boat, in which work he was en- 
! gaged until twenty years of age, when he came 
West and settled in Indian Grove Township, where 
he has since lived. The first land he bought after 
arriving in the West was eighty acres in McLean 
County, and then he bought forty acres in Living- 
ston County and engaged in farming on the latter 
tract for two years, making a specialty of raising 
horses, cattle and hogs. At the end of two years 
he rented his laud and moved to Fairburj-, where 
he purchased a house, and soon engaged in the liv- 
ery business and buying army horses. He was the 
first man in this region to ship horses to the army 
and the New York market. He is also the pioneer 
in shipping horses from the Territories to this re- 
gion of country for sale. He is a speculator by 
nature, and among his transactions he mentions 
having bought town lots here for $100 and dispos- 
ing of them for $2,000. He has been successful in 
his speculations, and has accumulated about 
$30,000 worth of property, being the owner of 



f 



<;<; i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



three good farms, all under cultivation, and a large 
amount of town property. 

Mr. Duell is a member of Fairbury Lodge No. 
290, I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members 
of the Baptist Church, of which he is one of the 
Trustees. In politics, he is a Republican, first, last 
and all the time. He is a valuable man to a com- 
munity, because he takes an interest in everything 
that tends to the welfare of the people. He is en- 
terprising, liberal and sociable, and Fairbury can 
consider herself fortunate in having such a citizen 
within her limits. 






HORNICKLE, of German ville 
II Township, hns been for the last thirty 3 r ears 
pursuing the even tenor of his way as a quiet 
and law-abiding citizen of this county, to which he 
came in the spring of 1858. He has a good farm 
of 1 60 acres on sections 8 and 9, which he has brought 
to a state of thorough cultivation, despite the fact 
that he has labored under considerable disadvant- 
age in not having the full use of one of his limbs. 
Mis energy and perseverance, however, have served 
him in good stead, and have enabled him to accom- 
plish more than many able-bodied men. 

Our subject was born in the Province of Ilesse- 
Cassel, Germany, Aug. 14, 1843, and is the son of 
John and Margaret (Schuck) Hornickle, who were 
also of German birth and parentage, and emigrated 
to the United States with their family in 1N57, 
when Nicholas was a youth fourteen years of age. 
They located first in Peoria, and the following 
spring came to this county. Our subject developed 
into manhood, imbued with the industrious habits 
of his ancestry, and determined to establish in his 
adopted country a good home and position among 
honest men. He was first married in the fall of 
1873, to Miss Hannah Clinic, a native of LaSallc 
County. After becoming the mother of three chil- 
dren, she departed this life at her home April 26, 
1880. The offspring of this union, two sons and a 
daughter, were named Edward, Louisa and John. 

In the spring of 1882 Mr. Hornickle was the 
second time married, to Miss Mary Wurmuest, a 
native of his own Province in Germany, who came 



to this country in her girlhood. She is the mother 
of four children, namely : Martha. Jacob, Lizzie and 
Anna. The fine farm of Mr. H. is supplied with 
neat and substantial buildings, surrounded by a gen- 
eral air of comfort and prosperity. He takes very 
little interest in politics, preferring to give his time 
and attention to his fanning interests. He was 
reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, of 
which he still remains a devout member. 




HARLES WORDEN. The time will come, 
if it is not at hand now, when the man who 
was born in Illinois when it was one of the 
young States of the Union, will be exceedingly 
proud of the fact, as it is destined to take its place 
at the top of the list, from the reason that its natu- 
ral resources are vaster and more varied than those 
of any other State, and its strides in the race for 
supremacy in the sisterhood have been more rapid 
and successful than any other commonwealth. It 
will soon have the largest American city which will 
control the markets of the world, the largest area of 
tilled land, and the most abundant production of 
domestic animals. The native of Illinois can prob- 
ably point to the position the State now occupies, 
but the future has in store for her tilings that will 
make her heart swell with greater pride and joy. 

One of the men who will enjoy this privilege is 
the subject of our sketch, who was bom in Hender- 
son County, 111., on the 10th of October, 1847, and 
is one of the wealthy and substantial farmers of 
Belle Prairie Township, residing on section 6. lie 
is the son of John and Mary A. (Salter) Worden, 
who were natives of New Jersey, and born respect- 
ively in 1821 and 1830. They were married in 
Ohio in the year 1*43, and came to Illinois in 1846, 
locating in Henderson County, where he bought i! Id 
acres, and became a large Mock-grower. Then- 
were born to them twelve children, all of whom are 
living, and it is a strange coincidence that at no 
time during their lives have they all >at around the 
sime table at the same time, the older children. 
many of them, hay ing grown u)> and married before 
the youngest were born. A family reunion at the 



4 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



residence of the parents at their home in Sunnier 
County, Kan., is contemplated, at which all the 
children and grandchildren shall assemble. The 
names of the members of this large family are as fol- 
lows: Hannah E., Charles, Sarah E.. John S., Mary 
Jane, Samuel, Fannie (., Lovina, David, James ('., 
Paul S. and William E. 

Charles Worden was married on the 7th of Sep- 
tember, I860, to Miss Arinina Vantuyl, a native of 
Butler County, Ohio, where she was born on the 
25th of August, 184.S. She is of Holland parent- 
age, the ancestors coming from Amsterdam, Hol- 
land. The mother of Mrs. \Vorden prepared the 
first dinner for the men who put up the first resi- 
dence in Middle-town, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Worden 
arc the parents of seven children Sophia, Annie, 
Fannie, Edwin, Ruby, Mary A. and Ernest. Mrs. 
Word en is a member of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, and the parents of Mr. Wordcn were prom- 
inent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in Ohio, the father being a member of great influ- 
ence. 

Mr. Worden became a citizen of Livingston 
County in the spring of 1871, purchasing 200 acres 
of partly improved land. His farm now consists of 
250 acres, which is well tile-drained and hedge- 
fenced, and on which there is a fine dwelling-house 
and good out-buildings. Mr. Worden engages ex- 
tensively in raising high-graded stock. He has been 
honored by election to the offices of School Di- 
rector, Township Clerk and Commissioner of High- 
ways. In all political matters the Republican party 
reaps the benefit of his influence and vote. 



EDWARD M( DONALD. The name of this 
gentleman is held in the most kindly re- 
membrance by the people of Saunemin 
Township, where he lived worthily and labored in- 
dustriously for many years. As a citizen he was 
one of the most valued members of the community, 
being kindly, hospitable and liberal-minded, and as 
a husband and father performed all his duties in 
the most conscientious and praiseworthy manner. 
He left a competency to his widow, including a good 
farm of 120 acres, supplied with suitable buildings 



and all the machinery for carrying on its operations 
in a successful and profitable manner. The history 
of this excellent man is substantially as follows: 

Mr. McDonald was born in Dublin, Ireland, May 
19. 1822, and emigrated to America when a young 
man. Soon after landing upon American soil lie 
made his way to the West, and for a number of 
years was a resident of LaSalle and Marshall Coun- 
ties, where he was employed as a farm laborer, and 
thus laid the foundation for his future home. He 
was married rather late in life, Dec. 22, 18(52, to 
Mrs. Frances Heylin, a native of Kings County, N, 
Y., and born Aug. 4, 1834. Mrs. McDonald is the 
daughter of James and Jane Pollock, and was de- 
prived of her mother when an infant of six weeks 
old. Upon reaching womanhood she was first mar- 
ried, Dec. 20, 1 857, to James Heylin. They located 
in Marshall County, and became the parents of two 
children: Isaac N., who died at the age of twenty- 
four years, and Willis J., now with his mother. 

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald began life together in 
Marshall County, whence they removed in 1866 to 
the present homestead of Mrs. McDonald, and here 
the death of her husband occurred April 1C, 1887. 
His last illness was marked by the same fortitude 
and patience which had distinguished him all 
through life, and by that kind consideration for the 
welfare of his family which had attached them to 
him so greatly. He had always been a hard worker, 
strictly honest and temperate, and although his 
earthly remains are covered by the "clods of the 
valley" 'his name is tenderly cherished by the mourn- 
ing widow and children, to whose comfort he was 
always attentive. Outside of the home circle he 
was held in the highest regard as a man who cheer- 
fully assisted, according to his means, in the further- 
ance of worthy projects, and in lending his influence 
to whatever tended toward the moral and financial 
welfare of the people around him. 

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald became the parents of 
seven children, five living, namely: Addie B., the 
wife of Joseph J. Norman, of Saunemin ; Albert H., 
Adrian A., Bertie E. and Stella R. One daughter, 
Katie M., died when two years of age, and another 
when an infant of a few months. Mrs. McDonald 
was in all respects the suitable helpmeet of her hus- 
band, and proved a stimulus to his kindly Christian 



6(56 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



cliaracter. She has been a faithful wife and mother, 
and is greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances. With the aid of her sons she 
is carrying on the farm in a creditable manner, and 
endeavoring to preserve the reputation of the home- 
stead which her husband built up by his thrift and 
industry, and which he left to her as a legacy of his 
respect and affection. 







two sons, Henry R. and Julius H. In 1871 Mr. 
Gillette wasagain united in marriage, with Miss M. 
E. Bryant, of Indiana, and they became the pnrents 
of four children, namely : Aurelia. Louisa. Nellie and 
Jennie. These remain with their parents, who are 
pleasantly located on Elm street. Mr. Gillette, 
politically, is a liberal Democrat, and in religious 
matters is in sympathy with the Presbyterian 
Church. Socially he is a member in good standing 
of the Masonic fraternity, and has reached the 
Knight Templar degree. 



ORACE M. GILLETTE, grain dealer of 
Fairbury, came to this vicinity in the fall of 
1860, and established his present business, 
together with that of general merchandising. 
He became associated with Mr. H. Remington, and 
they operated together about eight years, since 
which time Mr. G. has conducted his business alone. 
He commenced in life without means, dependent 
upon his own resources, and has made a good 
record. 

Mr. Gillette is a native of Connecticut, where he 
was born in Suffield, Hartford County, Aug. 13, 
1834. His parents, James and Martha Gillette, 
were natives of the same State, and both died there 
early in life, the father when his son Horace was a 
year old, and the mother two years later. There 
were three children thus orphaned, namehy : Aurelia 
M., who died at Cold Springs, N. Y., in 1852; James 
F., a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, and 
our subject. 

Mr. Gillette, after the death of his parents, was 
cared for by Horace Sheldon, and when eight years 
old was bound out to a farmer with whom he re- 
mained eight years. He in the meantime attended 
the common school, and spent six months in the 
High School, where his studies were completed in 
the winter of 1 855. Soon afterward he started for 
the West, and after reaching Chicago was employed 
I>3 r the firm of S. A. Kent & Co. two years. He 
then came to Pontiac, where he commenced operat- 
ing as a grain dealer, and continued until the fall 
of 1860, when he took up his residence in Fair- 
burj'. 

Mr. Gillette was married, in 1860, to Miss An- 
nette Harmon, who died seven years later, leaving 



McCLOUD, one of the pioneers of 
1835, came from New York to this State and 
located in Kendall County, of which he was 
a resident until 1860. In the spring of that 
year he came to Livingston County, and settled in 
Union Township, and three years later upon what 
is now known as the McCloud homestead in Saune- 
min Township. It was at that time but a tract of 
uncultivated land, but under the hand of industry 
was developed into one of the most desirable and 
comfortable homesteads in this section. Mr. Mc- 
Cloud possessed the true pioneer spirit and was 
always ready to extend a kindly hand to those 
around him. He possessed that genial and cheer- 
ful disposition which attracted to him a large circle 
of friends and acquaintances. He was honest and 
conscientious in his dealings with his fellowmen, 
and his long and useful career was closed on the 
25th of July, 1885. His death took place at his 
home when he was seventy-nine years of age, his 
birth having taken place April 6, 1806. 

Mr. McCloud was a native of Vermont, and the 
son of John and Margaret (Wilson) McCloud, who 
were also of New England birth and parentage. He 
was reared to manhood in his native State, and 
when twenty-two years of age migrated to Clinton 
County, N. Y., where he met the lady who after- 
ward became his wife. Their marriage; took place 
at the home of the bride in Clinton County, Feb. 
18, 1JS32. His wife, Miss Pauline Ricketson, was a 
native of that county, and born March 1, 1813. 
Her parents were Jonathan and Esther (Slyter) 
Ricketfeon, probably native:? of New England, who 



f 



f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



067 



settled in Clinton County, N. Y., in the pioneer 
days. The young people began the journey of life 
together at a modest home in Clinton County, N. Y., 
and three years later migrated to the West. In due 
time the household circle was enlarged by the birth 
of nine children, of whom the record is as follows: 
Jonathan is farming in Grnndy County, 111.; Julia 
is the wife of D. C. Tabler, and with her brother 
Platt is also a resident of Grundy County; John is 
carrying on farming in Clay County ; James went 
to California several years ago, where he still re- 
mains; Jemima is the wife of J. R. Righter, of this 
township; and Simon, of Sullivan Township; Mor- 
ton B. is farming in Saunemin Township, and Eliza, 
the youngest, died in infancy. 

Mr. McCloud in early life identified himself 
with the Whig party, but upon its abandonment 
cordially endorsed Republican principles. He be- 
gan in life without means, but by the exercise of 
perseverance and industry secured a good farm of 
120 acres, and was enabled to leave his widow com- 
fortably provided for. Mrs. McCloud makes her 
home with her sou Morton on the home farm, and 
is the center of a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances whom she has gathered around her in 
the course of a long life, marked by all the womanly 
virtues. 

Morton McCloud was born in Kendall County, 
Dec. 16, 1851, and continued to be the mainstay 
of his parents from his youth to their later years. 
Like his father before him his course has been 
marked by industry and good judgment, and he is 
acquitting himself as a useful member of the com- 
munity. He votes the Republican ticket, and has 
accumulated a snug property including 160 acres 
which he cultivates in connection with the home- 
stead. 



jp- . I. VIE T. POTTER. While the history of 
the old pioneers is intensely interesting, it is 
also important to keep in mind those on 
whom the future must depend for its prosperity. 
Industry and good judgment are just as osential 
in keeping the car of progress in motion as they 
were to start it on its onward march. A community 



involuntarily regards its capable young men with 
pride, and this sentiment extends in more than an 
ordinary degree to the subject of the following 
sketch : 

He of whom we write is the son of Stephen 
and Mary A. (Killmer) Potter, whose biography 
appears elsewhere in this volume. He was born in 
Round Grove Township, March 9, 1857, reared on 
his father's farm and educated at the common 
schools. He was a bright and industrious youth, 
and under the tuition of his excellent father be- 
came perfectly familiar with the various employ- 
ments of farm life and entirely fitted to enter upon 
a useful and worthy career. He has kept himself 
well posted upon matters of general interest out- 
side of agriculture, and was elected Supervisor in 
the spring of 1887. the duties of which office he is 
discharging in a creditable and satisfactory manner. 
He has also been Township Collector and School 
Director in his district. He has decided ideas upon 
political matters and uniformly votes the straight 
Democratic ticket. 

Upon laying his plans for the establishment of a 
permanent home, one of the most important steps 
which Mr. Pottter took toward the accomplishment 
of this object was his marriage with Miss Mary 
E. Glover, which was celebrated at the home of the 
bridegroom in Round Grove Township, April 22, 
1886. Mrs. Potter was one of the most popular 
young ladies of the neighborhood, and is the daugh- 
ter of Samuel L. and Martha J. (Dunn) Glover, na- 
tives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. 
Her parents settled in Pennsylvania after their mar- 
riage, and in about 1856 came to this State, locat- 
ing first in LaSalle County, and removing about 
1861 to Livingston County, where they took up 
their residence on a farm in Broughton Township. 
From there, in 1886, they removed to Custer 
County, Neb., where they now reside. Mrs. Pot- 
ter was the second of their six children, and was 
born in LaSalle County, 111., Aug. 4, 1858, where 
she received a good education, and was engaged as 
a teacher some time before her marriage. She is a 
highly intelligent lady and well fitted to be the com- 
panion and helpmeet of a rising young citizen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Potter after their marriage located 
at their present home on section 15. Here our 



I 



668 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



subject has eighty acres of land, the cultivation of 
which he is carrying on successfully, and availing 
himself of the most modern methods and approved 
machinery. The dwelling is neat and substantial, 
the farm stock well cared for, and everything about 
the premises indicates the hand of taste and indus- 
try- 



SAAC SHERMAN, one of the very oldest set- 
tlers of Illinois, who has been engaged for many 
years in farming in Sunbury Township, was 
born in Morgan County. Ohio, April 1, 1825. His 
father, William Sherman, was born in Marlboro, 
Middlesex Co., Mass., and the grandfather, Isaac 
Sherman, was born somewhere in New England, the 
exact location not being known. Tradition has it 
that Roger Sherman, the signer of the Declaration 
of Independence, was the great-great-grandfather 
of our subject, and the Sherman family dates back 
to Roger Sherman, who landed in the Ma3'flower at 
Plymouth Rock. The grandfather was a lawyer 
by profession, but was for many years engaged in 
mercantile business, and spent the latter yenrs of 
his life in the city of Boston. He served eight 
years in the Revolutionary War assisting at Bun- 
ker Hill, where he helped to roll stones upon the 
British. He also crossed the Delaware with Wash- 
ington to attack the Hessians. Dec. 24. 1776. The 
father of our subject was a ship carpenter and 
house joiner by trade. At twcntj' years of age he 
removed to Ohio and worked in the shipyards at 
Cincinnati, while his family lived on a farm in 
Morgan County. In 1833, accompanied by his 
wife and eleven children, he caine to Illinois, the 
entire journey being made overland with four 
horses and one wagon. He located on the Illinois 
River in Putnam County, where he entered Gov- 
ernment land, built a log house, and followed farm- 
ing and stock-raising. He conducted this farm for 
many years, and there died. The maiden name of 
his wife, the mother of our subject, was' Rebecca 
DeLong, who was born at Ft. Necessity, near Har- 
per's Ferry. Her grandparents were natives of 
Holland, who came to America in Colonial times. 

Our subject was eight years of age when he came 
to Illinois with his parents, with whom he lived 



until twenty years of age, when he began to work 
for himself at $12 per month, and was engaged 
with one man for five seasons at that compensation. 
During the winter he chopped wood and split rails 
until he was thirty-two years of age, and then pur- 
chased 1 20 acres of land in Putnam County, giv- 
ing in payment his note which he paid by working 
at $12 per month. At the time of his marriage he 
settled upon this farm on which there was a log 
cabin, which was afterward replaced by a comfort- 
able frame bouse. Here he lived until 18U8, by 
which time he had the farm under a high state of 
cultivation, and then sold it and came to Living- 
ston County, where he bought the 160-acre farm on 
which he now lives. He has erected a comfortable 
residence and commodious farm buildings, and 
planted many fruit and shade trees. To the orig- 
inal tract he has added eighty acres which gives 
him a farm of 240 acres, all enclosed by good 
fences and drained by ample tile ditches. 

On the 12th of July, 1857, Mr. Sherman was 
married to Susan McKee, who was born in the 
State of Ohio, and died in 1869. By this marriage 
one child only of those born is living. His name 
is Henry, and he resides with his father. Marion 
died aged twenty-one years and six months; John 
aged one year and nine months; Rebecca aged 
fifteen years, and Isaac aged sixteen years. Mr. 
Sherman's second wife was Jane Bailes, a native of 
Kentucky. By this marriage two children were 
born: Burton, March 25, 1K75, and Jasper, June 
28, 1877. The second wife died on the 29th of 
September, 1887. Mr. Sherman is a member of 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always been 
a believer in Christianity, and a praying man, but 
did not become a member of the church until 
twelve years ago. He is quite regular in his at- 
tendance, and thoroughly interested in all the af- 
fairs of the church. In politics, he casts his vote 
and influence with the Republican party. His first 
Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Taylor, and he 
was a Whig until the organization of the Repub- 
lican party in 1856. 

Mr. Sherman is one of the oldest settlers now re- 
siding in Livingston County. When he first came 
to the State, and for many years after, wolves, deer 
and other kinds of wild game were plentiful, and 



LIVINGSTON COUNT*. 



roamed at will over the prairies. He began to 
hunt as soon as he was large enough to shoulder a 
musket, and killed his first deer at flu- age of thir- 
teen. He was hunting quail at the time, and espy- 
ing some deer in the thicket of hazel bushes, he 
drew the shot from the gun, and replacing them 
with a ball, shot and killed the nearest deer though 
200 paces away. During his boyhood he partici- 
pated in a wolf hunt, which has since been made 
the subject of an illustration. The Sherman fam- 
ily have been noted through several generations as 
pioneers. They emigrated from the East to the 
Northwest Territory previous to 1800, and settled 
in that part which now constitutes the State of 
Ohio. The long and tedious journey they made 
overland with teams, stopping at convenient inter- 
vals to hunt, and in that way procured their pro- 
visions. Gen. Tecumseh Sherman's grandfather 
was a second cousin of the father of our subject. 
Although Mr. Sherman is now in his sixty-second 
year, he is remarkably well preserved, and bids 
fair to liye many years to come. He is one of the 
best-known citizens of Livingston County, and en- 
joys the confidence and respect of all his fellow- 
citizens. 



t 



fl IMLLIAM YOUNGER, of Belle Prairie 
\aj/l Township, has one of the finest stock farms 
Ww in Livingston County, which includes 31)5 
acres of land, a living sin-ing of water, and all the 
buildings required for the successful prosecution of 
his chosen calling. lie has for several 3'ears en- 
joyed an enviable reputation as a breeder of Devon- 
shire cattle, fine horses, mostly draft animals, and 
Poland-China hogs. This breed of cattle came 
originally from a county of England which forms a 
part of its southwest peninsula, with a surface 
greatly broken and diversified, but remarkable for 
its fertility, and particularly adapted to the devel- 
opment of the cattle which for a century have been 
highly valued, both in this country and Great 
Britain. Mr. Younger began the breeding of these 
cattle in ls7r>, and now lias a herd of twenty-five 
full-bloods. He has been accustomed for the last 
six years to carrying off the blue ribbons at the 
various county fairs, and at the State Fair. At the 



Fat Stock Show held in Chicago in 1887, his cattle 
took the sweepstakes premium. 

Mr. Younger was born in Woodford County, 111., 
Aug. 11, 1836, and is the son of Benjamin and 
Sarah (Turner) Younger, natives of Ohio, the lat- 
ter of whom died when William was but eighteen 
months old. The father afterward married Miss 
Lodema White, of Scioto County, Ohio, who died 
at her home in Peoria County, Aug. 12, 1887. The 
father still survives, and is now retired from active 
labor, making his home in Livingston County 
where he has a moderate property. lie was born 
in Ohio in 1810, and is consequently seventy-seven 
years of age. 

Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and 
received such an education as the district schools 
afforded until he was sixteen years old, when he 
started out in life for himself, and his present con- 
dition and surroundings indicate the large measure 
of success he has achieved in his efforts to obtain a 
home and a competency. After reaching his twen- 
ty-ninth year Mr. Younger was united in marriage 
with Miss Nancy Hatton, Oct. 18, I8fio. Mrs. 
Younger is a native of Brown County, Ohio, where 
she was born on the 22d of April, 1844. The re- 
sult of this union is three children, a son and two 
daughters, namely: William H.,Emma and Ida M. 

The family residence located on section 2, in 
Belle Prairie Township, is a structure i:i keeping 
with its environments, combining comfort and 
beauty, and displaying in all its appointments the 
most cultivated tastes-and ample means. As illus- 
trative of the advance made in the style of archi- 
tecture in this section of country we present on 
an adjoining page a view of Mr. Younger's resi- 
dence with its surroundings. Mr. Younger has 
labored industriously, lived economically, and his 
possessions are but the just reward of his toil and 
frugality. 

OHN M. KRACK, a native of Montgomery 
County, Ind., was born Sept. ->!, 1844, and 
came with his parents to this county in the 
spring of 1857. He lias the greater part of 
his life been engaged in the peaceful vocation of a 
fanner, with the exception of two years in which 
ho conducted a grocery trade at Forest. He has 



672 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i- 



* 



I 



been the privileged witness of the many great 
changes which have occurred in Central Illinois 
during a period of thirty years, and although not 
the hero, perhaps, of any very thrilling event, he 
has always signalized himself as a law-abiding citi- 
zen, and kept himself well posted upon matters of 
general interest. 

Our subject is the son of I. J. and Mary (VVorrel) 
Krack, the latter long deceased, but the former still 
living and a resident of Forest. His early studies 
were conducted in the district school, and upon 
becoming a voter he identified himself with the 
Republican party, whose principles he has supported 
faithfully for over thirty years. He has held the 
various township offices and was Postmaster at For- 
est during the administration of President Lincoln. 
Upon retiring from the grocery business he carried 
on a shoe store for his father two years, and was 
for a brief time thereafter connected with the ware- 
house in Forest. He now has charge of 180 acres 
of land belonging to his father-in-law, which is lo- 
cated on section 1 1 . 

Mr. Krack, Dec. 28, 186'J, was united in marriage 
with Miss Mary, daughter of John and Margaret 
(Dancy) Wallace, natives of Ireland, and now resi- 
dents of Forest. Mrs. K. was born in New Jersey, 
Jan. 8, 1849, and came to the West with her par- 
ents in about 1861. They located in Forest Town- 
ship, and she remained with them until her mar- 
riage. This union resulted in the birth of four 
children, namely : Jennie, Maggie, Libbie and Wal- 
lace. Mr. K. is not connected with any religious 
organization, but endeavors to follow the precepts 
of the Golden Rule. His estimable wife is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



E C. TAYLOR, a representative far- 
and stock-raiser of Pontiac Township, 
and a gentleman who has been eminently 
successful in life, is a native of the island of St. 
Bartholomew, West Indies, when- his birth took 
place Jan. 30, 1*17. He is the .-on of George W. 
and Harriot L. Taylor, the former a native of Bos- 
ton, Mass.. and the latter of the West Indies. This 
branch of the Taylor family is of Scotch ance-try. 




but the mother of our subject is of French and En- 
glish descent. The paternal grandfather of George 
C., whose name was John Taylor, emigrated from 
Scotland to America about 1788, and for a time 
engaged in mercantile business in Boston. He 
owned and was master of a vessel lost at sea, upon 
which occasion he went down with his crew to a 
watery grave. George W., the father of our sub- 
ject, was also a sea captain in his early manhood, 
but later abandoned the ocean and settled down on 
terra drain. When our subject wa- >even months 
old his parents removed to Saratoga Springs, N. 
Y., where he was reared to manhood, receiving 
careful home training and completing his education 
at Milton Hill Academy, He possessed considera- 
ble musical talent, and for many years was em- 
ployed as a teacher of this art. 

Mr. Taylor was first married, Sept. 15, 1837, to 
Miss Uretta Bentley, a native of Saratoga County, 
N. Y., and they became the parents of four chil- 
dren, of whom only one survives, John C'., who is 
now a resident of Pontiac Township. The de- 
ceased were named respectively, James, Ottis B. 
and George W. The mother of these children 
died on the 8th of March, 1877. Mr. Taylor wa> 
again married, Aug. 16, 1877, to Miss Minerva E. 
North, daughter of Oliver and Mary North, and a 
native of Michigan. Her mother's maiden name 
was Mary Warner, and her parents were natives of 
New York State. They came to Illinois in 1868, 
locating in Effingham County, where the father 
died the same year. A few month.- later the 
mother with her family came to this county and lo- 
cated in Owego Township, where she resided a 
number of years. Thence she removed to Ne- 
braska, where she now 'lives. She has for many 
years been a consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. The parental household in- 
cluded five children, namely, Charles, Clara, Mi- 
nerva E., Mary and Carrie. 

Mr. Taylor came to this county in 1858, and 
located on section 36, in Pontiac Township, where 
for some years he was engaged in fanning pursuits. 
He owns fifty acres of valuable land, besides prop- 
erty in the village, and is looked upon by his fel- 
low. townsmen as a self-made man, who has im- 
proved his opportunities and justly deserves the 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4- 

673 t , 




comforts of which he is now in possession. He has 
been quite prominent in local affairs, serving as 
School Director, Commissioner of Highways and 
Vice President of the County Agricultural Society. 
He was also Highway Commissioner six years, and 
officiated as President of the County Bible Society- 
two years, besides being Sunday-school Superin- 
tendent and otherwise interested in the progress 
and welfare of his community. Religiously, he is 
connected .with the Baptist Church, In politics, 
he affiliates with the Republican party. 



AMUEL CRUMPTON. This gentleman, 
residing in Chatsworth Township, is mim- 
bercd among the progressive citizens of 
Livingston County, to the southeastern 
portion of which he came in 1867. He first en- 
gaged in the grain trade, at which he continued for 
sixteen years following, his transactions extending 
to different points around Chatsworth, and yielding 
very satisfactory returns. Being always fond of 
country life, he purchased a tract of land in 1877, 
and since that time has given much of his attention 
to farming pursuits. He is now the proprietor of 
400 broad acres, besides village property and real 
estate on the other side of the Mississippi. When 
entering upon man's estate, he was absolutely with- 
out means, his condition in life being in striking 
contrast with that of the present, as he is now 
wealthy, and surrounded by the comforts and luxu- 
ries of life. His residence, erected in 1883, is one 
of the most handsome and commodious dwellings in 
the county, and the farm stock and implements are 
fully in keeping with the means of the proprietor, 
being well cared for and of first-class description. 

Mr. Crumpton was born near the Atlantic Coa>t 
in Franklin County, Me., Feb. 17, 1841, and is the 
son of William and Nancy II. (Ford) Crumpton, 
also natives of that Stale, where the father engaged 
in farming, which he followed through life. The 
family, in 1*51, migrated westward and settled on 
a farm near Freedom, LaSalle County, where the 
father spent the remainder of his days, his death oc- 
curring Sept. 27, 1875, at the age of seventy-nine 
years, four months and twenty-six days. The 



mother subsequently came to Chatsworth, and passed 
away on the 15th of June, 1879, aged seventy-six 
years, seven months and twenty-four days. The 
parental household included two sons and four 
daughters, as follows: William W., the eldest, died 
in LaSalle County in 1883, and Emeline in 1851 ; 
Sarah J., the wife of Heniy J. Davis, and Charlotte, 
Mrs. Thomas J. Davis, reside in LaSalle County; 
Samuel is the subject of this biography; and Ann 
M. is the wife of Edward A. Bangs, of Chatsworth. 

Our subject was ten years of age when the family 
came west and located in LaSalle Count} 7 , this State, 
where he completed a practical education, winding 
up with a course at the seminary at Aurora. He 
then began farming for himself, continuing in La- 
Salle County until 1867, when he had accumulated 
capital sufficient to embark in the grain trade. He 
now established himself in Chatsworth Township, 
where he has since resided and been uniformly suc- 
cessful in his business transactions. 

The marriage of Samuel Crumpton and Miss 
Alice S. Lawrence was celebrated in LaSalle Coun- 
ty, Jan. 10, 1877. Mrs. Crumpton is the daughter 
of Jairus and Alice (Farham) Lawrence, and was 
born in LaSalle County, 111., Feb. 28, 1852. Her 
parents removed from Orleans County, N. Y., in the 
i fall of 1849, to Illinois, locating in LaSalle County, 
where the mother is still living. The father passed 
away on the 29th of July, 1881, aged seventy-one 
years, six months and five days. Mr. and Mrs. 
Crumpton became the parents of four children, of 
whom one son, Ray L., died when an infant of five 
months. Those surviving are William J., May A. 
andOra J. Politically Mr. Crumpton is a solid Re- 
publican, and socially is a member of Blue Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M. ; Freedom Lodge No. 194, Freedom, 
111., and St. Paul Commandery, Fairbury, 111. 



b ELAND M. RHODES. Livingston County 
can possibly boast of having a greater num- 
ber of fine stock-farms than any other coun- 
ty in Illinois. The grass- producing soil and the 
great quantity of living water afford unusual facil- 
ities for engaging in that useful and profitable oc- 
cupation. Of the thousands of stock-farms within 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



V 



licr borders, none, perhaps, is better than the one 
on section 1G, Esmen Township, comprising ,'!20 
acres, and owned and operated by the subject of 
this sketch, who is a native of the Suite of New 
York. 

Mr. Rhodes was born in the town of Berlin, 
Rensselaer County, that State, on the 12th of May, 
1816, and was the fifth in a family of eight chil- 
dren born to John and Patience (Bcntley) Rhodes, 
natives of New York and Rhode Island respect- 
ively. The paternal grandparents were Walter and 
Mary (Mill) Rhodes, who were of English descent. 
He was first mate on an English merchant vessel, 
and served under his father who was the Captain. 
The maternal grandparents were Benjamin and 
Lydia (Rathbone) Bentlcy, who were born in the 
State of New York; be was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and of Welsh-English descent. 

Mr. Rhodes' father was a carpenter by trade, and 
also followed fanning. Of a family of eleven 
brothers, lie was next to the youngest. They were 
all soldiers in the War of 1812, where he enlisted 
as Orderly Sergeant, and was promoted to Briga- 
dier (Quartermaster. After the war he followed 
his trade until the death of his wife, and then spent 
his time among his children, dying in Wisconsin at 
the end of a Christian life. 

Mr. Rhodes was reared to farm life, and worked 
with his father at carpentering, receiving such edu- 
cation as could be obtained in the common schools, 
until lie was twenty-one years of }ige. lie then 
left home, and soon after engaged in burning char- 
coal, accumulating in one year sufficient means to 
enable him to set out for a trip to the far West. 
There being no railroad facilities for travel at that 
time, lie was compelled to make the journey on 
foot, first traveling to Bradford County. Pa., thence 
to Buffalo, N. Y., and by water to Detroit, whence 
he walked across the State of Michigan to the 
southwest corner, and then went up the Lakes to 
what is now Chicago, and thence by the way of 
Dorr Prairie, Ind., where he lay sick for a time, 
and finally reached Illinois. The canal was being 
built at that time, and he staid for awhile at .loliet, 
when he went to plainfield Prairie, where he struck 
the Chicago & Rock Island Indian trail, which he 
followed to Rock River, and thence to the lead 



mines of Galena. A few days later he took the 
Mississippi trail which he followed to St. Louis, 
and spent some time in looking at the country 
around. He returned to St. Louis and took pas- 
sage on the boat to Cairo, whence he went to Louis- 
ville, Ky., crossing the State on a trail which was 
marked by blazed trees. From there he went by 
water up to Cincinnati and took to the country 
again, traveling northeast until he reached the Na- 
tional Turnpike, which he followed to Wheeling, 
Va., thence to Pittsburgh, Pa., and east through the 
mountains, with nothing but the sun to guide him, 
to Bradford County, from which he had started. 
After resting here a short time he returned to his 
home. This journey was made wholly for the pur- 
pose of seeing the country and learning of the peo- 
ple, and for the same reason he also made a trip 
into Massachusetts. The next spring he attempted 
to start in business in Bradford Count}'. Pa., but 
sickness compelled him to return to his home where 
he engaged at carpentering. At this he worked 
only one season, when, while mowing, he was acci- 
dentally struck witlui scythe and disabled for a year, 
the right leg being almost severed at the knee. 
When able to sit up he began to study medicine, 
thinking he would never again be able to follow 
his trade, but he did not have much taste for that 
profession, and discontinued the study. About 
this time his mind turned to the study of the 
Scriptures, and he began to prepare himself for the 
ministry. Although he never engaged as a regu- 
lar preacher he has preached locally ever since in 
the Baptist Church, to which he belongs. As soon 
a.- his health was restored, he resumed his trade in 
and around home, and followed it until lK-1'.t. 

On the 10th of June, 1849, our subject was mar- 
ried to Caroline Clarke, a daughter of Isaac and 
Amanda (Gleason) Clarke, the former a native of 
Vermont and the latter of New York. Caroline 
was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., on the 20th 
of April. 1830, where her father was engaged in 
sawmilling and farming most of his life. Soon 
after their marriage, Mr. Rhodes and his wife set 
out for Wisconsin, making the trip by water, and 
settled in Geneva, Wai worth County, that State, 
where he purchased forty acres of land on section 
1"). Tin 1 }- lived here for many years engaged in 

' 



I 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



675 



1 



fanning and stock-raising, his father living with 
him until his death. Mr. Rhodes worked assidu- 
ously until he accumulated 120 acres of finel}' im- 
proved land, and also 160 acres in LaSalle County, 
111., the latter of which he had fenced and put un- 
der cultivation before his removal to Illinois. In 
1*75 lie sold his farm in LaSalle County, and came 
into this county, where he bought 320 acres on 
which he now resides, of Bennet Humiston. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes' family consisted of eleven 
children, six of whom are yet living: William, 
born July 20, 1850, and Eliza, Sept. 4, 1851, both 
died in infancy; Emma, born Sept. 4, 1852; Le- 
land M., born Jan. 25, 18.")5, died Jan. 1, 1861; 
Arvilla C., born May (I, 1857, died Jan. 12, 1861 ; 
Mary, born June 25, 1859, died July 30, 1869; 
Milford, born July 30, 1860; Flora Cecilia, April 
1, 1863; Isaac W., Sept. 1, 1865; Haiiow A., 
March 30, 1868, and Olive, Nov. 16, 1870. Emma 
married George Whitham, and lives in Esmeii 
Township; Flora married W. C. Corbin. Mr. 
Rhodes is a stanch Prohibitionist, and is a man who 
is never inclined to office-seeking-. He is, a Deacon 
in the Baptist Church. 




ENRY HORNICKLE is a resident of Ger- 
man ville Township, where he owns and 
operates a farm of 1 50 acres of good land 
which has been brought to its present con- 
dition from the raw prairie. lie took possession 
of this in 1 870, and has a good set of farm build- 
ings, a choice assortment of live stock and every- 
thing pertaining to the progressive agriculturist. 

The birthplace of Mr. Hornickle was in the 
Grand Duchy of Hesse, a beautiful Province of 
Germany, situated in the basins of the Rhine ami 
Weser. More than half the territory is arable and 
the soil very fertile. The vine is cultivated ex- 
tensively, and the other products are flax, hemp, 
hops, tobacco and fruit. The face of the country 
is beautifully diversified with forests and hills, and 
there are rich mines of copper, iron, coal ard salt. 
The manufacture of silk, linen and paper is also 
carried on extensively. The educational institu- 

-* : 



tions form one of the important features of the 
Province, where the young, as throughout all Ger- 
many, are placed in school at an early age and 
compelled to attend a sufficient time to obtain a 
good practical education. 

Our subject left this delightful region in 1857, 
when a youth of eighteen years, his birth having 
taken place June 15, 1839. His parents, John and 
Margaret (Schuch) Hornickle, were of pure Ger- 
man ancestry, and were also reared and married in 
the Grand Duchy of Hesse. After becoming the 
parents of eight children, they concluded for the 
sake of these to emigrate to America, hoping to 
better their condition, socially and financially. 
The West seemed to be the most desirable field of 
operation and accordingly, upon setting foot on 
American soil they proceeded directly to the 
Prairie State, locating first near Washington, 'raze- 
well County. A year later they came to the south- 
eastern part of Livingston, where they engaged in 
farming. The mother rested from her earthly 
labors in 1880; the father is still living and is quite 
aged, having been born in 1809. With one excep- 
tion their children are all living. Henry, of our 
sketch, was the eldest son ; Margaret is a resident of 
Iowa; Nicholas is written of elsewhere in this vol- 
ume; Martha became the 'wife of Henry Lee, who 
is farming in Nebraska; Catherine, Mrs. Frederick 
Ton b, is a resident of Peoria; Conrad is carrying 
on farming in this township, and Lizzie married 
Henry Hest, and lives in Ford County, this State. 

Mr. Hornickle after completing a very good 
education learned the shoemaker's trade before 
coming to this country, but has followed it little 
since that time, preferring the more active and in- 
teresting pursuits of farm life. He was married, in 
1869, to Miss Fredricka Lehmann, a native of his 
own country and born about 1845. She came to the 
United States with her parents when quite young, 
and has since been a resident of Wisconsin and 
later of Illinois. They have a bright and interest- 
ilia family of ten children, whom they named re- 
spectively as follows: John H., Frederick William, 
Conrad H., Catherine M., Amelia M., Christina M., 
Annie E., Christian F., Jacob C. and Peter Robert. 
Another, Elizabeth C., died in infancy. They are 
being trained in the way which will insure their 






r 



t 



C76 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



usefulness as business citizens and their value as 
intelligent members of the community. 

Mr. Ilornickle is regarded by his neighbors as a 
good citizen, and has served in his township as 
School Director and Road Commissioner. Politi- 
cally he votes the Democratic ticket, and relig- 
iously belongs, with his estimable wife, to the 
Evangelical Church. 



eHRISTOPIIER DENNEWITZ. This is an 
inviting country to the people of the old 
_ world, who desire to better their condition, 
and to adopt and live under the broad and liberal 
laws of government which were obtained here many 
years ago, and prevail to-day. Not only our laws 
and our institutions are inducements to the man who 
is proscribed by unjust and dictatorial powers, to 
come to this country, but our vast andjunoccupied 
domain is ample enough to furnish homes for al- 
most the entire population of the world. Of the 
people of all parts of the earth, who have availed 
themselves of the great opportunities of this coun- 
try, none have filled a more important place than 
the sturdy sons of the various portions of Ger- 
many. They occupy prominent places in all parts 
of our business fabrics, and wherever they have 
chosen to adopt agriculture as their calling, are to 
be found the best farms of the country. The Ger- 
mans practically made Pennsylvania what it is, and 
their work is going on surely and gradually in 
many of the newer States of the Union, and espe- 
cially in Illinois, where they have secured so great 
a foothold. 

Among the German citizens of Livingston Coun- 
ty is the subject of this sketch, who is a native of 
Prussia, Germany, and was born in that country, in 
Howtroder, on the 8th of May, 1842. He is the 
son of Charles and Rosa Dennewitz, who became 
the parents of seven children, whose names are as 
follows: Charles, Christopher, William, Razcy, 
Rickey, Frederick and Ernestine. Of these. Charles. 
Christopher and William were born in German}', 
and the rest in Ross County, Ohio. When the par- 
ents emigrated to America the subject of this sketch 






was five years of age. Upon landing at New York, 
they went directly to Ross County, Ohio, where 
our subject was reared to manhood. Early in his 
youth he learned the trade of cooper, and after ar- 
riving at manhood followed that occupation for 
several years. In the year 1870 he came to Liv- 
ingston County, of which he has been an honored 
resident since. His father was gathered to his 
fathers in April, 1875; the mother is residing in 
this county. 

On the 2d of December, 1873, Mr. Dennewitz 
was married to Miss Emma Kessling, who was born in 
Pennsylvania on the 30th of October, 1 854. She 
is the daughter of William and Angeline Kessling, 
now residents of Putnam County, 111. They have 
two children, whose names are, Katie, who was born 
April 22, 1875, and Frederick, May 30, 1880. 
During the first years of Mr. Dennewitz' life he 
had many hard struggles. He began without capi- 
tal and under most unfavorable circumstances, but 
he persevered with much courage until he now is in 
comparative!}' easy circumstances. His farm con- 
sists of forty acres of good land, which yields him 
a fair revenue each year, and by good management 
and economy he is enabled from time to time to 
add such improvements as materially enhance the 
value of the farm. In the selection of a wife he 
was very fortunate in securing a woman who has 
proved an excellent helpmate. 

Mr. Dennewitz votes and acts with the Demo- 
cratic party, but is not active enough in politics to 
consume time which could be devoted to business. 
He and his wife are honored members of society, 
and enjoy the respect and esteem of the people 
among whom they live. 



y~ ILLIAM Z. WALDEN, of Pontiac Town- 
ship, is the proprietor of 180 acres of good 
land on section 12, and is a worthy illus- 
tration of the self-made man, who, by his enter- 
prise and industry, lias attained to a good position 
socially and financially. He came to this section 
when a young man in the twenty-second year of 
his age, and has since been a resident here, identi- 
fying himself fully with the interests of the people 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



677 



around him, and contributing his full share toward 
the cultivation of the soil and the development of 
the resources of Livingston County. Of late years 
his land has been largely deyptrtt to the raising of 
hay and grain, which \><- has utilized in the feeding 
of a large amou* f stock, including cattle and 






Mr. Walden was born near Terre Haute, Ind., 
Nov. 7, 1848, and is the son of Aaron W. and Mar- 
garet (Black) Walden. His father was a native of 
Kentucky; his mother died when he was a child of 
seven years. He remained with his father, and re- 
ceived his education principally in McLean County, 
this State, to which the father had removed. Sub- 
sequently the elder Walden came to Livingston 
County, and is now a resident of Pontiac Township. 

Mr. Walden was married, in the spring of 1870, 
to Miss Alice Pettibone, a native of Illinois, and at 
the time of her marriage a resident of this county. 
Mr. Walden was subsequently married, Oct. 20, 
1876, to Miss Enstena Olke. Of this union there- 
were born five children, four now living, namely : 
Mary, Frances, Rachel and May. One daughter, 
Laura, died in infancy. Mr. Walden, politically, 
is a decided Republican, and is numbered among 
the representative men of his township. He has 
been successful in the management of his farm and 
the investment of his capital, effecting great im- 
provements on the land since it came into his pos- 
session, and each year adding something to its at- 
tractions as a place of residence, and its value as 
real estate. 



OBERT WALKER, a retired fanner resid- 
ing in the village of Emington, has been a 
/4iMi\ citizen of Broughton Township since the 
^H spring of 1883. He is a Scotchman by 
birth and parentage, and an admirable specimen 
mentally and physically of that nationality than 
which there is considered none superior in the 
whole world. His birth took place near Dumfries- 
shire, May 2, 1826, in the parish of Urr, at the home 
of his parents, John and Mary (Nish) Walker, na- 
tives of the same locality. Young Walker contin- 
ued near the scenes of his early childhood until 



reaching the twenty-fourth 3'ear of his age, when 
he crossed the Atlantic and located near the city 
of Albany, N. Y. He had been reared to farm pur- 
suits, and followed this in the Empire State for 
some time. He finally became a resident of Great 
Valley, Cattaraugus County, and there made the 
acquaintance of Miss Lydia Atilda Matthewson, to 
whom he was married on the 10th of December, 
1853. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Walker 
came to LaSalle County, this State, where our subject 
engaged as a farm laborer for a period of five years. 
He then purchased a team and rented a tract 
of land in. Ophir Township, where he farmed 
four years on his own account, and then re- 
moved, in 1865, to Union Township, this county. 
Here he rented land another four years, and in the 
meantime had purchased eighty acres, applying his 
surplus cash to its payment. He was prospered in his 
labors, and in 1872 added another eighty acres to his 
first purchase, and now has a quarter section of as 
good land as there is in this part of Livingston 
County. It is thoroughly drained with tile, and 
thefencesare of hedge, combining both beaut}" and 
utility; the farm buildings are neat and substan- 
tial. Here Mr. Walker continued with his estim- 
able lady until retiring from active labor in the 
spring of 1883. He then purchased the town resi- 
dence which he now owns, and surrounded by the 
comforts of life, is enjoying his declining years in a 
manner befitting his station. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walker became the parents of three 
children, of whom the record is as follows: Mary 
P. was born May 25, 1855, in Great Valley, Catta- 
raugus Co., N. Y., and became the wife of Walter 
W. Wright, of Union Township, this county; they 
are living upon a farm and arc the parents of two 
children. Lydia E. Walker was born Sept. 3, 1856, 
in Waltham, LaSalle County, and married Alfred E. 
Wright, of Union Township, where they now re- 
side; Robert John was born March 12, 1861, in 
Ophir Township, LaSalle County, and married Miss 
Pliebc Cook; they occupy the old homestead, and 
have two children. 

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Hale 
and Prudence (Williams) Matthewson, who were 
married Feb. 14, 1817, in Springville, Cattaraugus 







T. 



678 



LIVINGSTON COI'NTY. 



Co., N. V. Her father was a native of Massachu- 
setts and a descendant of excellent Scotch ancestry, 
lie wns liorn Jan. 9, 1793, and departed this life 
at his home in Erie County, N. Y., June 19, 1871. 
He served as a drummer in the War of 1812, and 
at the time of the burning of Buffalo was stationed 
there. He was finally taken ill and sent home on a 
furlough, and the war closed before he was enabled 
to return to his regiment. His wife Prudence was 
born in the State of Vermont, July 2, 1798, and 
was a direct descendant of a brother of Roger Will- 
iams, of Rhode Island. She also died at the home- 
stead in Erie County, N. Y., passing away many 
years before her husband, on the 18th of January, 
1844. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Walker 
died in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where her ma- 
ternal grandfather, Stephen Williams, also spent 
his last years, in Concord. The male members of 
the family for many generations were engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Matthewson 
had a family of ten children, eight of whom lived 
to reach their majority, and six are still living: 
Mary Helen was born June 6, 1820, and married 
Alfred Devendorf; she died in September, 18C4, 
leaving three children, who are still residents of 
New York State. Lydia Atilda, Mrs. Walker, was 
born Feb. 1, 1824; Jenks H. was born Sept. 5, 1826, 
is married and the father of two children; he is 
farming in Erie County, N. Y. Eliza Jane was born 
Feb. ;, 1831, and is the wife of William Huftell, a 
machinist of Buffalo, N. Y. ; they have one child 
living. Stephen W. was born Nov. 1, 1833, is un- 
married, and a resident of the Empire State; Chris- 
topher C. was born Nov. 10, 1835, is unmarried, 
and a resident of Pennsylvania; Valencia was born 
Dec. 6, 1837, married John I hi f tell, of Buffalo, and 
they have one child; Chancy B. was born Nov. 17, 
1840, served as a soldier in the late war under Gen. 
McClelland, and in one of the hard fought battles lost 
a hand; ho received a pension from the Government 
and died at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, Ohio, in 
about 1868. 

Mr. Walker is a born gentleman, whole-souled 
and generous, and a great favorite among his neigh- 
bors and acquaintances. He came to this part of 
Illinois in the midst of his youth and strength, and 
proved just such a man as w:is needed in his town- 



to assist in developing the got! and encouraging 
its settlement by :i thrifty and intelligent chi- of 
people. As hus keen already indicated he commenced 
life without means, and accumulated his present 
desirable property solely by the exercise of hUown 
industry and good judgment. 

Our subject was the second son in ;v fsimilv of 
six children. His eldest brother, John, who i-o- 
mains in his native Scotland, owns a portion of the 
land that was deeded to one of his ancestors by 
Robert Bruce, under the following circumstances: 
After Sir William Wallace and Robert Bruce had 
finished fighting a certain battle they went to a 
house and called for food. When the good lady 
had supplied it Bruce told her to go out and walk 
around all the land she could while they were eat- 
ing and he would deed it to her. Whereupon she 
gave the two but one spoon, and the porridge being 
hot, she thus secured ICO acres, which has been in- 
herited from father to son since that day. 

Robert Walker votes the straight Republican 
ticket and is a strict temperance man, his sympathies 
leaning strongly toward prohibition. Both he and 
his estimable lady are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church at Emington, and for years have 
been numbered among its most cheerful and liberal 
supporters. 



J" OHN MASTERS is truly one of the repre- 
sentative farmers and stock-raisers of Pleas- 
ant Ridge Township. His farm consists of 
309 acres of choice land, and the buildings 
which afford shelter for his family and the domestic 
animals of the farm are ample in dimensions and 
convenient in their construction. There is no bet- 
ter conducted or better regulated farm on section 
30 than the one owned by our subject. Mr. Mas- 
ters is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born 
in Butler County on the 9th of September, 1830. 
He is the son of William and Mary (Johnson) Mas- 
ters, of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and during his life was a prominent citizen of 
the section where he resided. He died in the year 
1830, and the mother survived until the 1st of 
January, 1*(!8. They were the parents of seven 



I 



t 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



679 * } 



children: Mary, who died in childhood; Annie, 
Mrs. William Virgin; (Sarah, who married William 
Sense, and died some years after; James, Samuel, 
William and John. 

Our subject was the youngest member of his 
father's family. At the age of five years his mother 
moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and he was 
reared on the farm where he remained twenty years. 
During this time he attended the common schools 
as opportunities would permit, and assisted to the 
best of his abilities in the work upon the farm. At 
the age of twenty-two years, on the loth of Novem- 
ber, 1853, he was married to Miss Jane Connor, a 
native of Indiana, who was born on the 15th of 
April, 1833. She is the daughter of John and Eliz- 
abeth (Franklin) Connor, and her mother died when 
Mrs. Masters was twelve months old. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Masters have been born three children: 
Jasper C., who married Dorcas J. Oppey ; William 
A., who married Rosa Bryant, and one who died in 
infancy; both of the sons are farmers, and are 
meeting with success in their undertakings. 

Mr. Masters came to Illinois from Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., in 185G, and located in Pleasant 
Ridge Township, where he has ever since resided. 
He is one of the most extensive farmers and stock- 
raisers of the township. All of his large tract of 
land is highly cultivated, and the improvements of 
all classes are good. Mr. Masters belongs to the 
Republican party, and keeps pace with the pro- 
gressiveness of that organization. During his resi- 
dence in Pleasant Ridge Township, he has been en- 
trusted with some of the township offices, and in the 
discharge of his duties has given excellent satisfac- 
tion. 




iEORGE WORRICK, a retired farmer and 
now a resident of Fairbiiry, came to Liv- 
ingston County in 1X54, making the long 
journey from the State of Ohio by teams, and af- 
ter ward settling upon an uncultivated tract of land. 
which he in due time transformed into a valuable 
homestead. His first purchase was 125 acres, to 
which he subsequently added until he is now the 
pu>scs>or of a half section, .-upplied with handsome 
and substantial buildings and all the appliances of a 



first-class country estate. He retired from active 
labor in 1883, when he turned over the farm to the 
hands of his sons and removed to town, where he 
occupies one of the finest dwellings in the village. 
He was long ago recognized as a valued addition to 
the community of Indian Grove Township, and 
both in country and town is widely and favorably 
known as a representative citizen. 

The early years of Mr. Worrick's life were passed 
in Maryland, where he was born Jan. 20, 1810. In 
1819 his parents removed to Greene County, Pa., 
where he remained until twenty-three years of age, 
employed in farming, and during the winter season 
pursuing the common branches at the district schools. 
While a resident of the Keystone State he was 
united in marriage with Miss Eliza Compston, a na- 
tive of Greene County, and born July 31,1813. 
Mrs. Worrick is the daughter of Jacob and Mary 
(Evans) Compston, the former a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the latter of Culpeper County, Va. They 
were married in Greene County, Pa. Mr. Wor- 
rick's parents emigrated to Illinois in 1857, locat- 
ing in Belle Prairie Township, this county, where 
the father followed farming until called from his 
earthly labors in February, 1882. The mother had 
departed this life ten . years earlier. They were 
very pious people and devoted members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Worrick removed from Pennsylva- 
nia to Ohio in 1842, locating in Licking County, 
where our subject occupied himself in keeping a 
hotel and dealing in stock for a period of twenty- 
one years. He came to Illinois in 1854, and his 
subsequent course we have already indicated. The 
household circle was completed by the birth of five 
sons and three daughters: Mary J., the eldest, is 
the wife of William Johnson, of Strawn; John mar- 
ried Miss Sarah E. Ayers, and both are now de- 
ceased, the former being killed by a runaway team ; 
Maria is Mrs. Alex. McXabb, of Chicago; Henry 
married Miss Maria Lyons; Luther R. married Ma- 
rion Carpenter, who died of consumption in 1881 ; 
Harriet became the wife of John Skane, and is liv- 
ing in Fairbiiry; Charles married Miss Jane Harp, 
and Jacob married Miss Maria Barnes. 

Mr. Worrick has been prominent in local affairs 
since becoming a resident of Livingston County, 



f.KO 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



holding the various township oilier.-, :iiul being one 
of the pillars of the Christian Church, in which he 
lias officiated as Elder for thirty years. He east his 
first Presidential vote for Gen. Jackson, and con- 
tinued :i Democrat up to the administration of 
James Buchanan. The war agitation and its results 
had the effect of changing his political views, and he 
has since voted the Republican ticket. 



i 




OLLIS P. SWAN. Among the well-to-do 
farmers of Livingston County, who have 
succeeded through individual effort and 
economy in acquiring a handsome property 
both real and personal, Mr. Swan deserves promi- 
nent mention. He is living upon his large and pro- 
ductive farm on section 16, Saunemin Township, 
and in addition to the cultivation of grain is ex- 
tensively engaged in stock-raising. 

Mr. Swan is a native of Michigan, and was born 
on the 12th of September, 1836. He is the son of 
Jarvis W. and Esther (Wallace) Swan, natives of 
Vermont and New York respectively. His pater- 
nal ancestors were of English origin, and the grand- 
father, Ebenezer Swan, was a soldier in the Revo- 
lutionary army, being one of the minute men, and 
was wounded at the battle of Plattsburg. The ma- 
ternal ancestors were of Scotch origin, the family 
name being Wallace. In the fall of 1836, when our 
subject was a babe, his parents removed to Illinois 
and settled in Kane County, where they were 
among the earliest pioneers and remained until 
their death, that of the father occurring on the 7th 
of December, 1883, and the mother's on the 18th of 
April, 188G. The parents had six children, of 
whom five survive, viz.: Hollis P., our subject: 
Cordelia, the widow of Edward Delano, of Kane 
County; Edwin, of Harvey County, Kan.; Charles 
H., of Livingston County, and Albert W., of Paw- 
nee County, Kan. The father of our subject was 
one of the representative pioneers of Kane County, 
111., and became widely and favorably known dur- 
ing his residence there. In that county the subject 
of our sketch was reared to manhood and received 
a limited education. Since becoming a man he lias 
been a constant reader and an extensive traveler, 



thus making his knowledge of affairs broad and 
comprehensive. 

On the 7th of March, 1859, Mr. Swan was mar- 
ried, in Kane County, 111., to Miss Mary Wilding, 
a native of that county. She was born on the loth 
of February, 1 840, and is the daughter of Richard 
and Louisa (Benjamin) Wilding, the former a na- 
tive of Wales, and the latter of New York, and 
both became early settlers of Kane -County, 111. 
The father died on the 3d of May, 1 885, and the 
death of the mother occurred on the 6th of Janu- 
ary, 1875. Two children have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Swan: Perry L., deceased; and Sylvia V., 
wife of A. M. I?-win, of Marshall County, 111., but 
at present residing with Mr. Swan. 

On the 5th of September, 1861, Mr. Swan en- 
listed in Company B, 7th Kansas Cavalry, being a 
resident of that State at the breaking out of the 
war. For a time he operated in the western border 
counties of Missouri, and at the battle of Little 
Blue he was severely wounded, having received in 
this fight six bullets, and was left in the woods for 
dead when the regiment inarched away. He was 
subsequently in various hospitals several months, 
and upon his recovery rejoined his regiment, which 
was then sent into the South and conducted its fu- 
ture operations principally in Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He was with 
his regiment in the battles of Corinth, Holly Springs, 
and the Red River campaign, after which they 
were "transferred to the Iron Mountain Railroad in 
Missouri for the purpose of driving out Gen. Price 
and his army, and participated in the battles of 
Iron Mountain, Pilot Knob, and numerous others 
of minor importance. His enlistment in the army 
was as a private, but he was promoted to the rank 
of Sergeant, and in that position was discharged 
and mustered out in November, 1863. He then 
returned to Illinois and to Livingston County, in 
ISCiii, arriving but a few days before the assassina- 
tion of President Lincoln. He settled on his pres- 
ent farm on section l(i in that year, where he has 
since resided. 

Mr. Swan owns 320 acres of land in Saunemin 
Township, and also has landed interests in Kan.-a>. 
Politically, he votes and acts independently. He 
has served as Township Road Commissioner, in 



"4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



* 

681 




which capacity he rendered good service, and is a 
member of the G. A. R. Post atSaunerain, and also 
of the Masonic fraternity, No. 738, Saunernin, 111. 
He is a liberal-minded man and warmly endorses 
all enterprises projected for the advancement of 
the people of his neighborhood. 



R. NATHAN S. PARSONS, druggist and 
practicing physician at Fairbury, is a grad- 
uate of the old school, and completed his 
studies at Burlington, Vt., in 1874. He 
had taken a thorough course, and was for three 
years under the tutorship of the eminent Dr. Will- 
iam S. Ilonsinger, of West Chazy, N. Y., where he 
also attended a course of lectures at Bellevue Hos- 
pital. He has been a faithful student, and keeps 
himself well posted upon the views of the latest 
authors of medical works, and assisted by a fine 
library, has distinguished himself by his success, 
and long ago became universally popular. 

Dr. Parsons was born in Clinton County, N. Y., 
May 13, 1851, and was reared on the farm of his 
father, Nathan M. Parsons, until a youth of eight- 
een years. Then, having graduated from the com- 
mon schools, he entered- upon the higher branches, 
and after a thorough course in these, took up the 
study of medicine. The mother of our subject was 
formerly Miss Sarah Moore, a natives of Canada, 
and both parents were devoted members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which the father 
was connected for forty years. He was born in 
1800, and spent his entire life in his native county, 
his death taking place in 1871. He was a man of 
more than ordinary ability, both intellectually and 
in a business capacity, and besides filling the minor 
offices in his township, served three years as County 
Clerk. The mother passed away in 1862, when 
fifty-one years of age. The ten children of the 
parental family were named Henry. Washington, 
Almira, Tempy, Gilson T., Cornelius H., Dora, 
Henry C., Alfred A. and Nathan S. Of these, 
seven only are living. 

Dr. Parsons while a resident of West Chazy, \va> 
united in marriage with Miss Emma F. Reynolds, 
at the home of the bride in the city of Burling- 



ton, Vt. Mrs. P. was born in that city in 1861. 
This union has resulted in the birth of three chil- 
dren, all living, Mabel M., Jessie M. and George 
S. The Doctor commenced practice at Altona, N. 
Y., in 1874, and althoxigh still a young man, en- 
joys an extensive patronage. He is especially pro- 
ficient as a surgeon, and at the time of the terrible 
Chatsworth disaster, was one of the first called upon 
to assist_in alleviating the sufferings of the wounded. 
His cool judgment and steady nerves were just 
what was needed at that time, and he proved him- 
self equal to the emergency, acting with prompt- 
ness and excellent judgment, amputating limbs, set- 
ting joints and reducing fractures, besides stitching 
up gaping wounds. He carries a fine stock of drugs, 
and is held in high esteem as a citizen and business 
man, as well as a physician and surgeon. He was 
reared by pious parents in the doctrines of the 
Methodist Church, although not at present con- 
nected with any religious denomination. Politi- 
cally he upholds Republican principles, and socially 
is a member of the Order of Modern Woodman of 
America, being Examining Surgeon of the lodge at 
Fairbury. He was elected a member of the City 
Council in August, 1887. His handsome and at- 
tractive residence is located on Fourth street, where 
he and his excellent lady dispense generous hospi- 
tality to scores of friends. 




LVIN WAIT, County Clerk of Livingston 
County, is now completing his third term 
as the incumbent of this office, the duties 
of which he has discharged in a highly 
creditable manner. He has been connected with 
local affairs for many years, serving as Township 
Collector and Deputy Postmaster before being 
elected to his present position. 

Mr. Wait was born in Dresden, Ohio, Oct. 30, 
1843, and passed his boyhood and youth after the 
manner of most farmers' sons, attending school 
during the winter season and assisting on the farm 
in the summer. He was a youth of eighteen years 
at the breaking out of the late Rebellion, and a year 
later enlisted in Company D, 127th Illinois In- 
fantry, and served two years and seven months. He 



682 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



participated in many of the important battles of 
the war, namely, the siege and capture of Vicks- 
burg and the battles of Arkansas Post, Resaca, 
Ga., Dallas Woods, Kennesaw Mountain, and the 
siege of Atlanta. Buring the fierce conflict at the 
last-named place, which lasted from July 20 to the 
28th, his left leg was so badly shattered by a 
minie ball that it became necessary to amputate it. 
This naturally ended his fighting days, and he re- 
ceived his honorable discharge on the 25th of 
March, 1865. 

After being mustered out Mr. Wait returned 
home and attended a district school, and also the 
Soldier's College at Fulton, Whiteside County. 
Dec. 31, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Alice A. Maxwell, who was born in Taunton, 
Mass., April 4, 1849, and is the daughter of 
Rev. J. S. Maxwell, a minister of the Christian 
Church, and now a resident of Crawfordsville, Ind. 
The young people after their marriage located in 
Dwight, this county, and Mr. Wait was elected to 
his present position in November. 1877, moving to 
Pontiac on the 28th of November of that year. 
He is a decided Republican politically, and so- 
cially belongs to the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Wait there' were born five children, 
four of whom are now living, namely: Burton C., 
Hattie E., Gracie M. and an infant not named. 



J~1OHN W. HART. One of the enterprising 
I citizens of Long Point Township is the sub- 
ject of this sketch, who is located on a farm 
' on section 19. He was born on the 28th of 
July, 1840, and is the son of Samuel and Rachel 
(Thomas) Hart, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania 
respectively. The father of Mr. Hart came to 
Grimily County, 111., in 1854. and during his life 
was engaged in farming, and was a minister in the 
Methodist Church for about forty years. He was 
born June 17, 1817, and died Jan. 26, 1882, at the 
age of sixty-five years. The mother is still living, 
and resides in Odell Township, in this county. She 
has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church nearly all her life, and has been devoted to 
relisious and benevolent work. Samuel and Ra- 



chel Hart became the parents of the following- 
named children: Hannah, who died at the age of 
eighteen years; William resided in Nebraska, was 
twice married, first to a Mi-s Martin, deceased, and 
afterward to Sarah Martin, who is also dead; there 
was one child born by each marriage. Aquilla was 
a soldier in the Union army, and after being in the 
service two and one-half y ears, was struck by a 
piece of shell at the battle of the Wilderness, re- 
ceiving an injury which resulted in his death; Sa- 
rah married E. Anderson, has seven children, and 
lives in Livingston County ; Robert married Sarah 
White, and died on the 7th of September, 1887, 
leaving two children ; Lydia Ann married Charles 
Martin, and they had five children, one of whom 
is deceased; Mr. Martin is a tile and brick manu- 
facturer, and lives at Watseka, 111. Mary married 
Leonidas Martin, of Dwight, 111., and has had four 
children, one of whom is deceased; Rachel married 
L. M. Bundy, a physician and druggist at Cissna 
Park, Iroquois Co., III., and has two children; John 
W. married Anna Amanda Whiteley. Mr. Hart 
and Miss Whiteley were married on the 24th of 
December, 1868, and became the parents of three 
children: Elinira, born Nov. 25, 1870; Samuel F., 
born July 26, 1874, and now attending the High 
School at Streator, 111., and Annie, born April 11, 
1886. The parents of Mrs. Hart were F. A. and 
Elmira (Russell) Whiteley, natives of New York, 
the former born Oct. 3, 1812, in Tioga County, 
and the latter, Nov. 21, 1812, in Putnam County. 
Their marriage took place Jan. 17, 1839, and of the 
children of this union Mrs. Hart alone survives. 

John W. Hart, the subject of this sketch, en- 
listed in the army on the 13th of August, 1862, in 
Grnndy Count)', 111., and was assigned to Company 
D, 127th Illinois Infantry. After remaining in 
Chicago about two months, he went with his regi- 
ment to Memphis, Teim. He participated in the 
siege of Vicksburg, and the engagement of Arkan- 
sas Post, where the Union forces captured nearly 
all the rebels engaged in the fight. He was at Mis- 
sion Ridge and in the Atlanta campaign, but when 
within sight of Atlanta he was taken prisoner and 
removed to Andersonville Prison, where he re- 
mained one month and twenty-two days, when he 
was exchanged. While at Andersonville the suffer- 






LIVINGSTON 7 COUNTY. 



683 



ing on account of insufficient food and water was 
intense. A part of the time a half pint of unbolted 
meal per da}', and the balance of the time a small 
amount of corn bread, with once a week about a 
tablespoonful of molasses, was all they had to sub- 
sist on, and the water which they drank was that 
which ran from the camps and the cook houses, and 
was wholly unfit for even beasts to drink. When 
he was exchanged he rejoined his company and 
regiment, and went with Sherman to the sea, and at 
the close of this campaign his regiment proceeded 
to Washington, where he was mustered out of the 
service. 

Upon his return from the army Mr. H. engaged in 
the work of farming, and has followed that occu- 
pation ever since. He owns fort}- acres of land on 
section 27, and his wife owns eighty acres on sec- 
tion 17, upon which they reside. Both pieces of 
land are well improved and in a good state of cul- 
tivation, well fenced and bountifully supplied with 
wholesome water. Mr. Hart is a member of Rut- 
land Post No. 292, G. A. R., and is highly es- 
teemed as a comrade. He and his wife are active 
members in good standing of the Methodist '.Epis- 
copal Church. On account of his very decided 
views on the temperance question, Mr. Hart has 
attached his political fortunes to the Prohibition 
party, and of the doctrines of that party he is a 
strong and earnest advocate. Mr. Hart's educa- 
tional advantages were very meagre, but by study 
at odd times he succeeded in obtaining a fair edu- 
cation. He has had to depend largely on his own 
resources for success in life, and has been rewarded 
with measurably good success. He is a Christian 
gentleman, a good neighbor and a stable citizen. 




D. SAXTON. The jewel of a corn- 
nlun ' tv ' s l ' le " oo( l neighbor who can al- 
ways be depended upon in times of adver- 
sity or pressing emergency, and the acts of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, some of which are named further 
on, show that he has never failed to respond cheer- 
fully to such demands, and without hope of reward, 
further than an approving conscience. Mr. Saxton's 
farm home is located on section 8, Rook's Creek 



*- 



Township, where he has eighty acres of fine farm- 
ing land, with a residence which is so nearly perfect 
in all its appointments that further improvements 
would be out of the question. 

Our subject is the son of Frederick Saxton, and 
was born on the 26th of August, 1834, in the State 
of New York. He left there at the age of three 
years, and with his parents located in Piqua County, 
Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in the year 
1852, locating in Peoria County. Mr. Saxton was 
married, on the 8th of May, 1864, to Jane M. 
Young, of Chillicothe, 111., at which Lime he was 
thirty years of age. When a boy of eight years, he 
commenced working in a brickyard, and followed 
that occupation and masonry until about 1871, 
seven years after his marriage, when he came to his 
present home. Mr. and Mrs. Saxton have had six 
children: Frederick, born Feb. 21, 1867, died in 
infancy; Minnie, born May 17, 1869, has quali- 
fied herself for a teacher, and has been quite success- 
ful in that profession; Delia ,1., born Sept. 25, 1872, 
and died Deo. 19, 1877; Leona Y., born April 20, 
1877; Charles L., Sept. 1, 1881 ; M. Berenice, June 
9, 1884. 

Mr. Saxton's father was Frederick Saxton, who 
was born in New York, Sept. 1, 1806. The mother 
was Eliza Clark, who was born April 8, 1810, and 
they were married on the 13th of January, 1831. 
To them were born seven children, as follows: 
Nancy E., born Nov. 18, 1832, in New York, was 
married to George Hurlburt, by whom she had six 
children; she died about 1876, in Nebraska. Giles 
D. ; F. L. was born on the 2d of March, 1837, mar- 
ried Mary J. Ramsey, has five children, and lives in 
Long Point Township, Livingston County; Julia 
S., born Nov. 17, 1839, married Joseph Hamlin, 
has two children, and lives in Nebraska; Emily H., 
born Jan. 15, 1842, married Bradley Martin, is a 
widow, and lives in Butler County, Kan.; Andrew 
A., born June 23, 1844, and died July 20, 1857; 
Eliza S., born June 29, 1847. and lives in Butler, 
Kan. 

Mrs. Saxton's father, Matthias Young, was born 
March 30, 1812, in Pennsylvania, and lived for 
some time in Ohio and Illinois. He now resides in 
Iowa. Her mother. Elizabeth (Butler) Young, was 
born in Ohio in 1815. They were married about 



' 



fi84 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1830, and were the parents of ten children, as fol- 
lows: William H., born in 1837; Sarah M., in 
1839; Charles M., in 1842; Jane M., in 1844; 
George Q., in 1846; Delia, born in 1849, and died 
in infancy ; Ella E., born in 1852 ; Amanda, in 1858 ; 
Etta died in infancy; Id:i B., born in 1861. 

Mr. Saxton became a member of the Republican 
party at its organization, and voted for Gen. Fre- 
mont in 1856, and affiliated with that party until 
the candidacy of Peter Cooper for President in 
187C, when he became an advocate of the principles 
of the Greenback party. He is a very pronounced 
temperance man, and heartily approves the propo- 
sition to confer the right of suffrage upon women. 
He has never been a member of any religious de- 
nomination, and his creed is based upon the Script- 
ural precept which he never forgets, "Love thy God 
with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself." 
He is liberal in the support of all worthy charities, 
and no needy neighbor has ever applied to him in 
vain. 




HILO B. ZEILMAN, one of the substan- 
" tial citizens of Long Point Township, is a 
fanner and stock-raiser located on section 
12. His farm consists of eighty acres of 
fine land, on which he has erected good dwellings 
and farm buildings. His home is located within 
throe-quarters of a mile of a school-house, 'and 
within a mile and a half of three different churches, 
while his post-office, Long Point, is not far distant. 
Mr. Zeilman is a native of New York, where he 
was born on the 24th of November, 1829, and is 
the son of Cornelius and Betsy (Hall) Zeilman, na- 
tives of New York, and fanners by occupation. 
They immigrated to Illinois in 1837, locating first 
in Bureau County, win-re they remained for about 
six years. In 1844 they came to Livingston 
County, when- the father died Nov. 5, 1867, and 
was interred in the Long Point Cemetery; the 
mother died July 24, 1861. They had a family 
consisting of the following children: Darthy Ann, 
Rachel, Philo, Henry, Aaron, Olive: William Ilenrv 
and George AV., twins; Sarah, Lucinda : Mary and 
Jane, twins, and Betsy. Darthy Ann. who died 
about 1*K>. was married to Jonas Johnson, who 



died in the army, leaving one child ; Rachel died 
in New York State in 1837; Philo is the subject of 
this sketch; Henry died when about two years of 
age; Aaron, now living in Livingston County, mar- 
ried Mary Mills, and they have a family of seven 
children; Olive married Benjamin Custus, and has 
one child living; William Henry and George W. 
died quite young and were buried in Bureau County ; 
Sarah died unmarried. Of the other twins, Mary 
married Harman Girard. and has a family of seven 
children, while Jane married George Steiner, and 
has four children ; Lucinda married James McColly, 
has seven children, and lives in LaSalle County; 
Betsy married Hiram Robertson, and died at Long 
Point, leaving one child; she was married twice; 
her second husband was Richard Cuddaback, by 
whom she had two children, both deceased. 

Mr. Zeilman chose for a wife Harriet Augusta 
Evans, who was bom on the 23d of May, 1 836, in 
Janesville, N. Y. She is the daughter of AVilliam 
and Harriet (Lindsley) Evans, natives of New 
York, and her father was a Presbyterian minister, 
who, after serving twenty-seven years in the minis- 
try, was compelled to abandon it on account of fail- 
ing health, and died in 1867 at the age of seventy- 
six years. He was buried at Pontiac but his re- 
mains were afterward removed to Streator. The 
I mother died on the 15th of March, 1882, at the 
age of eighty-five years, and her remains were also 
interred at Streator. They were the parents of six 
children, of whom three are living: Edwin, a physi- 
cian in active practice for many years but now re- 
tired. He was married to Jessie Capron, and they 
have had six children, only one of whom is living, 
a daughter named Helen, the wife of Manley Has- 
kell. Edwin now owns several business buildings 
in Streator, several lots, and the building in which 
the post-office is situated, besides an interest in the 
glassworks. He wa- selected to go to England to 
inspect the gla.ss works of that country, and he 
there employed and brought with him men who un- 
derstand the manufacture of cathedral plate and 
window glass. He is one of the principal owncr- 
of the glass works, and is a man of activity in all 
matters of public as well as private interest. 
John Newton was a soldier in the Mexican War and 
died in Mexico: Henry Martin died when about 



*-*^ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



two years of age; Alonzo, a farmer, living within 
three miles of Streator, was married to Thankful 
Gardner, who died in 1872, and they had three 
children, all of whom died before the death of the 
mother; William Ileiuy was drowned in the Platte 
River, at the age of nineteen years, while going to 
California by the Northern Nebraska overland 
route. 

To Mr. and Mrs. /oilman were born five chil- 
dren: Edwin C. was born July 10, 1861, resides at 
home and is engaged in stock-raising; Clara A., 
born April 30, 1863, and died when nineteen days 
old: Charles M.. born Oct. 10, 1866, and died when 
two and one-half years old; John F., born June 29, 
1868, and resides with his parents, and one child, 
born Jan, 2!t, 1875, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Z.'s political affiliations are with the Repub- 
lican party. lie is a man of excellent reputation 
and of good standing in the community, and is 
considered one of the substantial citizens of Long 
Point Township, being highly esteemed and re- 
spected by all who know him. 



i AMES L. BLACKMORE. The subject of 
this sketch, one of the vigorous .young men 
of Waldo Township, as soon as old enough 
)) to take the preliminary steps in the battle of 
life, did so with great earnestness. From the be- 
ginning of his career on his own account, economy 
has been one of his characteristics, and when he felt 
that he could properly assume the responsibilities 
of proprietorship, he had accumulated almost money 
enough to pay cash for an 80-acre farm. Now, at 
the age of thirty -three, he is comfortably situated 
on one of the best farms in the township, where he 
engages in stock-raising in connection with farming. 
Our subject is the son of John and Elizabeth 
Blaekmore, and was born in Peoria County, 111., on 
the Cth of July, 1854. The parental family con- 
sisted of ten children, the record being as follows: 
John, the oldest, was born in Peoria Comity, March 
18, 1852, and died July 25, 1858; William, born 
March 3, 185<i, married Mary Lee in February, 
1879, has four children, and lives in Ford County; 
Sarah, born Nov. s, 1857, married Frank Guard, 



Feb. 2, 1883, has one child, and lives in Panola 
Township, Woodford County; Eli, born May 9, 

1860, married Sarah Agnew, Dec. 29, 1886, and 
lives in Waldo Township; Albert, born Dec. 26, 

1861, lives in Woodford County; Emma, born 
Nov. 25, 1863, died December 15 following; Lin- 
coln, born Jan. 28, 1865, lives in Ford County; 
Lilia, born Oct. 28, 1866, makes her home with our 
subject; Charles was born Oct. 30, 1869; Hattie, 
June 12, 1876, and Grant, Oct. 9, 1877. 

The parents of our subject were born in Devon- 
shire, England, the father Feb. 2, 1827, and the 
mother Jan. 20, 1832. The former came to Amer- 
ica in the spring of 1851, and soon afterward the 
mother, with whom he had been acquainted in En- 
gland, joined him here, and, as had been previously 
arranged, their marriage occurred soon after in 
Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y., where the father was 
engaged at work as a carpenter. For one and one- 
half years after his marriage, he remained at that 
point, and then moved to Peoria County, 111., where 
he engaged in both farming and carpentering. His 
death, which was occasioned by the explosion of 
varnishes which he was mixing, occurred on the 
1 6th of June, 1 884, and he was buried at El Paso. 
The death of the mother occurred on the 28th of 
June, 1885, the immediate cause being her inordin- 
ate grief over the tragic death of her husband. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to man- 
hood on a farm, and early in life became interested 
in the details of his occupation. He also availed 
himself of all the facilities that were presented for 
obtaining a common-school education. Before he 
was twenty years of age he began working by the 
month, and was permitted by his parents to receive 
the benefit of his wages. He continued in this 
way for five years, at which time he had accumu- 
lated $1,000 in cash. On the 25th of December. 
1878, he was married to Miss Mary E. Stuffing, 
daughter of John and Ann P. (Landers) Stuffing, 
of Deer Creek Township, Tazewell Co., 111. Mrs. 
Blackmore was born on the 28th of June, 1856, in 
Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. She is the oldest in a 
family of nine children : William, born March 15, 
1858, married Josephine Goodnough, Dec. 25, 
1880, has four children, and lives in Mackinaw, 
Tazewell Co., 111. ; Robert, born Oct. 28, 1 859, mar- 



' 



686 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ried Olivester Goodnough, Feb. 28, 1883, has three 
children, and lives at Belle Flower, McLean Co., 111. ; 
Elizabeth, born May 2, 1862, married Henry Crose 
Feb. 10, 1882, and lives in Panola Township, 
Woodford County; Francis E., born Sept. 14, 1864, 
lives in McLean County; John, born May 5, 1868, 
and James, born Dec. 30, 1869, live in Tazewell 
County; George was born April 15, 1872; Cora, 
Sept. 19, 1876. The parents of Mrs. Blackmore 
are natives of England, where the father was born 
on the 18th of January, 1829, and the mother June 
28, 1836. The father and brother came to Amer- 
ica in 1850, and about two years after arriving sent 
for their parents. The mother of Mrs. Blackmore 
came to America with her father, her mother hav- 
ing died in England. 

Soon after Mr. Blackmore's marriage, he rented 
land and began farming in Woodford County, 
where he remained for two years, then with what 
money he had saved and to which his father added 
some, he bought eighty acres on section 25, Waldo 
Township, where his home is now located, and he 
and his family are pleasantly situated. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Blackmore have been born two children 
Anna E., Nov. 21, 1883, and Elvira Clarissa. 
June 2, 1887. Mr. Blackmore's farm is already 
under a high state of cultivation, and he has it well 
stocked. Since occupying it his success has been 
gradual but sure, and the outlook for the future 
could scarcely be better. He and his wife, who are 
now in the prime of life, arc hopeful and cheerful, 
and thoroughly determined to make the most of 
the circumstances with which they may be sur- 
rounded. The}- occupy a good position among 
the intelligent and progressive people of the com- 
munity. 



APT. AARON W. WALDEN. Kentucky 
is a State celebrated in early days for 
its hardy pioneers and great huntei>. of 
whom Daniel Boone lives in memory as a correct 
type. In later years the State has become cele- 
.brated for its beautiful women, gallant men and 
fine horses. The beautiful and exceedingly fertile 
Blue Grass region is a soil based upon blue lime- 




stone, and is world-famed for its immense stock- 
breeding and grazing interests, where some of the 
finest blooded horses that are produced in this 
country are born and raised. At the city of Frank- 
fort, the capital of Kentucky, and beautifully situ- 
ated on the right bank of the Kentucky River sev- 
enty miles southwest of Cincinnati, the subject of 
this sketch was born on the Gth of September, 1821. 
His parents were William and Sarah Walden. the 
father a native of Virginia and the mother of Ken- 
tucky. The father, with his parents, removed to 
Woodford County, Ky.. at an early day, and when 
he arrived at manhood married and became a 
pioneer settler of that country. The maternal 
grandfather, John Mitchell, was a native of Holland, 
who came to this country and settled in Woodford 
County, Ky. To the parents of Capt. Walden 
were born a numerous family of children, of whom 
four survive: Paulina, Mrs. William Hutton, of 
Coles County, III.; Elizabeth, of Kentucky: Sarah. 
of Kansas City, Mo., and Aaron W. When about 
six years of age Aaron accompanied his parents 
when they moved to Clark Count}', Itid., where 
they located and remained two years, at the end of 
which time they removed to Sangamon County, 
111., and remained there two years. From that 
county the family removed to Terre Haute, Ind., 
where the father died. Some years later the mother 
died in McLean County, 111. 

Capt. Walden was reared upon a farm and his 
life has been principally spent in agricultural pur- 
suits. For five years he operated :i brickyard at 
Bloomington, 111., and during two years he was 
similarly engaged in Towanda, Towanda Township, 
McLean County. He has been married three times: 
first in Indiana, in 1841, to Eveline Sparks, of 
Terre Haute, Ind.; his second wife WHS Mrs. Mar- 
garet M. Black, a native of Delaware, to whom he 
wa> married in the year 1847; they had two chil- 
dren, William '/... and Kvaliue, deceased. lie was 
married to Rachel Springer, his present wife, on 
the ;!d of May. 1853. She is the daughter of 
William and Sarah Springer, both of whom were 
natives of Ohio, and was born in McLean County, 
111., where her parents were pioneer settlers. l!y 
this union eight children were born, five of whom 
are living Aaron, Evelean, Mary, Charles and 



t 



I 
I 



f 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



689 t , 



Roselln. The three cleceasetl were Sarah K., Mar- 
garet, and one who died in infancy. 

In August, IS!'.?. Mr. Walden organized a com- 
pany of eighty-six men for service in the volunteer 
army of the United States. This company was as- 
signed to the 94th Volunteer Infantry as Company 
F, and he was elected to the Captaincy, which po- 
sition, during his entire service, he filled efficiently, 
and satisfactorily to his men and his superiors. He 
was in active service for nine months, but his health 
breaking down he was compelled to leave the army, 
and resigning his position he returned home. In 
the discharge of his duties he participated in the 
battles of Prairie Grove, Ark., where he and his 
company were quite conspicuously engaged and 
performed many deeds of gallantly. On the 4th 
of March, 1&63, he received an honorable discharge 
from the army on account of disability incurred in 
the line of duty. He then returned to McLean 
County, 111., and in ING!) removed to Livingston 
County, and lived in Rook's Creek Township. In 
the spring of 187(1 he removed to Pontiac Town- 
ship, where he owns a splendid farm of 200 acres, 
on section 17, which is one of the model farms of 
Livingston County. Capt. Walden is a man of 
broad views upon all the questions of the day, and 
in his political affiliations he acts with the Repub- 
lican part}*. During the war he was a member of 
the Union League, an organization intended to off- 
set and counteract the operations of the secret 
treasonable organization known as the Knights of 
the Golden Circle. This latter organization was 
composed of Northern men of Southern proclivities, 
who banded together for the purpose of harrassing 
and annoying the rear and embarrassing the Gov- 
ernment in any and every way possible. One of 
the things they hoped to accomplish was the re- 
lease of rebel prisoners held at several points in 
the North. In some localities they were particu- 
larly strong, and cum milted many overt acts in 
Illinois and Indiana : in the latter State they went 
so far as to perfect plans for the assassination of 
Gov. Morton, and the release of 20,000 rebel 
prisoners being held at Indianapolis. Through the 
vigilance and alertness of the Union League, the 
organization to which Capt. Walden belonged, the 
plans were frustrated and the leaders were arrested 



and tried for treason, convicted and sentenced to 
be hung, which sentence would have been car- 
ried out had not the great-hearted war Governor 
interposed for them with pleadings for mercy. 
Capt. Walden can now look back with considerable 
satisfaction at the part he played during the war, 
both in a military and civil capacity. 





OBKRT S. SPAFFORD, of Sauncmin Town- 
ship, belongs to that class of men who, as 
the architects of their own fortunes, have 
builded well, and illustrated in their lives 
and characters how good a school is that which com- 
pels a man in his early youth to depend upon his 
own resources. From a humble beginning in life 
the subject of this history has advanced slowly at 
first, perhaps, but surely, and now occupies a posi- 
tion, socially and financially, near the top of the 
ladder. His worldly goods have been accumulated 
by the sweat of his brow, and the esteem of his 
fellowmen secured by his established worth as a cit- 
izen and a business mau. His attention for many 
years past has been given entirely to farming and 
stock-raising, and he is the owner of one of the 
finest homesteads in the county. 

Mr. Spafford was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
March 10, 1823, and is the son of John and Sarali 
(Sibcy) Spafford, and the brother of Thomas Spaf- 
ford, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in 
this AI.P.UM. Young Spafford early in life became 
acquainted with its cares and responsibilities, and 
at the age of sixteen years commenced his appren- 
ticeship at the miller and baker's trade, which in 
England are learned together, the milling being 
prosecuted during the da\- and the baking in the 
night and morning. Young Spafford served two 
and one-half years as an apprentice and a like time 
as a journeyman in his native town, often working 
eighteen hours per day for the small sum of four 
shillings per week. He had received but few educa- 
tional advantages but was always fond of reading 
ami anxious to improve his mind, arid availed him- 



690 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



self of all the opportunities which came in his way 
to jjain useful information. 

After spending twenty-six years in his native 1 
country and reali/.ing scant results from his arduous 
labors, Mr. Spafford decided to change his location, 
and accordingly repairing to Liverpool, he took 
passage April !>. 1849, on the sailing-vessel "Yeo- ! 
man," and after a voyage of twenty -two days and 
a quarantine of a few more, on account of cholera 
mi board, landed in New York City. During the 
voyage twenty-four persons had fallen victims to 
the terrible scourge and been committed to ocean 
ijrave^. Mr. Spafford at once proceeded westward 
to LaFayette, Ind., where he labored a few months 
for $12.50 and his board. He was then taken ill 
with fever and ague, and as soon as he recovered 
changed his location to Montgomery County, when: 
he remained probably two years, still engaged as a ' 
farm laborer. Thence he went into Fountain 
County, and rented a tract of land upon which he 
operated live years. In the meantime, May 24, 
1852, he took unto himself a wife and helpmeet, in 
the pel-sou of Miss Lucy Hill, also a native of Kn- 
gland, and born in the same parish as himself. She 
had crossed the ocean when a young lady, and their 
reunion on this side of the Atlantic proved a happy 
event for both. 

The household of Mr. and Mrs. Spafford was 
made glad by the birth of six children, of whom 
but four are now living: Sarah A., Mary, Thomas 
Is. and John C. Sarah A. is now the wife of 
Joseph Rich, of Sauuemin Township, and Mary 
married Jeffrey Rich, of Saunemin Village. The 
two sons are single and live at home. The family 
continued in Fountain County, Ind., until the 
spring of 185:5, when Mr. Spafford took possession 
of a farm in what is now known as Ten-Mile Grove, 
Ford County, this State, whence a year later he 
came to Livingston. After his arrival in this 
county he first located four miles northeast of Fair- 
bury, but a year later secured his present farm. It 
then bore little resemblance to its present condition, 
being still Government property, upon which a fur- 
row had never been turned. He entered Kit) acres 
and experienced the same vicissitudes through 
which his brother pioneers passed in developing 
their homesteads from the uncultivated soil. Their 



first dwelling was a rude structure which in time- 
was replaced by a substantial frame residence, and 
there has gradually grown up about the latter all 
the modern improvements required by the progres- 
sive agriculturist, while the farm stock and ma- 
chinery are highly creditable to the proprietor. 
Mi" Spafford, as time passed on, wisely invested his 
surplus capital in additional land, so that he is now 
the owner of 800 acres in Livingston County, be- 
sides 507 acres in Kankakee County. We present 
on an accompanying page a view of the residence 
and surroundings. 

When we consider the fact that these vast posse.-- 
sions were built up from comparatively nothing, 
words seem insufficient to illustrate the persever- 
ance and determination which must have been em- 
ployed on the i>art of Mr. Spafford. Upon landing 
on American soil he had but $2.50 in his pocket, 
and was swindled out of even that small amount 
before leaving New York. This experience has 
caused him to watch with interest the career of 
young men around him, and he lias always been 
willing to assist those who would strive to help 
themselves, and to support the enterprises which 
had for their object the general welfare of the com- 
munity. He was largely instrumental in securing 
the building of the Wabash Railroad through Saun- 
emin Township, and contributed liberally of his 
means for this purpose. He has served as School 
Director for probably twenty years, and has been 
Commissioner of Highways, besides being promi- 
nent always in township affairs. 

Politically Mr. Spafford is independent, voting 
for the men whom he considers best qualified for 
office, regardless of party. He was formerly a 
Methodist in his religious views, but is now a Uni- 
versalist. He contributes, however, to the support 
of all the churches in his neighborhood. He was 
the first to build up Methodism in Saunemin Town- 
ship, and the first lay delegate from Saunemin to 
the annual conference at 1'eoria. Socially he be- 
long- to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of 
Sullivan Center Lodge at Saunemin. lie has passed 
the several degrees, being now a Master Mason, and 
a member greatly valued by the brethren. There 
can be nothing more gratifying in the whole career 
of a man than the belief that his life has proved a 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



091 



success, and Mr. Spafford may gather large comfort 
from this thought, for his days have certainly been 
well six-lit, and lie has not only surrounded himself 
:nul his family with all the comforts of life but has 
generously remembered those less fortunate. 



* ~ ,i -" 

<AMES CIIADWICK. The biographer, his- 
torian and traveler, in passing through a sec- 
tion of country, naturally has in mind that 
which has contributed to its present condi- 
tion in point of the cultivation of the soil, the erec- 
tion of buildings, the appearance of the farm stock 
and all those elements which indicate the habits and 
disposition of the people. As a straw will show 
which way the wind blows, so a single individual 
may have great influence upon his community espe- 
cially during the period of the early settlement of 
a town or township. In reviewing the character of 
the subject of this biography and in looking upon 
the homestead which he built up from the unculti- 
vated prairie, little need be said as far as regards 
the industry with which he has labored and the 
money he has expended while building up one of 
the most creditable homes in the eastern part of 
Livingston County. 

Mr. Chadwick has now passed his threescore 
years and has been a resident of this State since 
1853. Ten years later he made his way from 
Grundy to this count}-, where he purchased 240 
acres of land and put up his present residence with 
other necessary buildings. The dwelling, although 
having stood for twenty-four years, has by the ex- 
ercise of good care and occasional repairs, pre- 
served its first solidity and is still substantial and 
good for many years to come. Mr. Chadwick sold 
1 :.'(> acres, so that he is now simply cultivating a tract 
of the same size, and has had ample time and means 
to bestow upon this his best efforts. It is all neatly 
enclosed with good fences and every acre has been 
made available, either in raising grain or in being 
utilized for pasture. lie keeps good horses and 
especially line cattle, the latter including graded 
Durham and Jerseys, of which he exhibits some 
unexceptionably good specimens. 

Our subject spent his early years among the New 



England hills near the town of Sunderland, Ben- 
nington Co., Vt., where he was born May 9, 
1 823. He was the eldest in a family of four chil- 
dren, the offspring of Rufus and Freelove (Mont- 
gomery) Chadwick, also natives of the Green 
Mountain State, and of English and Irish ancestry 
respectively, Rufus Chadwick was a well-edu- 
cated man and a surveyor by profession, although 
he owned a small tract of land and was fond of 
agricultural pursuits. He only lived out one-half 
his days, however, passing away when his son, our 
subject, was but a child five years of age. The 
mother survived her husband for a period q sev- 
eral years, her death taking place at her home about 
1860, after she had arrived at the advanced age of 
seventy years. She remained a widow and devoted 
herself to the care and training of her children. 

Mr. Chadwick was reared in the lumber districts 
of Vermont and remained in his native State until 
thirty years of age. He received a common-school 
education, and a few weeks before attaining his 
majority was married, in the month of April, 1844, 
to Miss Lucy Day, a native of his own county 
and born in 1830. She was the daughter of Jo- 
seph and Susan (Kemp) T)ny, and the young- 
est iu a family of five children. The young peo- 
ple commenced life together in a modest dwelling 
at Sunderland, where our subject continued to 
work in the lumber district until deciding upon 
n removal to the West. Upon first coming to 
this State he rented a farm located near Morris, 
Grundy County, of which he was a resident with 
his family for about nine years. He had been 
fairly prospered and in 18G3, as we have stated, 
took possession of the land a part of which con- 
tinues his homestead. 

Mr. ('had wick upon coming to this section of 
country was recognized as a valued addition to the 
community. He interested himself in schools and 
churches, and was ever ready to respond to the 
c;ills for assistance in support of those enterprises 
calculated to build up the township and encourage 
its settlement by an intelligent class of people. He 
served as School Director for a number of years. 
He has now, with the exception of some years, 
during which he was a resident of Chatsworth, for 
the purpose of educating his children, been one of 



* 



602 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the most prominent citizens of Sullivan Township 
for a period of over thirty years. He has looked 
with deep satisfaction upon the development of the 
natural resources of Central Illinois, and should be 
satisfied with the part which he bas borne as one of 
the important factors associated with its progress, 
both morally and financially. 

Our subject and his estimable '-vife became the 
parents of eight children, of whom but four are now 
living. Their record is as follows: Edwin is mar- 
ried and a resident of Minnesota; Delia, Mrs. 
Zoans, lives in Indiana; James R. is at home with 
his parents; Lilia is the wife of John Gilpen, a 
thrifty farmer of Avoca Township; Ella died at 
the age of eight years, and Charles when but four 
years old; two died in infancy unnamed. 



IRA M. PARKER, a prominent resident of 
Dwight Township, where he is engaged in act- 
ive labor as n wide-awake farmer, has served 
a full apprenticeship with his hands and brain, and 
is now enjoying the rightful reward of the toils and 
anxieties of earlier years. He is the descendant of 
American-born people down through two genera- 
tions, his great-grandfather Parker having come to 
this country from England prior to the Revolution- 
ary War. 

This first representative of the Parker family to 
cross the Atlantic located in New York State dur- 
ing its first settlement, where he built up a home in 
the wilderness and reared a family of sons and 
daughters. Among these was Ira, the father of 
our subject, who was born at the homestead in 
(ienesec County, where he remained until quite a 
youth. Then, being of an adventurous turn of 
mind and desiring to see .something of the world, 
he learned the trade of ship carpenter, and finally 
occupied himself as a boatman on the Hudson 
li\er. He married Miss Jemima Turner, of his 
own State, and they became the parents of seven- 
teen children, most of them born in New York. 

In 1852 the father of our subject left the Em- 
pire State, and coming to Will County, III., located 
near Joliet and lived there for a period of twenty 
years. Thence he removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., 



where he operated a sawmill in connection with a 
small farm. From there he crossed the Mississippi 
into Humboldt, Kan., and a year later, in 1881, took 
up his residence in the town of Dwight. lie is now 
enjoying his later years in the midst of the friends 
who have [.earned to respect him for his native 
worth of character and the excellent qualities which 
constitute him a valued and praiseworthy citizen. 
Mr. Parker began the struggle of life in New York 
State when wages were low and it was a difficult 
matter to keep soul and body together. Among 
other employments he engaged in threshing with a 
flail, at which labor he could command only fifty 
cents a day. This even was at some seasons con- 
sidered a large price and he was sometimes com- 
pelled to fall back upon just half of it, thankful to 
receive even twenty-five cents for a hard day's 
work. In spite of these difficulties he and his family 
managed to thrive, and fifteen of the children grew 
to mature years. Those surviving are now scat- 
tered all over the Union. 

The subject of this history was born at West 
Point, N. Y., in 1842, and came to Illinois when a 
lad nine years of age. At that time this county 
was comparatively new and there were but few op- 
portunities afforded for securing an education. Ira, 
in common with his brothers and sisters, began 
working as soon as he could be of any use, and 
continued at the parental homestead until the out- 
break of the late Rebellion. lie was then but a 
vouth of eighteen years but was eager for the fray, 
and promptly responded to the call of President 
Lincoln for 300,000 men. He enlisted in Company 
I. 'Kith Illinois Infantry, of which his brother 
Elijah was also a member. Subsequently Edmund 
and Edward, two younger brothers, also enlisted, 
I nit were compelled by their father to abandon 
their project before being mustered into service. 
Ira, with his regiment, was assigned to the Army of 
the Tennessee, and participated in the engagements 
at Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and all the battles 
and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged. 
He was often in the midst of danger and death, 
having many narrow escapes, besides suffering all 
the privations and hardships common to the lot of 
the soldier, lie fortunately, how ever, was neither 
wounded nor captured, and never in a hospital or 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



693 



ambulance during his time of service. He was 
mustered out in December, 1864, in Memphis, 
Tenn., where he received his honorable discharge. 
He spent the few months following i'l Will County, 
and in 1865 accompanied his father to Kalanmzoo. 
Mich., where he worked in the sawmill four years, 
and in 1873 assumed domestic ties by his marriage 
with Miss Sarah Drollinger, Nov. 20, 1873. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Parker settled 
in Michigan, and two years later came to Dwight 
Township, locating on a farm two miles east of the 
town which property Mr. Parker had purchased in 
1868. This he afterward disposed of and purchased 
his present homestead. Here he has the various 
modern improvements necessary to the formation 
of the complete country home, and to their house- 
hold circle there have been added four children, 
namely: Arthur H., Mabel F., Carrie L.. who died 
in infancy, and Amy, who is now a babe. 

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Mat- 
thias and Jane (Lloyd) Drollinger, of Livingston 
Count}', this State. She is a most estimable lady 
and has many friends in this locality. .Mr. Parker 
pursues the even tenor of his way, giving his at- 
tention mostly to his farming interests, and being 
particularly peaceable, has little use for Justices, 
courts or lawyers, but keeps himself posted upon 
all matters identified with the public welfare. He 
votes the straight Republican ticket, and socially 
belongs to the G. A. R. 






JAMES A. SMITH. The newspaper of the 
town is generally a faithful reflector of the 
enterprise and business of the place. While 
' much of the success of the newspaper de- 
pends upon the personal management, yet the source 
from which it draws its support is after all its main- 
stay, and a newspaper which is well supported gen- 
erally shows that the business community is thrifty 
and enterprising. The Plain Dealer at Chatsworth, 
of which the subject of this sketch is the editor and 
publisher, shows both these conditions of things: 
excellent and intelligent personal management, and 
a generous patronage on the part of the reading 
and business public. 

Mr. Smith is a native of Vermillion, Ohio, a small 



town on the shores of Lake Erie, where he was born 
on the 6th of August, 1845. The parental ances- 
tors were of French extraction, but a residence in 
this country of several generations has obliterated 
the traces of French ancestry. The grandfather of 
Mr. Smith was a nail manufacturer in the da}-s be- 
fore the introduction of machinery. The father, 
Aaron B. Smith, was born in Morristown, N. J., in 
1813, where he served an apprenticeship to the 
tailor's trade, and when a young man moved to 
Oswego, N. Y., where he pursued that occupation. 
At that place he made the acquaintance of Eliza L. 
Erwin, who became his wife in 1835. She was 
born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1813, at which place her 
father owned a large smelting furnace. 

Shortly after their marriage the parents of our 
subject moved to Vermillion, Ohio, where they re- 
sided until the fall of 1845, at which time they had 
four children, and the family started west in a prai- 
rie schooner, passing through Chicago and Ottawa, 
and went to Rushville, where Mrs. Smith had a 
brother living, who had just returned, wounded, 
from the Mexican War. They passed the winter at 
Rushville and then went to Ottawa, where they 
settled down for life. The father pursued his trade 
nearly one year, and in the spring of 1847 was 
elected Justice of the Peace, and held that office 
by re-election for forty-two consecutive years. He 
died on the 18th of April, 1887, being the oldest 
Justice of the Peace in point of consecutive years 
served, in the country. He was a stanch Demo- 
crat, and could always be relied upon for valuable 
service during the campaign. He had the distinc- 
tion of the personal friendship of Stephen A. Doug- 
las, of whom he was a great admirer. While there 
was nothing negative in his character and he was 
very pronounced in all his views, he was scrupu- 
lously respectful of the opinions of others. On the 
question of the tariff he was one of the best posted 
men in the country, and early took a position in 
favor of Free Trade, while he was for years Presi- 
dent of a club, the object of which was the promul- 
gation of that doctrine. The first bill providing 
for a public school introduced into the Legislature 
of Illinois, was drafted by Mr. Smith, and lo him 
Ottawa is indebted for her first public school. He 
was tendered the Democratic nomination to the 



6!H 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



office of County Judge, and other important offices 
of trust and honor, but declined :il) except the 
office of Justice of the Peace, member of the Board 
of Education, and of the City Council. He was a 
man of much public spirit, and engaged heartily in 
all public enterprises that tended to benefit and ad- 
vance the people of the community in which he 
lived. Mrs. Smith is still living and resides in Ot- 
tawa, the mother of eight children, all of whom are 
living, surrounded with the comforts of life. 

James A. Smith, although a native of Ohio, grew 
to manhood in Illinois, as he was but an infant 
when the family stopped at Ottawa. In the schools 
of that city he received a liberal education and be- 
came book-keeper and cashier in a large wholesale 
and retail house in Ottawa, where he served in that 
capacity from 18C4 to 1867, when he came to 
Chatsworth and engaged in the grain trade, in which 
he continued until 1880, when he became proprie- 
tor of the Chatsworth Plain Dealer. While he de- 
votes all the time necessar}' to matters relating to 
the editorial and business management of the paper, 
his principal business is dealing in real estate and 
personal securities. In his business transactions he 
has been eminently successful, and financially is 
one of the substantial men of the county. In po- 
litical matters he follows in the footsteps of his 
father, being a stanch and enthusiastic member of 
the Democratic party. It has been his province to 
hold several local offices, and at the time this sketch 
i> written he is President of the Village Board, a 
position he has held for four consecutive years, 
and has been a member of the School Board for 
twelve years, in which capacity he has expended 
his best efforts for the advancement and upbuild- 
ing of the schools. In 1880 he was a candidate 
on the Democratic ticket for State Senator, and 
was the only Democrat who carried Livingston 
County for this office, but as the district was very 
strongly Republican, he was defeated, although he 
ran ahead of his ticket throughout the district. 
He has never chosen to connect himself with any 
religious society. 

On the .")th of December, 18li7, Mr. Smith was 
married to Mary C. Hemperley, daughter of Adam 
and Rebecca (Schnler) Hemperley. She was born 
in Dauphin County, Pa., on the oth of December, 



1830. and came to Illinois in 18(5(5, accepting the 
position of manager of the notion department of 
the store in which Mr. Smith was cashier. There 
gather around their hearthstone four children, the 
names of whom are M. Eva, Ora G., Clarence H. 
and James A., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Smith take a 
leading position in the society at Chatsworth, and 
are the center of a large number of friends and ac- 
quaintances. Being amply able to live well they 
make their home and surroundings so pleasant that 
people are intuitively attracted toward them. The 
Plain Dealer, the journal over which Mr. Smith 
presides, wields a decided influence in the affairs of 
the town and county. It is outspoken, emphatic, 
but respectful and respectable in its tone. 




DOLPH KOEHLER, a resident of Living- 
ston County for the last twenty years, now 
operates the farm of Judge L. E. Payson, 
which includes a fine tract of 200 acres. 
He is accredited with a full understanding of his 
business, and what he accomplishes is done well. 
His experience in farming extends back to his boy- 
hood, as he was reared on a farm in LaSalle County, 
this State. He is a native of the Kingdom of Sax- 
ony, where he was born Sept. 6, 1847, and whence 
he was brought to this country with his mother when 
a small child, after the death of his father in his na- 
tive Germany. 

Mr. Koehler received a common-school educa- 
tion, and upon first coming to Livingston County, 
assisted his brother Gustavus, in breaking prairie 
in Chatsworth Township. With the exception of 
three years spent in Ford County, he has resided in 
Chatsworth Township since that time. lie has his 
residence on section 32, where, with his wife and 
family, he lives comfortably and enjoys a large pro- 
portion of the good things of life. 

Mr. Koehler was first married, in the spring of 
1872, to Miss Amelia Belcyg, a native of Wiscon- 
sin, with whom he became acquainted in Gertnan- 
ville. Of this union there were born two children, 
Charles and Cora May, and the mother died in 
December, 1875. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




married in the spring of 1880, was formerly Miss 
Abbie Koestner, who was born June 7, 1862, and 
is the daughter of George W. and Sophia Koestner, 
of German birth and parentage. The three chil- 
dren born of this marriage were named Willie, El- 
mer and Nellie. The youngest died in infancy. 

Mr. Koehler uniformly votes the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket. He is not identified with any secret 
or religious society, but as near as he is able en- 
deavors to adhere to the precepts of the Golden 
Rule, and is consequently held in due respect by his 
neighbors and acquaintances. 



RS. MARY R. MASON, widow of the late 
William D. Mason, of Pontiac, and daugh- 
ter of Leonard and Margaret ( Miller ) 
Posten, was born in Preston County, 
W. Va., July 18, 1827, and became the wife of 
Mr. Mason in 1847. Mr. Mason was a native of 
West Virginia, born in Preston County, March 16, 
1822, and was the son of William and Lydia D. 
(Turner) Mason, also natives of the Old Dominion, 
descended respectively from the Scotch, Irish and 
Welsh. William Mason, Sr., was a fanner by oc- 
cupation, and served as Justice of the Peace in his 
native county for a period of twenty-one years. 
The parents spent their entire lives in Virginia. 
Their family included eight children, four now 
living, namely: John, Albert G. ; Mary A., Mrs. 
Coburn, and Emily, now Mrs. Messenger. 

William 1). Mason, Jr., spent his boyhood days 
on his father's farm, but when starting out for him- 
self engaged in general merchandising at Albright- 
ville. W. Va. About 1864 he removed to Win- 
chester. Adams Co., Ohio, and was engaged as 
before for six years following. L T pon selling out 
lii' came to this State and purchased a farm in Pon- 
tiae Township, where he spent the remainder of 
his days cultivating the soil. His farm included 
266 acres and he built up a good homestead, where 
he spent his last years in ease and comfort, closing 
his eyes for his final rest in 1884. He was Dem- 
ocratic in politics, and as a man and citizen was 
held in the highest esteem. 

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Mason w;i- 



James A. Posten, a native of England. Her 
mother's parents were John H. and Mary A. (Lin- 
ard) Miller, natives of Germany, who immigrated 
to this country in their youth, where the father en- 
gaged as a cabinet-maker in Maryland. Their son 
Leonard, the father of Mrs. Mason, during his 
younger years followed milling and farming in 
Preston County, W. Va., whence he immigrated to 
Iowa in 1868. He located in Poweshiek County, 
where his death took place in 1872, and that of the 
mother in 1884. Both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Leonard Posten, 
who always took an active part in polities, was a 
stanch adherent of Democratic principles. The 
parental household included eleven children, nine 
now living, namely: Harriet, Mrs. Pile; John H. ; 
Mary R., our subject; Alpheus P., Salathiel J. ; 
Charlotte, Mrs. Morris; Lovilla, Mrs. Cress; Will- 
iam, and Sarah, Mrs. Irwin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mason became the parents of six 
children, three of whom are living, namely: Levas- 
seur, married to Miss Margaret Debruin, and they 
have four children William D.,Ella R., Frank and 
Edna; Albert married Miss Clara G randy, and 
they have three children Ollie L., Leonard L. and 
an infant unnamed; Elizabeth L. is the wife of 
T. E. G randy, of Pontiac; they had one child, 
Ida, who died Oct. 29, 1884. The deceased were 
W. M., who died in Pontiac in February, 1877, 
and is buried in that cemetery. The other two, 
Margaret, an infant, and Smith, were laid to rest 
in Preston County, W. Va. 

Mrs. Mason now lives in the city of Pontiac. and 
since a Mnall child has been a devoted member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In younger 
years she was quite active in the temperance 
movement and a member of the W. C. T. U. 



ARCELLUS H. COOK. The great novel- 
ist, James Fennimore Cooper, through one 
of his characters, Leatherstocking, main- 
tained that every man had his gifts; that 
the Indian was adapted to one kind of life, the 
white man to another, and each in his station pos- 




f. 



696 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i- 



sessed peculiar qualities fur following a particular 
calling. We are often reminded of this in noting 
the phenomenal success which follow.- some men, 
and arc led to believe that Cooper was entirely 
right in his idea. The subject of this sketch was 
fortunate in selecting the calling to which he 
seemed best adapted, viz., that of a stock-breeder, 
and he is one of the leaders of this department of 
agriculture in Livingston County. For the last fif- 
teen years he has been operating upon 640 acres of 
land, owning a quarter section and renting the bal- 
ance. He makes a specialty of high-grade Short- 
horn cattle, which he feeds and ships largely to the 
Chicago market. He also has a stable of Norman 
horses containing some of the finest specimens of 
the equine race to be found in Pleasant Ridge 
Township, where his homestead is located on sec- 
tion 26, and is a pleasant spot fully in keeping with 
the tastes and means of the proprietor. 

Mr. Cook is a fine specimen among the descend- 
ants of his New England ancestry, and was born in 
the town of Hartley, Mass., Jan. 26, 1842. His 
parents, Philander and Marcia (Childs) Cook, were 
natives of Vermont. The father was born in June, 
1810, and was of English descent. He was a mason 
by trade and also followed fanning, spending his 
last years in Bureau Count}', this State, where his 
death took place Oct. 29, 1859. The Cooks located 
^Massachusetts during its early settlement, as also 
did the Childs family. The mother of our subject 
was born in 1821, and died when a young woman 
at the age of twentj'-seven years, on the 23d of 
July, 1848. Of her union with Philander Cook 
there were born four children, of whom Marcellus 
was the eldest. The next, a daughter Lucia, mar- 
ried John Blanchard, of Vermont, and they :irc now 
living in Moulton, Iowa; Arthur L. married Miss 
McGibbon, of Winterset, Iowa, where she now re- 
sides; the youngest died in infancy. 

Marcellus Cook was reared on his father's farm 
in Bureau County, 111., his parents having come to 
this State when he was a child four years of age. 
lie received a liberal education and remained a 
member of the parental household until the spring 
of IstSO, after he had passed his eighteenth year, 
lie came to this county in 18H8 and took charge of 
the place where he has continued to live since that 



time. It was only partially improved, but is now 
in a line state of cultivation and supplied with good 
buildings. He made his home with a family he 
had living with him on the place until his marriage, 
which occurred March 17, 1878, his chosen bride 
being Miss Delia Franey, who was born in Washing- 
ton, Middlesex Co., N. J., Dec. ", 1857, and was 
brought to the West in 1858 by her parents. 

Mrs. Cook is the daughter of Michael and Eliza 
(Phillips) Franey, natives of Ireland, where they 
were born in 1824. They each immigrated to the 
United States when young and after their marriage 
located in New Jersey, whence they removed in 
1858, to Knox County, 111., locating in Galesburg, 
where they remained nine years. They then came 
to this county and purchased eighty acres of laud 
in Pleasant Ridge Township, where they now re- 
side. They are members in good standing of the 
Catholic Church, of Chatsworth. Their household 
included nine children, eight living, who are re- 
corded as follows: Alice is the wife of John R. 
Wallace, of Forest; Margaret, Mrs. Asa H. Birch, 
lives in Chenoa; James is a resident of Nebra.-ka; 
Edward, residing in Pleasant Ridge ; Delia, the wife 
of our subject; John died when a promising young 
man twenty -four years of age; Mary E. is the wife 
of Thomas E. Ivcs, of Farnum, Neb: Catherine E. 
and Mitchell are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have 
no children. 

Mr. Cook has little time to devote to politics but 
is a strong supporter of Republican principles, in 
support of which he uniformly casts his vote. So- 
cially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being 
connected with Forest Lodge No. 614. Mrs. Cook 
is a member of the Congregational Church at For- 
est, 111. 




CK IIOOBLER, a prominent and 
well-to-do citizen, and one who ha long re- 
sided in Newtown Township, occupies the 
old homestead of his father. .To this Frederick 
came with the parental family when a lad fifteen 
years of age. The original dwelling was burned 
with all its contents, but a second one was soon 
afterward erected. Here the parents lived in the 
enjoyment of the confidence and esteem of the 



I 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



701 



whole community, and here too their eyes closed to 
the scenes of earth life. In this old home Freder- 
ick now lives, and has reflected by his life credit 
upon the family name. He is largely engaged in 
general fanning and stock-raising, on a fine farm of 
2">0 acres of good land. lie has, besides the dwell- 
ing, all the other buildings required for the vari- 
ous purposes of a progressive and thorough-going 
farmer. A view of this place we are pleased to 
present in this volume. 

The father of our subject was one of the pioneers 
of the West. He located, soon after his marriage, 
in Yermillion County, Ind., to which he removed 
from Ohio. In the primitive home established 
there, our subject was born, on the 23d of May, 
1836, and lived in that region until a boy ten years 
of age. He received his early education in the 
subscription schools of his native county, wherein 
his father, Rev. John Houbler, took an active part. 
The father was a minister of the United Brethren 
Church, a member of the Indiana Legislature, and 
otherwise identified with public affairs. The mother 
of our subject, formerly Miss Rebecca Fetterhoof, 
was a native of Pennsylvania, and became the wife 
of Rev. John Hoobler in the spring of the year 
1821. There were few idlers either among the 
young or old of that time and locality, and early 
in life Frederick was taught to make himself use- 
ful, assisting in the sowing and reaping of the crops 
on his father's farm. He officiated as a teamster at 
the early age of eight years, and had charge of a 
span of horses upon the overland journey from In- 
diana to Illinois. 

Upon coming to this State, the Hoobler family 
located in the northern part of Livingston County, 
where the father purchased a farm, together with a 
grist and saw mill, the latter two of which he oper- 
ated three or four years and then turned them over 
to other hands. Frederick herded the cattle on 
the unfcnced prairie during the warm season, and 
in winter employed his time mostly with his books 
at the district school. On the 6th of November, 
1857, about noon, the house took fire from a de- 
fective flue, and with its entire contents, with the 
exception of one bed, was destroyed. It was soon, 
however, replaced by another, and our subject re- 
mained here with his father until the spring of 



1872. Then desiring a change of location and oc- 
cupation, he repaired to Blackstone, in Sunbury 
Township, and engaged in a general store, remain- 
ing there two years, after which he removed into 
Champaign County and became a dealer in grain 
and provisions. This latter move was for the ben- 
efit of his children, he having in the meantime been 
married, and desired to give them the advantages 
of the schools of that county. This object accom- 
plished, the family returned to Newtown Township, 
where they have since resided. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar- 
ried Feb. 19, 1860, was Miss Martha Fleshman, 
who was born in Vermillion County, Ind., in 1843. 
The wedding took place at the home of the bride, 
Rev. J. I. Robison, of the United Brethren Church, 
officiating. Mrs. H. is the daughter of William 
and Sarah Fleshman, natives of Virginia, who left 
the Old Dominion to locate in a pioneer home in 
Indiana. Their household included eight children, 
six now living and mostly residents of Livingston 
County. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hoobler are re- 
corded as follows : Mattie, Susanna, Hattie, Eben 
Allen, Birdie II., Myrtie Florence, Freddie J., Jesse 
and Gussie. Mattie was born Jan. 30, 1862, is the 
wife of Carlisle Mortland, and the mother of two 
children Clarence and Frederick James; they are 
living in Newtown Township. Susanna was born Oct. 
17, 1864, and is the wife of C. A. Powell, a pros- 
perous farmer of Saunemin Township, and the 
mother of three children Freddie S., Bertie A. 
and Mary M. ; Hattie was born Nov. 20, 1866, and 
died January 20 following; Eben Allen was born 
Jan. 29, 1868, and with the younger children con- 
tinues under the home roof; Birdie II. was born 
June 20, 1871 ; Myrtie Florence, Sept. 21, 1874; 
Freddie J.. July 31, 1876; Jesse, July 21, 1878; 
Gussie, July 22, 1884. Two children died in in- 
fancy, unnamed. Mrs. Hoobler is a lady eminently 
fitted to be the companion of her husband, and 
with him takes a lively interest in the careful train- 
ing and education of their children. They are to 
be given the best advantages consistent with the 
means and standing of their father. Our subject, 
politically, is an independent Greenbacker, and his 
excellent lad}' a member in good standing of the 



t 



702 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



United Brethren Church, a congregation which was 
organized by his father upon first coming to this 
county. 

Our subject, as an eye-witness of the great and 
marvelous changes that have been wrought in this 
county, State and Nation during the past thirty 
years, has had opportunities of which he thoroughly 
availed himself, and has the satisfaction of know- 
ing that although his part in life may not have been 
widely different from that of scores of his fellow- 
citizens, he has secured the good-will and esteem 
of those around him, and endeavored in all his con- 
duct to observe the precepts of the Golden Rule. 
He has held the responsible position of United 
States Mail Contractor, Postmaster and Assessor, 
all of which he has filled with ability and credit, 
giving entire satisfaction. 

It is with pleasure that we include in the galaxy 
of portraits of leading people of the county, those 
of Mr. and Mrs. Hoobler. 



4 



OHN E. STEPHEN8ON, a successful farmer 
and stock-raiser on section 29, Rook's Creek 
Township, is the son of Theodore and Cath- 
erine (Powell) Stephenson, and was born in 
Mason County, W. Va., Jan. 16, 1845. When 
about seven years of age he moved with his par- 
ents to near Greencastle, Ind., where they operated 
a small farm and performed work for other far- 
mers. In 1852 they removed to Knox County, 
111., where they carried on farming more exten- 
sively for a time, and in 1854 went to Peori.i 
County, where thej' remained -until 1863, when 
they went to Marshall Count}'. 

In February, 1864, Mr. Stephenson enlisted in 
Company C, 77th Illinois Infantry. The most of 
his service in the army was rendered in Louisiana 
and Alabama. In August of the same year the 
Union forces started out to capture Mobile, and 
succeeded in gaining possession of Ft. Gaines after 
a three days' siege, where they remained until Oc- 
tober, when the regiment returned to New Or- 
leans and guarded prisoners during the winter. In 
the following March they started out again to effect 
the capture of Mobile. The 13th Army Corps con- 



centrated at Ft. Morgan, Ala,, and in conjunction 
with other troops they moved on Mobile. On the 
27th of March they invested Spanish Fort, and the 
rebels evacuated on the 9th of April after a siege 
of thirteen days. On the 10th of April the 13th 
Corps was ordered to be held as a reserve at Ft. 
Blakesley, but was not called into the charge. After 
the fall of Ft. Blakesley they immediately returned 
to Spanish Fort without having had any oppor- 
tunity for rest, and during that night were or- 
dered to embark for Mobile, which had been evac- 
uated by the rebels after destroying their cannon. 
On the morning of the 13th they started up 
the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and overtaking the 
enemy at Whistler's Station, prevented them from 
burning the buildings at that point. The troops 
went into camp for a few days and then started for 
the Tombigbee River, at the mouth of which they 
parti}' constructed a fort. In -May they returned 
to Mobile, and while in camp there the 77th Regi- 
ment was mustered out and Mr. Stephenson, whose 
term of service had not expired, was transferred to 
Company D, 130th Illinois Infantry. About the 
1st of August this regiment went to New Orleans, 
where he wns mustered out on the 15th of that 
month, and then went to Camp Butler near Spring- 
field, 111., where they received their pay. During 
his service in the army Mr. Stephenson contracted 
a disease which lias clung to him ever since. For 
this disability the Government allowed him a pen- 

! sion of 82 per month, from the date of discharge, 
which continued until 1883, when his name was un- 
justly dropped from the rolls. 

In 1872 Mr. Stephenson removed to Iowa, and 
on the 15th of November, 1874, he was married to 
Sarah E. Woods, and continued to live in that 
State until March, 1880, when they came to Liv- 
ingston County, where they have remained m<t <if 
the time since. Six children have been born to 
them, named as follows: Samuel C., born Sept. 7, 
1875; Henry T., Dec. 20, 1877; Mary E., Dee. !), 
187!); the fourth child died in infancy; William 

i C. H., born July 30, 1885, and Anna A., Fob. 23, 

1 8S7. 

The father of Mr. Stephenson was born in Vir- 
ginia on the 22d of March, 1821, and is still living 
in Long Point Town*hip. Livingston County. His 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



703 



mother was born on the 26th of March, 1824, and 
died on the 24th of March, 1887. Their children 
are recorded us follows: Mary M. died in youth; 
John E. is our subject; Albert C. married, and 
lives in Marshall County, 111. ; James H. mar- 
ried, and lives in Lancaster County, Neb.; Lydia 
8., Mrs. John Conro, lives in Marshall County, 111.; 
Sarah E., Mrs. Daniel Y. Talbot, lives in LaSalle 
County, 111. ; Eva C., Mrs. Edward Roberts, has 
three children, and lives with her father in Long 
Point Township; Nancy B., Mrs. Charles Frra, 
lives in Morris County, Kan.; Virginia A., Mrs. 
William Curtis, lives in Long Point Township, 
Livingston County. Mr. Stephenson's paternal and 
maternal grandfathers were soldiers in the War of 
1812. The father of Mrs. Stephenson was Samuel 
Woods, a native of Ohio. 

Mr. Stephenson received a limited common-school 
education, which he has considerably improved by 
constant reading and study. His first political vote 
was cast for Gen. Grant for President. He has 
never sought office, but was compelled to serve as 
School Director for one term. He takes great in- 
terest in educational affairs. Most of the family 
to which he belongs were members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, but he is a member of the 
Free-Will Baptist Church. 



S? RA M. LISH, one of the rising young business 
I men of Saunemin, established himself as a gen- 
/li eral merchant in 1885, in which business he still 
continues, and carries a large and well-selected 
stock of everything pertaining to the country and 
village household, besides many of the lighter im- 
plements of the farm. His store occupies an area 
of 24x00 feet with one floor, in which there is usu- 
ally stowed away 6,000 worth of goods, which are 
being constantly added to, and from which is 
transacted a business of $25,000 annually. In con- 
nection with this, Mr. Lish also is proprietor of the 
Saunemin creamery, an establishment which has 
added greatly to the business transactions of the 
township. Here he has all the modern machinery 
and conveniences necessary to the successful pros- 
ecution of the business, and is distinguishing him- 



self as a wide-awake citizen, of whom much is ex- 
pected in the future. 

Our subject is a native of the Prairie State, hav- 
ing been born in Kankakee County at the home- 
stead of his father, in Essex Township, July 16, 
1855. He is the son of John and Susan Lish, na- 
tives respectively of New Jersey and New York, 
who became residents of Kankakee County during 
its early settlement. The elder Lish became prom- 
inent among the leading men of Essex Township, 
officiating as Township Clerk for more than twenty 
years, and was also School Treasurer fifteen years, 
being the incumbent of that office at the time of 
his death in 1884. The mother is still living, and 
now a resident of Chicago. Their family included 
seven children, three of whom are now living. 

Mr. Lish remained under the parental roof until 
reaching manhood, receiving careful home training, 
while at the same time he pursued his studies at the 
district school. He was bright and ambitious, and 
keeping his eyes open to what was going on around 
him, readily gained an insight into business 
methods. When twenty-three years old he en- 
gaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at 
Mazon, 111., and then set up in business for himself 
at Essex. Desiring a larger field for his operations 
and a different locality, he came to this county in 
the spring of 1885 and established himself in his 
present quarters. He was soon recognized as a val- 
ued addition to the community, and now com- 
mands a patronage comprised of the best people of 
his section. He purchases his good? mostly in 
Chicago, and displays that excellent judgment in 
buying and selling which necessitates the continual 
renewal of his stock, so that at the end of each year 
there are few old goods left upon his hands. He 
takes a genuine interest in the welfare of the peo- 
ple around him, and votes the straight Republican 
ticket. In 1884, while a resident of Essex Town- 
ship, he was elected Supervisor, the duties of which 
office he discharged with credit to himself and sat- 
isfaction to the people who selected him. He also 
served as School Treasurer, and possesses all the 
elements which go to make up the leading and in- 
fluential men of a community. 

On the 7th of November, 1877, Mr. Lish was 
united in marriage with Miss Carrie Spencer, 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



daughter of Simeon Spencer, Esq., of Troy Town- 
ship. Her parents were natives of Vermont, and 
came to Illinois in 1854, before the birth of their 
daughter, which took place May 28, 1858. Mrs. 
Lish is a lady of many amiable qualities, the result 
of careful home training by a most excellent 
mother, and is well fitted for her present position 
in society as the wife of an enterprising and intel- 
ligent young business man. Their only child, 
Georgia, was born Sept. 9, 1879. They occupy a 
neat dwelling not far from the business house of 
Mr. Lish, and have a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. 

Mr. Lish, in 188C, identified himself with the 
Masonic fraternity, of which he still remains a 
member in good standing, ami in 1880 he also 
joined the I. O. O. V., and is at present Treasurer 
of the lodge at Saunemin. He is one of the first 
men called upon to assist in those enterprises which 
tend to build up a community, and invariably re- 
sponds in a liberal and cheerful spirit. Should 
there be a biography of him written twenty-five years 
from now, he would no doubt be numbered among 
the men to whom the progress of the present vil- 
lage of Saunemin would be largely indebted. 




ANIEL II. SNYDER, fanner and manu- 
facturer of drain tile, on section 30, Amity 
Township, is a native of Ohio, and was 
born on the 30th of August, 18-26. He is 
the son of Frederick and Hannah (High) Snyder, 
who were of German origin, and natives of Penn- 
sylvania. They were both members of the Meth- 
odist Protestant Church, and the father was a Re- 
publican in politics. The subject of this sketch 
lived at home in Ohio with his parents until he wa> 
twenty years of age, and came with them in March, 
1817, to Knox County, 111. He began his educa- 
tion in tin- common schools, and after his marriage 
and the birth of two children, attended Cherry 
(iiove and the Jay Gould Seminaries, in which 
institution,-- lie prepared himself for the ministry. 

On the 20th of March, 1851, Mr. Snyder wa.- 
married to Elizabeth Ann Crawford, the daughter 
of John and Elizabeth ( Howard) Crawford, natives 



of Kentucky. The ceremony was performed at 
Abingdon, Knox Co., 111., by Rev. Thomas K. 
Roach, a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Snyder began keeping house.' In the fall of 1854 
: Mr. Snyder was admitted to the ministry, but at the 
i end of nine years had to abandon that calling be- 
cause of the loss of his voice from the effects of 
cold and catarrh. He then engaged in farming on 
the land which he has now occupied for twenty-one 
years. 

The record of Mr. Snyder's brothers and sisters 
is as follows: John H. married Angeline Garri- 
son, and is a farmer in Mercer County, Mo. ; James 
S., a school teacher, died in Des Moines, Iowa: 
Lavinia S. married Marcus Morrow, and had ten 
children, eight of whom are living; Joseph C. is de- 
ceased; Elizabeth J., Mrs. J. C. Van Veleet, of 
Galesburg, 111.; Mary E., Mrs. J. \V. Crawford, died 
leaving three daughters; Jefferson was a soldier in 
the Union army; it is believed that he perished in a 
Southern prison. Mrs. Snyder's father was a Cum- 
berland Presbyterian minister, one who preached 
for the love of his fellowmen and the good that he 
might accomplish without hope of reward or salar\-. 
His wife was also a member of the same church. 
The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Snyder are recorded 
as follows: C. H. Crawford is a Cumberland Pres- 
byterian minister and resides in California; John 
W. was a Ju.-tice of the Peace and stock-raiser in 
Henry County, 111.: P. D. is engaged in fanning in 
Iowa: C. M. married Mrs. William Kelso; she died 
leaving three children; Matilda F. married William 
Myre. who is now engaged in farming in Kansas; J. 
L. married Ella March, and is now engaged in the 
Cumberland Presbyterian ministry in Knox County, 
Illinois. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been born five 
children, four of whom are living: William, born 
on the 15th of February, 1852, married Margaret 
E. McKee. and they have four children; Edward 
was married to Bell frounce: they have had three 
children, and live in Brown County, Kan. John F.. 
born in 18.">7. lives near his father's residence, 
and is a partner with his father in the manu- 
facture of tile: he was married to Eli/a Algn, 
and they have two children. James L. was born 






LIVINGSTON COUNT Y. 



4 

()o i I I 



Aug. 25, 1865, and resides at home; he was graduated 
April 1, 1887, at Lallarpe Seminary, Lallarpe, 111., 
with high honors, and is a very bright and promis- 
ing young man. Mr. Snyder ncny owns 165 acres 
of choice land, well drained and under good cultiva- 
tion. In connection with his son they manufact- 
ure various sixes of drain tile, and for seven 
months in the year employ seven'men in the estab- 
lishment. llo is also engaged extensively in stock- 
raising, breeding both horses and cattle of the 
higher grades. lie devotes as much time to the 
ministry as the condition of his voice will permit. 
lie is an able speaker, and is liberal in his belief, a 
strong advocate of temperance principles, and a 
bitter enemy of the liquor interest. He is one of 
Amity Township's substantial men. a good neigh- 
bor. and a kind parent; and above all, a man who is 
not afraid to light the wrong and reprove wrong- 
doers wherever he may find them. 



OHN FRANCIS. The name of John Fran- 
cis stands conspicuous among those on the 
roster of pioneers of Forest Township. 
Our subject was born in County Cavan, Ire- 
land, Feb. i:>, 1812, and is the son of Edward and 
Eleanor (Wilson) Francis. In 1817 the. family left 
their native land and migrated to St. John, New 
Brunswick, where they were transferred to an 
American vessel, on which ship fever was preva- 
lent. The landing was effected at Perth Amboy, 
N. J., instead of New York, in order to escape the 
rules of quarantine. They went to Philadelphia. 
where they purchased teams and journeyed west- 
ward, settling first in Brown County, Ohio, where 
they were numbered among the pioneers of that 
section. The mother died in 182(5, and the father 
in 1850. There were five boys and three yirls in 
the family, the four eldest being born in Ireland. 
The subject of our sketch is the oldest child of the 
family, and grew to manhood in Brown County, 
Ohio, where he obtained his education in the com- 
mon schools, and learned the rudiments of fannin<>- 

o 

On the 17tli of August, 1837, Mr. Francis was 
married to Margaret Ross, who was born near the 
present site of Georgetown, Ohio, Jan. 11. 1*1 I. 



Mr. Francis was a cooper by trade, but after his 
marriage he was engaged in farnfing, which he pros- 
ecuted with success until I860, when he sold his 
property in Brown County, Ohio, and came to Illi- 
nois, where he purchased 277 acres of land in For- 
est Township, and followed farming. During the 
intervening years he added very materially to his 
original purchase, but within the past few years has 
divided his lands among his children, the only con- 
dition of this division being that they give him a 
support during his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Francis 
have been born seven children James G., Ed- 
ward R., William W., Joseph S., Albert, Emma J. 
and Lydia E. 

Mr. Francis was in the early years of his man- 
hood an old-line Whig, and was a moderate anti- 
slavery man from the beginning of the slavery agi- 
tation in this country. He naturally joined the Re- 
publican party when it was organized, and is to-day 
as strong in the faith of that part}' as ever. He has 
served in this county two terms as Justice of the 
Peace, and while yet a resident of Ohio, held vari- 
ous local offices. He and his wife have been for 
years active members of the Methodist Church. 

On Wednesday, the 17th of August, 1887, the 
venerable Mr. and Mrs. John Francis celebrated 
their golden wedding at the residence of Mr. and 
Mrs. Nathan Hurt. All of the children and their 
families were present, and cordially assisted in mak- 
ing the occasion one of unalloyed enjoyment. Be- 
sides the members of the family, there were 1 also 
pre.-cnl many of their neighbors and old friends 
from other localities. They were the recipients of 
many valuable presents, including numerous gold 
coins of large value. During the afternoon a musi- 
cal programme appropriate to the occasion was ren- 
dered, and various persons made short, impromptu 
^pecchcs, after which refreshments were served to 
all present. 

Twenty -eight years ago, when Mr. and Mrs. John 
Francis came to Forest Township, their worldly 
possessions did not exceed $5,000, but by industry 
and strict attention to details, the Francis family 
are now possessed of 1,000 acres of good land, and 
a large amount of personal property, Mr. and 
Mrs. Francis have reared a family of seven children, 
the sons and two (laughters, all of whom are living 



706 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and i-iijoying the blessing of good health. They 
also have twelve grandchildren, two adopted grand- 
childivn and one great-grandchild. All the chil- 
dren reside within a radius of less than three miles 
from the home of our subject. During the past 
fifty years there have been bat three deaths in the 
family of Mr. Francis, namely: Allen A. Burton, 
the former husband of Mrs. Nathan Hurt; a son of 
W. W. Francis, and an infant son of J. S. Francis. 
Intellectually and religiously Mr. Francis is a deep 
thinker. His greatest ambition and interest in life 
have centered in his family and church. He is now 
in his seventy -sixth year, while Mrs. Francis, who is 
in her seventy-fifth year, has kept even pace with 
her husband in all his religious pursuits. They are 
faithful and exemplar}' members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. When a husband and wife have 
seen their fiftieth wedding day they may well be 
said to have reached the golden age of matrimony. 
Time has not changed the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. 
Francis, though it has scattered its snows in their 
hair and traced here and there its furrows on their 
brows. Within the j>eriod which has elapsed since 
these venerable people have been one, nations have 
been divided, empires overthrown, and in many 
parts of the world the very face of Nature has 
changed. But there has been no change with Mr. 
and Mrs. Francis, save that which years produced 
upon the outer shell of humanity. All their friends 
join in the wish that they may have a tranquil sea 
before them and that, as they draw nearer and 
nearer to the haven to which we are all bound, the 
"peace which passeth all understanding" may be 
theirs. 




sERNAKD GRENNAN was born in King- 
County, Ireland, on the 20th of September, 
1821, and his father, John Grennan, was 
born in the same county and spent his entire 
life there, engaged in farming. The maiden name 
of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary 
Minnick, who came to America with her children 
after her husband's death. She lived for a con- 
siderable time in Illinois, but spent the la.-t years of 
her life in New York State. She was the mother of 



seven sons and two daughters, named as follows : 
Mathew, James, Rosa, Bernard, Mike, Peter, John, 
Joseph and Mary. The eldest died in Ireland, 
and all the others came to America. 

The subject of our sketch was reared in his na- 
tive country, and upon coming to America lived 
in New York State, and then in the city, engaged in 
building docks, in which he continued five or six 
years, and then came to Will County, 111., and en- 
gaged at various kinds of work for six months, 
when he went to Morris, Grundy County. He 
first worked by the month for three years, en- 
gaged at the pumping station of the Rock Island 
Railroad. He then began his career as a farmer 
by buying twenty acres of wild land near Morris. 
He still continued to work by the month, and de- 
voted what time he could to improving his land. 
He lived there thus engaged until 18(54, when he 
came to Livingston County and for seven years 
farmed rented land in Nevada Township. He 
then bought eighty acres in Odell Township, upon 
which he resided for three years, and then selling 
this he bought 160 acres of land included in the 
present homestead, which he improved and erected 
good buildings thereon. Here he made his home un- 
til his death, which occurred on the 4th of Octo- 
ber, 1887. 

In May, IH51, Mr. Grennan was married to 
Catherine Conroy, who was born in Kings County, 
Ireland, in July, 1831. Her father, Stephen Con- 
roy, a farmer by occupation, was born in the same 
county, and there spent his entire life. The 
maiden name of his wife, the mother of Mrs. 
Grennan, was Ellen Fox, who was born in Kings 
County and remained there during her life. Mrs. 
Grennan was but a little girl when her parents died, 
and she came to America with an older sister, and 
settled in New York City, where she met and mar- 
ried Mr. Grennan. She is the mother of eight 
children Joseph, John, Stephen, Ellen, Mary, 
Bernard, Daniel and Michael. Joseph lives in 
Odell Township, John in Sunbury, Stephen in 
Chicago, Ellen at home; Mary married Ber- 
nard Kelley, and lives in Union Township; Ber- 
nard in Sunbury, and Daniel and Michael live at 
home and manage the farm. 

Although lie encountered many dilliculties. and 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



707 



was dependent wholly upon his own resources, Mr. 
Grennan's life was a success. At the time of his 
death he owned property sufficient to make his 
family comfortable. Asa citizen he was esteemed 
by all who knew him. and as a husband and father 
he was exceptionally kind and affectionate. His 
loss to the county and township is severely felt, 
and in the family circle his place can never be 
filled. 




CURTIS. One of the citizens of Cliats- 
1< w '' l' as na( l a Iflrge business exper- 

ience, is the subject of this sketch, who is 
IN >w engaged as a grain merchant. For fifteen years 
he was the superintendent and manager, of the 
Buckingham farm, a tract of land containing 1,920 
acres, and in that capacity familiarized himself with 
the details of large transactions, such as grain deal- 
ers are frequently called upon to make. 

Mr. Curtis is a Maine man. where he was born in 
Pi-nobscot County, on the 10th of February, J836. 
His parents were Lincoln and Mary (Perry) Curtis, 
who were also natives of -the Pine Tree State. The 
family lived on a farm in that State, where the 
father followed the occupation of a farmer during 
his life, and died in 1873, at the age of eighty-three 
years; the mother is still living, and at the time this 
sketch is written is in her eighty-seventh year. 
These venerable people were the parents of eleven 
children, all of whom grew to maturity, and five 
are yet living: Levi L., George W., John W. ; 
Mary, wife of George Ames; and the subject of this 
sketch, who is the next to the eldest of the family. 
Three of the sons did service for their country as 
soldiers in the Union army. 

Mr. Curtis began life as a farmer boy. and .secured 
a very fair education in the common school of his 
neighborhood. In 18;J.S he became enamored of 
the Wot. and migrated hither, locating at Onarga, 
111., where he worked as a farm hand for one year. 
and then in company with his brother he engaged 
in farming for two years, lie then re-entered the 
service of his former employer, whom he served 
satisfactorily for two years, at the end of which 
time he engaged in fanning on his own account in 
Iroquois County. In March, 172, he removed to 



Chatsworth and took charge of the celebrated 
Buckingham farm, which he managed until recently. 
This land is now being sold off in small tracts, and 
will doubtless soon be disposed of. Since relin- 
quishing his control of the Buckingham farm. Mr. 
Curtis has engaged in the grain trade, in which he 
is meeting with good success, being familiar with 
all the details of that business, and withal a close 
student of the market reports. 

In 1870 Mr. Curtis was married to Elizabeth B. 
Bradner, a native of Michigan, and they have one 
son, named Charles B. In his business career Mr. 
Curtis has achieved more than an average measure 
of success, and besides having ample capital for the 
prosecution of his business, he owns seven houses 
and lots in Chatsworth, which produce a satisfac- 
tory revenue. In his political views he is in har- 
mony with the doctrines of the Republican party, 
and cheerfully supports the candidate of that or- 
ganization. His religious beliefs are of the Baptist 
persuasion, and in that church he occupies a promi- 
nent position. He is a gentleman of many social 
qualities, a shrewd business man, and is a highly 
respected member of the community. 



>IIOMA8 WHALEN, a prosperous and com- 
fortably situated farmer and stock-raiser on 
section 7, Rook's Creek Township, was born 
on the 8th of February, 1845, in the county of 
Wexford, Ireland. This county is in the southern 
portion of the Province of Leinster, and has a sur- 
face which is hilly or mountainous in the north- 
west and declines to a level plain along the coast. 
The River Slaney intersects the county in its center. 
Limestone is the chief mineral product and the 
fisheries are of importance. The principal towns of 
Wexford County are Wexford and Enniscorthy, 
New- Ross, Gorey, and Newtown-Barry. The town 
is represented in the House of Commons by two 
members. 

Mr. Whalen is the son of Michael and Mary 
(Uoran) Whalen, whom he accompanied to this 
country in 184i, when he was but four years of 
age. The voyage across the ocean was made in a 
sailing-vessel, which arrived at the Port of New 







708 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Orleans. The trip from that city to Ottawa, 111., 
was made by steamer on the Mississippi River, ar- 
riving at Ottawa on the 17th of March, 184!l. It 
will be remembered that that year passed into his- 
tory as the time when the great cholera plague 
visited this country. Michael Whalen, the father, 
died in the 3- car 1852, and was buried at Ottawa. 
In 185(i the family left LaSalle County, and came 
to Livingston, where they bought forty acres of 
land on section 2, Rook's Creek Township. Thomas 
was the youngest but one, and the older brothers 
being from home, he became the mainstay for his 
widowed mother and sickly brother. In 1866 he 
purchased 160 acres of land on section 7, for his 
mother, eighty acres of which he bought from her 
in 1871. 

On the 22d of October, 1871, Mr. Whalen was 
married to Mary A. Wheeler, of Pontiac, the Rev. 
Father Hanley officiating in the ceremonies, which 
were those of the Catholic Church. To them have 
been born six children : Katie E.. born Oct. 9, 1872 ; 
Mary A., Oct. 26, 1874; John W., March 16, 1877: 
Teresa, Dec. 25, 1880, died April 3, 1881 ; Josephine 
T., born April 7, 1882; Fannie M., Nov. 26, 1885: 
she is now making her home with' her grandparents 
on the maternal side. Mrs. Whalen died on Sunday, 
Dec. 20, 1885. 

Michael Whalen, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was bom in 17cS8 in Wexford, Ireland, and 
in 1828 was married to Mary Doran. To them were 
born the following-named children: Patrick lives 
in Amit3' Township; Ellen married John Fitzgerald, 
and lives in Esinen Township; John was married 
and died in 1874, leaving seven children: Margaret, 
.Mrs. Michael Hines, lives near Spencer, Clay 
Co., Iowa; Michael was born July 4, 1837, ami 
lives in Arkansas; Catherine, Mrs. John Foley, lives 
in Newtown; Bridget, Mrs. Maurice Foley. lives in 
Amity Township: Lawrence lives in Clay County. 
Iowa; Thomas, born in 1847. married and lives in 
Hook's Creek Township. The grandfather on the 
maternal side, Thomas Doran. was born in Ireland, 
and took an active part in the Patriot War. against 
England, in 171)8. In |s<>2 he married Ellen Murphy, 
and they be.eame the parents of five children. He wa- 
a miller by occupation and owned a large estate. 

Thomas Wlialcn is of a literary turn and lias 



written considerably, several of his productions 
having been printed. He is a forcible public speaker 
and on proper occasions makes his sentiments known 
in that way. He is independent in politics and a 
strong advocate of the temperance cause. In re- 
ligion he is a faithful adherent of the Holy Catholic 
Church. 



ffiAMES II. CARTER, Supervisor of Pleas- 



ant Ridge Township, and comparatively a 



^. I young man, has for years been prominent 
{jjjjfj among his neighbors and fellow-citizens as 
being particularly adapted as a leader in the va- 
rious enterprises inaugurated for the general wel- 
fare of the people. He was born in LaSalle County, 
this State, April 20, 1841, and is the son of Syl- 
vester and Christiana (Hart) Carter, natives re- 
spectively of New York and Scotland. 

The parents of our subject came to Illinois 
about 1838 or 1839, and located near Ottawa, 
where the father died in the summer of 1849, 
when James H. was a little lad eight years of age. 
This boy was the eldest of the family, of whom 
there were but two children, and spent his child- 
hood and j'outh after the manner of most country 
boys, attending the common schools and assisting 
in the lighter labors connected with agriculture, 
lie was thrown upon his own resources early in 
life, and when of suitable years started out for 
himself, working by the month. lie was twenty 
years old at the outbreak of the late Rebellion, and 
enlisted in September, 1801, in the 4th Illinois 
Cavalry at Ottawa. He participated in many of 
the important battles of the war, being principally 
in the Southwest, and frequently saw Old Abe, the 
war eagle of a Wisconsin regiment, which bird 
wa particularly noticeable at the battle of Shiloh, 
where he flew over the smoky battle-field from one 
point to another and seemed by his actions to be in- 
terested in the fortunes of the day. 

Young Carter served in the army three years 
and two months, and experienced the various vicis- 
situdes, of which little is said by the principal 
actors but which bore so important a part in the 
final result. At the expiration of his term of en- 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



711 



T 



listmcnt he received his honorable discharge, Oct. 
29, 18G4, and soon afterward migrated to Living- 
ston County, with the view of establishing a perma- 
nent homo. He purchased eighty acres of land in 
Pleasant Ridge Township, which he sold out two 
and one-half years later, trebling his purchase- 
price in the transaction. In 18C>8 he purchased 
the half section which he now owns and has 
brought under a high state of cultivation. The 
farm buildings will bear comparison with any in 
the county, while the farm is well stocked with 
high-grade cattle and horses. Mr. Carter has also 
been very successful in the raising of swine. 

Our subject was married, May -'!0, 1807, to Miss 
Until A. Wilson, who was born in this county, Aug. 
9, 1848. Her parents were Isaac and Harriet 
(Bishop) Wilson, the latter of whom died in the 
spring of 1881. Mr. Wilson is still living, and a 
resident of Moline, Elk Co., Kan. Mr. and Mrs. 
Carter are the parents of three children, all sons, 
namely : Isaac S., James A. and Alvah L. 

Mr. Carter was elected Justice of the Peace in 
1800, and served twelve years, during which time 
there was never a decision of his reversed bv an 
upper court. He has also held the office of Town- 
ship Clerk, and at present is School Trustee. He 
was first elected Supervisor in 1875, and was the 
youngest member of the Board at that time. He 
was elected the second time to this position in the 
spring of 1887. He is a stanch Republican, polit- 
ically, and socially ;i member in good standing of 
the G. A. R., Fairbury Post No. 75. Mrs. Carter 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Wing. 



1 LBERT H. HALL. During the past quar- 
ter of a century great strides have been 
taken in the arts and sciences. During this 
period of time we have been given electric 
light, the telephone, electric railways, cable cars. 
air brakes, and also very many other results of 
the inventive mind of man. In no branch of 
science has been made greater progress, and in none 
has there been more substantial results than in that 
i if photography. The artist of twenty-five years 




ago, who has taken no step forward, can be said to 
be equivalent to 100 years behind the times. But 
such are few and far between, and even the 
village artist of to-day is equal to the artist of 
metropolitan cities in point of appliances and knowl- 
edge of his art. As evidence of this, it is only nec- 
essary to refer to the subject of this sketch, who is 
the competent and popular photographer at Chats- 
worth, where he has been located since 1872, at 
which date he succeeded L. R. Thayer in business. 

Mr. Hall is a native of Parkmau, Me., where he 
was born on the 10th of April, 1849, and is the son 
of William C. Hall, who is a native of the Pine Tree 
State, as were his ancestors for several generations 
back. The grandfather, Rev. Zenas Hall, was a 
Baptist clergyman in Maine, and a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. The father was a farmer by 
occupation, and married Olive A. Stevens, who was 
also born in Maine, in which State they resided un- 
til 1849. when they joined the tide of emigration to 
the West, and settled near Tonica, LaSalle Co., 111., 
where they pursued the occupation of farming un- 
til 1875, at which time they sold their possessions, 
and moved to Chatsworth, where the father died on 
the 6th of March, 1877, at the age of sixty-four 
years. The mother is still living, at the age of six- 
ty-seven years, and resides in Chatsworth. They 
were the parents of six children, one of whom, a 
daughter, died in childhood. The five living chil- 
dren are: WilliamS., Zenas C., Albert II., Ervin 
S. and Carrie A. William S. is a book-keeper in 
Chicago; Zenas C. is a Baptist clergyman, and re- 
sides at Brooklyn, Minn.; Ervin S. resides at IIoop- 
ston. 111.; and Carrie A. at Chatsworth. 

Albert H. Hall was but an infant when the family 
settled in Illinois, and spent his boyhood days^npon 
a farm, where he assisted in the work, and during 
the winter months attended the district school. At 
the age of twenty-two years he left the parental roof 
and went to Chicago, where he learned the art of 
photography, receiving instructions from the most 
eminent artists of that city. After he became pro- 
ficient in the art lie came to Chatsworth. On the 
30th of May, 1*72, at Tonica, 111., Mr. Hall was 
married to Dora Knapp, who was born in that place, 
and is the daughter of L. C. and Sarah Knapp. 
They have two children, named respectively Lewis 



712 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



and Sadie. Mr. Hall is a Republican in politics, 
anil has been a member of the Town Council, lie 
and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in 
which they hold a leading position, and he is Super- 
intendent of the Sunday-school. In his business 
affairs Mr. Hall has been prosperous and commands 
the patronage of the people of his town and the 
surrounding country. 



OHN HALLIHAN is comfortably situated 
on an 80-acre farm in the judicial sec- 
tion of Saunemin Township, which is desig- 
natcd on the map as section 12, of Pleasant 
Ridge Township. He is a native of LaSalle County, 
111., where he was born on the 25th of December, 
1837. He is the son of John and Mary Hallihan, 
both of whom were natives of Ireland, and when 
they emigrated to this country became early settlers 
of LaSalle County, 111., where they resided during 
the remainder of their lives. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in LaSalle 
County, where he received but a limited education. 
The death of his parents occurred when he was 
about eleven years of age, and lie was thus early 
thrown upon his own resources. When old enough 
to perform manual labor he chose the occupation 
of a farmer, to which he has always devoted his 
thne. In February, 1864, Mr. Hallihan enlisted in 
Company I, 53d Illinois Infantry, which tras attached 
to the army under the command of Gen. Sherman, 
and participated in the march from Atlanta to the 
sea, and in the grand review at Washington. Dur- 
ing his term of service he was in many of the hotly 
contested engagements which took place during 
the last year of the war, notably Hentonville and 
Savannah. The regiment to which lie was attached 
made a splendid record by its gallantry and stub- 
born endurance of hardships and privations on the 
march, and was mustered out of the service on the 
22d of July, 18(>5. After his discharge from the 
army he immediately returned to Illinois. 

On the llth of September, 1807, Mr. Hallihan 
was married to Mary L. Hart, a native of Ohio, 
and to them were born three children Lucy W., 
-4. 



William C., and Charles H., who is deceased. The 
mother of these children died on the 7th of August, 
1872. Mr. Hallihan was again married on the 3d 
of February, 1875, to Martha E. Vining, widow of 
the late William Vining, of Livingston County. 
She is the daughter of William A. and Phoebe 
(Spencer) Lebeau, who formerly resided in McLean 
County, 111. Her mother is dead, and her father 
now resides in Bates County, Mo. As a result of 
this union two children have been born: Josie B., 
on the 27th of April, 1878, and Armor J., on 
the 5th of July, 1887. By her first husband Mrs. 
Hallihan had two children, named Charles W. and 
Edward C., the latter of whom is deceased. 

In 1871 our subject came to Livingston County, 
and purchased the land upon which he now resides. 
At the time of its purchase this land was unbroken 
prairie, but by energy and industry lie has con- 
verted it into a highly cultivated farm, and erected 
upon it comfortable and substantial buildings. Mr. 
Hallihan is an active member of the Republican 
party and during his residence in Livingston 
County has served as School Director several years. 
He takes an active interest in educational matters, 
and during the time he has been Director has en- 
thusiastically engaged in the work which devolved 
upon the incumbent of that office. He is an enthu- 
siastic member of the Grand Army Post at Saune- 
min. and engages with earnestness in the musters 
and camp fires of that post. Mrs. Hallihan is a 
member of the United Brethren Church, to which 
she cheerfully gives much of her time. Mr. llalli- 
han and his family are respected members of society 
and enjoy the esteem of all who know them. 



J" /AMES A. HOOVER, Circuit Clerk and Coun- 
ty Recorder, is located at Pontiac, and has 
been a resident of this county for the last 
' twenty-two years. He comes of an excel- 
lent Pennsylvania family, and is himself a native of 
Blair County, that State, where his birth took 
place June 4, 1*40. His parents, Francis B. and 
Mary (Matthews) Hoover, were natives respect- 
ively of Bucks County. Pa., and Droghcda, Meath 
Co., Ireland, and were married in Blair County, Pa., 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



713 



in 1 837, where they located, and the father engaged 
in the manufacture of charcoal. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Adam 
Hoover, was a native of Pennsylvania, and married 
a Miss Benton. The male members of the family 
mostly engaged in farming pursuits, and Grand- 
father Hoover followed this calling his entire life. 
He rested from his earthly labors in 1823, and his 
wife followed him to the silent land a few years 
later. The father of Adam Hoover was a soldier 
in the French army, under Gen. LaFayette, and 
immigrated to America in the Colonial days, set- 
tling in Eastern Pennsylvania, where he spent the 
balance of his life. The paternal grandmother of 
our subject was of English extraction, her fore- 
fathers having immigrated to America in the reign 
of George IV. They afterward united with the 
Colonists in their struggle for liberty, and in due 
time were represented by large numbers of de- 
scendants. 

The mother of our subject was the daughter of 
James and Catherine Matthews, natives of Ireland, 
who immigrated to America after their marriage, 
settling in Blair County, Pa., in 1832. Grand- 
father Matthews became possessor of a large tract 
of land, and was one of the most successful farmers 
of that section of country. He became the father 
of three children, namely: Lawrence, Mary and 
Edward. The family of Adam Hoover consisted 
of eight children, three living Matilda, Lovina and 
Amanda. Francis B., the father of our subject, 
was reared on a farm, and had but limited educa- 
tional advantages. He was naturally studious, 
however, and by the perusal of instructive books 
became well posted upon historical matters and 
kept pace with current events. He left his native 
State in 1848. when our subject was a lad eight 
years of age, and settled with his family at Lowell- 
ville. Ohio, whence they removed to Lawrence 
County, in that State. From there they immigrated 
to the West in 186;>, taking up their abode near 
Odell in this county, where the father purchased a 
quarter section of land, on which he erected good 
buildings, and established a comfortable home. He 
enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of his 
fellow-townsmen, and was the incumbent at differ- 
ent times of various local ollices. His life rounded 



up ripe in years, and he folded his hands for his 
final rest in October, 1884. The mother passed 
away Jnn. 31, 1872. Both were members of the 
Catholic Church, in whose doctrines they carefully 
reared their children. The record of these, ten in 
number, is briefly as follows: Susan A., Mrs. Mur- 
rin, is a resident of Mnrrinsville, Pa., as is also her 
sister, Mary A., Mrs. Forquer: James A., our sub- 
ject, is the third child ; Sarah J., Mrs. Trowbridge, 
resides in Joliet, 111.; Matilda A., Mrs. Robbins, 
lives in Indiana; Frank A. is in Pennsylvania; 
and Thomas A. is near the Pacific slope, at Los 
Angeles, Cal. ; Carrie A., Mrs. Gross, lives in In- 
diana. The two deceased were named John M. 
and Lizzie M. 

The subject of our sketch passed his boyhood 
and youth on the farm in his native county, and 
received a common-school education. When six- 
teen years old he started out in life for himself, 
first securing a position as clerk in a general store. 
He was thus employed until reaching his majority, 
and subsequently the outbreak of the late war 
furnished him employment for the next four years. 
He enlisted in the 2d West Virginia Cavalry in 
1861, and eight months later was promoted Second 
Lieutenant, and commanded the company most of 
the time until 1864. He also acted as Quarter- 
master. He met the enemj- in many of the impor- 
tant battles of the war, and was with Sheridan 
through the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. 
He received a gunshot wound at Cove Gap on the 
10th of May, 1864, but notwithstanding the pain 
which followed declined to leave the ranks, and 
rode on with his command 250 miles with a broken 
shoulder. He remained with his regiment, and 
after the surrender of Gen. Lee received his hon- 
orable discharge, and was mustered out witli his 
comrades at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1865. 

Lieut. Hoover after returning to civil life came 
west to Northern [Illinois and took up his abode in 
Ford County, where he remained six years en- 
gaged in farming, and in the meantime accumu- 
lated a sum of money sutlicient to enable him to se- 
cure possession of a quarter section of land in 
Tnion Township. He occupied this farm six years, 
and then on account of failing health decided to 
engage in some lighter occupation. He accord- 



71 t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ingly employed himself as clerk in a general store, 
and was thus occupied five yenrs. during which 
time he became interested in township and county 
affairs. While in Ford County he had ofliciatcd as 
Town Clerk and School Trustee, and had held the 
same offices in Union Township. Me was elected 
to his present position in 1884, and hears the repu- 
tation of having been uniformly faithful and 
honest in the discharge of his duties. lie is a 
straight Republican politically, and socially belongs 
to the G. A. R. 

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Ettie 
Tucker, a native of Ta/.ewell County, 111., and the 
daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (Clinc) Tucker, 
natives of Kentucky. They came to Illinois at an 
early day, and located in Tazewell County, where 
the father engaged in farming, and the daughter, 
Kttie, was roared and educated. She remained 
under the parental roof until her marriage with 
Mr. Hoover, which took place May 7, 1867. This 
union has resulted in the birth of two children, 
namely: Harry H., who was born Sept. 14, 1878, 
and Frank B.,"Scpt. 7, 1*82. 




BROS., of Wing Village, arc widelv 
and favorably known throughout the bor- 
ders of Pleasant Ridge Township, where 
they located some time since, and established a 
store of general merchandise in the spring of 1880. 
They carry a full line of everything pertaining to a 
general store, including dry -goods, groceries, hard- 
ware, boots and shoes, ami also deal largely in lum- 
ber and grain. Their building occupies an area of 
52x24 feet, two and one-half storio in height, and 
has become an institution quite indispensable to the 
people of Pleasant Ridge and vicinity. 

George II. Gray, senior member of the above 
linn, was born in the State of Maine, Feb. 27, 1854, 
and is the son of George and Mary (Mariner) Gray, 
natives respectively of Massachusetts and Maine. 
The father wa> born Dee. 22, 1830, and the mother 
Dec. 10, 182.".. They came to Illinois in 1X51, and 
settled in LaSalle County. The father had worked 
in the Kasl as a ship carpenter, and for several years 



was foreman of railroad bridges on the Wabash 
Road. Afterward he became connected with the 
C. it A. R. R. He is now retired from active 
labor and makes his home in Wing Village. The 
parental household included five children George 
II., Annie L., Willard W., Joseph M. and Mary. 
George II., on the 1st of January, 1870, was united 
in marriage with Miss Eliza Pickering, who was 
born in LaSalle County, this State. March 20, 
1 855. Of this marriage there are two children 
George F. and Homer W. Annie L. Gray was 
born May 27, 1857, and married L. II. Solomon, 
of Streator; Willard W. married Miss Sarah J. 
Greenho, and is living in Wing; Joseph M. married 
Miss Lottie Young, and occupies himself in farming 
in Saunemin Township; Mary is Hie wife of Ed- 
win Greenho, of Saunemin Township. 

Mr. George Gray, in common with his brothers 
and sisters, received a fair education. After com- 
pleting his studies in the primary schools he took a 
course at Forest and at Pontiac, and after a brief 
residence at Westfield. where he was occupied in 
the same work, he returned to Saunemin Township 
and engaged in farming for the five years follow- 
ing. He then purchased the business which had 
been established by Jacob Keller, and about one 
year later his brother Willard W. became equal 
partner. To this business they have made material 
additions, having built a fine elevator the past sum- 
mer, and are now numbered among the substantial 
and reliable business men of the place; indeed, tak- 
ing the lead in trade and including in their interests 
by far the larger share of the business done at this 
point. 

Willard W. Gray, junior member* of the linn, 
was born July '22, 1800, and spent his early life 
mostly at farming. His education was completed in 
the district schools, and in 188.'! he was united in 
marriage to Miss Sarah J. Greenho. They have 
one child, a daughter, Lucy, born May 15, 1 s*7. 
Both he and his estimable lady are members in 
good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Mr. and Mrs. George Gray are also active members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. 
Gray acts as Steward and Trustee. Mr. Willard 
Gray is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
ing to Forest Lodge No. 01 I. On the 5th of No- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



vember. 18.S5, he was nppointt'fl Po>tmasler of 
Wing, of which office ho hns since had charge, and 
the duties of which he is discharging in a manner 
creditable to himself and satisfactory to the com- 
munity. He has been Township Assessor three 
years. Both the brothers vote the straight Demo- 
cratic ticket. 



\|J OHN B. EVVARD, a rising young farmer of 
Sannemin Township, has already a flue start 
in life, being the owner of 240 acres of good 
land on sections 2 and 3. Upon it is a 
neat and substantial residence, a good barn and, 
other necessary out-buildings, while the lowland 
has been thoroughly drained with 3,300 rods of tile, 
so that there is now a broad area which yields in 
abundance the choicest crops of Central Illinois. 
He has had a lifetime experience in farming, and 
readily adapted himself from the beginning to its 
different branches. 

Mr. Evvard was born in Tazewell County, Sept. 
26, 1855, and is the son of John B. and Mary (Jac- 
quot) Evvard, the former deceased, and the latter, 
now seventy-three years of age, making her home 
with our subject. The parents were natives of the 
Province of Lorraine, which at the time of their 
birth belonged to France, but is now included 
among the possessions of Germany. They immi- 
grated to America early in life, about 1850, and 
located in Tazewell County, of which they were 
among the earliest settlers. The father died there 
seven years later, Oct. 27, 1857, when our subject 
was but two years of age. The household circle 
included six children, of whom but two survive. 
The name of the other is Eugene, and he lives with 
his brother John B. 

Young Evvard remained in his native county 
until a lad twelve years of age, when in 1867 he 
accompanied his mother to Livingston County, lo- 
cating in Nevada Township. He completed his ed- 
ucation at Eureka College, and since leaving school 
has continued the study of instructive books and 
the various periodicals of the day, so that he has 
kept himself well posted upon current events, and 



maintains a good position among the intelligent 
men of his community. He was married when 
twenty-five years of age, on the 26th of September, 
1880, taking for his bride Miss Mary A. Leitel, who 
is a native of LaSalle Count}', and was born Jan. 
26, 1861. Mrs. Evvard is the daughter of Korby 
and Barbara (Bockmeyer) Leitel, who were natives 
of Germany, and are now residents of Union Town- 
ship. Our subject and wife commenced housekeep- 
ing on section 3, Saunemin Township, and in 1883 
Mr. Evvard secured possession of his present home- 
stead. They have now two children: Mary B., 
born Aug. 8, 1881, and John M., Nov. 6, 1884. 

Upon reaching his majority our subject cast his 
Presidential vote for Peter Cooper, but is usually 
independent in politics, aiming to support the men 
best qualified for office. He takes a genuine inter- 
est in educational matters, being the descendant of 
a nationality which practices compulsory education, 
a system which it would seem might be profitably 
introduced into all countries. Although not very 
long a resident of his district he was elected School 
Director, in which capacity he is serving with credit 
to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. 

The parents of Mrs. Evvard were born in the 
Province of Bavaria, Germany, and immigrated to 
the United States early in life, probably before their 
marriage. Their family included nine children, of 
whom but five are living, namely: William, Mary 
A., Marcus, Barbara and Annie. 




NDREW J. TERWILLEGAR, who comes 
of sturdy German ancestry, is a successful 
Is* farmer on section 32, Dwiglit Township. 
His grandfather, Nathaniel Terwillegar, 
came from Germany to this country, and settled in 
Pennsylvania previous to the Revolutionary War, 
in which he was a soldier. Nathaniel Terwillegar, 
his son, and the father of the subject of our sketch, 
was born in Pennsylvania in 178"), and was by oc- 
cupation a farmer. When a young man he went 
to Ohio, and settled in Sims Township, Hamilton 
County, where he purchased a farm. After locating 
here, he married Miss Alice Elliott, daughter of 
John Elliott, of Hamilton County, a native of Irc- 



710 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



land. To them were born nine children, four of 
whom are now living, and whose names are: Mary, 
Sarah, George W. and Andrew ,1. Mary is Mrs. 
Sage, of Montgomery, Hamilton Co.. Ohio; Sarah 
married :i Mr. Crist, of Olive Branch, Clermont 
Co., Ohio, and George W. is a carpenter and builder 
in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Terwillegar was one of 
the pioneers of Hamilton County, which was a wil- 
derness covered with a luxuriant growth of splendid 
timber of great variety, at the time of the settle- 
ment. He cut his farm out of the unbroken forest, 
and hewed the timber for his "log cabin with his 
own hands. He was in Hamilton County when Cin- 
cinnati was but a small village, and when Columbia, 
which is now a small place up the river from Cin- 
cinnati, was the trading point. In those days the 
struggles of the pioneers were very severe, but they 
took fully as much comfort in their way as we do 
in ours now. There was a vast amount of timber 
and wood to be disposed of. Immense fireplaces 
were built in the side of the cabin, often occupying 
almost the entire side of the house. A great back- 
log was rolled in, which often required the united 
efforts of two strong men to put it in place. A 
fore-log nearly as large was placed in front, and 
over and between these were placed numerous 
smaller sticks. These made a fire which defied the 
severest weather, and before the light of its cheer- 
ful blaze the pioneer and his family passed the long 
winter evenings in solid comfort, while the cares 
and discomforts of pioneer life were for the time 
forgotten. Mr. Terwillegar replaced the log cabin 
with a good frame house, hewing out the frame 
with his own hands, which in turn gave place to a 
substantial brick house of two stories. All the chil- 
dren were born on this farm, and here Mr. Terwille- 
gar resided until his death. 

In political opinions Mr. T. was a Democrat, and 
held the various township offices. His wife was a 
member of the Christian Church, and was very 
earnest and sincere in her religious convictions. 
Mr. Terwillegar was, like most of the pioneers of 
this country, self-reliant and persevering, industri- 
ous and sagacious. He was a man prominent in 
his community, and undoubtedly would have made 
his name much more familiar to the people had not 
deatli marked him in middle life. He was a sub- 



stantial farmer, and a reliable man in every way. 

Andrew J. Terwillegar, the subject of our sketch, 
was born on the old homestead in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, on the 9th of September, 1829, and passed his 
early life among the surroundings of pioneer life 
amid the beautiful and picturesque scenery of 
Southern Ohio, with its majestic rivers and mighty 
hills, and forests rivalled by none in this country. 
As a youth, he revelled in forest pleasures, which 
are unknown to the boys of the Prairie State. The 
woods were full of small game, and the Ohio River 
afforded the sports of swimming, fishing and bout- 
ing. Young Terwillegar received a common-school 
education, and was initiated into farm duties. In 
1854 he came to Illinois and purchased a farm of 
200 acres in Bureau County. 

On the 21st of February, 1*57, Mr. Terwillegar 
was married to Miss Elizabeth T. Harper, daughter 
of James B. and Helen (Wycoff) Harper, of Hamil- 
ton County, Ohio, and he soon thereafter brought 
his wife to this farm in Illinois. The result of this 
union has been five children, whose names are: 
Helen II., Katie, Jennie, Albert and Mamie B. Jen- 
nie died on the 29th of July, 1883, and Mrs. Ter- 
willegar died in the month of October, the same 
year; thus in less than a year the household was 
bereft of a beloved mother and daughter: Helen 
married Adolphus Heller, a farmer who resides near 
Pontiac, and they have one son named Victor G. Al- 
bert is the only son; Katie and Mamie are at home 
with their father. The children have all received a 
good education, while Helen was educated at Prince- 
ton, and was a school teacher of wide experience 
before her marriage. 

Mr. Terwillegar remained on his farm in Bureau 
County ten years, and then went to Wood ford 
County. He afterward rented land in McLean 
County, and in 1870 he came to Livingston County 
to his present residence in Dwight Township. He 
has been a life-long Democrat, as was his father be- 
fore him. He is a gentleman of the old school; 
conscientious and honorable himself, he expects the 
same principles to obtain in others. The world 
needs honest men. and the words of Pope, "An hon- 
est man's the noblest work of God," will never be 
less true. 

The father and an uncle of Mr. Terwillegar were 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



717 



soldiers in the War of 1812, :md were present at 
Hull's surrender, at which cowardly act the soldiers 
were much enraged. His powder horn, which the 
father carried in the war, is still in the possession of 
the family. 



fOHN LEGGATE, ESQ., one of the pioneers 
| of the southeastern part of Livingston Coun- 
ty, spent his childhood and youth in Lanark- 
shire, an inland county of Scotland, through 
which flows the far-famed and beautiful River Clyde. 
There he was born Aug. 25, 1816, at the home of 
his parents, James and Margaret (Ualgleish) Leg- 
gate, whose household included three sons Robert, 
John and James. Robert, the eldest, was a soldier 
in the British army for a period of twenty years, 
and when retiring from military life, returned to 
his home, where his death took place about 1885. 
James came to this country when a young man, and 
is now a resident of New Jersey. 

Our subject early in life learned the trade of a 
weaver, and in 1837, not long after his twenty-first 
birthday, was united in marriage with one of his 
childhood associates, Miss Elizabeth Fleming, a na- 
tive of his own county. They continued on their 
native soil until 1848, when Mr. Leggate with his 
wife and four children, bidding adieu to the friends 
of his youth, embarked on a sailing-vessel at Glas- 
gow. and after a tedious voyage of ten weeks landed 
in New York City. He was there occupied at his 
trade three years, and the three years following was 
employed in a glass factory. Subsequently he re- 
moved to a point near London, Canada, where he 
remained until 1857, and was occupied most of his 
time in a brickyard. By the most rigid economy and 
continuous industry, he saved a little sum of money 
which he decided to invest in Western land. He 
came to this county, and being pleased with the 
outlook, purchased first eighty acres in Germanville 
Township, where he set himself industriously at 
work with the laudable ambition of establishing a 
permanent home. His labors met with the success 
which they deserved, and besides bringing his first 
purchase to a good state of cultivation, he in due 
time put up suitable and substantial buildings, and 
by degrees added to his landed area until he be- 



came the possessor of 240 acres. His career has 
been finely illustrative of the resolute persistence 
which has been the characteristic, from time im- 
memorial, of the sturdy Scotch nationality. He 
has also exhibited in a marked degree the straight- 
forward and honest qualities of his ancestry, which 
have constituted him a highly respected and re- 
liable citizen, whose word is considered as good as 
his bond. Upon becoming a voter, he identified 
himself with the Republican party, and has served 
as Justice of the Peace since the organization of the 
township. He is a stanch adherent of the Presby- 
terian Church, and a zealous worker in the Sunday- 
school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leggate became the parents of nine 
children, six now living, three having died in early 
childhood. One daughter, Margaret, became the 
wife of John Beckman, of Germanville Township, 
and died at her home in Iowa, aged twenty-seven 
years. Their son Robert, who had established a 
home for himself in Iowa, and had a family, was 
called away when thirty-eight years of age. The 
four living are, James and John in Chicago, George 
in Iowa, and Walter, who resides at home. 



AMES A. GREGORY, M. D., is a young 
physician just beginning his professional ca- 
reer, and the duty of chronicling the events 
of bis life beyond young manhood must de- 
volve upon the future biographer. In this place 
and at this time it is a pleasant duty to put on 
record an account of the source from which he 
sprang, and to recount the details of an auspicious 
beginning of the life upon which he is now enter- 
ing with a trusting and loving young wife bv his 
side. He located at Chatsworth in April, 1887. 

Dr. Gregory was born in Amity Township on 
the 13th of May, 18C2, and is a son of Thomas and 
Ellen (Holdsworth) Gregory. His father was a 
native of England, where he learned the trade of a 
tailor, and followed that occupation while he re- 
sided in his native country. He married in En- 
gland, and immigrated to the United States in 
1855, coming a few months later to Livingston 
County. Here he prepared himself for the mini-- 
try and became a clergyman in the Prote>tant 






7is 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Methodist Church, preaching in different circuits 
in Illinois until about the year 1880, when he be- 
came superannuated, :md died on the 4th of Febru- 
ary, 1880. He left an estate consisting of 190 
acres of land in Livingston County and 160 acres 
in Kansas. During the war of the Rebellion he 
was a member of Company C, 1 29th Illinois In- 
fantry, and served faithfully for nine months, when 
he was discharged on account of disabilities in- 
curred. He was a man who accomplished much 
good, and was thoroughly conscientious in the per- 
formance of every act. 

Mrs. Gregory, the mother of the subject of our 
sketch, is also a minister of the Gospel, and com- 
menced preaching when she was but sixteen years 
of age, which she continued until an advanced age. 
She still resides in Amity Township, where she is 
highly respected and much esteemed for her many 
excellent qualities. They had nine children, six of 
whom are yet living. James A. is next to the 
youngest, and received his literary education at 
LaHarpe, 111. In 1 885 he entered the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, from which 
he was graduated with honor in the spring of 1887, 
and immediately located at Chatsworth, succeeding 
Dr. Charles True in the practice of the profession. 

Dr. Gregory was married, on the 1st of Mny, 
1 887, to Mardella Boyer, who was born on the 30th of 
November, 18G3, and was a daughter of Isaiah and 
Celia C. (Bennett) Boyer, of Amity Township. 
The beginning of Dr. Gregory's professional ca- 
reer is very auspicious, and lie possesses the ability 
to maintain his reputation as a physician under all 
circumstances. His father having been a soldier in 
the Union army, that fact entitles the son to a 
membership in the order of the Sons of Veterans, 
to which he belongs, and is enthusiastic in the work 
of the order. 



iHOMAS GEORGE is an old settler of Saune- 
min Township, whose neat and productive 
farm of fort3' acres is located on what is 
judicially section 2 of that township, but which is 
congressionally in Pleasant Ridge Township. He is 
a native of Manchester, England, where he was 




born on the 12th of November, 1812. .Manche-ter 
is une of the most im]>ortant cities of England, 
both in the way of commerce and education. 

Mr. George is a son of Samuel and Catherine 
George, both of whom were English by birth. 
When about four years of age he accompanied his 
parents to America, taking passage at Liverpool, 
and after a voyage across the ocean which required 
eight weeks, landed in Boston, Mass. The parents 
settled in the State of Maine, where they made 
their future home, and remained until their death. 
The father died on the 10th of August, 184C, and 
the mother on the 13th of December, 1850. They 
became the parents of six children, of whom only 
two are now living; Thomas and Samuel. The 
boyhood days of our subject were spent in the 
State of Maine, where he received a meager educa- 
tion in the schools of that time, devoting the larger 
portion of his early life to the work of assisting his 
father in the conduct of the farm. 

On the 21st of December, 1843, Mr. George was 
married to Lucinda Ayer, a native of New Glouces- 
ter. Me., where she was born April !), 1821. She 
is the daughter of Asa and Rebecca Ayer, who 
were New Englanders by birth. Her father was a 
soldier in the War of 1812, and her grandfather, 
Thomas Ayer, was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
War. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. George has 
resulted in the birth of the following-named chil- 
dren: Flora A., Alma L., Horace G., Frank F., 
Austin, Quincy, Ada and Virginia. Flora A. was born 
Sept. 25, 1 850, and is the wife of James Fellows, of 
Kankakee, 111.; Alma L. was born Oct. IS, 18.V2, 
and is the wife of Justus Gunsul, of Streator, 111.: 
Horace G. was born Jan. 28, 1855, and resides in 
Kansas; Frank F. was born Oct. 7, 1857, and resides 
at home; the other four arc deceased. 

In the year 1859 Mr. George migrated to Illi- 
nois, and for several years resided in LaSalle County. 
He located in Livingston County in 186!), and has 
resided here ever since. His farm consists of forty 
acres of splendid land, which was all unbroken 
prairie when it came into his po--e>sion twenty 
years ago. Mr. George 1 has been a hard worker all 
his life, and whatever he possesses is the result of 
his own effort, economy and good management. 
In politic- he lias been a Republican since the di-- 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



.solution of the old Whig party, and while a resident 
of the State of Maine he held several of the minor 
township offices. He and his wife arc both mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which 
they are very Tnuch devoted. Both have spent a 
long life in usefulness and well doing, of which 
they are now enjoying the fruits. None are more 
worth}' of a place in this ALBUM than the subject of 
this sketch and his most estimable wife, and-to a 
brief record of their lives this page is given with 
pleasure. 




FRANCIS DONOHOE is an independent far- 
mer and stock-raiser, whose quarter-section 
farm is located on section 6 in Odell Town- 
ship. He was born in Virginia within three miles 
of Leesburg. Loudoun County, on the 13th of 
April, 1814, and is the yoXingest in a family of 
eleven children. His parents were Samuel and 
Margaret (Elgin) Donohoe, who were also natives 
of Virginia. The paternal grandparents were Cor- 
nelius and Mary (McDowell) Donohoe, who were 
natives of Ireland^ and were among the early set- 
tiers of Virginia. They were fanners by occupa- 
tion, and passed the remainder of their lives at 
Leesburg. The Elgins were of English descent, 
and were also early settlers of Virginia. 

The father of Mr. Donohoe was a farmer by oc- 
cupation, and in that respect followed in the line of 
his forefathers. He spent his whole life as a Virginia 
farmer, and with his wife is buried on the old home 
farm originally improved by the grandparents. 
He was a quiet, inoffensive citizen, and much de- 
voted to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which 
lie was a member and a Class-Leader. It was one 
of his proud boasts that he had never been sued in 
a court, nor found it necessary to enter suit against 
any other person The subject of this sketch war- 
ten years of age at his father's death, and from that 
event had little chance to attend school. He 
worked upon the farm until he was seventeen years 
of age, at which time the homestead was divided 
and he was thrown upon the world to care for him- 
self. He followed teaming in Alexandria for three 
years, and during this time he fell in with a party 



of traders from Tennessee, and joined them as a 
driver, going overland to Mississippi. Upon ar- 
riving there the teams were sold, and he engaged 
in hauling cotton to Vicksburg. At the close of 
the season he engaged to help open a general store 
on the road near Vicksburg. In the following 
spring he sold out his interest, and returned to his 
home in Virginia, making the journey on horse- 
back.. After reaching home his next engagement 
was as an overseer on a canal from Richmond to 
Lynchburg, which was known as the James River 
Canal, and in this employment he remained three 
years, and then went to Rockbridge County, where 
he farmed one year, and then retired from active 
work one year. During this time he was guarding 
; a real-estate investment he had made, and through 
which he had trouble regarding the title. 

Mr. Donohoe came to the West in 1 844, and set- 
tled first in Kendall County, where he farmed and 
broke prairie and also followed threshing. In 
1850 he crossed the plains with a team to Califor- 
nia in search of a fortune in the gold mines, and 
experienced a hard journey, almost dying on the 
way, but as he neared the El Dorado his health im- 
proved, and when he entered the mines at Placer- 
ville he was robust and hearty. He engaged in 
mining at Placerville, Gold Hill, Cold Spring and 
Cedarville, where most of his time was spent. A 
nephew joined him there who engaged in merchan- 
dising, but soon died. After his death Mr. Dono- 
hoe was obliged to take charge of his affairs and 
close the business out. He then joined a prospect- 
ing party and was fairly successful, but in 1858 he 
returned to Leeeburg, Va., where he remained dur- 
ing the winter. In the following spring he came 
to Illinois to visit a brother and sister who had set- 
tled hei'e, and led a pleasant life free from business 
cares for a couple of years. 

On the 6th of March, I860, Mr. Donohoe was 
married to Pleasant Furr, daughter of Newton and 
Pleasant (Matthews) Furr, natives of Virginia, who 
migrated to Illinois in 1853. After his marriage 
Mr. Donohoe began farming on rented land in La- 
Salle County, above Ottawa, where he remained 
for eight years, and then came to Livingston 
County and bought 160 acres of wild land, on 
which he settled and began to improve the farm. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



He has lived on this farm ever since, .-mil has put 
it under a high state of cultivation, erected good 
buildings, substantial fences, and planted shade, 
fruit and ornamental trees. To Mr. and Mrs. Don- 
ohoe have been born eight children, seven of 
whom are living Samuel, Margaret, Mary, Emma, 
Arthur, Virginia and Lillie; one died in infancy. 
Mary married George Camp and lives in Esmen 
Township. 

Mr. Donohoe has never sought office nor tnken 
a very active part in politics, but votes with the 
Democratic party. The only office he has ever 
held was that of School Director. He is exten- 
sively engaged in raising fine Norman horses and 
good graded cattle. He is a man who enjoys the 
highest respect of all the citizens of his township, 
and is a modest and unobtrusive old gentleman of 
whom no one can say an unkind word, and it is 
with pleasure that we present his portrait in this 
ALBUM. 



J|OHN REILLY, an extensive grain buyer, 
with headquarters at Blackstone, is a resi- 
dent of Cayuga Village, where he located in 
1873. He established his present business 
in the spring of 1886. and takes the train to Black- 
stone every Monday morning, returning to his home 
Saturday night. He bears the reputation of an en- 
ergetic, active man and one of the valued factors 
in the business community. He was thrown upon 
his own resources earl}- in life and has accumulated 
a hand-onic property, solely by the exercise of his 
own industry. 

Our subject was born in County Cavan, Ireland. 
Aug. 15, 1845. His father Michael, his grandfather 
Bernard, and himself, were born on the same farm, 
which remained in possession of the family for sev- 
eral generations. There the grandfather died about 
1840, and there the father was reared to agricultural 
pursuits, in which he was occupied his entire life, 
and folded his hands for his final rest in the spring 
of 1855, under the same roof where his father be- 
fore him had passed from life. His wife, the mother 
of our subject, is still living on the old homestead, 



being now ninety-four years of age. she was for- 
merly Miss Margaret Lynch, a native of the same 
county as her husband, and is the daughter of 
Patrick Lynch, also of Irish birth and parenta-je. 
and a native of the same locality. 

John Reilly was the seventh of nine children 
born to his parents, who were people of more than 
ordinary intelligence and gave to their children the 
best-educational advantages in their power. John, 
in common with his brother and sisters, was sent to 
school at an early age. but the plans which his 
mother had laid for him were sadly broken in upon 
by the death of the father, which occurred when he 
was a lad of but nine years old. He remained with 
his mother until sixteen, and then desirous of some- 
thing better than the prospect held out to him upon 
his native soil, boarded a sailing-vessel bound for 
the United States. He stopped first in Providence, 
R. I., where he found employment at Sprague's 
Point, R. I. Eighteen months later he migrated to 
Uxbridge, Mass., and for six months thereafter 
occupied himself in a woolen factory. His intelli- 
gence and industry gained him the approval of his 
employer, and he was promoted to assistant fore- 
man in the finishing room. H^ remained in New 
England until the spring of 18C8. 

Mr. Reilly now determined upon a change of lo- 
cation and occupation, and starting for the West, 
came to this county and located in Orlell Township, 
where for the year succeeding he was engaged as a 
farm laborer. He then became interested in grain 
dealing, and for eight years was in the employ of 
C. N. Coe. Subsequently he became associated 
with L. E. Kent until the fall of 1 ssu. when he es- 
tablished in business for himself in connection with 
his former employer. Mr. C. N. Coe. 

While a resident of Cayuga Air. Reilly was mar- 
ried, May 15, 1873, to Miss Mary Flanigan. who 
was born in County Louth, Ireland, and is the 
(laughter of Patrick and Bridget Flanigan. also na- 
tives of that county. wliocnscd the Atlantic when 
their daughter Mary was a child three years of age. 
They located in New York State, and were resi- 
dents of Warren County until the spring of 1871, 
when they came to this county and located in Pon- 
tiac, where they now re>ide. Of this union there 
are six children, viz. : Emmet, who was born March 



fr- 



T 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



723 



1, 1874; Rose, June 11, 1875; Bernard, May 2, 
1877: Maggie, .June 11, 1880; Ella, Aug. 6, 1883, 
and Sadie, May 15. 1885. 

Our subject and his family occupy a neat resi- 
dence on Howard street in Cayuga, and enjoy the 
friendship and society of its most worthy and cul- 
tivated people. Among the portraits given in this 
volume of representative citizens of the county, 
may be found that of Mr. Reilly, on an accom- 
panying page. 




T 



1USTAVUS KOEHLER. This gentleman 
owns a quarter section of land in the divis- 
ion numbered 35, Chatsworth Township, 
where for the past twenty-one years he has been 
industriously tilling the soil and illustrating the 
persistence of the German nationality, which has 
contributed so largely toward developing the re- 
sources of Central Illinois. His residence in this 
county dates from 1867, when he purchased the 
land which constitutes his present homestead and 
which was then -in an uncultivated state. He had 
then a cash capital of $.'50, and a team of horses. 
His possessions now include 280 acres of valuable 
land, supplied with suitable farm buildings, a flue 
a>sortment of live stock, and a snug sum of money 
stored away for a rainy day. The most that he has 
asked of his fellowmen was, employment by which 
he could obtain a sustenance, and now he de- 
serves and enjoys the universal respect of his 
neighbors. 

Mr. Koehler was born in the Kingdom of .Saxony. 
Oct. 20. 1841, and is the son of Frederick and 
Louisa (Koehler) Koehler, the former of whom died 
in the Fatherland while middle-aged, while the lat- 
ter immigrated with her four children to the United 
States. Of these children, two are now deceased, 
namely, a daughter named Hannah who died in 
1850, and a son, Charles, who died in 1871. Adol- 
phus is a resident of this township. 

The Koehler family after landing in New York 
City straightway proceeded westward and took up 
their abode near Mendota in LaSaJle County. 
There the boys rented a tract of land and looked 



after the mother until she no more required their 
filial care, as she was again married, to Charles Faust. 
Our subject was reared to farm pursuits, which he 
abandoned, however, for a time after reaching his 
majority, and entered the employ of the United 
States Government in the construction of bridges 
during the late war. His duties lay along the Ten- 
nessee River, and he had only been out forty days 
when he was taken ill and compelled to return 
hohie. Upon his recovery he resumed farming 
operations in LaSalle County until 1867, when he 
came to Livingston County, and made his first pur- 
chase as we have stated. 

Mr. Koehler was first married in the spring of 
1867, while a resident of Mendota, to Miss Eliza- 
beth Wendel, a native of Bureau County, this State. 
They became the parents of three children, Ed- 
ward, Amanda and Kate, and then the mother 
closed her eyes upon earthly scenes, on the 26th of 
May, 1876. In February following Mr. Koehler 
was the second time married, his present wife hav- 
ing been Miss Anna, daughter of George W. and 
Sophia Koestner. Mrs. Anna Koehler was born in 
Marshall County, 111., and of her union with our 
subject there are five children, namely: Rose, 
George, Albert, Phillip and John. 

Mr. K. was well educated in his native country, 
and since coming to America has improved his op- 
portunities for acquiring useful information, and 
taken a genuine interest in the welfare of the peo- 
ple around him. He believes in the establishment 
and maintenance of schools, having been reared in 
the land of compulsory education, and has served 
as District Director for many years. Politically he 
affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially is 
a member of Chatsworth Lodge No. 539, A. F. & 
A. M. 

John G. Koehler, the paternal grandfather of our 
subject, who was of pure German ancestry, was 
a soldier under the first Napoleon for a period of 
ten years. He was one of the few survivors of the 
memorable siege of Moscow, and suffered in com- 
mon with his fellows the terrors and hardships of 
that fearful campaign, while he afterward partici- 
pated in the re-capture of Paris under the command 
of Marshal Ney. He immigrated to the United 
States in 1840, and true to the military instincts 



f 



724 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




which seem to have been born in him, entered the 
field at the first <>|>]n>rtunity on American soil and 
served in the Mexican War under Gen. Taylor, lie 
spent his last days in LaSalle County, this State, 
and died at the advanced age of ninety years. 



&&: LBERT CORDING, a prominent hardware 
merchant of Sannemin, is a native of Som- 
1) ersetshire, England, where he was born on 
the 24th of June, 1843. He is the son of 
Edward and Mellony Cording, both of whom were 
natives of England. He is the sixth and youngest 
son and was reared to manhood in his native coun- 
try, where he was engaged in work upon the 
farm, in the meantime securing a good English 
education. His immigration to America occurred in 
the fall of 1872, coming from Liverpool to New 
York City on a steamship, only nine days being re- 
quired to make the voyage. Immediately upon 
his arrival he came AVest and located in Chicago, 
where he secured the position of book-keeper and 
traveling salesman with Roe Brothers, wholesale 
grocery dealers of that city, with whom he remained 
for one and one-half years. Afterward he was 
employed for six months as book-keeper with 
George Ross & Co., also wholesale grocery dealers, 
of Chicago. 

In January, 187C, Mr. Cording came to Living- 
ston County, and settled at a hamlet formerly 
known as Norman, eight miles southeast of Fair- 
bury, where he conducted :i general merchandise 
business and also bought and sold grain. Here be 
was thus engaged until 1 StfO, when he came to 
Saunemin, and at first engaged in the hardware 
and grocery trade with N. G. Bennett, under the 
firm name of Cording & Bennett. This copartner- 
ship, existed until he engaged in his present busi- 
ness. His annual sales now amount to between 
110,000 and $12,000. He carries a general stock of 
stoves, hard ware, tinware, and all the lines kindred 
to the hardware business. His business house is 
22x80 feet, substantially built of brick and one 
story high. 

On the 28th of May, 1875, Mr. Cording was mar- 
ried to Ida J. Seaton, daughter of George and 



Florinda Seaton, of Strawn, 111., who were pimn > T- 
in that section of Livingston County. Two chil- 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cording, then- 
names being George E., who was born Dec. 7, 
1876, and William A., July 28, 187*. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cording are members of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, of which Sunday-school Mr. Cording is 
now serving as Superintendent. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, and for several years before the in- 
coming of the Cleveland administration, served in 
the capacity of Postmaster at Sannernin. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, his membership 
being in the Sullivan Centre Lodge No. 738, at 
Saunemin, of which lodge he is at present the S. 
W. Mr. Cording takes a lively interest in public 
affairs, particularly in relation to such matters as 
will benefit the town and township of his residence. 



OIIN FARR, located since the spring of 
1887 on the southwestern quarter of section 
Hi, in Saunemin Township, is the son of one 
of the honored pioneers of this county, who 
came and took up an undeveloped tract of land, 
where he built up a comfortable homestead and 
established himself as a permanent resident. His 
parents, Joseph and Eliza (Kescoby) Fa IT, were na- 
tives of England and immigrated to America about 
1849. Thev first took up their abode in Madison 
County, N. Y., where our subject was born Jan. 
26, 1852, and twelve years later came to this, 
county, locating in Nebraska Township, where they 
spent the remainder of their lives, the mother pass- 
ing away on the 2d of March, 181'.'.). and the father 
on the 25th of the same month, ten years later. 

The parental family of our subject included seven 
children, of whom four are living, namely: Jacob, 
a fanner of Nebraska Township; Mary A., the wife 
of Thomas Richardson, of Long Point Township; 
John, of our sketch, and Ilattie, the wife of Alfred 
Moulds, of Long Point Township. The father 
upon reaching Nebraska Township purchased eighty 
acres of railroad land, upon which probably not a 
furrow had been turned. lie and his excellent 
wife labored industriously to buihl up a homestead, 
and endured the hardships and privations incident 



m~ 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



72.5 



ir 



to a new settlement. The people of this section 
were not long in discovering that Joseph Farr was 
a valued accession to their numbers, and he became 
widely and favorably known as a liberal-minded 
and public-spirited citizen, willing to contribute as 
far as possible of his time and means to build up 
the communit}' and aid in the progress of its peo- 
ple. He was finall}- visited with a severe affliction 
in the loss of his eyesight, and for two years before 
his death could scarcely recognize his friends. 
Both parents were members of the Congregational 
Church, being among the first to identify them- 
selves with the society in Nebraska Township. 
There the father served as Deacon and was one of 
the most cheerful aud liberal supporters of the 
society. In his death Nebraska Township lost one 
of its most worthy men and upright citizens. 

John Farr developed into manhood in Nebraska 
Township and received the advantages of the com- 
mon schools. Under the instruction of his father 
he became well versed in agricultural pursuits, and 
has been pleased to give his continued attention to 
the various employments of farm life, rightly es- 
teeming it a worthy ambition to excel in this most 
important of the industries. He remained under 
the parental roof until his twenty-fourth birthday, 
on which day he was married, Jan. 26. 187G, to 
Miss Mary N., daughter of Isaac and Louisiana (Mc- 
Quaid) Moulds, natives of England and Kentucky 
respectively, and now residents of Nebraska Town- 
ship, this county. Mrs. Farr was born in Marshall 
County. April 9, 1858, and remained at home with 
her parents until her marriage. Her parents came 
to Livingston County about 1806 from Marshall 
County, which had been their home since a short 
time after their marriage. Their family included 
six children, five of whom are living, namely : Mary 
N., Harvey, John, Ann and Leroy. 

Mr. Miid Mrs. Farr after their marriage settled in 
Nebraska Township, where they remained until 
taking possession of their present farm. Mr. Fan- 
received at the start .~>00 from his father's estate, 
and from this moderate capital has succeeded in ac- 
cumulating a comfortable property, having been 
wise in his investments and never backward about 
putting his shoulder to the wheel aud laboring in- 
dustriously in the cultivation of his hind. The 



farm buildings are neat and substantial and all tlic 
surroundings in keeping with the taste and means 
of the proprietor. Mr. Farr, politically, votes the 
straight Republican ticket, aud with his amiable 
and excellent wife is a member of the Christian 
Church, in which he has served as Deacon for sev- 
eral years. 

Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Farr 
the record is as follows : Joseph E. was born Nov. 
30, 1876, and died April 17, 1877; Elsie was born 
Jan. 7, 187f); Anna E., Feb. 1C, 1 881 ; Alvin I., 
Oct. 21, 1882; Charles E., Jan. 5, 1885, and Will- 
ard, June 5, 1886. They form a bright and inter- 
esting group, the older ones just taking their first 
lesson in the district school, and the younger still 
remaining under the watchful eye of their mother. 







MANUEL D. FAUBER is one of the ster- . 
ling young farmers of Saunemin Township, 
where he has 156 acres of land, located on 
section 33, which he purchased and paid for with 
money secured through his own efforts and good 
management. He began his career in life without 
capital other than willing hands, and has succeeded 
much beyond the usual measure with men at his 
age. He is a native of Augusta County, Va., and 
was born on the 7th of March, 1852. 

Mr. Fauber is the son of David T. and Ann 
(Kindig) Fauber, both of whom were natives of 
Virginia, and migrated to Illinois in the year 
1855, settling in Woodford County, where they 
were among the first settlers, and where they have 
continuously resided to the present time. They 
are the parents of ten children, of whom the follow- 
ing named are still living, and are recorded as fol- 
lows: Samuel II. was born May 30, 1850; Emamiel 
I), is the subject of this sketch; Barbara E. married 
E. M. Cox, of Woodford County ; Mary C. married 
S. M. Bullington, of this township; 'Virginia M. is 
the wife of John Hippard: Eliza A., Minnie L. and 
James W. reside at home. The father has served 
as Supervisor of Roanoke Township, Woodford 
County, for a number of years, and has also served 
as Township Road Commissioner, and Township ' 



1 



726 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Treasurer for many years. He is at the present 
time serving as Justice of the Peace, which office 
he has held for many j r ears. He is widely and 
favorably known in Wood ford County, where he is 
a representative pioneer citizen. He is a leading 
member in the Christian Church, to which he con- 
tributes liberally of his time and means. He began 
life in the West without capital, and his holdings of 
to-day are ample evidence of his being a successful, 
self-made man. 

Emanuel D. Fauber, our subject, was reared to 
manhood in Woodford County, where he learned 
the rudiments of farming, and received a fair com- 
mon-school education. On the 2d of August, 1877, 
he was married to Margaret Smith, a native of 
New York State, who was born in 1 850, and is the 
daughter of Stephen and Catherine (Slater) Smith. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Fauber has been born one child, 
named Annie L., whose birth occurred on the 8th 
of March, 1881. About two years after marriage 
our subject came to Livingston County, and settled 
in Sannemin Township, where he has since resided 
in his pleasant home. 

During his residence in Woodford County, Mr. 
Fauber served one year as Deputy Sheriff, in which 
capacity he acquitted himself creditably. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, and since becoming a voter 
has given that party a cordial support. He and hi* 
wife are members of the Christian Church, in which 
they take an active part. They both participate in 
the society events of their neighborhood, and are 
always found among the most active workers in 
those enterprises which furnish entertainment and 
recreation for themselves and neighbors. 



J~l OHN R. KNOX, au intelligent and progres- 
| sive farmer, lives in Emiugton, but his 
j wife's farm of 160 acres, given to her by her 
' father, lies on section 24, Union Township. 
Air. Knox is the son of Thomas and Isabella (1'rin- 
gle) Knox, and was born iu Australia, March 2. 
1854. His father's birth place was on a farm called 
Brotherstone, on the banks of the River Tweed, in 



view of Dry burgh Abbey, the resting-place of Sir 
Walter Scott, and in sight of Melrose Abbey, Scot- 
laud. He was born Feb. 6, 1819, and while still a 
young man immigrated to Canada in 1 842, where he 
was for a time engaged in fanning and working nt 
the trade of cabinet-maker. On the 2d of May, 
1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Isabella 
Priijgle, who was born Dec. 25, 1830, and is the 
daughter of Alexander Pringle. Her parents lived 
formerly in the same part of Scotland as Mr. Knox. 

In 1853 the parents of our subject moved to 
Australia, where the father engaged for some years 
in gold mining, at which he prospered. Not being 
satisfied with that country, however, as a permanent 
home, he went back to Canada, in 1857, and em- 
ployed his capital in the business of merchandising, 
in which undertaking he was less fortunate, losing 
heavily. He then purchased about 130 acres of 
land and turned his attention to agriculture. In 
the meantime, having heard of the excellent oppor- 
tunities for husbandry afforded by the fertile 
prairies of the West, he, in 1865, removed with his 
family to Livingston County, 111., where he bought 
land four miles south of Dwight, and two or three 
years afterward he sold his land in Canada. About 
1 880 he moved to Streator, 111., and resumed his 
trade of cabinet-making, while three years later he 
began dealing in furniture, in which business he is 
still engaged. On the 2d of May, 1875, he and his 
estimable wife celebrated the twenty-fifth smiver.-ary 
of their marriage. The occasion was one of rare 
pleasure to themselves and the maiiy friends and 
relatives who filled the house to overflowing. 

Our subject remained in his father's family 
until he was about twenty-one years of age, re- 
ceiving a common-school education, and then set 
out to make his own way in the world. lie began 
farming for himself on rented ground, and suc- 
ceeded so well that a couple of years later he 
felt able to support a wife, and take upon himself 
the responsibilities of married life. Accordingly, 
on the 22d of January, 1*77, he was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Eva Belle Edgcomb, daughter of 
William and Eunice (Spalding) Edgcomb, of La- 
Sallc County, III., where she was born Aug. 22, 
1855, and was the second child in a family of three. 
One year after this important event in his life Mr. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Knox moved upon his wife's farm, where he resided 
until ins}, when In 1 removed to his town residence. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knox has resulted 
in the birth of five children, three of whom are 
still living, namely : Guy W., who was horn Oct. 
20. 1877; Earle C., Aug. 13, 1879, and John I., 
March 21. 1882. Mrs. Knox's father was born in 
Pennsylvania, in August, 1833, and the mother in 
New York, in September, 1836; they were married 
in Ottawa, 111., in 1852. The mother died in 1861, 
and the father was married the second time, to 
Margaret Emery, by whom he has seven boys. 

Our subject and wife are still young people, but 
are among the most active and enterprising mem- 
bers of the community in which they live, taking 
MII earnest part in every movement that tends to 
the elevation of society and the improvement of 
their fellows. They are endeavoring to give their 
children a good substantial education, and to fit 
them in every way for the manifold duties of life. 




wIIOMAS G. McUOWELL, one of the oldest 
J\ and most highly esteemed citizens of Liv- 
ings ton County, is the subject of this sketch, 
and is now a citizen of the town of Fairbury. He 
was born on the 1st of February, 1806, in Scioto 
County, Ohio, and was reared on his father's farm, 
obtaining his education in log school-houses, the 
only kind of educational edifices the country af- 
forded in those days. His parents were James and 
Sarah (Gorrel) McDowell. James was a native of 
Scotland, and came to America with his parents 
when a child. The father was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and his parents located in Pennsylvania, 
where .lames was married to Sarah Gorrel in the 
year 178!), after five, or >ix years' service in the 
Revolutionary War. About 1795 the father went 
to Kentucky with the veritable Simon Kenton, 
which was the first visit that famous frontiersman 
made to Kentucky. He and Kenton pre-empted a 
large tract of land, which was called Mason, and 
afterward Wood ford County. The father moved 
from Kentucky to Ohio in 1804, and located in 
N'ioto County, where he entered laud and cleared 



a large farm, and remained until his death. The 
father was born in 1742 and died in 1809. They 
had a family of nine children, the subject of this 
sketch being the youngest and now the only sur- 
vivor. The names of the children were as follows: 
Mary married Thomas Phillips; William married 
Sarah Dever; Betsey was unmarried; John mar- 
ried Elizabeth Price; James married Sophia Hall; 
Woodford G. married Catherine Bennett; Martha 
married Henry Crnll; Hiram married Elizabeth 
Sawders. 

Thomas McDowell was married, on the 1st of 
January, 1835, to Elizabeth C. Keeney, who was 
born in Virginia in 1807. and is the daughter 
of Moses and Frances (Harris) Keeney, both na- 
tives of Virginia, and life-long members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. At the age of eight- 
een years Mr. McDowell concluded to depend upon 
his own resources for a living, and he made a visit 
to the Kanavvha Salt Works in West Virginia, where 
he secured employment at making salt and worked 
from 1 824 to 1 836 at that place. On the 1 st of Oc- 
tober, 1836, he loaded all his worldly goods into 
a three-horse wagon, and with his wife started 
for the West. They stopped in Montgomery 
County, I nd., where he bad purchased land some 
years previous to that time, and moved into a 
hewed log house 16x18 feet in 'dimensions, which 
he had erected the winter before. His land proved 
to be of excellent quality and very productive, and 
he remained on this farm of 120 acres until 1848, 
I and then sold out and started farther west. Ar- 
riving in Livingston County he purchased 120 
acres of school and State lands, on which he built 
a house and then began farming. This farm was 
one mile from timber, and was thought to be al- 
most out of the world. In 1867 he sold his lands 
and moved into Fairbury, where he has since re- 
sided, living in one of the pleasant residences of 
the town, which he has surrounded with many com- 
forts. 

Mr. McDowell's family consists of seven chil- 
dren: Ann Eliza, living with her parents; Franklin 
C. married Laura Morgan; Moses K. married Miss 
Morgan; Sarah F. married M. J. Zook; Mary B. 
married William Morgan: Martha E. married 
Thomas- Brownlee, and Carrie E. married James 



t 



728 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




Handy. Since 1836 Mr. McDowell and his family 
have been members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and during that long period he and his 
wife have been regular in their attendance and sin- 
cere in their profession. Mr. McDowell has al- 
ways been a straight out Republican, and his de- 
votion and loyalty to the party have never dimin- 
ished the least since the day he joined it in 185G. 



C. GOODRICH. Among those who came 
to Illinois half a century ago and suc- 
ceeded in life through their own energy 
and industry, is the above-named gentle- 
man, who is yet living to tell of the trials encoun- 
tered during the early settlement of the country. 
He resides on section 21, Saunemin Township, 
where lie owns eighty acres of well-improved land, 
all of which is under a high state of cultivation. 

Mr. Goodrich was born on the 25th of March, 
1839, in Smyrna, Chenango Co., N. Y., and is the 
son of Gardner C. and Nancy (Fravor) Goodrich, 
both of whom are natives of the East, but at pres- 
ent reside in Saunemin, this county. To them 
were born five children, whose record is as follows: 
Amanda, the wife of Rev. T. W. Royal, of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, at Americus, Lyon 
Co., Kan. ; William, of Kankakee, 111. ; Melissa, 
widow of the late Daniel S. Ross, of Normal, III.; 
Hubbard, of Albanj r , N. Y., and D. C. 

Our subject when quite a small boy, with his par- 
ents and other members of the family, came from 
New York to Grundy County, 111., where they made 
their home for about twent}' years. In 1864 his 
parents removed from Grundy County to this 
county, where they settled on a farm of eighty 
acres adjoining the land on which our subject now 
resides, and they remained there until 1883, when 
they retired from farm work and removed to the 
town of Saunemin. Here they are proposing to 
spend their declining years in as much ease and 
comfort as possible, and enjoy the fruits of a long 
life spent in usefulness and well-doing. The}' are 
surrounded by a large circle of friends and rela- 
tives, all of whom are zealous in their efforts to 
make their pathway down the decline of the hill as 



smooth and pleasant as possible. Tht'3 f are both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
are earnest and sincere in their profession and prac- 
tice of Christianity, and have always been liberal 
supporters of the Gospel. The father is now in his 
eighty-eighth year, and the mother in her eighty- 
sixth. With the exception of losing his sight he 
is still in good health. 

From his earliest boyhood our subject has lived 
upon the farm, and been engaged in farm work. 
He received a fair education in the district schools 
of Grundy County. On the 20th of February, 
1879, Mr. Goodrich was married to Annie R. 
Routh, a native of Indiana, who was born on the 
19th of November, 1854, and is the daughter of Will- 
iam and Eliza (Love) Routh. Two children have 
been born to them, viz. : Harvey II. G., on the 24th of 
February, 1880, and Sylvia M., on the 15th of May, 
1886. The Doctor and his wife a:e members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active 
and influential part in the society movements of 
their neighbors. Mr. Goodrich is a stanch Repub- 
lican, having voted with that party ever since he 
attained his majority. He has never held office, 
and has never desired to, being of that disposition 
which lias induced him to give his undivided at- 
tention to his individual business. He is known 
by the citizens of the township as a man who is 
highly respected for his sterling worth and integrity. 



H. FELLOWS, an active, energetic 
and enterprising fanner and stock-raiser, re- 
sides on section 7, Charlotte Township. He 
(<HJJ!' was born Nov. 25. 1856, in Will County 
111., and is the son of John W. and Martha Marga- 
ret (Lansing) Fellows, who were natives of the 
State of New York. Our subject is the fourth in a 
family of seven children. His father went to Mc- 
Lean County to live when our subject was but one 
year old, and after two years came to Pleasant 
Ridge Township, Livingston County, where he re- 
mained for two years, finalh" settling on section 11, 
in that township, where they both reside at present. 
Our subject was reared to manhood in Living- 
ston County, early in life evincing an interest in 







RES.OFTHOS.CUNNINGTON, SEC. 29. CHARLOTTE TOWNSHIP 



WAOONS.CARRIAGES 




WAGON &. CARRIAGE WORKS OFGEO.BOHLANDER.PONTIAC. 



- . >', - ,-,.s--i.r- -. 




RESIDENCE OF FRED. N.TRYON, SEC. 11. FAYETTE TOWNSHIP. 




4- 

731 , . 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



agricultural pursuits, and has always been engaged 
in fanning, with the exception of two years, during 
which time he owned and conducted a general 
store at the village of Wing, Livingston County. 
At the end of two years he sold his store to Lewis 
Holloway, who is yet conducting the business. 
During his mercantile career at Wing, Mr. Fellows 
gave evidence of much business ability, and be- 
came very popular with the people as a merchant. 
His education was obtained in the common schools, 
and was as complete as the facilities at that time 
would permit. 

On the 27th of August, 1881, Mr. Fellows was 
married to Miss Laura Etta Madden, daughter of 
James and Susan (Hush) Madden. She was the 
fifth child in a family of ten born to her parents, 
and was born in Pleasant Ridge Township, Aug. 
25. 1863. The Madden family still reside in Char- 
lotte Township, while the children all live near. 
Mrs. Fellows' brothers and sisters are named as fol- 
lows: George W., Cassius M., James C., Stella R. 
and Carrie L. To Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have been 
born two children: George Woodford, Jan. 15, 
1884, and Charles Melvin. March 9, 188C. 

Mr. Fellows does not devote much time to polit- 
ical matters, but votes and acts with the Repub- 
lican party. He is at present serving in the ca- 
pacity of School Director, and giving excellent 
satisfaction. Any movement inaugurated for the 
benefit of his township or count3 !f is enthusiastic- 
ally espoused by Mr. Fellows. 



REDBRICK N. TRYON, son of one of the 
^ : early settlers of LaSalle County, this State, 
and now pleasantly located on section 1 1 . 
Fayette Township, this county, started out for him- 
self soon after reaching his majority, and for five 
years rented land near the homestead of his father. 
He met with success in his efforts, and sought for his 
permanent location the land which constitutes his 
present farm, of which he took possession in the 
spring of 1877. He has 120 acres of good land 
under a fine state of cultivation, with suitable and 
convenient farm buildings, of which a view is shown 




on another page of this ALBUM.- His domestic re- 
lations are of the pleasantest, his little family con- 
sisting of his wife and one child, a son, Frank, who 
was born Dec. 30, 1877. He is one of the most 
reliable members of the Republican party in Fay- 
ette Township, which welcomed him to its commu- 
nity as a valued accession to its business and social 
circles. 

Our subject was born Feb. 2, 1850, at Sag Har- 
bor, Long Island, and is the son of Frederick and 
Mary (Comstoek) Tryon, natives of New York 
State. His father learned the trade of a cooper, 
which he followed in the Empire State for a period 
of probably thirty years, and then coining West he 
purchased a quarter section of land near the city of 
Ottawa, LaSalle County, of which he at once took 
possession with his family. The household included 
the following-named children : Maria, Charles, Fred 
N., Clark Smith, Clarence E. and L. C. Maria be- 
came the wife of James Ebersol, who is carrying on 
farming near Ottawa; the next, a son. Charles, is a 
prosperous farmer of Fayette Township; CLirk 
Smith lives in LaSalle County, and is engaged in 
farming; Clarence E. is an insurance agent in Ot- 
tawa, 111.; L. C. is a farmer and resides with his 
parents. 

Upon coming to Fayette Township Mr. Tryon 
was accompanied by his brother, who joined with 
him in his first purchase of land. They afterward 
made a division and the brother is now living on 
an adjoining farm. Mr. Tryon was married, Feb. 
8, 1872, to Miss Katie Kiner, who was born in 
Perry County, Pa., April 19, l_853, and is the 
daughter of Jacob and Arabella (Barrick) Kiner, 
prosperous farmers residing in LaSalle County, III. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kiner are natives of Pennsylvania, 
and came to this State and settled in LaSalle County 
in 1853. where they have since resided. They be- 
came the parents of ten children, all of whom at- 
tained to mature years. Their names are as follows : 

; Maggie; Katie, the wife of our subject: Frank, 

| Nelson. Mary, Ida, Melvina, Cora, William and 
Henry. Maggie and Frank are deceased. 

Mrs. Tryon received a fair education in the dis- 

: trict schools, and remained with her parents until 
her marriage with our subject. The wedding took 

i place at the home of the bride and they commenced 



t 



732 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i: 



life together on a farm in LaSalle County. They may 
reasonably anticipate a future comparatively free 
from the cares which make so many lives a burden. 




-#- 



E BOHLANDER. Some of the best 
and most proficient mechanics of this coun- 
try, as well as some of the most accomplished 
scientists, were born abroad, and if one will take 
the trouble to examine into the matter, it will be 
found that very many of those who have become 
eminent bear names indicating German birth. The 
name of the subject of this sketch, who is a wagon 
and carriage manufacturer of Pontiac, is indicative 
of his nativity. He was born in Germany in 184!), 
and is the son of Fred and Barbara (Kielim) Boh- 
lander, who were natives of the same country. The 
father was overseer on a large tract of timber and 
attended to the sale of all timber taken, keeping a 
record of all such transactions. His family con- 
sisted of five children, three of whom are living 
George, Ernest and Lizzie. Ernest is a clergyman 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now the 
pastor of a church at Evansville, Ind. He came to 
America in 1867. 

George Bohlander came to this country in 1865, 
settling in Butler County, Ohio, where he worked 
on a farm for several years, and as a section hand 
on a railroad for six months. He remained there 
until the 4th of March, 1868, and then came to Ot- 
tawa, 111., where he served an apprenticeship of 
three years with a wagon-maker. After completing 
his trade he worked as a journeyman until June, 
1877, and in that year came to Pontiac, commenc- 
ing in business for himself in 1878. A fine wagon- 
shop costing $1,600 was built on Howard street in 
1885. In addition to manufacturing vehicles him- 
self, he has kept in stock ready-made carriages and 
buggies of St. Louis and Chicago manufacture. A 
lithographic view of Mr. Bohlander's carriage- works 
forms a valuable adjunct to this sketch, and we 
take pleasure in presenting it on an accompanying 
page. 

In Iis7;> Mr. Bohlander was married to Miss An- 
nie Beer, a native of Germany, and they have had 
one child, named Fritz. The father of Mr. Boh- 



lander died in 1864, and the mother in 1885, in 
Germany. They were both members of the Luth- 
eran Church. Mr. Bohlander is eminently a self- 
made man having depended almost entirely upon 
his own resources both in boyhood and manhood, 
and all his surroundings indicate that he has fought 
the battle of life well. He is a highly esteemed 
citizen, progressive in his notions, affable in man- 
ner, and sympathetic in nature. He is a Repub- 
lican, and at all proper times devotes his energies 
for the success of that party. 




J. EVANS is one of the active 
and enterprising young men who have ma- 
terially assisted in making an important lo- 
cal business center of Saunemin, and in his 
enterprises has met with a good measure of success. 
lie is a general dealer in all kinds of agricultural 
implements, as well as buggies, wagons, etc. 

Mr. Evans is a native of Tennessee, where he 
was born on the 28th of December, 1856. He is 
the son of Jeremiah and Matilda Evans, both of 
whom died when our subject was about four and 
one-half yeaiv of age. The father died first, and 
the mother came to Marshall County, 111., our sub- 
ject accompanying her. and there resided a few 
years. After the death of his mother Andrew went 
to Centralia, 111., where he lived in the family of 
George A. Bliss for about six years, when at the 
age of fifteen he began the battle of life for him- 
self. He worked as a farm hand near Centralia 
about two years, .and then returned to Marshall 
County, 111., where he engaged at work upon the 
farm for three years. At the end of this time he 
rented a farm in the same neighborhood, which he 
cultivated successfully for the next two 3- ears. 

On the 19th of January, 1881, Mr. Evans was 
married, in Livingston County, to Miss Rachel Nor- 
man, a daughter of William Norman, of Saunemin 
Township, this county. They have had three 
children, two of whom are living Eva M. and 
Jessie H. Mr. Evans first came to Livingston 
County in the spring of 1878, and for nine years 
thereafter cultivated his 80-acre farm, one mile 
south of Eylar, living alone the first year, and at- 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



733 



tending to the household as well as the farm duties. 
.Mr. Kvans still owns the farm, on which he has 
placed first-class improvements. He began his pres- 
ent business in January. 1X87, and lias already be- 
come convinced that in this line lie will be as suc- 
cessful as he heretofore has been as an agriculturist. 
Having been reared upon a farm and followed that 
occupation until the present year, he is thoroughly 
conversant with the needs of the farmers, and can 
supply them with just such implements as are best 
adapted to that section of the country. Mr. Evans 
having been left an orphan at a tender age, neces- 
sarily encountered many drawbacks in his early 
career, but he went to work with the determination 
and will to solve the problem of life, and he has 
succeeded. In the fullest meaning of the words he 
is a self-made man, and deserves much credit for 
what he has accomplished. 

Mr. and Mrs. Evans are both members of the 
Christian Church, and take part in all the society 
events of the neighborhood. Mr. Evans has satis- 
factorily served in the capacity of School Director, 
and warmly entered into the work with a will to 
elevate the standard of education and add to the 
efficiency of the public schools. 



AFAYETTE TANNER, a prominent farmer 
^ J} w 'ght Township, located on section 15, 
has been a resident of Livingston Count}' 
for twenty years, during which time he has not only 
been pecuniarily successful, but has made an en- 
viable place for himself in the history of the town- 
ship and the count}'. He is of French and English 
descent, on the maternal side coming from the fam- 
ily of Lamoreaux, of whom Judge Lamoreaux, of 
Saratoga, N. Y., is a descendant. This family is of 
French Huguenot >tock. and >till retains the tradi- 
tions of the flight from France, at which time they 
left so hastily that all their property was left be- 
hind. They fled from their homes and country in 
order to escape religious persecution, and to enjoy 
the rights of those who worship God after the dic- 
tates of their own conscience. The Pilgrim Fathers, 
Puritans. (Quakers and Mennonites left their homes 
for the same reason, and from all these people have 




descended many of the noblest men and women of 
this country. 

Frederick Tanner, the lather of our subject, was 
of an English family, who were pioneers in New 
York State. He lived in Schaghticokc, Rensselaer 
Co., N. Y., and was a blacksmith by trade. He was ' 
married to Miss Elizabeth Lamoreaux, of Dutchess 
County, N. Y., and to them were born seven chil- 
dren Elmore, Elvira C., LaFayette, Maria A., 
George W., Joseph W., and William all of whom 
are living, excepting Elmore and William. These 
children were all born on the old homestead, where 
two generations had lived before them. The father 
finally moved to Rock City, Saratoga Co., N. Y., 
where he followed his trade. In 1847 he moved to 
LaSalle County, 111., and purchased a farm in Eden 
Township, where he lived the remainder of his 
days, and where he accumulated considerable prop- 
erty, owning at the time of his death a valuable 
farm. He was a Democrat in politics, and an ad- 
herent of the doctrines of the Methodist Church. 

LaFayette Tanner, our subject, was born on the 
old homestead in New York, on the 26th of June, 
1 827. He learned of his father the trade of a black- 
smith, and came with him to Illinois. He returned 
to New York, and on the 23d of February, 1854, 
was married to Miss Clara A. Robbins, of Schuyl- 
ersville, Saratoga County. She was born on the 1 8th 
of December, 1832, and is the daughter of Rich- 
ard and Sarah Robbins, of Pittstown, N. Y. Her 
father was an Englishman, who came to this conn- 
try when a young man. His correct name was Rob- 
binson, but it was shortened after he came to this 
country by his friends and neighbors dropping the 
last two letters when addressing him. lie was a. 
miller by trade, and died in 1846, at the age of 
forty years. The mother was an English lady, 
whose family settled in Canada. 

Directly after marriage Mr. Tanner took his 
young wife to LaSalle County, 111., where he man- 
aged his father's farm for two years. lie then 
bought a farm in Putnam County, 111., where he 
lived twelve years, and where his children, whose 
names are as follows, were born : Jennie, Fred, La- 
Fayette and' Guy. Jennie married William Bunt- 
ing, a farmer of D wight Township; Fred is a farmer 
at Beatrice, Neb., and LaFayette and Guy are at 






7:! I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



home; LaFayette is managing his father's farm, and 
(luy operates a rented farm. In 1867 Mr. Tanner 
moved with his family to Livingston County, and 
purchased a farm of 160 acres, eligibly situated near 
I) wight, and here, in a beautiful section of the 
county, the children have been reared, and recei veil 
<i good education at the school in the village of 
Dwight. Mr. Tanner, like his father before him, is 
Democratic in politics, and during his residence 
in the State has held the various township ollico. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Tanner are persons who 'have 
lived correct lives, and have been faithful in the 
discharge of their duties to their family. 



E. CARTER is the editor and proprietor of 
the Fairbury Blade, a weekly paper which 
is Republican in politics and devoted to the 
interests of Fairbury and vicinity. In size it is a 
seven-column quarto, and in appearance is typo- 
graphically neat. The publication of the paper was 
begun in 1871 by Dimmick Bros., under the title of 
the Fairbury Independent. The Fairbury Blade was 
established by C. B. Holmes in 1877. J. S. Scibird of 
Blooinington, bought both these papers, consolidat- 
ing them under the name of the Independent Blade. 
In 1884 Mr. ('. K. Carter purchased the Independ- 
ent Blade from E. A. Scibird, who hadCsucceeded 
his father two years previously. Mr. Carter dropped 
the name of Independent and called the paper 
the Blade. In January, 1887, the Blade AM] the 
News were consolidated, and the name of the Blade 
was retained. The Ne:-< was owned by A. I. and 
C. K. Baker, both of whom were for awhile con- 
nected with the Blade office. 

C. E. Carter was born in the State of Wisconsin. 
son of Hiram Carter, now deceased. He is a man 
of excellent newspaper ability and practically ex- 
perienced in the business. As a writer he is easy 
and graceful, and in the expression of opinions is 
fair and impartial. He has done much to popular- 
ize his paper with the people of Livingston County, 
and especially in that part of the count}- in which 
Fairbury is located. 

The Blade has reached the second largest circu- 
lation of any Livingston Count}- newspaper, and is 




the largest paper publiished in the county; it is pop- 
ular with all classes. It> corps of correspondents 
at the centers of population in the county are se- 
lected with reference to their good standing and 
reliability. Its growth has been phenomenal in ne ws- 
p.-iper history, and its list of subscribers has gradu- 
ally grown larger without any special effort in that 
direction, until the families into whose homes it 
goes number many hundreds. It has attained its 
position in the newspaper world by assiduously 
shutting out all objectionable advertising, or read- 
ing matter of a questionable character, and taking 
high moral grounds on all public questions. While it 
is Republican in politics it treats all with fairnes>. and 
thus holds the esteem and respect of all political 
parties. Thus it is at all times fit to enter the fam- 
ily, and its patrons have no fear of anything being 
admitted to its columns that cannot be read aloud 
in the family circle. The Blade has done and is 
still doing much to elevate the profession of jour- 
nalism, and will receive its reward by an unparal- 
leled patronage by the intelligent people of Liv- 
ingston County. 



fifj AMES CHAPMAN. The name of this gen- 
tleman is familiar to the people of Odell 
from his long residence here and his worthy 
career as a citizen and member of society. 
He was fora period of nine years Station Agent of 
the Caynga Railroad, and served a long term as 
Justice of the Peace. He distinguished himself as 
,-i worthy and useful member of the community, 
quiet and law-abiding, and interested in all those 
enterprises tending to the advancement and welfare 
of the people. 

Jame.- Chapman was of English birth and par- 
entage, and passed his youthful days in the town 
of Ashton-under-Lyne. where his birth occurred 
Nov. :j. 1830. His parents, Walter W. and Han- 
nah (Buckley) Chapman, came to America in the 
fall of 1848. when their >on James was a youth of 
eighteen years, and coming directly to the Wot 
located at Morris, 111. A few weeks later the par- 
ents fell victims to the cholera epidemic then rag- 
ing in that section, leaving two sons, our subject 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



735 






Miid liis brother Edwin Owen, who is now a resident 
of this county. The father was a gardener by oc- 
cupation and had immigrated to the United Stale* 
in the hope of bettering his condition, both socially 
and financially. James had been liberally educated 
and had been employed as a book-keeper in a fac- 
tor}- some time before coming to this county. 
Failing to secure a similar position here after the 
death of his parents, he engaged to learn the car- 
penter trade, at which he served two years, and 
then began to work for himself. His habits of in- 
dustry and sobriety secured him firm friends and 
he was prospered in his labors. Before reaching 
his twenty-fifth year he was united in marriage with 
Miss Agnes Allen, who was of Scotch birth and 
parentage, and the daughter of John and Isabel 
(Hood) Allen, who immigrated to America about 
the year 1832. They first located at Morris, this 
State, but later came to this county, where the 
father engaged in farming, and where both parents 
spent their declining years. 

The marriage of our subject took place in Lis- 
bon, Kendall County, and a few months later Mr. 
Chapman purchased 120 acres of land in Odell 
Township, this county, where he began farming, 
and in the meantime carried on his trade as time 
and opportunity permitted. At the time of his 
purchase the station of Odell had been located but 
there were no indications Of a town around it. He 
was appointed the first agent in 1863, and held the 
position until his death in 1872. The length" of ' 
time during which he discharged his responsible 
duties is sufficient evidence of the estimation in 
which he was held by the railroad company and 
the people of. Odell. 

The children of James and Agnes (Allen) Chap- 
man, eight in number, are recorded as follows: 
Hannah is the wife of Arnini Godwin, who is en- 
gaged in farming in LaSalle County; Alice mar- 
ried Richard Slim-, and lives in Minnesota; Isabel, 
Mrs. Daniel Godwin, resides with her husband on 
a farm in Odell Township; Margaret married 
James Stine, an enterprising farmer of Minnesota: 
Edwin, James and John employ their time in farm- 
ing, and are residents of Minnesota and Illinois; 
Walter W. we speak of below. 

Walter W. Chapman, a young man of more 



than ordinary ability, who has been finely educated 
in view of commercial pursuits, was born at his 
father's homestead in Esinen Township, July 21. 
18J8. He is now carrying on merchandising in 
the village of Cayuga, and is the owner of a good 
farm on section 32, in Odell Township. After 
completing his Studies in the common schools he 
learned carpentering of his father, whose death oc- 
curred when he was a youth of but fifteen years. 
lie continued on the farm until the death of his 
mother, which occurred in 1881, and was then ap- 
pointed guardian of the younger children, of whose 
interests he still has charge. 

In the spring of 1 880, Mr. Chapman went up into 
Minnesota upon business and pleasure combined, 
and while breathing the invigorating air of the 
north employed his leisure time at his trade. Upon 
returning home he purchased the business which he 
is now conducting .it Odell, but preferring to reside 
in the rural districts he secured possession of an 
80-acre tract of land on section 32, the cultivation 
of which he superintends and where he has a re- 
markably pleasant home. This home is presided 
over by the accomplished and amiable young lady 
who became his bride on the 28th of June, 1887. 
Mrs. Chapman was formerly Miss Ada E., daughter 
of Alvin and Susan (Withrow) Clark, who were 
natives of Nova Scotia, and have been residents of 
this county for a period of twenty years. Her 
father is a farmer by occupation and the parents 
are now residents of Odell Township. Mrs. Chap- 
man was born in Esmen Township, this county, 
June 23, 1867, and was the second in a family of 
four children born to her parents. She was finely 
educated, and engaged in teaching at an early age, 
having been identified with the public schools of 
this county four years, and still continues her pro- 
fession as a teacher in the Cayuga schools. Her 
amiability and excellent judgment have won for 
her a wide circle of friends among both pupils: 
and parents. 

Mr. Walter Chapman is quite active in politics 
and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. He is 
serving his lirst term as a member of the School 
Board in Cayuga, being the youngest man ever 
elected to the position in this city. In 1885, he 
took a commercial course in the college at Valpa- 



f 



t. 



736 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




raiso, Ind., and thus prepared himself for the 
business which he had chosen as his future voca- 
tion. 



ILLIAM GINGERICH. Central Illinois, 
in common with many other sections of the 
great West, is much indebted for its devel- 
opment and cultivation to the enterprise and in- 
dustry of the thrifty German citizens. Among 
these the subject of this history occupies a promi- 
nent position. He is in the prime of life and in 
the midst of his usefulness, and has already acquired 
a tine property and a beautiful homestead of 160 
acres on section 32. His o]>erations have been char- 
acterized by sound good sense, while he has taken 
advantage of modern methods and the latest im- 
proved machinery in the cultivation of the soil and 
bringing about the improvements with which he is 
surrounded, and which stand as a silent monument 
of his industry and forethought. 

Our subject was born and spent the first few 
years of his life in Kur-Hessen, German}', not far 
from the beautiful valley of the Rhine, where the 
cool climate and fertile soil afford the purest air to 
breathe and the best elements for building up the 
human frame. His birth took place April 14, 1842, 
and he was the only child of his father, John Gin- 
gerich, by his first wife, Magdalene Otto; the 
mother died when her son was three years of age. 
The father subsequently married again, and in 1*.">I 
the family immigrated to the United States, William 
being then a boy nine years of age. They spent a 
year in the State of Maryland and then came to 
Illinois, locating in Putnam County, where the 
father followed blaeksniithing until resting from his 
earthly labors, his death taking place Feb. 4, 1885. 
He had been married three times, and by his second 
marriage there were two children, who died in in- 
fancy. By the third marriage there were no chil- 
dren. The last wife had a child by her former 
husband, whose name is Mary Forcht, but she has 
adopted the name of her step-father, and is known 
as Mary ( iingerich: 

Young Gingerich was reared to manhood in Put- 
nam County, and made good use of his time while 
]>ermitted to attend the common school. During 



the late war he enli>ted. Jan. 1, 1SC4, in Company 
B, 64th Illinois Infantry, and participated in the 
siege of Atlanta, where he was wounded in- both 
arms by the explosion of a shell, and still carries 
one of the balls. lie was sent to the hospital at 
Rome, Ga., where lie remained about thirty days. 
and then went home on a furlough. Subsequently 
he returned to Springfield and was detailed to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps at Rock Island, where he 
remained until the close of the war, and received 
his honorable discharge at Springfield, July -JO, 
1865. He was thereafter employed at farming 
until his marriage. 

The lady who has been the close companion and 
best friend of our subject for a -period of over twenty 
years, was in her girlhood Miss Emma Krausbauer, 
and was married on the 21st of April. 1867. She 
is a native of the same Province as her husband, 
and was born Nov. 27, 1 83!l. She was the second 
child in a family of six born to Carl W. and Jo- 
hanna (Schoettler) Krausbauer, natives of the same 
locality and of pure German ancestry. The par- 
ents spent their lives in their native home, and are 
now deceased. Mr. Carl W. Krausbauer was a 
teacher in the public schools in his native home, 
and \vas Assistant Principal for the long period of 
fifty years in the same school. He was also organist 
in the German Reformed Church for the same num- 
ber of years. This is an honor to which but few 
men can lay claim. 

The' union of our subject and his wife was blessed 
by the birth of four children, whose record is a- 
follows: The eldest son, Otto John, died March I!, 
1 883, when fifteen years of age ; he was a promis- 
ing young man, the favorite alike of old and young, 
and had commenced a career which held out great 
promises for the future; his death was a great blow 
to his stricken parents. Willie Frederick, born Jan. 
7, 1870; Carl Oscar, Nov. 0, 1871 , and Louis Julius, 
Aug. 20, 1*73. are at home with their parents. 

Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. (Jin- 
gerich came. to this county, and located upon the 
land which they now occupy. They began house- 
keeping in a modest way, while Mr. G. proceeded 
industriously with the cultivation and improvement 
of liis purchase, and in due time received the re- 
ward of his industry. The fields are beautifully 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



737 






laid off with hedge fences, and divided into 40-acre 
lots. Tlie lowlands have been drained with tile, 
ami there is now a good residence and all the other 
buildings required by the progressive agriculturist. 
Mr. G., with the exception of four years spent in 
the grain and eoal business at Chatsworth, has been 
a continuous resident here, and is widely and favor- 
ably known by the citizens of this locality. He 
keeps good cattle and horses, the latter Norman 
and Clydesdale, of which he has some fine speci- 
mens. 

Our subject, politically, votes independently, 
aiming to support the men whom he considers best 
qualified to serve the interests of the people. So- 
cially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the 
G. A. R., while in his religious views he is a Men- 
nonite. His estimable wife belongs to the Ger- 
man Reformed Church, but attends the Presbyte- 
rian Church at Chatsworth, there being no church 
of their own denomination. Mr. Gingerich is at 
present Township School Treasurer, which office he 
has filled very creditably for six years. 



.OLAND PERSELS, of the firm of Persels 
& Shelly, general merchants at Emington, 
came to Illinois when a lad seven years of 
age, and has been a resident of the State 
since that time. The family first settled in Grundy. 
a short distance south of the town of Gardner, 
where the father engaged in farming, and svhence 
he removed in the spring of 1859 to a farm on sec- 
tion 3, in Broughton Township, this county. Here 
he continued farming for eighteen years, and then 
retired from active labor and took up his residence 
at Gardner, where he now resides. The mother 
died at her home in Broughton, this county, Jan. 
23, 1X77. 

The subject of this biography was horn in Wayne 
County, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1849, and is the son of 
Isaac and Clarissa (Bosworth) Persels, natives re- 
spectively of New York and Massachusetts, who 
removed from the Empire State in 1856. After 
the death of his first wife Isaac C. Persels was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Mary Blake, who is still living and a 
resident of Gardner, HI. The parental household 




included nine children, the fruits of the first mar- 
riage; of these six are living, namely: Henry, a 
resident of Binghamton, N. Y.: Samuel, of Ne- 
braska; Cynthia J., the wife of Amos Hertz, of 
Broughton Township; Roland, of Emington : Mary 
R., Mrs. Charles Cornell, of Kansas, and Herbert, 
also a resident of that State. The father of our 
subject is a man of good business capacity, a stanch 
Republican, politically, and a member in good 
standing of the Baptist Church, of which he has 
been Deacon several years. He has served as 
Road Commissioner and Township Treasurer, and 
been otherwise identified with local interests. He 
started in life practically without means, and by 
his industry acquired a good property, so' that in 
his declining years he is enabled to live in ease and 
comfort. He came to this county during the es- 
tablishment of its educational and religious insti- 
tutions, and contributed liberally of his time and 
means to the various enterprises set on foot to ad- 
vance the interests of the people in this direction.. 
The old residents have learned to appreciate him 
at his true value, and the younger ones regard him 
with the respect and confidence due the honored 
pioneers whose labors assisted so greatly in build- 
ing up the institutions the benefits of which they 
now enjoy. 

Roland Persels remained with his parents until 
reaching manhood, receiving a good education in 
the common schools, and becoming familiar with 
the various employments of the farm. He began 
early in life to form his plans for the future, and 
with the view of establishing a permanent home, 
was married, on the 19th of October, 1871, to Miss 
Laura A. Clover, who was born in Grundy County, 
III., Feb. Hi, 1849. After marriage they settled 
in Broughton Township, this county, and in 1887 
.Mr. P. embarked in his present business, as a general 
merchant. In 1 <s71 he purchased eighty acres of 
land in Broughton Township, the cultivation of 
which he has superintended with excellent judg- 
ment and good results, it being now one of the 
most valuable farms in that section, provided with 
good buildings and all the necessary machinery, 
with a fair assortment of live stock. 

The wife of our subject is the daughter of John 
M. Clover, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 









738 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



2."), 17!)4, and emigrated to Grundy County, 111., in 
November, 1845, from Indiana, where he bad spent 
a few years after leaving his native State. Mr. Clover 
was married three times, and was the father of :i 
large family of children, of whom eleven are living 
Amos, Gesettas, Philip, Lot, Alfred, Elliot, Ma- 
rietta, Laura A., Almaretta, Setli and John. Amos, 
of Gardner, 111., has been State Representative; 
Philip is a resident of this county, and Lot of Ne- 
braska; Gesettas is Postmistress of Gardner;. Al- 
fred, Elliot, Marietta, the wife of George Ellis, Al- 
maretta, the wife of Heber Pitcher, Seth and John 
are all residents of Kansas. Mr. Clover was a 
prominent man in his township, being Postmaster 
of Clarion before Grundy County was organized, 
and served as such a number of 3'ears. He repre- 
sented his township in the County Board of Super- 
visors, and took an active part in political and 
church matters. lie was always an encourager of 
education, and there were few enterprises in Grundy 
County with which he was not connected during 
its early settlement. The death of Mr. Clover oc- 
curred May 7, 1854. The mother of Mrs. Persels 
was formerty Miss Martha M. Lewis. 

Mr. and Mrs. Persels became the parents of four 
children, of whom t\vo are living, Burdett and Ar- 
thur, now residents of Emington. The two eldest, 
Lucllannd Ray, died at the ages of three months 
and two and one-half years respectively. Mr. Per- 
sels, politically, is a stanch Republican, and has 
served some time as School Director. lie and his 
wife are members in good standing of the Congre- 
gational Church at Emington. Mrs. Persels is a 
lady of good education and much intelligence, and 
taught in the public schools of both Grundy and 
Livingston Counties for five years before her mar- 
riage. 



EZRA HACK, one of the youngest members 
'of the fanning communit_y on the east line 
* of Livingstoi 



i'ston County, occupies the home 
established by his father many years ago and which 
is pleasantly located on section 25, Sullivan Town- 
ship. Here he gives his attention principally to 
stock-raising, although carrying on general fann- 
ing with excellent results. He is conspicuous for 



his enterprise and industry, and the prospect.- are 
that before many years he will be, like his father 
before him, one of the leading men of this section. 

Our subject was the fifth child in a family of six 
born to Frederick and Martha (Knorr) Hack, na- 
tives of Germany, who came to this county many 
years ago, and taking up their residence in Sullivan 
Township are spending the remainder of their days 
in Cullom. The father of our subject brought 
with him to the United States the simple and sub- 
stantial traits of character for which his ancestry 
had been noted ; and was recognized in this com- 
munity as a straightforward business man, eon.-ri- 
cntious in his dealings with his neighbors, and one 
who was content to remain in the place which Na- 
ture had assigned him, gathering from the fields 
each year the reward of his industry, while he 
built up a good home and surrounded his family 
with all the comforts of life. 

Our subject continued under the home roof until 
after reaching his majority. His father had ac- 
quired sufficient land to supply all his boys with 
steady work, and they remained with him until 
starting out for themselves. Ezra, on the 24th of 
September, 1881, was married, in Sullivan Town- 
ship, to Miss Anna Keck, who was born in Butler 
County, Pa., Jan. 20, 1862, and was the fourth in 
a family of nine children, the offspring of Andrew 
and Kate (Vogel) Keck, who were also of German 
birth and parentage. After their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Hack continued on the home farm, which 
included 160 acres of valuable land in a good state 
of cultivation. Of this he owns eighty acres, and 
keeps graded Norman horses, Durham cattle and 
Poland-China swine. He takes pride in his succt >> 
as a stock-raiser, and is in the habit of carrying off 
the blue ribbons at the various fairs of Central 
Illinois. 

Mr. Hack has very little to do with politics, but 
when called upon to signify his choice at the gen- 
eral election.-, votes the straight Republican ticket. 
He is now holding the oflice of School Director the 
second term, and with his estimable lady i> a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Lutheran Church. lie 
is the encourager of those enterpri-c-s calculated to 
advance the moral and intellectual welfare of the , 
community, and takes pride in contributing his 



T 



"."', . 'Un^BJ ' ' I 




RESIDENCE OF W-E.MoRRis,$EC.5,DwiOHT TOWNS HI R 




RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH PROESEL.SEC.SO, PONTIAC TOWNSHIP 




RESIDENCE or JEREMIAH SULLIVAN, SEC. |3,$UNBURY TOWNSHIP. 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



73!) 



quota to its agricultural and social interests. His 
little family group includes three children, born as 
follows: John Reuben, June 26, 1882; Emma Katie, 
April 28, 1884. and Iva Elizabeth, May 28, 1886. 



^f OHN W. JENNINGS, who is superintend- 
ing the excellent 200-acre Jennings Farm, in 
Pleasant Ridge Township, is one of the most 
enterprising and energetic young agricult- 
urists and stock-raisers of Livingston County. In 
his stock operations he makes a specialty of hogs, 
which he prepares for the Chicago market, where 
the products of this farm have gained a distinct 
reputation. The Jennings Farm is located on sec- 
tion 34, which is one of the best sections of Pleas- 
ant Ridge Township, if not of the county. 

Mr. Jennings was born in Tippecauoe County, 
Ind., May 1, I860, and is the son of Solomon M. 
and Mary (Wheeler) Jennings, who were also na- 
tives of Indiana, and were married in 1848. The 
father died in Pleasant Ridge Township on the 21st 
of January, 1S78. The mother was born April 18, 
1*33, and is still living; she is an active member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father 
was a carpenter by trade, but passed a great portion 
of his life engaged in fanning. He was a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which for 
many years he served as Class- Leader and Steward. 
Mr. Solomon M. Jennings was among the very first 
settlers in this township, having come here in 1803, 
and \\;is always foremost in public enterprises, and 
In-Ill the office of School Director for a great many 
years. He was an active member of the Masonic 
fraternity, from which he received the sad rites of 
burial. To Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were born five 
children Squire T., Sarah E., John W., Mary L. 
and Emma Z. Squire T. married Ada Booth; 
Sarah E. married H. H. Grafton, and resides at 
Manitou Springs, Col. 

The subject of this sketch during his early boy- 
hood attended the common schools near where he 
lived, after which for two years he was a student at 
Onarga College, located at Onarga, 111. After 
leaving college he returned home and engaged in 
work upon the farm. At the time of the writing 



of this sketch he has the management of the home 
place, which is under a high state of cultivation. 
Mr. Jennings is engaged in stock-breeding on a 
large scale, and while making a specialty of hogs, 
also raises roadsters and draft horses of a superior 
quality. He finds a ready market for all the horses 
he produces, because of their excellent quality. 

In politics Mr. Jennings affiliates with the Repub- 
lican party, which party is exactly his age, both 
having been born in 1856. The friends of both 
hope that it will be many years before they outlive 
their usefulness. The only office he has ever held 
is that of Pathmaster. In no sense is he an office- 
seeker, as his time is so thoroughly occupied with 
the cares and responsibilities of the farm that he 
could give little attention t.o discharging the duties 
of office. 

As representative of the buildings in this section 
of country, we present on another page of this 
ALBUM a view of Mr. Jennings' residence. 



<!? EONARD HOWITT is an Englishman by 
I (73) birth, and came to America twenty years 
)' -^, ago. He settled permanently on the farm 
he now occupies on section G, Saunemin Township, 
in the spring of 1 880. This farm consists of eighty 
acres of good productive land, which lies so that it 
is easily drained. When Mr. Howitt arrived in 
this country he possessed about $100 in cash, which 
amount he husbanded so carefully that it afforded 
him an opportunity to gain a foothold. He has 
never relinquished his efforts, continuing all the 
time in the practice of economy, and the exercise 
of good judgment in his affairs, until he has fully 
succeeded in establishing himself comfortably and 
pleasantly. 

Our subject was born in Cambridgeshire, one of 
the best known counties of England, principally 
by its being the seat of Cambridge University, 
which was founded at an uncertain period in the 
middle ages, while the town of Cambridge itself is 
of great antiquity, as it was destroyed by fire by 
the Danes as early as 871 and again in 1010. It 
has been the scene of events, civil and military, 
which have become matters of history. Of the an- 



1 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



cient castle built by William the Conqueror on the 
site of the Roman station only the gateway now 
remains. The shire, or county, of Cambridge is a 
rich agricultural region, and nearly all the smaller 
grains are produced in abundance. In this county 
near the city of Cambridge our subject was born 
on the 19th of February, 1842, and is the son of 
John and Mary Howitt. who were natives of En- 
gland. He resided in that country until he reached 
the years of manhood, receiving a good common- 
school education. In 1 867 he concluded to come to 
the New World and try what fortune there might 
be in store for him here. Taking passage on a 
steamer bound for New York he made the voy- 
age and landed in the latter city ten days after 
starting. Having already learned through corre- 
spondence of the many advantages offered by Illi- 
nois to agriculturists he came directly to this State, 
and ha* been a resident of Livingston County the 
greater part of the time since. 

On the 3d of March, 1869, Mr. Howitt was mar- 
ried to Elizabeth Moulds, a native of Marshall 
County, and the daughter of John and Sarah 
(Howitt) Moulds. There have been born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Howitt five children, whose names are 
given as follows: John P., Sarah J., Leslie W.,Lou- 
emma, and George A., who is now dead. Mrs. 
Howitt departed this life on the 25th of March. 
1880, leaving behind her a sorrowing husband and 
four motherless children. She was a lady of many 
excellent qualities, and her death was mourned by 
a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 

Mr. Howitt is a public-spirited citizen, and gives 
a cordial endorsement and support to all move- 
ments that are calculated to benefit the community. 
In politics he is an adherent of the Democratic i 
faith, and contributes what he can to the success 
of his party. 




ORELL SOUTHWICK. In the career of 
the gentleman whose name heads this biog- ; 
raphy, we have an illustration of one who 
was blessed with intelligent parents, and a 
good education, receiving careful home training 
and constantly stimulated to his best efforts, while 
he has continued to improve his opportunities in 



life. That he took advantage of these fortunate 
surroundings is greatly to his credit, and that he 
has become a valued member of society, is as much 
an advantage to that society as to himself. His 
early years were spent in the Empire State, his 
birth having taken place in the town of Junius, 
Seneca County, Nov. 5, 1840. From there he mi- 
grated when a young man, and is now one of the 
most valued residents of Odell Township, where he 
occupies a valuable farm with all modern improve- 
ments. To this he has given his time and atten- 
tion for the last five years, cultivating the soil after 
the most approved methods, and availing himself 
of the advantages of modern machinery by which 
he has produced some of the finest crops of this 
region. 

The parents of our subject, Adin D. and Susan 
(Hunt) South wick, were also natives of New York, 
and located in Seneca County after their marriage, 
building up a good homestead where the mother 
passed away several years ago. The father is still 
living there and the object of respect by all the 
people of that vicinity among whom he has lived 
so long and well. The paternal grandparents, 
David and Eunice Southwick, were natives of l'ilt>- 
field, Mass., and David held the commission of 
Major in the War of 1812, in which he served as a 
soldier from the beginning to the end. Afterward 
he took up a tract of land in Seneca County, N. Y., 
and spent his declining years on the farm where 
his son Adin D. now resides. The father of our 
subject was born on the farm where lie now resides, 
and where he in turn reared and educated his chil- 
dren. 

Morell Southwick, of our sketch, pursued his 
early studies in the same school-house which his 
father had attended when a boy, and like him spent 
his childhood and youth amid the quiet scenes of 
country life. He remained under the home roof 
until twenty-three years of age. and as one of the 
first important steps when starting out for himself 
in life, was united in marriage with Mis- Mary Lu- 
fanni Augell. the wedding taking place at the home 
of the bride in Wayne County, N. Y., Oct. 21, 
1863. Mrs. Southwick was born in Gayland, 
Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 11. 1844. and was the 
youngest daughter who reached maturity of Ethan 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



741 4 



and Martha (Dudley) Angell, whose history ap- 
pears elsewhere in this work. After marriage the 
young people located on a farm in the township of 
Junius, and a year later Mr. S. resolved to seek his 
fortune in the oil regions of Pennsylvania. Not 
long afterward he was taken ill, and for a year was 
unable to labor or do any active business. In the 
fall of 1865 he visited a brother at Louisville, Ky., 
and from there went to Toledo, Ohio, where his sis- 
ter resided. Here he was joined by his wife, and 
in the fall of 1865, after a brief visit to Michigan, 
they came to this county, where Mr. Southwick 
farmed a year on rented land and then embarked 
in the lumber trade at Odell. It was now his in- 
tention to remain permanently, but a year later cir- 
cumstances changed his decision, and he traded his 
town property for a farm of 160 acres in Union 
Township, where he remained five years. He then 
rented his land and removed his household goods 
to Odell, where he spent the winter and returned 
East in the spring to visit his parents and friends. 
In the fall, upon starting for the West again, he was 
induced to go to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he 
became interested with a lumber company and re- 
mained until the following year. Then returning 
to Odell he embarked in the express business, which 
he continued four years and afterward engaged in 
general merchandising. Upon the dissolution of 
the firm p vith which he was engaged, he repaired to 
Emington, and for the year following purchased 
grain for the Hossacks who were large dealers at 
that place and at Odell. The firm subsequently 
failed, and to Mr. Southwick was assigned the duty 
of straightening up their affairs. He was for two 
years following engaged in the grain business and 
merclrandising, and his next removal was to the 
farm which he now occupies and which was pur- 
chased by his wife's father in 1880. Since taking 
possession of this he has bent its energies to its im- 
provement and cultivation, and has built' up one 
of the most attractive homes in the township. 

Mr. Southwick met with his first great affliction 
on the 26th of November, 1886, when death en- 
tered the home circle and the faithful and affection- 
ate wife and mother was taken from her sorrowing 
family. Mrs. Southwick was a lady who possessed 
all the womanly virtues, and carried out in her 



daily life those sentiments of deep piety of which 
she was always the earnest defender. She was re- 
fined and cultured, and remarkably sensitive to 
right and wrong as firm an advocate of the for- 
mer as she was strong in her resistance to the lat- 
ter. She was kind and generous as a friend and 
neighbor, and possessed that cheerful spirit which 
drew around her a large circle of warm friends. 
She was cut down in the midst of a bright and use- 
ful career, leaving her husband and three children 
to mourn their irreparable loss. Their eldest 
daughter, Lulu, was educated for the vocation of a 
teacher, which she had fo abandon on account of 
the illness of her mother; Hattie is pursuing her 
studies at Odell, and Frank attends the district 
school. 

Mrs. Ethan Angell, the mother of Mrs. South- 
wick, was of English birth and parentage, and her 
parents immigrated to America about the time of 
their marriage, settling first near Ithaca, N. Y. Mr. 
Angell, shortly after his marriage, removed to Gay- 
land. He was the son of a cotton manufacturer, 
carrying on business at Pleasant Valley, but whc 
was afterward burned out and subsequently en- 
gaged in hotel-keeping. 



yiLLIAM BURRELL, a gentleman fond of 
country life and the owner of a good prop- 
erty in Newtown Township, is contractor 
for the No. 3 Shaft of the C. W. & V. Coal Com- 
pany, with which he has been identified since 1875. 
He came to Newtown Township about fifteen years 
ago, and has distinguished himself as a wide-awakf 
and enterprising citizen, a good business man, and 
one thoroughly identified with those interests which 
tend to the progress and welfare of the people gen- 
erally. He supplies this company with all kinds of 
timber required in the working of the mine, and is 
one of the most trusted men connected with it. He 
also buys all the mules that are used in the mines. 
Our subject was born in Putnam County. Ohio, 
in 1842, and lived there until sixteen years of age, 
and after the decease of his parents, David and 
Margaret (Henderson) Burrell. They were natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and the 






712 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



father was about forty years of age at the time of 
his death. Their family consisted of eight children : 
Joseph, the eldest, died in childhood ; Anna became 
the wife of A. J. Bowman, of Piatt County, this 
State, and died leaving four children; Eli is en- 
gaged in farming in Champaign County; Mary is 
the wife of David Gumley, a farmer of Kansas; 
Calvin is a carpenter by trade, and lives in Dan- 
ville, 111.; Minerva, Mrs. Clayton Johnson, lives in 
Piatt County; John is farming in Kansas, and Will- 
iam is our subject. 

Young Burrell upon coming to Illinois located 
in McLean County, and upon the outbreak of the 
late war enlisted in the 33d Illinois Infantry, and 
served four years and four months. He was pres- 
ent at many of the important battles in the South 
and Southwest, namely: Port Gibson, Jackson, 
Miss., Champion Hills and the siege of Yieksburg, 
and upon one occasion was slightly wounded, al- 
though not disabled. He went all over the South, 
from Georgia to Texas, and although the experi- 
ence was severe in some respects, in others it is one 
from which he would not willingly part. He was 
discharged at Springfield in the fall of 1865. 

Mr. Burrell after the war located at Indian Grove, 
in the southern part of this county, where he carried 
on farming seven years, and thence removed to his 
present location. While a resident of Indian Grove 
he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Cooper, 
the wedding taking place at Chenoa. Mrs. Burrell 
was born in the State of Missouri, and is the daugh- 
ter of S. J. and A. Cooper, natives of Tennessee, 
whence they removed to Warren County, Mo., early 
in life. The household circle included Joseph, who 
died in Missouri when about tift3 7 -one years of age; 
Elizabeth, who was married, and with her husband 
is now deceased: Mary, the wife of Robert Moore, 
and a resident of Iowa, and Anna, who is now dead. 
The wife and mother departed this life at the home- 
stead in Missouri. The father subsequently re- 
moved to Indiana, where his death took place about 
1854. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burrell began the journey of life 
together at a snug home in 18G8, and the household 
was completed by the birth of four children. Their 
eldest son, William D., is now an active young 
man, busy and industrious like his father, and is at 



present switchman for the No. 3 Shaft; Arlie D. is 
clerk in a dry-goods store at Streator, 111.; Lulu 
Grace and Myrtle, the youngest,, are still in school. 
The family occupy a neat and comfortable re~i- 
dence and are generally respected. 



FRAMES WYLIE, of Broiighton Township, 
came to Livingston County in the spring of 
1877, and was for several years a resident of 
Round Grove Township. From there he 
removed to Broiighton in the spring of 1882, and 
took possession of his present farm. This com- 
prises the southwest quarter of section 27, and un- 
der the skillful management of its present propri- 
etor has become quite valuable. Mr. W3'lie has 
been a life-long agriculturist, and in all respects a 
self-made man. He set out for himself early in 
life, depending upon his own resources, and the 
result indicates that he has made good use of his 
time and opportunities. In addition to general 
fanning he has been quite successful as a stock- 
raiser, having given considerable attention to this 
business for several years past. 

Mr. Wylie was born on the other side of the At- 
lantic, in Count} 1 Antrim, Ireland, in May, 1822. 
His parents, James and Jane (Bay lie.) Wylie, were 
also of Irish birth and parentage, the former a. 
weaver bv trade, and both spent their entire lives 
upon their native soil. Their household included 
eight children, of whom but three survive, namely: 
William, of Ford County, this State; Elspie, the 
wife of William Eaton, of this county, and James, 
of our sketch. The latter, in common with his 
brothers and sisters, received but very little educa- 
tion, and when young was taught to make himself 
useful about the home, and also learned weaving of 
his father. He followed this trade several years 
in his native county, and was there married. Oct. 
1, 1841, to Miss Ellen W. Wylie, one of the play- 
mates of his childhood. They continued in Ire- 
land twenty-one years after their marriage, in the 
meantime becoming the parents of seven children: 
Mary was born Aug. 22, 1846, and is the wife of 
Thomas McC'une, of Ford County; Jane was born 
Nov. l!l. 1 s-lii. and i> the uife of Andrew Todd, of 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Gardner, III.; Margaret was born April 11,1852, 
and is the widow of the late Hugh Essington, of 
Ford County; Catherine, born Feb. 28, 1855, is 
the wife of William Todd, of Livingston County; 
Elspie was born Sept. 8, 1857, and married John 
Murray, of Kankakee County; John, born Aug. 
26, 1860, married Miss Maggie Findley, of Liv- 
ingston, and lives in this county ; Nancy, born Sept. 
o, 1864, is the wife of Hugh McCoughey, of Ford 
County. 

Mr. Wylie, not satisfied with his conditions or 
his prospects in Ireland, started for America in the 
spring of 1862. He came directly to this State, 
locating first in Kendall County, of which ho was a 
resident thirteen years, and afterward of Ford 
County two years. He came to Livingston County 
in 1877, locating first in Round Grove Township, 
whence he removed to his present farm in 1882. 
All the family are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. They were welcomed to the community 
as a valued accession in point of intelligence and 
true worth, and the parents in their later years are 
taking life easily, and enjoying the comfort to 
which the} 7 are so justly entitled. Mr. Wylie is a 
Republican. 



1 > 

t 



ff AMES M. MORTLAND, largely identified 
with the stock-raising interests of Newtown 
Township, like many of the enterprising 
men around him, is an emanation of the old 

^^^-' 

Keystone State, his birth taking place in Butler 
County. July 24, 1851. The family was well known 
in that section of Pennsylvania, and was represented 
by at least three generations. 

Our subject is the son of John and Margaret 
((irilliu) Mortland. al>o natives of Pennsylvania, 
and began life under the same roof where his father 
was born. The mother was born near the central 
portion of the State, in Huntingdon County. They 
carried on farming like most of the people of that 
region and became the parents of nine children: 
Peninah E. is the wife of Daniel McCarty, who is 
engaged in mining in Colorado; they are the par- 
ents of six children, one of whom resides with our 
subject. Mary Ann married Joseph A. Nichols, a 
carpenter of Newtown Township, and they have four 



children : Susannah T., Mrs. Thomas Arnold, lives 
with her husband on a farm in Michigan; Nancy J., 
widow of John Jones, lives with her father-in-law, 
Z. R. Jones, at Smithdale, and has one child, a son, 
Thomas; Sarah E. died when an interesting young 
lady of eighteen years; Hannah E. lives at home 
with her mother: John S. remains on the homestead 
with his mother, together with his 'younger brother, 
Orville. 

The parents of our subject, in the spring of 1855, 
gathered together their household effects and with 
their children left their old home in Pennsylvania 
to seek a home in the farther West. The journey 
was made overland by wagon, and upon coming in- 
to this county, they located in Newtown Township, 
where the father took up a tract of land and where 
they lived about eight years. Thence they crossed 
the Mississippi into Missouri, in October, 1865, 
making this journey also with horses and wagon. 
While on the road the father contracted a severe 
cold, from the effects of which he never recovered, 
although lingering until March, 1866, when he 
passed from earth. His remains were laid to rest 
in Davis County. He was in the prime of life, 
about forty -five years of age. 

That same year the mother with her fatherless 
children returned to this county, where they have 
since lived. Mrs. M. kept house for her father, 
James Griffin, in Reading Township, three or four 
years, and while her children were small. James 
M. during his childhood was taught to make him- 
self useful, and being industriously inclined, worked 
at farming, carpentering and cabinet-making, or 
whatever else he could find to do in order to provide 
a home for his mother and her family. The man- 
ner in whieh he performed his filial duties gained 
him the respect of all who knew him. The mother 
is still living near the home of her son and although 
quite advanced in years, is in the enjoyment of 
good health. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject, James 
and Elizabeth (Kohlomyer) Grillin, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and the grandmother of German 
descent. Her father, who was born in Germany, 
was a soldier under the first Napoleon, but ran 
away from the army and came to this country. He 
was followed to New Orleans but succeeded in 



744 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



eluding his would-be captors. Not long afterward 
he migrated to Pennsylvania, where he spent his 
last years. James GrifHn and his wife came to this 
county about 1856, and the mother died in the 
fall of that year. They had a large family of chil- 
dren, of whom there are living Margaret, Sarah, 
Henry, Susan, James. Hannah, John, George, Alfred 
and Amanda. 

The parents of our subject were devoted mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which 
the father was an active worker, and was particu- 
larly instrumental in the training of the young, act- 
ing as teacher and Superintendent in the Sunday- 
school and raising his voice in the Master's cause 
whenever opportunity permitted. James M. re- 
mained under the home roof until his marriage, 
which took place Dec. 23, 1877. His chosen bride 
was Miss Ardilia Grimes, of Newtown Township, and 
the daughter of John and Eliza (Brumfleld) Grimes. 
Her mother's people were among the first settlers of 
Livingston County, coming here when there were 
but three families within its limits along the Ver- 
milion River. They took up their residence in 
Newtown Township, where their daughter, Ardilia, 
was born Oct. 10, 1859. Of this union there is one 
child, Stephen E., born Dec. 9, 1878. The young 
wife lived less than two years after her marriage, 
her death taking place Oct. 15, 1879. 

Mr. Mortland was subsequently married. Jan. 21, 
1887, to Miss Mollie Cooper, a cousin of his first 
wife, and who had made her home with the parents 
of the latter since the death of her father and 
mother when she was a young child. They enjoy 
the comforts of a pleasant and attractive home on 
section 10. Mr. M. employs himself in light labors 
and officiates as Town Collector and School Di- 
rector. 







EANDER HAMILTON, who is a dealer in 
those very essential articles of merchandise 
__ and commerce known as lumber, coal and 
building material, in the town of Sauneinin. 111., is 
a native of Hartford County, Conn., where he was 
born on the 12th of August, 1829. He is the son 
of Eli and Laura (Buckland) Hamilton, both of 
whom were New Englanders by birth. He is of 



Scotch ancestry on the paternal side and English on 
that of the mother. His paternal groat-grand- 
father was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, 
where he is said to have rendered valiant service to 
the young and struggling Government. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native- 
State, where he availed himself of all the facilities 
possible while obtaining a good English education. 
At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the 
trade of a carpenter and builder, and when twenty 
years old he also learned that of a machinist, and 
followed those two trades alternately fora number 
of years. 

On the 3d of May, 1 858, while yet a resident of 
Connecticut, Mr. Hamilton was married to Cor- 
delia D. Lawrence, of Washington County, N. Y., 
where she was born on the 18th of November, 
1828. She is the daughter of Jacob and Olefa 
(Derby) Lawrence. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton 
were born two children : Cora M., a lady of fine 
education and the present efficient Assistant Super- 
intendent of Public Schools of Livingston County, 
and Olefa, formerly book-keeper and cashier in the 
Bank of Saunemin. 

Mr. Hamilton first came to Illinois in 1853, and 
for three years was engaged as a locomotive engin- 
eer on what is now known as the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Quiucy Road, and ran between Galesburg 
and Moudota. He returned to his former home in 
the East in 1856, and came again to Illinois in the 
spring of 18C8, since which time he has been a res- 
ident of Livingston County. He resided at Chats- 
worth, engaged in various business enterprises, 
until the spring of 1881, when he became a citizen 
of Saunemin, and has since been engaged in the 
lumber, coal and building material trade, in which 
he has met with very good success. 

Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and is at present serving as Treasurer of 
Sullivan Centre" Lodge No. 73K, at Sauuemin, of 
which he has in former years been Secretary. He 
is a member of Saunemin Lodge No. 728, 
I. O. O. F., of which he lias filled all the chairs, 
and for the past fifteen years he has been a member 
of the Grand Lodge of the State. He served on 
the Village Board of Trustees at Chatsworth for 
two terms, and was a member of the first Village 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



745 



I- 



Board of Trustees, of which he was President for 
two terms in the village of Saunemin, and is at 
present serving as Treasurer of the village corpor- 
ation. He is a man who enters heartily into any- 
thing he undertakes and generally carries his pro- 
jects through to successful aceomplishent. 




'LVA ALLEN MAJOR, who owns 160 
acres on section 35, Forest Township, 
where he does general farming and raises 
blooded stock, was born in Woodford 
County, 111., July 28, 1850. He is the son of 
William and Elizabeth (Dickinson) Ma^or, natives 
of Kentucky, who were born near Hopkinsville. 
Christian County, and whence they came to Eureka, 
Woodford County, where the father remained un- 
til his death, which occurred on the 1 3th of June, 
1882. The mother is still living at the age of fifty- 
eight, on the home farm with two grandchildren. 
The father was a Republican in politics and took 
an active part in political and public affairs, filling 
in<i>t of the offices in the township in which he 
lived. He and his family were members of the 
Christian Church. Mr. Major's ancestors for three 
generations back on both sides were farmers. The 
great-grandfather came from France to this conn- 
try, landing at New Orleans. 

To the parents of our subject there were born 
seven children, whose names are : Horace, Alva Al- 
len, Charles E., Benjamin, Mary C., Annie E., and 
one who died in infancy. Mary C'. became the wife 
of A. M. Wright, of Broad well, Logan Co., 111., and 
died on the 3d of October, 18H6, leaving two chil- 
dren, named William C. and Guy A., who are liv- 
ing with their grandmother; Charles E. married 
Miss Nellie, a daughter of Levi Mathews, of Taze- 
well County, and lives at Eureka; Horace married 
Lucy A., a daughter of George Boyd, of Eureka, 
Woodford County, has two children, and now lives 
at El Paso, Woodford County; Benjamin is mar- 
ried to Sarah A. Cation, and lives in Forest Town- 
ship. 

Alva Allen Major was nineteen years of age when 
he left home in the fall of 1860, and spent a year in 
Missouri and Kansas, where he prospected for a 



location. He returned in the fall of 1870, and at- 
tended school during the following winter. In the 
spring of 1871 he went to Colorado, where he re- 
mained during the summer and returned to Eureka 
in the fall. In 1 873 he came to Livingston County, 
and first located on section 35, where he bought 
eighty acres of land, while his father gave him an- 
other eighty, which made him a farm of 100 acres, 
which he has since occupied. This farm is well im- 
proved and is considered worth, at a reasonable 
valuation, $60 per acre. 

Mr. Major was married, Feb. 9, 1876, to Virginia, 
daughter of James and Amanda (Hampton) Haynes, 
of Eureka. Virginia was the fifth child in a family 
of nine. Mr. and Mrs. Major have one child, a boy 
named Fred, who was born Nov. 25, 1877, and is 
now attending school. Mr. Major was a Democrat 
until 1876, in which year he concluded to change 
his politics, and cast his vote for Rutherford B. 
Hayes for President, and has since continued to 
vote the Republican ticket. lie was elected School 
Director of District No. 7 in 1882, and served three 
years. He and his wife arc earnest members of the 
Christian Church and belong to the congregation at 
Eureka. 

In connection with this sketch of Mr. Major is 
shown on another page a view of his residence. 



ONRAD SEMANDEL, a prominent and in- 
fluential resident of Dwight Township, was 
born in the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1851. 
His father, George Semaudel, immigrated to this 
country from Germany in 1852. Soon after com- 
ing to the United States, he made his way to Grundy 
County, 111., where he purchased land directly from 
the Government. He married Miss Margaret Con- 
rad, of Germany, and to them were born seven chil- 
dren Mary, John, Conrad, George, Chris., Law- 
rence and Lizzie. These children are all living, and 
are honored citizens of various parts of the country. 
The father also is living, and seventy-two years of 
age. Through that industry and good management 
which is characteristic of the German people, he 
accumulated considerable property, lie has been a 
member of the Lutheran Church all his life, and in 




746 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



principles of religious faith has brought up all his 
children. In politics he is a Democrat, and has al- 
ways taken an interest in political matters. In his 
old age he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fel- 
low-citizens, as the result of a correct life and good 
habits. 

At the time his parents came to this country, the 
subject of this sketch was but one 3'ear old, and 
when a little lad began attending the common 
schools, and likewise took the first steps toward a 
practical knowledge of farming. When he was 
twenty-one years of age, he began operations for 
himself by renting land of his father, and continued 
business in this manner until 1878. In that year he 
bought the land on which is located his present 
residence. In 1878 he was married to Miss Chris- 
tina Hahn, daughter of Michael and Sophia Halm, 
of Dwight Township. The wife died two years 
after her marriage. 

In 1881 Mr. Semandel was married to Barbara 
Hahn, a sister of his former wife. Two children 
have been the result of this marriage William and 
Dora the. Mr. SemandePs political affiliations are 
with the Democratic party, in which he is an active 
worker. Mr. and Mrs. S. are both members of the 
Lutheran Church, and are highly respected in the 
community for their upright and praiseworthy lives, 
and generous and kindly deeds. Prosperity has 
smiled upon the efforts of Mr. S. in tilling the soil, 
and he has one of the plcasantest homes in Dwiglit 
Township. 




E. GREENE, now located on sec- 
tion 24, in Rook's Creek Township, com- 
menced farming on a portion of his father's 
land when a young man twenty-one years of age, 
and since that lime lias bent his energies to tin- es- 
tablishment of a permanent home. The comfort- 
able aspect of his present abiding-place would in- 
dicate that he has succeeded admirably in his un- 
dertaking. He is now the proprietor of fifty acres, 
with a good residence ami all necessary out-build- 
ings, and is classed among the prosperous and rep- 
resentative farmers of Livingston County, lie 
giver- his attention largely to stock-raising, in 
-* 



which department of agriculture he has uniformly 
met with success. 

Mr. Greene, a native of this State, was born 
near Bloomington, Nov. 13, 1853. lie is the son 
of Jesse and Esther (Hadden) Greene, natives of 
Northamptonshire, England, and who were about 
the same age. The father was born Nov. 1 I, 1829, 
and was married soon after reaching his majority. 
They immigrated to America shortly afterward, 
and coining directly to the West, located near 
Bloomington, where the mother died when her son, 
our subject, was about three years old. Jes>e 
Greene subsequently removed to Livingston 
County, locating in Eppard's Point Township, 
where he and his two brothers had purchased a 
farm. He afterward disposed of his interest in 
this property and purchased 115 acres in Rook's 
Creek Township, and in 1 8(io was married the sec- 
ond time, to Mrs. Sarah J. Tanner. 

Our subject received a limited education under 
very adverse circumstances, and remained work- 
ing for his father until reaching his majority. 
Afterward he started out for himself, invariably 
receiving as much as $20 per month, as he was of 
good constitution and more than ordinarily en- 
ergetic and industrious. Upon his twenty-first 
birthday his father had given him a colt, which, 
however, proved to be balky and he traded it off. 
By this trade he secured a good animal and pur- 
chased another, and thus had a full team, with 
which he commenced farming on a portion of the 
homestead where he has since continued. 

Mr. Greene, after passing his twenty-fifth birth- 
day, was married, on Christmas Day, 187*, at '> 
o'clock, P. M., to Miss Lillian L. Wood, at Jame- 
son, Davis Co., Mo., the Rev. A. J. Worlcy being 
the officiating clergyman. Mrs. Greene is the 
daughter of Lyman and Sarah (Heath) Wood, na- 
tives resjK'Ctively of Massachusetts and New York. 
Her father was born Jan. 20, 1830, and the mother 
Sept. :i, 1K28. They were married in Bin-can 
County, 111., in 1851. Their family included the 
following children: Darwin D., a resident of Ne- 
braska Township: Frederick Fremont, living in 
LaSalle County, Kan.: Frank Leslie, a resident of 
Hates County, Mo., anil Rosa M., who resides with 
her parents in Labette County, Kan. Joseph 



I 








RESIDENCE or REASON SPRINGE R,SEC 25. LONG POINT-TOWNSHIP 



MANAGER 
PONTIACUJWBERYARD 




RESIDENCE &, LUMBER YARD OF F. N SMITH. .PONTIAC. 




RESIDENCE or JESSE: LITTLE SEC^S^BROUGHTON TOWNSHIP 



4- 

740 t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Heath, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Greene, 
was drowned in Lake Michigan while on the voy- 
age from New York to Chicago. The vessel, 
which was under the management of a drunken 
crow, caught (ire, and Mr. Heath taking a child in 
his arms jumped overboard, expecting to save 
their lives by means of a float, but sank to rise no 
more. His wife, Laurane, subsequently died near 
Green River, Ind. 

Miss Martha J. Greene, the sister of our subject, 
became the wife of Jacob II. Gillman, of Nebraska 
Township, and has two children. Of his father's 
second marriage there were three children : Ma- 
rietta, born March 10, 1866; John T., in Decem- 
ber, 1868, and William, in November, 1875. Mr. 
and Mrs. George E. Greene have no children. 



\fjOSEPH S. FRANCIS, a dealer in coal and 
fuel, in the town of Forest, is a native of 
Brown County, Ohio, where he was born 
Aug. 16, 1845, and is the son of John and 
Margaret (Ross) Francis. In September, 1880, the 
parents of our subject came to Illinois and settled 
in Livingston County. 

In 1864 Mr. Francis enlisted, and was mustered 
into the service as a recruit of Company E, 129th 
Illinois Infantry, which regiment accompanied Gen. 
Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and also 
to Washington City, where it participated in the 
grand review of the army at the close of the war, 
and was mustered out at Springfield, 111., in June, 
1865. Mr. Francis was neither wounded nor taken 
prisoner during his term of service, although many 
times in a position where he was liable to be visited 
by one or the other of these calamities. On his re- 
turn to Livingston County he resumed farming, 
which he continued until 1868, when he be^an 
clerking in a general store at Forest. In 1871, in 
connection with another man, he engaged in the 
restaurant and grocery business, and one year later 
became sole proprietor of the concern, which he 
conducted until 1875, when he returned to the 
farm. 

In 1870, in company with his brother Albert, Mr. 
F. e>tablished the Pioneer Tile Factory of Livingston 



County. This industry has grown to great magni- 
tude in the county, as the people came to under- 
stand the value and importance of using tile. They 
also manufacture brick, and did an extensive trade 
until 1876, in which year he established his present 
business, still owning a share in the tile factory, 
however. Mr. Francis' farm is located on section 
10, within one mile of the village of Forest, and 
comprises 1 20 acres. The residence which he erected 
on this farm in 1882, is a two and one-half story 
and basement, and is the only brick farm residence 
in the township. It is of modern architecture, and 
contains all the modern conveniences. It occupies 
a commanding position on the farm, and is the ob- 
ject of admiration of all the passers-by. 

On the 1 6th of August, 1 88 1 , Mr. Francis was mar- 
ried to Ella S. Williamson, daughter of William J. 
and Nancy Williamson, of Russellville, Ohio. She 
was born in Brown County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1862, 
where she resided until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. 
Francis have had four children, one of whom died 
in infancy; those living are named as follows: 
Lulu W., Bertha J. and Walter S. Mr. and Mrs. 
Francis are leading and active members in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. In politics our subject is 
an ardent Republican, and for four years was Treas- 
urer of the Board of Highway Commissioners, in 
which position he acquitted himself with credit. 
Mr. Francis has popularized himself in his various 
business capacities with the substantial men of Liv- 
ingston County, and has had considerable to do 
with the shaping of public affairs. 




E SKINNER, one of the most gen- 
' a '" na ^ ure( l lnen f Odell Township, is a 
farmer and stock-raiser, owning a good tract 
of land on section 30. He was born in Troy, Ohio, 
on the 5th of December, 1822, and was the second 
child in a family of seven born to Joseph M. and 
Lydia (Stillwell) Skinner, natives of Pennsylvania 
and New Jersey respectively. The paternal grand- 
parents, George and Elizabeth Skinner, also natives 
of the Keystone State, migrated to the vicinity of 
Cincinnati, Ohio, at a time when there were only a 
few log huts where that great city now stands. 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



The father of our subject, upon reaching man- 
hood, engaged in merchandising at Troy, Ohio, 
and continued there all his life. In the meantime 
he served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and the 
Black Hawk War. He reared a large family, and 
the sons also followed mercantile pursuits with the 
exception of the subject of this sketch, whose in- 
clinations were in he direction of farm life. He 
was educated hi the city schools, and learned the 
trade of a tanner, which he followed near his birth- 
place fifteen years. He then moved to Louisville, 
Ky.. and engaged in the ice business for six years, 

In the year 184!) Mr. Skinner was married to 
Elizabeth Shafer, who was born in Lancaster County, 
Pa., and was the eldest child born to Echhard and 
Rachel (Smith) Shafer, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who moved to Ohio at an early day, and afterward 
to Illinois, where they died. Mr. Skinner moved 
from Louisville, Ky., to Livingston County in 
1856, and bought 280 acres of wild land, and a year 
later he moved his family and located on the farm 
he now occupies. In the month of May, 1804, he 
enlisted in the service of the United States. He 
had returned to Ohio on a visit, and was one of the 
40,000 troops that the Governor offered to the 
Government for the protection of the capital. He 
was a member of Compan}' K., commanded by 
Capt. Counts, of the 56th Ohio Regiment, and was 
mustered in at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, 
and sent to Washington City, around which they 
were placed on guard duty under the command of 
Col. Ross. In the attacks by Gen. Buell, they saw 
active service at Fts. Lincoln and Strong. This 
was the last attempt of the Confederates to reach 
the city of Washington, and the war soon closing, 
his regiment returned to Ohio, and was mustered 
out at Camp Dennison. Mr. Skinner remained in 
Ohio until the following spring, and then returned 
tohishome in Illinois, where he has eversiuce lived, 
and now owns 290 m-res of finely improved land. 
In horses he makes a specialty of Cleveland Bays 
and Normans, with a preference for Durham cattle 
and Cotswold sheep. He is an active, enterprising 
farmer, one who has traveled much East, West and 
North, as well as having made a journey to Califor- 
nia, but he has never yet found a place that, in his 
judgment, surpasses Illinois, and especially the , 



county of Livingston. Mr. Skinner is not an office- 
seeker in any sense of the word, but is active in his 
allegiance to the Republican party. The only office 
he ever consented to hold was that of School Di- 
rector. 

Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are the parents of ten chil- 
dren, nine of whom are living: Loretta L., Clara 
L., Elias Freeman, Rachel Lydia, Lucy L., Mattie 
L., Echhart, Joseph M., Luella L. and Emma L. 
Lucy L. died from an injury received in a runaway 
accident when a child; Loretta married John Fowl, 
and lives in Odell Township; Clara married Joseph 
French, and lives on a farm in the same township; 
Freeman is a railroad conductor in Nebraska ; 
Rachel married James Jones, a tinner by trade, 
who lives in Illinois; Mattie married J. W. Adams, 
who is now General Passenger Agent in California; 
Echhart, Joseph, Luella and Emma are living with 
their parents at home. The children are all well 
educated, and have had advantages which fit them 
for professional litfes. The parents are members of 
the Presbyterian Church, to which nearly all the chil- 
dren belong, and in which the father is an Elder. 
They constitute a family which is deservedly popu- 
lar in the community where they reside. 




S A. LEONARD. After having 
spent an active life in agricultural pursuits 
the subject of this sketch has thrown off 
the cares of business and has retired to a 
life of rest in the city of Odell. Mr. Leonard was 
born in Washington Comity, N. Y., on the 24th of 
August, 1834, and was the j'oungest of a family of 
three children born to Jar vis and Lavisa (Gillett) 
Leonard. 

Jarvis Leonard was born in Essex County, N. 
Y., on the 22d of February, 1807, and was the son 
of Elisha and Chloe (Mason) Leonard, of Mas.-a- 
chusetts and Connecticut respective!}'. This gen- 
tleman was drawn out for personal defense air the 
time of the Revolution when the British invaded 
the United States from the north, but was not a 
regular soldier. It is supposed that his maternal 
grandparents were natives of New York, but the 
record of their lives was never preserved. The 
father of Mr. Leonard was a farmer by occupation 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



751 



in his latter years, but his early life was devoted to 
tlu- passenger packet line service on the Erie 
Canal before the New York Central Railroad was 
built. He was a retired farmer al, the time of his 
death, which occurred in December, 1880. The 
three children born to his first wife were named 
Eliza J., Mortimer E. and Philctns A. Their 
mother, Lavisa Gillett, died when Philetus was 
about six months old. The father afterward mar- 
ried Esther Pierce, a native of Erie County, N. Y., 
who bore him one child, Mason J., and died in 
1844. He was a third time married, to Mrs. Anna 
Tenbroeck, whose parents were natives of Otsego 
County, N. Y. ; she was born in 1804 and now lives 
upon the home farm with a younger sister. By this 
union there were no children. 

Philetus A. Leonard was reared to farm life by 
hi.- grandparents in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., where he 
and his brother remained until the second marriage 
of his father occurred, when the brother went to 
live with his father. Philetus was educated in the 
common schools while living on the farm, and re- 
ceived a partial academic course. He was never 
associated with his brother and sisters from his in- 
fancy, and as a consequence the four children are 
almost strangers to each other. They were never to- 
gether but once in their lives, and then only at one 
meal. 

After the death of Mr. Leonard's grandparents 
he went to his father's home, where he remained 
three years, then being in his nineteenth year. He 
then left home, and entered the academy at Aurora, 
Erie Co., N. Y., where he remained one year and 
then taught school one year. Following this he 
entered Rushford Academy, Allegany County, and 
remained three years, and then taught school one 
winter, and spent the summer in a cheese factory. 
In 18;59 he came west, and traveled through Mis- 
souri, but at that time the country was engaged in 
a guerrilla warfare, and he found nothing to encour- 
age settlement, so he returned to Illinois, and set- 
tled in Will County, where he engaged in farming 
and teaching. In the spring of 1861 he returned 
to New York, and on the 7th of March married 
Augusta Cherryman, the youngest of three daugh- 
ters of Reuben and Hannah M. (Hackett) Cherry - 
man. She was born on the loth of May, 1839, and 



her father was bom in England on the 31st of 
August, 1814, and was the son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth (.Tenner) Cherryman, of England. Han- 
nah M. Hacket was born in Plymouth, Chenango 
Co., N. Y., on the 6th of December, 1811, and was 
the daughter of Major and Eunice (Kinney) 
Hacket, also natives of New York. Reuben was a 
Baptist preacher, and served in the ministry for 
more than fifty years in Western New York, and is 
one of the charter members of the association. He 
and his excellent wife are still residing in the field 
of their labors, and considering their ages, are re- 
markable workers. 

Mr. Leonard and his wife first settled in Will 
County when they came to Illinois, where they 
rented and managed a farm for six years, and then 
came to Livingston County. During his winters in 
Will County he taught school, but upon his re- 
moval to this county he at once bought 160 acres 
of improved land in Odell Township, near the town 
of Odell, where he settled and began life as a far- 
mer. For about twelve years he lived upon his 
farm and cultivated it, during which time he pur- 
chased eighty acres more. In 1878 he removed to 
the city of Odell and retired from active life, his 
health being completely broken, and further activ- 
ity on the farm entirely out of the question. In 
1831 he purchased lots on which he erected a fine 
residence, in which he has since lived, and now de- 
votes his time to his home and the farm, which is 
rented. To him and his wife four children were 
born, all of whom died in infancy. The}' have 
adopted two children, Charles A. and Bt-lle. Charles 
married Belle Timmins, of Lafayette, Ind.,and lives 
in Goodland, that State, where he is engaged in 
farming. They have two children, Mary and a 
babe; Roy, the oldest child, is dead. 

Mr. Leonard is deeply interested in the educa- 
tional and moral progress of the community in 
which he lives, and white on the farm was one of 
the representative members of the School Board. 
He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, 
and are earnest supporters of that society. They 
were largely instrumental in bringing the Chautau- 
qua Reading Circle to its present state of develop- 
ment. Mrs. Leonard is a forcible and interesting 
writer, and has frequently entertained the society 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 







with the productions of her pen. Mr. Leonard is 
the possessor of a fine library, :md is also a prom- 
inent member of the circle, to which lie gives the 
fruits of his careful researches. It may be truth- 
fully said that among the literary people of Odell 
they have no peers. 



1 LEXANDER ALGEO. Prominent among 
the self-made men of Livingston County, 
who started with nothing but their own 
indomitable' perseverance and energy, and 
who have made a financial success in life, is the 
gentleman named at the head of this biographical 
sketch, who is living on section 15, Owego Town- 
ship. He was born in Ireland on the 22d of Sep- 
tember, 1831, and is the son of Robert and Martha 
A. Algeo, also natives of the Emerald Isle. They 
were the parents of ten children, of whom the fol- 
lowing-named survive: Eliza, John. William, Alex- 
ander, James, Robert, Joseph and Samuel. 

Alexander Algeo was reared in his native coun- 
try until he reached the age of nineteen, when he 
emigrated to America. The education which was 
afforded him was rather limited, as might be ex- 
pected from the facilities for obtaining an educa- 
tion in the place of his nativity. In the year 1849 
he took passage for America, in a sailing-vessel at 
Londonderry, and after a voyage of about six 
weeks landed at the port of Philadelphia, whence 
he proceeded to Chester County, Pa., where for a 
period of about eighteen months he was employed 
in a rolling-mill at Pluenixville in that county. He 
then went to Safe Harbor, Lancaster Co., Pa., 
where he was employed for several years in a roll- 
ing-mill. A few years before the breaking out of 
the Civil War he migrated to Illinois, where he 
lived both in LaSalle and Marshall Counties until 
the year 1859, when he moved to Livingston 
County and settled on section 15, Owego Town- 
ship, where he has remained ever since. 

Mr. Algeo was married, on the 10th of January. 
1806, to Mrs. Jane Welch, of Pennsylvania, and 
they have had thirteen children, ten of whom are 
now living Samuel J.. Hamilton. Martha J., Rob- 
ert, William, Margaret. Mary, Joseph, Elsie and 



David. The names of the deceased were: Alex- 
ander, Ralph and George. When Mr. Algeo ar- 
rived in America his cash capital amounted to 
fifty cents, a very small basis upon which to expect 
to build a fortune, but he lost no time in finding 
something for his willing hands to do, and during 
his residence in this country, by industry, perse- 
verance and good management, he has succeeded 
in accumulating 250 acres of valuable land, on 
which he has erected good buildings and provided 
with good stock. 

Mr. Algeo votes the Democratic ticket, but has 
never been a seeker of office at the hands of that 
or any other party. For the good he is able to 
accomplish he has consented for several years to 
serve as Director of School District No. 5, and 
takes great pride in furthering the educational in- 
terests of that district. He is a man in whom his 
neighbors repose the greatest confidence, and he has 
established a business reputation which makes his 
verbal obligations as good as his written bond. 




HARLES L. ROMBERGER, the leading at- 
torney and counselor-at-law at Dwight, is of 
an old Pennsylvania family, of German an- 
cestry, who were pioneers of that State, and came 
to these shores shortly after the landing of William 
Penn, settling in one of the valleys of the Susque- 
hanna River. The great-great-grandfather of our 
subject, accompanied by a brother, was the first of 
the family who arrived in this country. Luther D. 
Romberger, the father of the subject of our sketch, 
was born in Dauphin County, 1'a.. and when a 
young man, in 185(>, he came to Illinois and settled 
at Princeton. Here he became a clerk in a store, 
in which occupation he remained until 1859. From 
Princeton he went to Wyanet where he was engaged 
in the mercantile business for eight years. While 
living at Wynnet. on the 1st of March, I860, he 
\\.-i~ married to Miss Francisco, daughter of Obe- 
diah and Louisa Weaver. To them have been born 
two children, whose names are: Emma L., now Mi 1 .-. 
Frank II. Hoffman, of Philadelphia, and Charles L. 
Mr. IJoinberger returned to Princeton in 1808, 



fr 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



753 



where he continued in the mercantile business, un- 
til 1874, when he disposed of his store. He was a 
prosperous business man and accumulated consid- 
erable real and personal property. In political 
matters Mr. Komberger is a stanch Republican, and 
socially he is a Mason of the 32d degree. He is 
still residing at Princeton, wholby retired from 
active business. He takes great interest in bee 
culture and has one of the largest and finest apia- 
ries in the State. In 1886 he shipped over 15,000 
pounds of choice comb honey to New York City. 
Mr. Romberger possesses remarkable perseverance 
and energy, and by steady industry has worked 
himself up in the world. His father died when he 
was but an infant, and from the time he was eight 
3'ears of age he was obliged to depend upon him- 
self, and is truly the architect of his own fortune. 
He is a man of great force of character, and re- 
markable business ability, and by extensive reading 
has made himself one of the best informed men in 
that section of the State. 

Charles L. Romberger, our subject, was born on 
the 12th of June, 18(J2, and his youth was passed 
in gaining an education. He was graduated in the 
classical course at the Princeton High School in 
1880, and in the fall of the same year he entered 
the law department of the University of the State of 
Michigan, and was graduated in 1882, as a Bachelor 
of Law, at nineteen years of age. While attending 
the law school he spent his vacations at the law 
office of Henderson & Trimbcll at Princeton, 111. 
In the fall of 1882 he entered the law office of 
Mayo & Widmer, at Ottawa, and attended to their 
office business until 1884. He was admitted to 
practice at the bar of Illinois, by the Supreme 
Court, at Ottawa in 1883, and came to Dwight in 
January, 1884, where he has since resided. 

On the 7th of October, 1884, Mr. Romberger 
was married to Miss Nellie Ensign, of Hartford, 
Conn., the daughter of Edward and Martha Ensign. 
Mr. and Mrs. Romberger have been blessed by the 
birth of one daughter, upon whom they have con- 
ferred the name of Louise ; the date of her birth 
was Aug. -26, 18S7. Mr. Rombergvr's political affili- 
ations are with the Republican party, and in a soci- 
ety way he has reached the seventh degree in the 
Masonic fraternity. Both he and his wife arc mem- 



bers of the Congregational Church. Mr. Romber- 
ger has the reputation of being an honest and able 
lawyer, a careful and conscientious business man, 
and already enjoys a large and lucrative practice. 




AMUEL C. BRECKENRIDGE came to 
the West twenty-one years ago, in 1.S66. 
He first crossed the Mississippi southwest 
into Missouri where he staid three months, 
intending to return to Indiana, but on his way 
stopped in Livingston County to visit an uncle, 
and wisely concluded to remain here. It proved a 
fortunate decision both for himself and the com- 
munity where he has since made his home. He has 
improved a good farm and contributed his full 
share toward the development of the resources of 
this section. lie has always taken a warm interest 
in the progress of his adopted county, and in his 
township has served as Assessor, Supervisor and 
School Director. He identified himself with the 
Presbyterian Church in 1858, and has since contin- 
ued one of its most useful members. Upon reach- 
ing his majority, he cast his first Presidential vote 
for Abraham Lincoln, and since that time has been 
a cordial supporter of Republican principles. 

Mr. Breckenridge was born in Clinton County, 
Ind., Nov. 29, 1842, and is the son of William and 
Martha (McCreight) Breckenridge, natives of Ohio. 
The father's ancestors were of Scotch-Irish descent, 
and the mother's, it is supposed, for several gener- 
ations were residents of Pennsylvania. The Breck- 
enridge family was represented in this country at 
an early day, probably before the Revolutionary 
War. When our subject was a child three years 
of age, his parents removed to Brown County, 
Ohio, where he attended school during his child- 
hood and youth. Upon the outbreak of the late 
war he enlisted in Battery F, 1st Regiment, and 
was mustered into service Sept. 2, 18(11. The regi- 
ment was sent to Camp Dennison where it re- 
mnined until February 14 following, and was then 
assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under 
command of Gen. Buell. Its first campaign was 
in Kentucky, and after the fall of Ft. Donelson, in 
which it took part, it went south and partici- 



f. 



754 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



pilled in the battle of Nashville, Tenn. Mr. B. was 
here taken ill and left in the hospital at Columbia, 
while his division went on to Shiloh, where he 
joined it thirty-four days later. It marched to 
Corinth, Miss., and was present at its evacua- 
tion, going thence to Dccatnr, Ala., where it 
crossed the Tennessee River and was constantly 
skirmishing with the enemy all the way back to the 
Ohio River. After a three days' rest at Louisville. 
Ky., it fought in the battle at Perry ville, September 
8, and afterward met the enemy at various other 
points until it reached Murfreesboro. After the 
memorable engagement at this point came the fight 
at Stone River, which began December 31 and con- 
tinued five days. At this place Mr. Breckenridge 
received^ slight wound, which would have been 
far worse if his canteen had not checked the force 
of the bullet. Upon its return to Murfreesboro, 
it rested for a period of 104 days, when it 
started for Chattanooga, where it met the enem3 7 , 
and afterward at Chickamaugn, where 17,000 Union 
soldiers were killed, wounded or captured. At this 
place also Mr. B. received another slight wound 
from the fragment of a shell. lie was in the sub- 
sequent battle at Chattanooga, after which he went 
to Nashville, where he with his comrades closed up 
one term of enlistment, and immediately entered 
upon another. At this time he was given ;i thirty 
days' furlough, and upon his return to his regiment 
participated in the battle at Decatur, Ala., which 
proved the winding up of his fighting. He re- 
ceived his honorable discharge at Camp Dennison. 
Ohio, in .Inly, 1865, and the following year came 
west, as we have stated. 

Mr. Breckenridge was married, March 29, 1X611, 
to Mrs. Martha J. (McMillan) Edgington. Mrs. B. 
is the daughter of William and Eliza McMillan, 
and was born in Rook's Creek Township, Nov. 27, 
1838. She was the eldest of four children, and wa.- 
first married, Oct. 20, 1857, to D. Edgington. by 
whom she became the mother of two children 
William, born Sept. 1!), 18.">X, and Robert, Oct. 13, 
1860. Her brother, Robert B., is unmarried and a 
resident of the Indian Territory; James C. died in 
1880, aged thirty-six years; William I), is a resi- 
dent of this county and has two children. Mr. and 
| Mrs. B. are the parents of five children, namely: 



i 



Andrew, who was born June 26, 1*70; James Por- 
ter, Aug. 20, 1871; Rosa, Dec. 19, 1873; Aaron 
Douglas, Nov. 15, 1877, and Jesse, Dec. 24, 18x2. 
Mr. Breckenridge was the youngest child in a 
family of seven, all of whom lived to mature year-. 
His brother Robert is a resident of Frankfort, Ind. ; 
Elmer is married, has several children, and lives in 
Johnson County, Kan.; William Porter is married, 
and with his family resides in Adams County, Ohio; 
Rebecca was the wife of W. O. McCreight, and died 
about 1867, leaving three children who are living 
in Adams County, Ohio; James Stewart married, 
and became the father of three children who are 
residents of LaFayette, Ind. ; he is now deceased. 
Sarah Jane, the wife of Dr. Adamson, of Adams 
County, Ohio, died about 1X66, leaving one child. 




EV. JOHN HOOBLER was born in Perry 
County, Pa., Aug. 2, 1801, and at the close 
of a busy and useful career departed this 
life at his son Fred's home in Newtown 
Township, April 16, 1886, aged eighty -four 3'ears, 
eight months and fourteen days. He organized 
the first society of the United Brethren in New- 
town Township, and besides his ministerial duties, 
officiated as an Elder, and was otherwise one of the 
pillars of the church during his lifetime. He was 
a man of great force of character and kindly im- 
pulses, and adorned his profession by his daily walk 
and conversation. 

Mr. Hoobler remained in his native State until a 
young man twenty-two years of age, and then mi- 
grated to Montgomery County, Ohio. After a 
short residence in that locality he removed to Indi- 
ana, remaining in Fountain County a brief time, 
and in 1826 changed his residence to Vcrmillion 
County, where he resided a good many years. 
Wherever it was his lot to be, he invariably made 
his mark as a man of more than ordinary ability, 
and in 1836 was elected to represent Yermillion 
County in the Indiana Legislature, of which body 
he was a member several years. In IX 11 he again 
started westward, locating first in Vermilion Coun- 
ty, this State, whence he came to Livingston in 
1851. He had already been deeply interested in 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



755 f 



church matters, and at this time had been chosen 
Presiding Elder, officiating thus six years in the 
Central Illinois Conference. In 1*72 he returned to 
Perrysville, Ind., and engaged as a local preacher 
until returning to this county in 1874, where he 
spent the last twelve j-ears of his life. 

In 1851 Mr. Hoobler purchased eighty acres of 
land in Newtown Township, and soon afterward 
entered 1,400 acres, which was mostly devoted to 
pasture. He was foremost in all the enterprises 
calculated to encourage the moral and educational 
welfare of the people, and while for over fifty years 
he was a laborer in the Master's vineyard, he also 
in the meantime built up a good homestead and 
superintended the cultivation of a large tract of 
land. It is hardly necessary to say that he spent 
few idle moments, his various interests requiring 
bis attention continually, either at one point or an- 
other. While in Indiana he traveled a district em- 
bracing over 100 miles, and besides his legislative 
duties, attended the general conference and was 
always prominent in the councils of his church. In 
early life he had identified himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, but later adopted Republican princi- 
ples, and was a strong Prohibitionist. During the 
agitation of the Fugitive Slave Law he was most 
radically on the side of the oppressed, and lifted 
up his voice at every opportunity in behalf of those 
in bondage. In 1854 he was nominated County 
Judge against Judge Babcock, but the county be- 
ing Democratic he was defeated with the balance 
of his ticket. 

Mr. Hoobler was married when about twenty 
years of age, and while a resident of Pennsylvania, 
to Miss Rebecca Fetterhoof, the wedding taking 
place in the spring of 1821. This lady was born 
in Franklin County, Pa., June 5, 1796. and de- 
parted this life at her home in Newtown Township 
Aug. G, 1871. During their life together of more 
than fifty years, Mrs. Hoobler had been the faithful 
and sympathizing companion of her husband, stand- 
ing by his side in all his difficulties, and encourag- 
ing him in all his just purposes. Her remains were 
laid to rest in the cemetery at New Michigan, and 
she is kindly remembered by a large circle of 
friends. 

Mr. Hoobler was again married, Feb. 17, 1872, 



to Miss Lydia A. Hulick, who was also born in 
Pennsylvania, Feb. 21, 1816. She is still living 
and a resident of Vermilion County, 111. Mr. 
Hoobler was the father of eleven children, namely: 
Jeremiah, a resident of Livingston County: Jemi- 
ma, the wife of Jacob Kuns; David, John F., 
Frederick; Mary, the wife of J. W. Fleshman ; An- 
drew J., William O., Julia, Daniel, and Catherine, 
the wife of D. Gouty. 




RS. ELIZABETH BLUE, located on sec- 
tion 10, Rook's Creek Township, is the 
daughter of'John Johnson, and was born in 
McLean County, this State, Dec. 19, 1831. 
When she was about eighteen months old her par- 
ents came to Rook's Creek Township, where she 
has since resided. She received a limited educa- 
tion in the district schools, and when about twenty 
years of age was united in marriage with Benjamin 
Hin ton Bide, July :i, 1851. The young- people be- 
gan life together on a farm on Wolf Creek, Liv- 
ingston County. 

Mr. Blue was born in Ohio about 1824, and was 
the son of Garrett and Jane (Somers) Blue, who it 
is supposed were natives of Virginia. They emi- 
grated to Illinois in the pioneer days, about 1830, 
and endured in common with the people of that 
time the hardships and privations incident to life 
in a new country. The parents of Mr. Blue, witli 
two brothers, the wife of another and the child of 
another, died of cholera in Pontiac Township, in 
1849. The parental household included eight chil- 
dren, who were named as follows: Daniel, Mary 
Ann, Benjamin II., Matilda, Polly J., Keziah. Gar- 
rett and Rebecca. Daniel died Sept. 3, 1849, and 
left a wife and two children; Mary Ann was mar. 
ried three times, and became the mother of eleven 
children; Matilda, Mrs. Ross, is deceased; Polly 
J. was twice married, and became the mother of 
two children; she is now a resident of Missouri. 
Keziah, the wife of Howard Gentry, had one child, 
and is now deceased; Garrett died unmarried, 
when twenty-three years old; Rebecca died in 
infancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Blue became the parents of six 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



children Frances II., Sarah Ann, Daniel Harvey, 
Oliver H., Clara E. and Mary Olive. Frances H. 
is the wife of Andrew S. McMillan, and a resident 
of Rook's Creek Township; Sarah Ann married 
John Neifing, a farmer of Pontiac, and has five 
children; Daniel Harvey is married, and the father 
of two children; he lives at Odell, 111. Oliver II. 
and Mary Olive remain at home; Clara E. is the 
wife of Robert Algeo, has one child, and is living 
near Swygert, this count}'. Mr. Bine politically, is 
Democratic, and religiously holds to the Baptist 
doctrine. The farm comprises forty acres, with 
comfortable buildings, and is principally covered 
with timber. 



i 



Sp^fc UFUS W. BABCOCK, agent of the C. & A. 
R. R. Co. at Pontiac, is one of the prominent 
V business men of the township, where he 
wg> lias been a resident for over thirty years. 
Upon first coming to this county he purchased a 
farm on section 3G, which he disposed of three 
years afterward to engage in merchandising, and 
conducted a general store for a period of twelve 
years. He finall}' disposed of this to enter the em- 
ploy of the great corporation with which he has 
since been connected. 

Mr. Babcock is a man of much force of character, 
ancl upon coming to Central Illinois identified him- 
self with the interests of his adopted county. He was 
the lirst Mayor of Pontiac, and afterward officiated 
as Alderman, besides serving as Town Clerk and 
School Trustee a number of years. The community 
which has known him so long and so well holds him 
in general respect, and he has contributed materi- 
ally to the welfare of the people. 

Our subject is a native of Austerlitz, Columbia 
Co., N. Y., where he was born July 29, 1822. He 
is the son of Elisha and Sophia (Mather) Babcock. 
natives respectively of Hampshire and Franklin 
Counties, Mass. His father was for a number of 
years engaged in the manufacture of carriage* and 
wagons, and was numbered among the substantial 
business men of Columbia County. lie was a prom- 
inent man in his county, and represented his town- 
ship in the Board of Supervisors. He was an ar- 



dent admirer of the brotherhood of Masonry, and 
a man distinguished for his patriotism. He joined 
the State Militia during the troubles of LS12, and 
marched with his regiment to Boston, but was not 
called into active fighting. He died in Austerlitz 
about 18. r )4, and the mother followed her husband 
to the silent land three years later. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject, Elisha Babcock, Si 1 ., 
served in the Revolutionary War, and was after- 
ward a pensioner. He married a Miss Burt, of 
Northampton. His native town was Easthampton, 
where he followed the chair and pump business, and 
died about 1837. His father was a native of Ston- 
ington. Conn., and a seafaring man, who com- 
manded a privateer during the Revolutionary War. 
The Babcock family was of English descent, and 
this last-mentioned gentleman was probably its first 
representative in America. The maternal grand- 
father of our subject was William Mather, who 
married Miss Tirzah Morton. He was a native of 
Boston, and his wife of Franklin, Mass. Grand- 
father Mather was a Captain in the War of 1812, 
and afterward carried on an extensive business as 
a contractor and bridge-builder, which he followed 
from the time he was a young man until he labored 
no longer. He was the son of William Mather, Sr., 
also a native of Boston and captain of a merchant 
ship, and who followed the sea until retiring from 
active business. He also was of English descent, 
and claimed kinship with Rev. Cotton Mather, 
whose name was synonymous with the religion and 
morality of those days. 

Rufus W. Babcock spent his younger days un- 
der the parental roof, and attended the village 
school until a youth of seventeen years. He was 
ambitious and fond of his books, and now com- 
menced teaching, which he followed six winters in 
succession and employed his leisure time in the 
study of law. He was admitted to the bar when 
twenty-three years of age, and for ten years follow- 
ing practiced successfully as attorney and solicitor. 
He had always been interested in the cause of ed- 
ucation, keeping himself well posted in the best 
methods of modern instruction, and on account of 
this was appointed Superintendent of City Schools 
in his native town, where he also officiated as Town 
Clerk. He was appointed Postmaster in IMlii, 1111- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



761 



der the administration of James K. Polk. In 1856 
he left the Empire State, and soon afterward began 
his creditable career in the West. 

Mr. Babcock was married, Feb. 24, 1847, to Miss 
Elizabeth Reed, a native of Franklin County, Mass., 
and the daughter of Simeon and Miranda (Morton) 
Reed. She was born in 1818, and is the grand- 
daughter of Justin Morton, who was well and fa- 
vorably known throughout Franklin County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Babcock have one child, a son, Benn C., 
who was born in November, 1863, and married 
Miss Ella Harrington, of LaCrosse, Wis., where he 
is now a telegraph operator. Our subject is Dem- 
ocratic in politics, and although not meddling much 
with the factions of the day, keeps himself well 
posted upon matters of local interest. He is a 
stockholder in the Livingston County . National 
Bank, and owns a good residence on Howard 
street. 

-*-5 <-- -o-S^fflH>o .&{<_ 

AVID IIOOBLER, one of the honored pio- 
neers of Livingston County, and whose 
portrait, with that of his estimable wife, is 
presented in this connection, first purchased 
land in Newtown Township in the spring of 1854, 
of which he took possession three years later. This 
was before the time of railroads through this sec- 
tion, and when farm produce was transported to 
market twenty-four miles away by horse and ox 
teams. Mr. II. knows all about the difficulties of life 
in a new country, and as soon as he became a youth 
he put his shoulder to the wheel, and in common 
with both old and young of that time, made himself 
as useful as was possible. Livingston County dur- 
ing that period of its existence had no place for 
idlers, and the person who declined to engage in 
some useful occupation was soon constrained to 
move on." 

Our subject, who commenced business life in a 
mode>t manner, with little capital save his strong 
hands and resolute will, many years ago became one 
of the leading spirits in the community and agri- 
cultural intppots of Newtown Township. He is the 
owner of a fine farm of 443 acres, which is operated 
by tenants. Mr. Iloobler carries on general mer- 
chandising at Manville, which is located on the 
Wabash it Pacific Railroad about fifteen miles north 




of Pontiac. He makes his purchases in Chicago, 
and keeps a large and well-selected stock of every- 
thing required in the Village and country household 
as well as the lighter farm implements. He is widely 
and favorably known throughout the northern part 
of Livingston County, and has accumulated a fine 
property through his own industry and good man- 
agement, as well as the assistance of his own and 
his wife's parents. 

Mr. Iloobler was born in Vermillion County, Ind., 
May 7, 1 828, of which locality he remained a resi- 
dent until a young man twenty -three years old, with 
the exception of one year spent in Vermilion, 111. 
He was married in his native county, where he con- 
tinued to reside until 1857, and then took up his 
abode permanently with his family in Newtown 
Township. They first settled near what was then 
called New Michigan, and which was one of the 
largest towns in the county at that time. He farmed 
in that locality two years, and subsequently oper- 
ated a farm adjacent, which he had purchased a 
short time before the building of the Wabash Rail- 
road in 1871. In Newtown Township he purchased 
land on section 21, where he followed farming sue- 

O 

cessfnlly until 1 869, and the year following invested 
a part of his surplus cash in a stock of general mer- 
chandise. Since that time he has been engaged in 
trade and numbers his patrons among the best peo- 
ple of Newtown Township and vicinity. 

The parents of our subject, John and Rebecca 
(Fetterhoff) Hoobler, were natives of Pennsylvania, 
the former bom in 1801, and the latter in 1795. 
Mrs. Iloobler was a remarkably active old lady, and 
at the time of her death in 1870, although seventy- 
five years old, had scarcely a gray hair on her head, 
while her teeth were all perfect. Her husband sur- 
vived her several years, although he had been ill 
for a long time, having received an injury from a 
fall which partially disabled him. He died in April, 
1 886, when eighty-four years old. John Iloobler 
was elected a member of the Legislature in Ver- 
million County, Ind., from 1836 to 1840, and or- 
ganized the first United Brethren Church in Ver- 
million County, Ind. They became the parents of 
eleven children, eight of whom are still living. Of 
the deceased two died when quite young. William 
O. married and reared a large family, and acctimu- 



762 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



lated a handsome property; he died when forty- 
five years old. Those living are Jeremiah, who 
was born in 1822, a third time married, and is a 
resident of Newtown Township: Jemima is the wife 
of Jacob Kuns, a farmer of Newtown Township; 
Catherine married David Gouty, and lives in In- 
diana; David, our subject, was the fifth child ; John 
F. is married and lives in Missouri; Mary M. is the 
wife of John W. Fleshman, of Streator, III. ; Fred- 
erick is married and resides on the old homestead ; 
Andrew J. is carrying on general merchandising in 
Manville. 

Our subject, after reaching manhood and laying 
his plans for the establishment of a future home, 
chose for his companion Miss Sarah Fleshman, of 
Indiana, to whom he was married at the home of 
the bride in Perrysville, Ind., March 15, 1853. 
Mrs. Hoobler is the daughter of William and Sarah 
(Charley) Fleshman, and was born in Vermillion, 
Ind., April 3, 1831. Her parents were natives of 
Virginia and Kentucky respectively, the former 
born Nov. 18, 1795, and the latter Aug. 3, 1798. 
They were married Dec. 25, 1815. William Flesh- 
man was a very industrious and capable man, a nat- 
ural mechanic, and built the first boat that was run 
on the Wabash & Erie Canal, in Vermillion County, 
Ind., in the year 1846, making his headquarters at 
Perrysville, at the lower end of the locks. He was 
a zealous Christian and with his wife a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
household included twelve children, namely : Will- 
iam, who was born in Indiana, and Harding, both 
deceased; Christina, who married George Weir and 
lives in Logansport, Ind. : Amos, a resident of Ver- 
million, Ind.; Elizabeth and Susan, deceased; John 
W., a resident of this State ; Sarah, Mrs. Hoobler, and 
Martha and Mary, twins, now living in Livingston 
County, 111. Mr. Fleshman identified himself with 
the Republican party after its organization, but af- 
terward cast his influence in support of Prohibition, 
being the first man in his township to prevent the 
use of liquor by his men in the harvest field. He 
and his excellent wife both died at the old home- 
stead in Vermillion County. Ind. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hoobler are re- 
corded as follows: Sarah R. was born Oct. 1!), 1854, 
and died Nov. 2, 1866; Lilly Belle was born July 



28, 1861, was married to William G. Ilohenshell, 
Oct. 28, 1884. and is living with her husband on 
the farm of her father; Zua, born Jan. 5, 1867, and 
Norton, Jan. 15,1869, are at home with their parents. 
Mrs. H., who has inherited largely the piety and 
force of character of her lamented father, is a de- 
voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Our subject, politically, is a stanch adherent of the 
Democratic party, and has served two years as Su- 
pervisor. He has filled most of the township olliccs 
in his township, notwithstanding it is very strongly 
Republican, which shows what honesty and integrity 
will accomplish. Such noble traits will generally 
be recognized by any community. 



eEPHAS COE. Among the well-to-do far- 
mers of Livingston County, who have suc- 
ceeded through individual effort, economy 
and judicious management, in acquiring a handsome 
property, both real and personal, our subject de- 
serves prominent mention. He is living upon his 
large and productive farm on section 9, Reading 
Township, and in addition to the cultivation of 
cereals is extensively engaged in raising high-grade 
stock. 

Mr. Coe is a native of Pennsylvania, where he 
was born on the 14th of November, 1853. He is 
the son of Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe (see sketch 
of Girard Fordyce). The parental famiry of our 
subject included the following-named children : 
William, who was born Jan. 28, 1837, died Oct. 4, 
1864; Joanna, born March 26, 1839; John, June 
12, 1X42; Henry, born Feb. 14, 1845, died on the 
7th of February, 1865; Joseph, born Dec. 25, 1847; 
Sarah, Nov. 2, 1850; Cephas, Nov. 14, 1853; Lile 
Ann, Feb. 28, 1K57, and Robert G., Feb. 4, 1860. 

Our subject was married, on the 24th of Septem- 
ber. 1879, to Miss Caroline, a daughter of Benja- 
min and Mary (Latham) Barackman. The father 
was born Dec. 11, 1824, and the mother Sept. 1, 
183d. The latter was the daughter of Lyman S. 
and Mary A. (Gallop) Latham. Mrs. C'oe's parents 
were married on the 13th of April, is 17. and be- 
came the parents of the following-named children : 
Daniel, Prudence E., Mary A., Franklin, John, Car- 



f 

1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



763 



oline M., Charles, Willis H. and Benjamin. Dan- 
iel, born Jan. 0, 1850, married Ida Flesliman, and 
they have three children ; Prudence E., born Feb. 
11, 1852, married Joseph Coe, and they now reside 
in California; Mary A., born Jan. 13, 1854, died 
Dec. 27, 185(i; Franklin, born Dec. 17, 1855, died 
Dec. 24, 1860; John, born May 6, 1858, died Oct. 
3, 1859; Caroline M., born Dec. 24, 1860; Charles 
M.. born Dec. 28, 1862, was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and was graduated from the Western 
University at Bloomington, 111.; Willis H., born 
May 11, 1865, is now attending school at Dixon, 
111.; Benjamin, Jr., born July 18, 1867, died Nov. 
29, 1867. 

To Cephas Coe and wife five children were born : 
Robert and Roland, twins, were born July 2, 1880, 
and died in infancy; Ivy Bell, born April 18, 1882; 
Prudy E., Nov. 15, 1884, and Charles J., Jan. 15. 
1887. 

Mr. Coe's farm consists of 240 acres of good 
land, all of which is under cultivation, except eighty 
acres, which is located on section 10. He has 
placed 2,400 rods of tiling on this farm, and has 
therefore much improved its productiveness. Mr. 
Coe is an active member of the Republican party, 
and evinces considerable interest in political mat- 
ters, especially of a local nature. He has filled the 
office of Township Assessor, and is now Treasurer 
of the township school funds. Mr. Coe belongs to 
the Christian Church, and Mrs. Coe to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and they warmly espouse 
all movements for the betterment of the society of 
which they form a part. 



, LIVER P. McDOWELL. In the towns and 
villages of Illinois are many venerable men 
who desire to pass the remaining days of 
their lives where there is more bustle and activity 
than on a farm. These are men who have devoted 
many long years to opening and improving the 
country, and having attained the ends they sought 
in the occupation of fanning, prefer to engage in 
other business where returns are quicker if not 
surer. They are the sterling men of the villages 
and towns, and their counsel and advice are often 



sought and always valuable. The subject of this 
sketch is both a retired farmer and business man, 
and resides in Fairbury. He was born in Scioto 
County, Ohio, on the 7th of February, 1827, and 
is the son of John and Elizabeth (Price) McDowell, 
with whom he remained on the farm doing his 
share of the work and attending the common schools 
until he reached his majority. In 1850 he came to 
Illinois and located in Avoca Township, Living- 
ston Count} 1 , on the Vermilion River, where he 
purchased lands in the spring of 1850. which he oc- 
cupied in the fall of the same year. 

On the 2d of June, 1858, Mr. McDowell was mar- 
ried to Miss Emily Myers, who was born on the 
25th of March, 1832, in the State of Maryland. 
She is the daughter of Eli and Catherine (Umphen- 
our) Myers, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania 
respectively. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and came to Illinois in 1850, and was a Dea- 
con of the Baptist Church for many years. He was 
born in 1706, and died in 1860 near Chenoa. The 
mother was also a member of the Baptist Church, 
and lived a true Christian life. She was born in 
1809 and died in Illinois in 1875. They were the 
parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. McDowell 
was the oldest, and the others were : William A. 
married Eliza St. John ; Joseph E. married Ruth 
St. John; Matilda married James McDowell, who 
was killed at Vicksburg, June 15, 1863, while a 
member of the 3d Illinois Cavalry, in which he en- 
listed in 1862; he left a wife, and one child, named 
Lillian, since deceased. Benjamin F. married Miss 
Sophia Macy; Samuel D. married Miss Ada St. 
John; Charles F. married Miss Liz/ie Waggoner, 
and Nelson J. married Miss McElhany. Mr. and 
Mrs. McDowell have had seven children Osmer 
M., Laura C., Emma, Joseph E. L., Addie E., 
Charles P. and Luella. 

In 1865 Mr. McDowell relinquished his occupa- 
tion as a farmer and moved to Fairbury, where he 
engaged in wagon -making, in which business he re- 
mained one year and then engaged in the hardware 
business, which he conducted successfully for 
twenty years. In 1887 he disposed of this busi- 
ness and retired from active life. He owns some 
farm land in Livingston County, and has recentty 
made some land purchases in Sherman County, 




7(!4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Kan. Mrs. McDowell is an active member of the 
Baptist Church, in the affairs of which she takes 
much interest. Mr. McDowell is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and continues, as he has in the past, to give 
the men and measures of that party his hearty 
support. They have accumulated sufficient of 
means and property to make them comfortable dur- 
ing the remaining days of their lives. 



J "7 AMES E. BLAKE, a prosperous and promis- 
ing young fanner, located on section 27, 
| Amity Township, was born on the 1 2th of 
' September, 1854, and is the son of Joseph 
Blake, who was a native of Maine, where he was 
born on the 27th of March, 1812; he died on the 
9th of July, 1875. At one time he was the owner 
of 440 acres of laud valued at $25 per acre, and 
owned at the time of his death, after giving to his 
children and selling some, 130 acres valued at $40 
per acre. He came to Ohio in early childhood with 
his parents, and on the loth of January, 1835, he 
was married to Drusilla Carpenter, a native of Ohio, 
where she was born on the 22d of November, 1815, 
and was the daughter of Robert and Mary (Ball) 
Carpenter. 

Joseph Blake was of a family of twelve children, 
whose names were as follows: Daniel, Lucy, Samuel, 
Sarah, Mary, Cresia, Jane. James, Jason, Nancy, 
John and Joseph. Daniel was by occupation a far- 
mer, and died at the age of about eighty-six ; Lucy 
married Lemuel Ruker, and was the mother of eight 
children, four of whom were living at the time of her 
death; Samuel Blake married Sarah Ann Reese, 
and they had a family of six children, three of 
whom are now deceased ; he was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and died at Pontiac. Sarah married Gar- 
land Ruker, and they had nine children, six of 
whom are now living; Mary married Peter Bryon, 
and they are both dead; Cresia married Allen 
Ruker, and they had a family of seven children, 
two of whom are dead ; Jane married William Far- 
ley, and died leaving six children; James and Ja- 
son were twins; James married Rosanna Archer, 
and is now dead ; Jason married T. Ruker ; Nancy 
married William Ruker, has a family of seven chil- 



dren, and resides in Monroe County, Iowa; John 
married Jane Bowersock, is a Methodist preacher 
residing in Kansas, and has a family of seven chil- 
dren. 

On the 13th of November, 1880, James E. Blake 
was married to Ann Eliza, daughter of Jacob and 
Eunice (Ruker) Allen. By this union there have 
been four children, three of whom are living: Car- 
rie Drusilla, born Sept. 13,1882; Henry Edward, 
Jan. 10, 1884, and Flossie Maud, July 15, 1886. 
Mr. Blake is by occupation a farmer and stock- 
raiser, and manages the 130-acre farm which be- 
longs to his mother, for her use for life. He is one 
of a family of thirteen children, who were born in 
the following order: Robert, Aaron, Daniel, Reason 
Henry, Joseph W., Mary Jane, Margaret A., Win- 
field Scott, Alexander. Elizabeth, James Edwards 
John Columbus and Caroline Josephine. Robert, was 
born Oct. 8, 1 835, in Ohio, and was married on the 
24th of August, 1860, to Lucinda Stephens; to them 
have been born five children, three of whom are 
living; he is a carpenter by trade, and now lives 
in the city of Lawrence, Kan. Aaron, born on the 
6th of March, 1837, in Ohio, and died in Illinois 
on the 28th of April, 1869; Daniel was bom in 
Ohio, Dec. 16, 1838, and married in Illinois on the 
28th of May, 1 8(5 1 , to Desoline Erp, and had a family 
of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living; 
they now reside in Rook's Creek Township, this 
county. Reason Henry was born in Ohio, Dec. 25, 
1841, and died in that State May 8, 1842; Joseph 
W. was born in Ohio, Aug. 31, 1842, and died 
May 4, 1843, in Ohio; Mary Jane v/as born in 
Ohio, June 28, 1844, and was married in Illinois, 
June 25, 1851, to Homer Erp, a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and they have had seven children, two of 
whom are living; Margaret A. was born in Ohio, 
Oct. 4, 1846, and was married on the llth of No- 
vember, 18C8, in Illinois, to D. C. McClelland ; they 
have one child and live in Kansas. W infield Scott 
was born in Ohio, Dec. 20, 15? 48, and was married 
in Illinois, July 30, 1870, to Miss Mary Stephens; 
they have had a family of seven children, six of 
whom are living. Alexander was born in Ohio, 
Dec. 18, 1850, and died in that State June 2.~>, 
1*57; Elizabeth was born in Ohio, July 6, 1852, 
, and married Samuel \Vert, March 31, 1870; they 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



765 



have a family of six children, five of whom are liv- 
ing, and now reside in Amity Township. John Co- 
lumbus was born July 20, 1857, in Illinois, and 
married Jeanetta Lucas; they have had four chil- 
dren, three of whom are living in Amity Township. 
Caroline Josephine was born in Illinois, Oct. 30, 
1859: she was the wife of Samuel K. Reynolds, and 
died May 1, 1887, leaving two children. 

James E. Blake, at the time this sketch is written, 
does not own any land of his own, but with his energy 
and business habits, seconded by the efforts of his esti- 
mable wife, he will not be many years in accumulat- 
ing a competenc3 r . They- are both deservedly 
popular with the people among whom they live. 



t 



J 'TAMES MORTLAND, a pioneer resident of 
Livingston County, is the owner of a snug 
j home in Newtown Township, where he is 
' now living comparatively retired from active 
labor, and watched over by the affectionate care of 
his daughter. He learned the trade of a carpenter 
in early life, and for many years worked at this in 
connection. with farming, and accumulated sufficient 
means to enable him to pass his declining years in 
ease and comfort. 

Our subject was born in Butler County, Pa., April 
20, 1830, and is the son of James and Mary (Van- 
derlin) Mortland, also natives of the Keystone State. 
James Mortland was born May 10, 1798, and de- 
parted this life at his home in Butler County, Pa.. 
June 10, 1871. The mother was born about 1799, 
and died Feb. 12, 1877, in Butler County, Pa. Her 
father, John Vanderlin, was born and died in But- 
ler Count}', Pa., where he spent his entire life, and 
lived to the advanced age of ninety -six years. His 
son, Stephen, at the age of ninety, finally met an ac- 
cidental death by a fall on the ice. 

The father of our subject was reared to farming 
pursuits, which he carried on extensively in Butler 
County, and was a man of much force of character, 
becoming identified with the political affairs of that 
section. He was an uncompromising Democrat, 
politically, and there were few public enterprises in 
which he was not prominent. The parental house- 
hold included ten children, of whom but three are 



living: Elias is married, and the father of six chil- 
dren; he occupies a part of the old homestead, liv- 
ing under the same roof where he was born, and, it 
is believed, the roof under which his father before 
him first opened his eyes to the light. Stephen 
lives on another part of the homestead, is married 
and the father of six children, two deceased. 

The subject of this sketch remained at home un- 
til a youth of eighteen years, and then learned the 
carpenter's trade, serving a three years' apprentice- 
ship under the instruction of James Griffin, of his 
native county. The latter is still living, and eighty- 
five years of age. He came to this county in the 
spring of 1856, but subsequently returned to his 
old home in Pennsyl vania. Young Mortland worked 
at his trade five years in his native count}', then 
came to Illinois, locating in Newtown Township in 
the winter of 1856, where he has since remained. 
As a boy at school he was fond of his books, and 
made the most of his opportunities, and was en- 
gaged as School Trustee for a period of fifteen years. 
He was soon recognized as a valuable accession to 
this community, and is now serving his fifth term 
as Assessor. His genial disposition and upright 
course in life have secured him the esteem and con- 
fidence of all who know him. 

Mr. Mortland, not long after coming to Living- 
ston County, made the acquaintance of Miss Mar- 
garet Lnndy, who became his wife Aug. 13, 1857. 
She was the daughter of Enoch and Delphia 
(Houchin) Lnndy. and born in Newtown Township, 
where she lived with her parents until her marriage. 
She was a young bride, being little more than six- 
teen years of age at the time of her marriage, her 
birth taking place March 14, 1841. The wedding 
was celebrated at her father's house, and Rev. John 
Hoobler, who is written of elsewhere in this ALBUM, 
officiated. The young people lived with friends six 
months, then commenced housekeeping in a modest 
dwelling in Newtown Township. In due time they 
became the parents of seven children : William C., 
born May 28, 1858, was married to Miss Mattie 
May Hoobler, Jan. 30, 1881, and is farming in New- 
town Township; Mary Susannah, born Feb. 1,1860, 
became the wife of Jacob Ziegler, Aug. 22, 1881; 
they are also living on a farm in Newtown Town- 
ship. Rosella Catherine, born May 23, 1801, is the 



f 



766 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



wife of Frederick Conner, married Aug. 21, 1881 ; 
they live in the village of Manville, and Mr. C. is 
engaged in farming. James Enoch, born Nov. 21, 
1863, died April 8, 1865; John H., born Feb. 1, 
1867, died Feb. 10, 1869; Candace Delphia, born 
Dec. 6, 1870, is the sole companion of her father's 
home, the wife and mother having departed this life 
July 26, 1881. The youngest child, Pearl May, 
was born June 4, 1880, and died Jan. 23, 1884. 

Mrs. Mortland was a lady highly respected in her 
community, and an active member of the United 
Brethren Church, in the prosperity of which she took 
a great interest. Our subject has never been very 
active in politics, but thoroughly believes in Re- 
publican principles, which he has supported since 
the second election of A. Lincoln. 



I' 



IOHN COOMER, a retired capitalist, and the 
first resident of Fairbury, is a New En- 
glander by birth and spent his early years 
in Glover, Orleans Co., Vt., where his birth 
took place May 4. 1817. He is the son of John 
and Sarah (Mason) Coomer, natives respectively of 
New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The father 
was of French descent and died in Vermont in 
1864; the mother descended from an excellent 
old English famil.y and preceded her husband to 
the silent land in 1859. John Coomer, Sr., was a 
farmer by occupation and died a poor man, leaving 
nothing to his two children, our subject and his 
sister Sarah, who married William Wolcott, and is a 
resident of Glover, Vt. 

Our subject early in life was made acquainted 
with its cares and responsibilities, and received but 
a limited education. After reaching his majority 
he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's 
trade, which he followed about sixteen years. Sub- 
sequently he engaged in farming, which he continued 
in Vermont until 1848, when he made a flying trip 
to the West, and determined upon a permanent 
settlement in this section of country. He, however, 
returned to New England, and was detained there 
seven years, at the expiration of which time he 
started again for the West, accompanied by his 
wife and child, and journeyed first to Michigan, 



where they took up their abode for a year, when 
they came to Chenoa, 111., and lived five months. 

In 1857 Mr. Coomer with his family came to 
Fairbury, arriving on the 31st of December. There 
was then no sign of a town, and Mr. Coomer was 
the first to settle upon its present site. It seems, 
however, that speculators had intended to lay out 
a town here and rumors to this effect had been 
published in the Peoria papers. People soon be- 
gan to come, and Mr. Coomer in due time estab- 
lished a lumber-yard which was quite well patron- 
ized as the town began building up. Eight years 
later he sold out, and with the capital accumulated 
commenced loaning money and officiating as gen- 
eral real-estate agent. He seemed well adapted to 
this vocation and was remarkably fortunate in his 
investments. lie has now ten houses and lots in 
the village, and a fine tract of 350 acres of valua- 
ble land. He has done more than any other man to 
build up the town, and is regarded as one of the 
old landmarks who will be sadly missed when he 
shall have been gathered to his fathers. He has 
been a stanch adherent of the Republican party 
since its organization, and served as Assessor for a 
period of seven years. 

Mr. Coomer was first married to Miss Jenette 
Abbott, who lived only six months after her mar- 
riage. His present wife, to whom he was married 
March 18, 1845, was formerly Miss Harriet N. 
Cheney, who was born June 16, 1821, in Orleans 
County, Vt. The wedding took place at the home 
of the bride in Orleans County, Vt., the officiating 
minister being Rev. Elias Kilby, pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church. Her parents, Joel and Olive 
(Hill) Cheney, were natives of New Hampshire, 
the father of Welsh and the mother of English an- 
cestry. Mr. Cheney was a farmer of ordinary 
means, and the parental- household included eight 
children, namely: Oracy, Harriet, Milo, Eleanora, 
Wealthy W., Augustus G., Hubert P. and Olevia. 
The family are all members of the Congregational 
Church. Mr. Cheney was born in 1791, and de- 
parted this life in 1857. The mother was born in 
1795, and died in the city of Albany, Vt., July 6, 
1 s(Jl. She was a lady highly esteemed and a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Congregational Church. 

Mr. and Mrs. Coomer have two children, a son 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



767 




and .1 daughter Alien C. and Fann}- M. Allen C. 
was born in Vermont, April 12, 1847, and married 
Miss Louisa Cox; he is now engaged in conducting 
a boarding-house in Kansas City. Fanny M. was 
born March 30, 1 863, and remains at home with 
her parents. Mrs. Coomer is a member of the 
Missionary Baptist Church. 



j>ILLIAM II. C'ORNWKLL, son of Solomon 
S. and Emily (Morrison) Cornwall, was 
born at Princeville, Peoria County, this 
State, Jan. 14, 1844. He was reared to farm pur- 
suits, and received a common-school education, and 
after a service of three years and ten months in the 
Union army, settled down in Waldo Township, 
where he has since been one of the most highly re- 
spected citizens of Livingston Count}'. 

The war record of our subject, having formed a 
most important period of his life, we give in sub- 
stance as follows: He was but eighteen years of age 
at the outbreak of the Rebellion, but notwithstand- 
ing his youth, was admitted to Company D, llth 
Illinois Cavalry. He marched with his comrades 
to the field of conflict, and took part in the battles 
of Shiloh, luka and Corinth, being at the latter place 
captured by the rebels, but paroled fifteen days 
afterward. He remained at St. Louis until the fol- 
lowing February, when he was exchanged and joined 
his regiment at Jackson, Tenn. He afterward met 
the enemy in several skirmishes in Tennessee and 
Northern Mississippi, and thence went with the army 
of Gen. Sherman from Vicksburg to Meridian, dur- 
ing which raid his regiment captured a gun from 
the rebels, and then returned to Vicksburg, where 
it veteranized and was gran ted a thirty days' fur- 
lough. 

Young Cornwell, after visiting his friends at 
home, returned to Vicksburg, and with his regiment 
was detailed to patrol the river along this point. 
lie afterward took part in the charge at Port Gib- 
son, where the}' captured the entire battery of the 
enemy, and thence going to Memphis, he was as- 
signed to the command of Gen. Grierson, and as- 
sisted in cutting off Hood's communication with the 
main army. In December, 18G4, they captured the 



troops of Gen. Forest besides a train-load of arms 
and provisions for Hood's army. On the 28th of 
the month they seized Egypt Station with about 
500 prisoners. Mr. Cornwell was here wounded by 
a musket ball which passed entirely through his 
hip. He was carried off the field, and being left 
behind, was taken prisoner and sent to Anderson- 
ville, the horrors of which he endured until after 
the surrender of Lee. He was then released, and 
received his honorable discharge in Springfield, 111., 
on the 22d of July, 1865. His record, like that of 
hundreds of others, about whom history has been 
silent, was one of hardship, danger and privation, 
but lie possessed the same indomitable spirit which 
sustained his comrades and led them to endure suf- 
ferings which could not be described by words. 
He received the commendation of his superior offi- 
cers, and enjoyed the respect of his comrades, and 
is one of the brave few who remain to tell the tale 
of life in a Southern prison. 

Upon his retirement from the army, Mr. Corn- 
well returned to his home in Peoria County, and 
commenced farming on land belonging to his father. 
After thus securing a good start in life, he was 
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth C. Thomson, 
of Brimfield, Peoria County, Rev. Samuel Smith of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating. The 
wedding took place at the home of the bride Feb. 
28, 1 867. The young people remained in Peoria 
County until the spring of 1870, and then removed 
to a tract of land which the elder Cornwell had pre- 
viously purchased, and which has since been their 
home. This was deeded to our subject the follow- 
ing year, and in 1872 he purchased 160 acres ad- 
ditional on sections 1 and 12. Here he has carried 
on fanning and stock-raising after the most modern 
and approved methods, and has embellished the 
township with one of the handsomest and most pro- 
ductive farms within its limits. 

Mr. Cornwell, in 1 875, was elected Justice of the 
Peace, which office he has since held, and has also 
served six years as Commissioner of Highways. 
He has been Township Collector, and has repre- 
sented the township in the County Board of Super- 
visors most of the time since 1884. He is a stanch 
adherent of the Republican party, and a Trustee of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has 



f 



768 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






been connected for the last ten years. The fact 
that he has been a continuous office-holder in a 
township strongly Democratic, speaks well for his 
popularity as a citizen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Corn well are the parents of six ehil- 
dren, all living and born as follows: Albert W., 
Sept, 27, 18G9; Lester P., Nov. 28, 1871; Charles 
A., Jan. 13, 1876; Hubert, Dec. 20, 1881; Mabel, 
Jan. 25, 1883, and David, March 1G, 1880. Mr. 
Corn well was the eldest in a family of four children. 
His eldest brother, Charles A., is a practicing law- 
yer of Peoria, 111.; Julia is the wife of Edwin El- 
liott, a skillful architect, who is now engaged in 
fanning, and lives at Princeville, having two chil- 
dren; Addie married H. W. Crawford, Station 
Agent at Monica, 111., and has one child. 

Solomon and Emily Cornwell were natives re- 
spectively of Dutchess County, N. Y., and New 
Haven, Conn. The former was born in 1812, and 
the latter about 1815. They are both living, and 
still residents of Princeville. The paternal great- 
great-grandfather was a Scotchman by birth and 
ancestry, while on the mother's side our subject is 
of English descent. Mrs. Cornwell was born at 
Brimfield, Peoria Co., 111., Oct. 24, 1849. She is 
in all respects the suitable helpmeet of her husband, 
looking well to the domestic affairs of the home- 
stead. 



AVID S. CRUM. There are sections of 
I) Illinois which are almost wholly settled by 
Pennsylvanians, and it is an invariable 
rule that where such is the case there can 
found thrift, intelligence and morality deeply 
rooted. It is characteristic of the Pennsylvania!! 
that wherever you find him, no matter what his vo- 
cation in life may be, you find him a man of parts. 
If he is a farmer, he is a good farmer; if he is a 
stockman, he excels in that line of business, and 
f he is both farmer and stock-raiser, you will find 
i;i mail who has reduced those kindred callings al- 
most to a science. It is not inappropriate to s.v 
that this is illustrated in the person of the subject 
of this sketch, whose stock farm is located on sec- 
t ion 17, Belle Prairie Township. 




David S. Criim was born in Huntingdon County, 
Pa., on the 8th of December, 1826, and is the son 
of Cornelius and Margaret (Gray) Crum, natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively. Cor- 
nelius Crum was born on the 22d of December, 
1790, and died on the 29th of August, 1850, in the 
State of Ohio, where he had moved from Pennsyl- 
vania in September, 1840; he was a farmer by oc- 
cupation. The mother was born Oct. 31. 17'Jlt. 
and died in Ohio on the 26th of February, 1K5.'!. 
The were married on the 1 1th of October, 1811, in 
Pennsylvania, and were members of the Methodi>t 
Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Crum was Class- 
Leader, Steward and Exhorter for many years. In 
1836-37 he was a member of the convention which 
revised and remodeled the constitution of the State 
of Pennsylvania, which has ever since been the or- 
ganic law of that State, and was also a member of 
the Ohio State Legislature during the years 1H45- 
46. They were the parents of ten children, viz: 
Mar} 1 , Catherine, Margaret It., John B., Samuel 
D. ; James S., who died at the age of eight years; 
David S., William A., Rebecca T. and Sarah S. 

David S. Crnm spent his boyhood days upon a 
farm, performing his share of the work during the 
summer months and attending the district school in 
winter. While attending school he made the most 
of the opportunities offered, and received more 
than an average education. In 1851, at the age of 
twenty-four years, he was married to Miss Mary A. 
Walton, and two years thereafter came to the West. 
She was born in Pennsylvania in 1830, and was the 
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Gehman) Wal- 
ton, who were natives of England, and immigrated 
to this country at an earl}' day. By this marriage 
five children were born, two of whom died in in- 
fancy. The living are: Dwight M.. who married 
Miss Lydia M. Yanpaten: Edwin W., who married 
Miss Sabra Yanpaten, and Lina E., Mrs. Peter Mc- 
Donald. Their mother died in I860. When Mr. 
Crum located in this county, in 185.'!. he entered 
480 acres of Government land, of which he sold 
120 acres, and he has subsequently purchased 160 
acres. In 1862 he married Mrs. Mary M. Morgan, 
a native of Pennsylvania, and they have had two 
children: Mira A., Mrs. Lorenzo Alford, and Jen- 
nie F., Mrs. George II. Bennett. The second wife 



I 




RESIDENCE OF R.D.GREGG, SEC. 22 . ROUND GROVETOWNSHIP. 




RESIDENCE OF L.T. SHEPHERD , SEC. 29. SAUN EM IN TOWNSHIP 




RESIDENCE or W*. CHAMINGS^SEC.S. BELLE PRAIRIETOWNSH IP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



771 



died in 1873. Mr. Crum was a third time married, 
in 1 874, to Miss Jane E. Parmcnter, a native of 
Providence, R. I. } vvho came West when but a 
child. 

Mr. Crum and his wife arc members of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, of which he lias been Stew- 
ard and Class-Leader many years. He can truly 
be said to be one of the pillars of the church, and 
was one of the principal members instrumental in 
building- Fair View Chapel, which is located on his 
land. Mr. Crum lias met with a large measure of 
success in his calling. His farm now consists of 
520 acres, perfectly drained by the tile system, and 
on which he has erected an elegant dwelling-house. 
While in no sense a politician, he is a strict parti- 
san of the Republican party, and upon all occasions 
does what he can to further its interests. 




BNER W. CAMP, a descendant of old 
Revolutionary stock, is a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 10, Esmen Township, and 
was born in Waterbury, New Haven Co. 
Conn., on the 26th of December, 1827. He was the 
eldest child of Ephraim and Eliza (Webster) C'amp, 
natives of Litchfield County, Conn., as were also 
his grandparents, Ephraim and Sarah (Moss) Camp. 
The grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, volun- 
teering twice, and being drafted three times. He 
was sixteen years old when he first entered the 
army, and served five years. He was one of the 
guards around the gallows at the hanging of Maj. 
Andre, and was at Valley Forge with Washington, 
where he almost lost his feet from exposure during 
that terrible winter. He was urged to secure a pen- 
sion on account of disability incurred in the war 
but always declined, stating that he did not need it 
and the Government was too poor to afford it. 
The maternal grandparents were Tola and Silence 
(Guernsey) Webster, natives of Litchfleld County, 
Conn. Tola Webster was called to service as Cap- 
tain of a cavalry company, but never saw active 
service. 

The father of Mr. Camp was a blacksmith by 
trade, but abandoned that calling early in life for 
watch and clock making, which occupation he fol- 



lowed until 18f>5, when, to escape the confinement 
involved he came West, arriving in Livingston 
County on the 14th day of May of that year. His 
first purchase of land was on section 10, Esmen 
Township, and here he remained until his death, on 
the 9th of May, 1877. He secured an excellent 
little farm which he put under a high state of culti- 
vation, and erected a blacksmith-shop thereon, in 
which he followed his old' trade at leisure times. 
He was an active politician all his life, and was al- 
ways greatly interested in the leading topics of the 
da}-. He was an old-line Douglas Democrat. The 
early life of our subject was spent upon the farm, 
and his education was obtained in the common 
schools. When he came to Illinois he was posted 
on New England farming, but found himself no 
match for the enterprising "sucker" until he had 
learned the western methods of agriculture. He re- 
mained at home with his parents until the father's 
death, and has never left the old homestead. 

On the 6th of May, 1855, Mr. Camp married 
Mary E. Cook, who was born in Cheshire, New 
Haven Co., Conn., on the 10th of August, 1834, and 
was the fifth in a family of seven children born to 
Aaron and Emily (Hitchcock) Cook, who were na- 
tives of the same county, where they died, the for- 
mer on the 23d of February, 1 842, and the latter 
on the 27th of November, 1805. Soon after mar- 
riage Mr. Camp brought his wife to the West, but 
all her family remained in the East. They have 
always lived upon the old home place, where they 
expect to spend their declining years. Mr. Camp 
has served the people as Constable eight years, and 
Justice of the Peace twelve years. He also served 
as Collector in 1861, at a time when the banks went 
down like straws before the wind, and wildcat 
money was so plentiful that a day's collections fre- 
quently would not pay for a dinner. He filled this 
office two terms. 

Mr. and Mrs. Camp are the parents of eight chil- 
dren, namely : George A., Emily R., Henry A., 
Edward T., Toot} 1 , Bennie, Royal G., and one who 
died in infancy. George A. was born Dec. 8, 1857; 
Emily R., Dec. 29, 1859; Henry A., June 23, 1863; 
Edward T., July 2, 1867; Tooty, Nov. 22, 1870; 
Bennie, July 26, 1872, and Royal G., Oct. 24, 1874. 
The only survivors are George A., Henry A. and 



T 



, , 772 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Royal G. Mr. Camp takes an active part in poli- 
ties, and votes with the Independent party. 

George A., the eldest son of Aimer W. Camp, 
was born in Livingston County, 111., where he has 
always resided. He was reared on the farm and 
attended the common schools of the district. He 
remained at home until 1884, when, on the 27th of 
February, he was married to Mary Donohoe, the 
third in a family of eight children born to Francis 
and Pleasant (Furr) Donohoe, who were natives of 
Virginia. When a young man Mrs. Camp's father 
came to Illinois, and later in life settled in Living- 
ston County. Mrs. Camp was born in LaSalle 
County, 111., near Ottawa, on the 20th of May, 
1864. She came to Livingston County witli her 
parents in 1868, where she married Mr. Camp. 
They live on a rented farm on section 1 6, Esmen 
Township. 




ONROE J. BOSWORTH, the son of a pio- 
neer of LaSalle Count}-, and now one of 
the most thrifty farmers of Livingston 
County, residing in Sunbury Township, 
was born in LaSalle County, in what is now known 
as Miller Township, on the 27th of August, 1843. 
His father, Carr W. Bosworth, was born in Essex 
County, N. Y., while his grandfather was a farmer 
and shoemaker who spent his life in that county. 
The father was left an orphan at twelve years of 
age, and found a home with strangers till the age of 
seventeen years, when he went to Genesee County, 
where he married and lived until 1842, when he 
came to Illinois and settled in what is now Miller 
Township, LaSalle County. In making his journey 
to the West he traveled with teams to Buffalo, 
N. Y., thence across the Lakes by boat to Chicago, 
and from Chicago to LaSalle County with teams. 
Upon arriving at his destination he entered Gov- 
ernment land, on which lie built a house in which 
our subject was born. He still resides on this farm, 
which he lias improved, and erected thereon a good 
class <if buildings. The maiden name of his wife, 
the mother of the subject of our sketch, was Laura 
Prescott. She was born in Genesee County, N. 
Y., and was the daughter of James and Hannah 
Prescott, natives of New York. She died on the 



homestead in 1872. To them were born three chil- 
dren Monroe J., George F. and Oscar F. The lat- 
ter t.wo live on the old homestead. 

The subject of this biography attended the pio- 
neer schools in the log school-house and assisted his 
father in the work on the farm. On the Kith of 
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company L, loth Illi- 
nois Cavalry, and served until after the close of 
the war. His company was the escort and body- 
guard of Gen. Grant at the battle of Corinth, and 
during his term of service he was in the States of 
Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and 
Louisiana. lie was taken prisoner just before the 
battle of Corinth, but was paroled two weeks later, 
and three months afterward was exchanged. He 
was on detached service in the Government Print- 
ing-Office from January, 1864, until July, 1865, 
on the 25th of which month he was discharged and 
returned home. He lived on the old homestead un- 
til 1868, and then came to Livingston County and 
bought his present farm, which at that time was 
wild land, at $12.50 per acre. At thac time there 
were but few houses within sight of his farm. He 
has since erected frame buildings and has all the 
land improved and under a good state of cultiva- 
tion. 

On the 12th of October, 1865, Mr. Bosworth 
was married to Amelia Lewis, a native of Gen- 
esee County, N. Y. Their union has been blessed 
with three children Arthur L., Carrie E. and J. 
Albert. Mrs. Bosworth was born on the 15th of 
June, 1840. Her father, Uenby Lewis, was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, and his father, Robert 
Lewis, a native of England, born on the 30th of 
January, 1770. He immigrated to America and 
settled in Connecticut, and later removed to Gen- 
esee County, N. Y., where he died Jan. 5, 1859. 
The father of Mrs. Bosworth was reared a fanner, 
but fitted himself for teaching, and for many years 
taught school in the winter and farmed dnrinir the 

O O 

summer seasons. He reared a family in Pavilion, 
Genesee Co., N. Y., and died in Grniidy County, 
111., in 1874. The maiden name of the wife of 
Robert Lewis was Alias Hall, who was born Sept. 
10, 1762, and died Oct. 27, 1824. 

Mr. Bosworth is a member of the Republican 
party, in the welfare of which he takes a lively in- 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4- 

773 , . 



terest, but he does not participate in politics to the 
extent of making him an office-seeker. In his 
domestic relations he is very pleasantly situated, 
and his surroundings are such as to make life pleas- 
ant and happy. In his business affairs he shows 
rare judgment and displays unusual enterprise. 
His success has been equal to his expectations, and 
the outlook for his future is bright and cheerful. 




JEORGE A. WATTS, of LaSalle County, is 
one of the most trusted business men of the 
town of Dana, where he is carrying on gen- 
eral merchandising, keeping a full stock of groceries, 
dry-goods, boots and shoes, and in fact most of the 
articles required in the village or country household, 
while he also deals in all products of field and farm. 
He has numerous friends in this county and vicin- 
ity, many of whom are represented in this work. 
His childhood home was in the town of Phienixville, 
Chester Co., Pa., where he was born on the 25th of 
July, 1845, and was brought by his parents to the 
West in 1847. 

Our subject is the fifth son of Thomas and Fran- 
ces (Dykes) Watts, natives respectively of Balti- 
more, Md., and Manchester, England. The elder 
Watts during his early years was superintendent 
of a cotton-mill, and after coming to this State, lo- 
cated in LaSalle County, where he engaged in farm- 
ing, and continued a resident until his death in 
February, 1880. The mother had died in Magno- 
lia seventeen years previously, in February, 1863. 
Thomas Watts was three times married, and by 
his first wife became the father of Joseph B., who 
is now engaged in farming in Kansas, and Mary 
Jane, the wife of Thomas McGoe, a farmer near 
Gibbon City. By the second marriage there were 
bom nine children, whose record is as follows: John 
W. secured :i good education and followed teach- 
ing; he died at the age of forty years. George W. 
died in infancy ; James H., a machinist of Grand 
Island, Neb., has a wife and four children; Thomas 
B., of Bloom ington, also a teacher, is married and 
has five children; Catherine, Mrs. Moore, of Say- 
brook, is now a widow; George A.; Phoebe M., Mrs. 
N. R. Baggs, of Chillicothe, 111. ; Fannie, who mar- 



ried John Howell, of this county, and with her hus- 
band is now deceased ; and Cornelius, who is farm- 
ing within two miles of Dana, and has a wife 
and one child. 

The third wife of Thomas Watts was the mother 
of two children: Emily, who is unmarried and liv- 
ing in Tennessee, and Samuel, a lad of twelve years, 
living with Joseph B. Watts in Kansas. Our sub- 
ject spent his younger years in Magnolia, and was 
reared mostly to farming pursuits. He in early life 
developed good business qualities, and after reach- 
ing manhood one of his most important steps was 
his marriage with Miss Julia A. Moats, in 1874. 
Mrs. Watts is the daughter of Isaac and Ann (Mil- 
ler) Moats, and was born in Northampton, 111., in 
1855. To her parents were born three children 
Julia, Louisa and Richard. Louisa was born in 
Northampton, Peoria Co., 111. ; she is now a milliner 
ID Chicago. Richard is a farmer and stock-raiser 
of Kingman County, Kan. Mrs. Watts is the 
mother of the following children: Fannie M., born 
March 24, 1875; George R., March 8, 1877, and 
Grace E., April (!, 1882. Mr. Watts completed his 
education in the State Normal School, and has been 
engaged in business at Dana for a period of fourteen 
years. lie is independent in politics, aiming to sup- 
port the men whom he considers best qualified for 
positions of trust and responsibility. lie owns a 
comfortable home and a reserve fund for a rainy 
day. 



eAPT. WILLIAM STRAWN, ex-Represent- 
, ative of the Eighteenth District in the 
. Legislature of Illinois, a prominent citizen 

of Odell, was born in Licking County, Ohio, on 
the 7th of November, 1822, and was the second 
child in a family of thirteen born to Jacob and 
Matilda (Green) Strawn. His father was born in 
Somerset Count}', Pa., and was the sou of Isaiah 
and Rachel (Reed) Strawn. The "grandfather was 
a native of Bucks County, Pa., and was the son of 
Jacob and Christiana (Purcell) Strawn, while the 
generation back of this was represented by Lance- 
lot and Mary (Cooper) Strawn. Lancelot Strawn 
was an orphan boy of Welsh descent, but there is 
no trace of the personality of his ancestors. He 



t 



774 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



emigrated from England during the latter part of 
the seventeenth century. The Strawns were a 
part of the Pennsylvania Colony, and of the Quaker 
faith, while all the generations were farmers and 
prominent citizens. Strawntown, in Bucks County, 
Pa., was named in their honor. On the mother's 
side of the house the grandparents were John and 
Susannah (Winters) Green. The Winters family 
were of German descent, but John Green was of 
English descent, and a native of Virginia, and dur- 
ing all his life he was a man of pronounced anti- 
slavery views. 

Capt. Strawn's father came to Illinois in 1831, 
locating four miles southwest of Jacksonville, where 
the mother died in December, 1832. He married a 
second time, and followed farming and dealing in 
stock until his death, which occurred on the home- 
stead near Jacksonville, 111., in September, 1865. 
When in the prime of his business career he was 
known as the "Cattle King of America" because of 
his large investments in live stock. 

Capt. Strawn began his education in the common 
schools, and at the age of twenty years entered the 
Illinois College at Jacksonville, from which he was 
graduated at the age of twenty-five, when he went 
to Lane Seminary at Cincinnati, where he spent 
two years preparing for the ministry. His con- 
nection with the church dated back to his youth, 
and was first with the Presbyterians, under whose 
auspices Lane Seminary is conducted, but after- 
ward he united with the Congregationalists, and is 
now a member of that church. While prosecuting 
his studies he was taken sick with smallpox, and 
after his recovery he went home and never returned 
to complete his course. 

On the 19th of June, 1850, our subject married 
Harriet A. Holmes, who was born in Jo Daviess 
County, 111., on the 22d of January, 1829, and 
was the eldest in a family of three children born 
to Stephen and Lydia W. (Massey) Holmes, who 
were natives of New York and Vermont respect- 
ively. They came to the lead mines of Galena, 
111., at an early day, and afterward moved to 
Jacksonville, where Mr. Holmes engaged in the 
mercantile line until his death in 1833. His widow 
survived him forty-seven years, ('apt. Strawn and 
Miss Holmes were married at Jacksonville, and 



started at once for LaSalle County, where he 
owned some wild land, which they set to work at 
once to improve and develop, and there they lived 
for fifteen years. From the time of the first set- 
tlement in LaSalle County he filled the pulpits in 
the Congregational Churches at home and in neigh- 
boring districts during nearly the whole period of 
his residence there. 

In the month of June, 1856, about the time of 
the climax of the Kansas troubles he resolved to 
aid in establishing the supremacy of freedom in 
that section of the country, and he therefore joined 
the Free State forces under Gen. .lames Lane, and 
was engaged in guerrilla warfare with John Brown, 
but on a more conservative basis than the plan ad- 
vocated by the latter. He remained about three 
months and engaged in the struggle actively 
all the time. At Leaven worth he was taken 
prisoner by a band of South Carolinians, who had 
their headquarters at Russel <fe Major's warehouse, 
a depot for western supplies. They were being 
marched out to a safer place when Capt. Strawn 
slipped between the lines, through an adjoining 
store, and escaped from the city. When the ques- 
tions in dispute were settled he returned to his 
home in Illinois, and took up the duties of the 
farm, which he prosecuted earnestly until the in- 
auguration of the Rebellion. 

On the 1st of August, 1862, our subject enlisted in 
the United States service, and aided in raising Com- 
pany F, 104th Illinois Infantry, and was commis- 
sioned First Lieutenant under Capt. James G. 
McKernan, and Col. A. B. Moore, Regimental 
Commander. The regiment was mustered in at 
Ottawa on the 14th of August, 1862, and going 
first to Louisville to assist Gen. Buell in heading 
off Bragg's raid toward Ohio, scared them out in 
a short time. He followed the fortunes of this 
company in the 14th Corps, under old "Pap" 
Thomas, and was in the battles of Chickamauga, 
and was also in all the following engagements, con- 
tinuously under fire in the Atlanta campaign 
for eighty-seven days out of 100. The first 
part of this service was under Rosecrans, but 
after the battles of Chickamauga Grant relieved 
him and carried them forward to Mission Ridge, 
after which Sherman took the lead and conducted 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



775 



the balance of the campaign. Sherman then, on 
the 18th of November, 1864, began his memorable 
march to the sea. They burned the public build- 
ings in Atlanta before starting and destroyed 
all railroads and bridges behind them, reaching Sa- 
vannah, Ga., on Christmas Day, 1864; at this time 
their division commander was J. C. Davis, of 
Indiana. They then marched through the Caro- 
linas, following Johnson and tearing up the rail- 
roads to Goldsboro, where their communications 
with Washington were re-established, and they then 
returned in pursuit of Johnson to Raleigh. Al 
this time news of the fall of Richmond reached 
them, and the surrender of Johnson almost imme- 
diately occurred. They then marched to Washing- 
ton, and participated in the grand review in May, 
1865. Here they were disbanded and sent to Chi- 
cago, where they were discharged from the service 
on the 6th of June, 1865. In July, 1863, on the 
resignation of Col. Moore, the subject of this 
sketch was promoted to a captaincy, and served in 
that capacity until the close of the war. Upon his 
return to his home in LaSalle County, Capt. Strawn 
sold his possessions, and on the 22d of November, 
1865, took up his residence in Livingston County 
on the farm he now occupies, and pursued the oc- j 
cupation of a farmer. In the fall of I860 he was 
the successful candidate on the Republican ticket 
for Representative in the State Legislature. In 
1868 he was re-elected, thus serving two terms, and 
since that time he has resided on the farm, but has 
been more or less active in politics all his life. 

Capt. Strawn and his excellent wife are the 
parents of nine children, seven of whom are living: 
Wilder F., Annie M., Freddie, Mary H., Augusta 
V., Frances L., Hattie, Grace and Mabel. The 
names of the two deceased were Freddie and Mary. 
Hattie, Grace and Mabel are at home; Wilder and 
Augusta are in Kansas; Annie resides in Oilman, 
and is the wife of DeWitt Robinson, a jeweler; 
Wilder married Mollie Brown, of Normal, 111., and 
is a farmer; Augusta married William Hosack, and 
lives in Great Bend, Kan. ; Frances married R. J. 
Dickson, of Sandwich, 111. Mrs. Strawn is a well- 
educated lady, and is universally esteemed for her 
very many excellent qualities. In all matters con- 
nected with the society in which she moves she 



takes a leading and active part. Capt. Strawn is 
pardonably proud of the part he played in the 
events immediately preceding and during the war. 
Being a man who has the courage of his convictions 
he could not have done less than he did during the 
troublous times which prevailed during the in- 
fancy of Kansas as a State, and in the light of his- 
tory his course^then is not only vindicated but thor- 
oughly justified. 



JOHN BALMER, a farmer and stock-raiser 
on section 26, Pontiac Township, has carved 
out a fortune by his own efforts, and can now 
look over a farm containing 700 acres. He 
is a native of Switzerland, where he was born on 
the 29th of October, 1829, and is the son of Chris- 
topher and Margaret Balmer. He is the second 
son of a famity of six children, of whom five sur- 
vive, viz. : Margaret, Christopher, John, Catherine 
and Siisan. In the year 1840, with his parents, he 
immigrated to America on a sailing-vessel, taking 
passage at Havre, and after a voyage of forty-nine 
days landed in the city of New York. They im- 
mediately came West, locating in Hancock County, 
Ohio, where the parents lived and died, the mother 
in 1845 and the father in 1853. 

Until he grew to manhood Mr. Balmer resided in 
Ohio, receiving such an education as was attaina- 
ble in the common schools of that day, and in 1 852 
he came to Illinois and located in Livingston 
County. Shortly afterward, in connection with 
John F. Milham, he purchased 131 acres of land, 
which is part of his present farm, and at that time 
contained only ten acres of land which had been 
broken. In 1864 he purchased the interest of Mr. 
Milham in this farm, and since then by subsequent 
purchase he has made additions until he owns, at 
the time this sketch is written, 700 acres of land. 
Mr. Balmer is eminently a self-made man. Coining 
to Livingston County when he had only a horse 
and about $45 in money, he now owns one of the 
finest farms in the county, containing the full com- 
plement of excellent buildings, and well stocked 
with horses, cattle and hogs. All this is the result 
of close attention to business, perseverance and in- 



776 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



dustry. Besides his farm and its accessories he 
owns considerable property in the city of Pontiac. 

On the ath of September, 1854, Mr. B. was mar- 
ried in Ohio, to Nancy, daughter of David and Chris- 
tina Adkins, of Pickaway County, pioneers in that 
part of the country. The father was a native of 
Maryland, and the mother of Virginia. They were 
the parents of twelve children, of whom the follow- 
ing-named are living: Mary Melissa, Christina, 
David. William and Nancy. Mrs. Balmer is a na- 
tive of Pickaway County, Ohio, where she was born 
on the 22d of April, 1835. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Balmer were born four children : John, Leonard ; 
Melissa J., widow of Anthony Scott, of this county, 
and Anna, wife of Madison Fipps. 

Mr. Balmer is a stanch Republican and takes 
considerable interest in political matters. He is a 
practical, thorough farmer, and individually over- 
sees his farming interests. He has met with excel- 
lent business success in financial matters, and has a 
credit which is considered gilt edged. He looks 
with favor on every movement for the. benefit of 
the county and the elevation of society. Both he 
and his excellent wife are respected members of 
society, and participants in everything that tends 
to the public good. 




ETER VERCLER has built up one of the 
most beautiful homes in Pike Township, 
where he is located on section 33, and has 
eighty acres of finely cultivated land, and 
an elegant residence standing in the midst of 
beautiful grounds, planted with evergreen trees and 
choice shrubs, in which the pine tree predominates, 
and lines the driveway leading from the house to 
the barn. From this place of residence may be 
gathered the distinguishing traits in the character 
of the proprietor, whose tastes are cultivated and 
homelike, and who has taken pride in surrounding 
his family with the comforts and luxuries of life. 
Adjoining the farm property is a tract of 1GO acres 
which he cultivates in connection therewith, and 
from the proceeds of the whole realizes each year a 
handsome income. 

Our subject is of French birth and parentage, his 



curly home having been in the beautiful Province 
of Lorraine, France, now a possession of Germany, 
where he was born April 12, 1826. He was edu- 
cated in French and German, and remained with his 
parents, their chief stay and support, until they 
passed from earth. The parents of our subject, 
Andrew and Barbara (Rupp) Vercler, were also 
natives of Lorraine, France. The household circle 
included twelve children, of whom two died in in- 
fancy. The Others were named Joseph, Mary, 
Andrew, Magdelaine, Christian, Barbara, Anna, 
John, Peter and Jacob. Not long after the death 
of his parents our subject set sail for the United 
States, from Havre.de Grace, landing in New York 
City. He at once proceeded westward, and worked 
in and around the city of Peoria for three years, 
after which he followed gardening seven years. 
He had now laid up a sum of money, and coining 
to this county, invested a part of it in a quarter 
section of land in Pike Township. Upon this he 
effected man}' improvements, redeeming the land 
from its originally wild condition and putting up a 
fine residence with other necessary buildings. He 
occupied this place thirteen years, then retired frcm 
active labor and took up his residence at Chenoa. 
Three years of comparative idleness more than satis- 
fied him, and desirous of a more active life, he en- 
gaged with his son in the furniture business. This, 
however, not being quite in accordance with his 
tastes, he disposed of his interest to his partner and 
once more returned to the rural life of which he had 
always been fond, taking possession of his present 
homestead, where he has since employed bis time 
in its embellishment, adding as much to its value as 
to its beauty. In the meantime he has served as 
Justice of the Peace and has been otherwise identi- 
fied with the interests of his township. 

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Anna 
Detweiller, a native of his own Province in France, 
and the daughter of Christian and Catherine 
(Schwartz) Detweiller, of the same country. She 
was born Nov. 13, 1830, and became the wife of 
our subject in February, 1856, the wedding taking 
place at the home of the bride in Peoria. Mrs. 
V. was ten years of age when her parents immigra- 
ted to the United States and settled in Peoria, 
where the father died in about 1863; the mother is 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



777 



still living. Of this union there have been born 
three children: Catherine, the eldest daughter, be- 
came the wife of Peter Claudon, and died in 1880, 
leaving two children; Andrew married Miss Jessie 
Hays, of Chenoa Township, McLean County, and is 
assisting his father in conducting business on the 
homestead; Anna, Mrs. Samuel Hays, lives on a 
farm near her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Vercler at- 
tend the Baptist Church at Chenoa, and our subject, 
politically, is independent, aiming to support the 
men whom he considers will best serve the interests 
of the people. 







ENJAMIN F. BROWN, Deputy Sheriff of 
Livingston County, located in Amity Town- 
ship in the spring of 1875, and has a fine 
farm drained by the Vermilion River. He 
was then a young man just setting out for himself 
in life and came to the West, determined to build 
up a future home which should be a credit to him- 
self as the citizen of a rapidly growing section of 
country. He is not yet far advanced in years, hav- 
ing been born Feb. 18, 1848, in Delaware. 

The parents of our subject, Joseph and Ann 
Brown, were natives of Pennsylvania, and left their 
native State after their marriage. Mr. Brown en- 
gaged in the butchering business, and after a worthy 
life as a highly respected citizen passed away in the 
spring of 1858. The wife and mother survived a 
number of years, her death taking place suddenly 
of heart disease, in Pennsylvania, in 1867. The par- 
ental family included nine children. The eldest 
son, William, when last heard from was in the city 
of Philadelphia; Rachel Ann became the wife of J. 
H. Taylor, and died in Delaware, leaving a large 
family; Washington was married to Miss Mary 
Wallace, at Baltimore, Md.,and is nowin California; 
Joseph has a wife and four children ; James is mar- 
ried and living in Pennsylvania: three died in in- 
fancy unnamed. 

Benjamin F. Brown continued under the parental 
roof until starting for the West. He first located 
in Pontiac in 1870, where he carried on butchering 
until the spring of 1875, and then invested his 
capital in his present homestead. He is the owner 



of 100 acres of land and his farm is equipped with 
modern improvements, the result of his own indus- 
try and enterprise. In 187!) Mr. Brown was united 
in marriage with Miss Betsey F. Burch, a native of 
Illinois, and born in 1863. Her parents were B. 
F. and Rebecca (Campbell) Burch; the father still 
lives in Cornell. The mother in the fall of 1885 
came to Amity Township upon a visit with our 
subject and his wife, and one night soon after re- 
tiring had a severe attack of asthma, from which 
she expired in about fifteen minutes. Her remains 
were laid to rest in the cemetery at Cornell. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown have two children Harry Oscar, 
born in 1881, and Ora May, in 1886. 

Mr. Brown was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1882, 
tne duties of which position he has discharged with 
satisfaction to the community. While a resident of 
Cornell he was City Marshal and is now serving as 
Road Commissioner in Amity Township. He is 
one of the most reliable supporters of the Repub- 
lican party, and on account of his social qualities 
and intelligence is popular among his neighbors 
and fellow-citizens. 



ICHARD G. CROUCH. The West owes 
much to the typical Yankee, who is a shrewd, 




thrifty and enterprising man wherever you 
nd him, and you find him frequently in 
the State of Illinois. The Yankees of New Hamp- 
shire are notablo for their go-aheaclativeness, and 
that State is the cradle in which many of the em- 
inent men of the country were rocked. Among 
these may be mentioned Daniel Webster, Lewis 
Cass, Salmon P. Chase and Horace Greele}'. Dur- 
ing the war in defense of the Union, New Hamp- 
shire bore her part with honor, gallantry and dis- 
tinction, and it is with pride that the subject of 
this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-grower on 
section 15, Indian Grove Township, can call New 
Hampshire his native State. 

.Mr. Crouch was born in Grafton County on the 
16 th of February, 1817, and is the son of Ephraim 
and Rebecca (Whitamore) Crouch, who were na- 
tives respective!}' of Massachusetts and Connecti- 
cut. The father was a farmer by occupation and 



T 



t. 



, , 77* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



spent a very busy life, dying at the age of seventy- 
six in the year 1855. The mother was born in 
1783 and died in 1843. They had eight children, 
whose names are as follows: Eliza, Sarah, Rebecca, 
Olive, Franklin, Chester, Richard G. and Ephraiin. 
Eliza married Hiram Ladd, and is living in Free- 
port, Stephenson Co., 111. : Sarah married Dr. 
J. L. Rodger*, and is deceased ; Rebecca is now 
Mrs. Hammond; Olive is deceased; Franklin mar- 
ried 'Mary Whittaker, and lives in North Haverhill: 
Chester married Harriet Toplin ; she is now de- 
ceased. 

Mr. Crouch has been three times married. His 
first wife was Sarah B. Colby, by whom he had 
three children, one of whom, Jane, is the wife of 
George Goshorn; the others were Richard and 
Ephraim, both of whom died in childhood. Mrs. 
Crouch died in 1847. His second wife was Sarah 
Marshall, by whom he had three children Edwin 
O., Flora and Alice. Edwin O. lives three miles 
west of Fairbnry, and is a farmer by occupation; 
Flora is the wife of Linn McKee, and lives north 
of Fairbury, and Alice is the wife of George 
Ham, also a farmer, living in Cloud County, Kan. 
The second wife died in 1853. 

Richard G. Crouch wa.s married to Miss Joanna 
Hanna on the 24th of February, 1858. She was 
born in Greene County, Pa., in 1829, and died on 
the 4th of June, 1887, of paralysis, after an illness 
i >f six months. At the time of her death a biog- 
rapher wrote of her: '-For several years past she 
had been a great sufferer, but during it all she man- 
ifested great patience and resignation to the 
Lord's will, yet never losing heart and hope. She 
was one of the constituent members of the Fair- 
bury Baptist Church, and in the honest and best 
sense of the word a Christian. As a neighbor she 
was highly esteemed, as a church member uniformly 
consistent, expressing in her life the sentiment of 
the poet 

So shall my walk be cl< -e with God. 

Calm and serene my frame: 

yet those who knew her in her home relations knew 
her best; as a wife, devoted and true: as a mother, 
gentle, tender and affectionate. One of the sons, 
in visiting home, stated that his mother had never 
whipped him. nor had she ever scolded him. She 



wa> a rare woman, wonderfully gifted; chastened 
and resigned until ready to live or die; hence as 
she came down to the end of the journey she had 
no fear. The funeral was largely attended at the 
late home. The weather on that day was very in- 
clement, yet many, even through the storm, ac- 
companied the bereaved relatives to the cemetery. 
The services were conducted by Revs. Palmer, 
Crosby and Christie. Mrs. Crouch was a lady of 
great culture, and taught school for seven years 
previous to her marriage. She was a great Sun- 
day-school worker, and was an ardent advocate of 
the right of women to vote." 

The children who were born to Mr. Crouch by 
the third wife were named: Charley, Sinah, Otis 
E., Benjamin F., Hattie B., Jessie H. and Lottie I. 
Charley was born in 1858; Sinah was born in I860, 
and married E. Darnell; Otis E. married Miss Cora 
Kent, of Cheyenne County, Kan. 

Mr. Crouch came to Illinois in 1 843, locating 
in Marion County, where he remained eighteen 
months, and then went to Woodford County, where 
he operated a sawmill for two years, after which 
he followed blacksmithing until 1851. In that 
year he came to Livingston County and purchased 
105 acres of land, to which he has added until he 
now owns 230 acres, on which a frame dwelling and 
commodious out-buildings iiave been erected. Mr. 
Crouch is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and is an ardent Republican in politics. 
There is no half-way ground either in his religious 
or political beliefs, and he espouses warmly the 
doctrines of both his church and party. 



JOHN CAMPBELL, whose excellent farm is 
located on section 8, Esmen Township, where 
he owns 160 acres of land besides forty acres 
in Amity Township, was born in Wayne 
County, Ind., on the 1 3th of May, 1 822, and was 
fciken by his parents to New Paris, Preble Co., 
Ohio, when but an infant. He is the eldest of a 
family of four children, three boys and one girl, 
born to Joseph and Sarah (Walker) Campbell. 

The Walker family were natives of Kentucky, 
and resided in Green County, where the mother of 




" LARCH LAWN STOCK FARM", PROPERTY OF E.5.( 







kRK,5Ec*32.&33, READiNcTowNSH i p. LIVINGSTON Co, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



783 



Mr. Campbell was born. She was the daughter of 
Samuel and Rebecca Walker, who were among the 
early settlers of Indiana. Samuel Walker was in 
the service of the Government during the War of 
1812, and had charge of the commissary depart- 
ment. The maternal grandparents were John and 
Mary (McCoy) Campbell, of Scotch ancestry, but 
natives of Virginia, who migrated to Kentucky be- 
fore the War of 1812, and thence to Indiana before 
the Government had located the boundary line be- 
tween Ohio and Indiana. They resided in Preble 
County, Ohio, after the boundary line was estab- 
lished. The father of the subject of this sketch was 
a carpenter by trade but operated and owned a 
farm while following that occupation. In 1 837 he 
came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion County, 
but afterward removed to Fountain County, Ind. 
In 1852 he returned to Illinois and bought a farm 
in Livingston County, where he remained until his 
death, which occurred in 1855. 

John Campbell was reared to farm life, and 
educated in the common schools. At the age of 
twenty-one he removed to Vermilion County, 111., 
where an uncle resided, and began life for himself 
as a farmer. On the 4th of February, 1 844, he was 
married to Emma J., the third child born to Thomas 
W. and Delilah (Paj r ne) Douglas, the former of 
Maine and the latter of New York. The father of 
Mrs. Campbell went to Indiana where he married, 
and then went to Cincinnati, remaining one winter, 
during which time his daughter Emma was born, on 
the 1st of February, 1826. He then returned to 
Indiana and from there migrated to Illinois, settling 
in Vermilion County, where he bought a farm on 
which he and his wife resided until their death. 

Immediately after marriage, Mr. Campbell bought 
160 acres of wild land in Vermilion County, 111., 
and settled on it. Two years later he sold this, and 
in 1 856 bought 1 20 acres of wild land in Living- 
ston County, upon which he at once settled and 
began the work of improving it. He has lived upon 
this farm ever since, and has brought it under a 
splendid state of cultivation, erecting also upon it 
comfortable and commodious buildings. He takes 
great pride in producing superior grades of stock. 

Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have had seven children, 
five of whom are living Edward Clinton, Sarah 



D., Fred S., Thomas A. and Emily A. All live in 
Iowa; the others died in infancy. Edward married 
Mary Swaner, and lives on a farm in Harrison 
County ; Sarah married James T. Hadley, and lives 
on a farm in Shelby County ; Fred married Ann E. 
Payne, and lives on a farm in Harrison County; 
Emily married George Longnecker, and lives on a 
farm in Harrison County; Thomas is unmarried, 
and manages a farm in Harrison County. Mr. 
Campbell has served as Assessor, School Trustee, 
and as long as he had a child to educate, as School 
Director. He was the first Assessor after the town- 
ship was organized. He has always taken great in- 
terest in his township affairs and has heartily ex- 
tended aid in building up and improving the com- 
munity. He is very active in political matters, 
and supports the Democratic ticket. 



OHN H. CORBIN. Among the younger 
farmers and stock-raisers of Sunbury Town- 
ship none are more entitled to a place in this 
ALBUM than the subject of this sketch, who 
has within his short career demonstrated that he 
knows how to conduct a farm successfully and to 
get on in the world. His 80-acre farm on sec- 
tion 29 is well improved, and under an excellent 
state of cultivation. 

Mr. Corbin was born on the 6th of January, 
1845, in Taylor County, W. Va. In the order of 
their birth he was the second in a family of seven 
children born to Oliver H. P. and Mary E. (Flow- 
ers) Corbin, of Virginia. Our subject was reared to 
manhood on the farm of his father, and received 
his education at the- common schools. He came 
West with his parents, of whose household he re- 
mained a member until he was thirty years of age, 
devoting his best energies to the prosecution of the 
work upon the farm. 

On the 12th of April, 1875, Mr. Corbin was 
married to Miss Julia Sanger, who was born in Es- 
sex County, N. Y., on the 3d of February, 1856. 
She was the sixth child born to Cornelius and 
Sarah (Arving) Sanger, who were natives of New 
York. Her paternal grandparents, Coleman and 
Anna (Comstock) Sanger, were also natives of New 



7s I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



York, and the maternal grandparents, William and 
Mary (Craig) Arving, were natives of New York 
State. The parents of Mrs. Corbin first settled in 
Livingston County, after which she accompanied 
them into Missouri. After remaining in Missouri 
for a time they all returned, and the subject of our 
sketch and his wife settled on a farm of eighty 
acres where they now reside. This farm is com- 
jjosed of excellent land, a greater portion of which 
is under cultivation. It contains good buildings, 
both for dwelling purposes and the necessities of the 
farm. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Corbin have been born two 
children: Raymond on the 2 1st of March, 1876. 
and Charlie on the 6th of June, 1880. They are 
both bright little fellows and add much to the 
cheerfulness and pleasure of the Corbin household. 

Mr. Corbin does not give much attention to polit- 
ical matters but contents himself with voting for 
his party's nominees, providing they are always 
good men. His political faith is in harmony with 
the Democratic party. He has been entrusted with 
important township offices upon several occasion^. 
and for the past fifteen years has served as School 
Director. He has also been Overseer of Highways 
and Township Collector, and in all these positions 
has satisfied the people by intelligently and fairly 
discharging the trusts imposed upon him. Ho is a 
member in good standing of the I. O. O. F., in 
which fraternity he takes a lively interest. 



<3 



i 




LEXANDER CUPPLES. The northern 
part of Livingston County is liberally set- 
tled with an intelligent and industrious 
population, composed largely of Irisli- 
American citizens. They are tacitly acknowledged 
to be among the most enterprising and industrious 
of the business men and farmers of Central Illinois, 
Miid are uniformly liberal-minded, public-spirited, 
and, almost without exception, take a lively inter- 
est in the growth and well-being of their adopted 
State. The subject of this biography occupies ;i 
po.-ition in the front ranks of these men, and be- 
sides being a skillful and prosperous tiller of the 



soil, has secured by his own efforts an excellent 
fund of general information, making him a man 
remarkably intelligent to converse with. His ha> 
been an interesting experience in life: he has seen 
the representatives of many lands, and has made 
the most of his opportunities. 

Our subject was born in County Down, Ireland, 
Sept. 8, 1839. His father, James Cupples, was a 
native of the same county, where he was reared to 
manhood, engaged in farming, and married .M i-s 
Agnes Henry, with whom he had been acquainted 
since childhood, and whose birthplace was not far 
from his own. The father visited America after- 
ward, spending, however, but a few weeks, and with 
this exception passed his entire life in his native 
county, as also did the mother. Their household 
included ten children, of whom but four are now 
living, while Alexander is the only one who settled 
in America. He attended school quite steadily 
during his childhood and youth, remaining under 
the parental roof until seventeen years of age, and 
then determined to cross the water. Embarking 
on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool in the month of 
March, he landed in the city of Boston thirteen 
days later, and went directly to New York City, 
where he engaged in the dry-goods house of A. 
T. Stewart one year. He then returned to Boston 
and clerked until the following year, when he 
crossed the Atlantic to England, where he be- 
came connected with the dry -goods house of A. & 
S. Henry & Co., and was sent by them to New 
York, where he represented their interests until 
1876. From the Empire State he migrated to New 
England, residing in Connecticut two years, and 
then setting out for the West located upon the land 
which he now owns and occupies. 

The property of Mr. Cupples includes 240 acres 
of highly cultivated land, with an excellent set of 
frame build ings, good farm machinery, and a choice 
assortment of live stock. His accumulations have 
been the result of his own industry and persever- 
ance, as he commenced in life poor in purse and 
with little to encourage him. He now occupies an 
enviable position, socially and financially. :m<l has 
filled various offices of trust in his township, being 
now Justice of the Peace, which office he has held j 
since 1884. He has >ervcd as Township Clerk and 1 







t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



785, |j 



been Schoul Director for several terms. He is 
among the first men whom his fellow-citizens con- 
sult in regard to the various enterprises set on foot 
for the general welfare of the community. 

In 1870 Mr. Cupples visited Ireland, and spent a 
few weeks pleasantly with his boyhood friends and 
relatives. He has a brother whom he never saw, 
as he was born after Alexander came to America, 
and was in Australia for the benefit of his health at 
the time our subject visited his native country. 
Mr. Cupples, while a resident of New York, was 
united in marriage with Miss Alfte A. Kennedy, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, 
Nov. 18, 1862. Mrs. Cupples was born in Charles- 
town, Mass., July 30, 1836, and is the daughter of 
J. F. and J. C. Kenned}', natives of Massachusetts, 
but now residing in New York. Of this union 
there have been born eight children Agnes H., 
Franklin II.. Jennie, Alexander, James, William, 
Alice and Samuel. Most of them are at home with 
their parents. Our subject and his wife are mem- 
bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at Nevada, and no family in the community 
is more highly esteemed. 



1 



SAAC W. GATCHELL. In noting the people 
of a county as generously populated and 
wealthy as Livingston, we become cognizant of 
the fact that in that section is represented almost 
all nationalities, and nearly all the New p]ngland and 
Middle States. The subject of this sketch was born 
near the Atlantic coast in Lincoln County, Me., on 
the llth of June, 1837, and has consequently now 
passed his fiftieth year. He is the son of Aaron 
and Ada Gatchell, who were also natives of the 
Pine Tree State, and the maternal ancestors were of 
Welsh descent. The father of our subject died in 
1879, and the mother is now living in Maine. 

The parental family of our subject included eight 
children, of whom the following are known to be liv- 
ing: M.-irtha, the wife of Charles Flagg, of Maine; 
Betsey, Mrs. William Bragg, of Iowa; James, of 
Brookfield, 111. : Sewell, of Ottawa: Charles, who 
* 



remains in his native State, and Isaac W., of our 
sketch. Isaac was reared to manhood in his native 
State, receiving a good English education, and 
when ready to start out in life for himself, at the 
age of twenty-two years, set his face westward and 
located in LaSalle County, this State. Here he re- 
sided until the outbreak of the late war and then, 
laying aside for the time his cherished plans, enlisted 
in Company F, 104th Illinois Infantry, being as- 
signed with his regiment to the Army of the Cum- 
berland. Later they were transferred to the Ten- 
nessee Division, and afterward going farther south, 
participated in the battles of Ilartsville, Resaca, 
Peachtree Creek and Chickamauga, besides meet- 
ing the enemy in many other important engage- 
ments. His regiment first unfurled the stars and 
stripes of the 14th Corps at Mission Ridge, and af- 
terward joined the command of Gen. Sherman in 
his march from Atlanta to the sea. The last en- 
gagement in which our subject participated was at 
Bentonville, S. C., which was soon followed by the 
surrender of the Confederate General, Lee, when 
the troops were ordered to Washington for the 
grand review. Mr. Gatchell had been peculiarly 
fortunate, escaping wounds and other disasters, 
and receiving his honorable discharge at Washing- 
ton, D. C., was mustered out and returned home in 
June, 1865. 

Mr. Gatcheironce more took up his abode on 
prairie soil, and in the spring of 1873 purchased 
his present farm of 240 acres on section 4, in Owego 
Township. The larger portion of it is now under 
a good state of cultivation, and it is enclosed with 
substantial fencing and supplied with all needful 
buildings. This property is the accumulation of 
years of toil and self-sacrifice, but Mr. Gatchell 
feels that he is amply rewarded by the result. 

The marriage of our subject took place on the 
24th of August, 1867. His wife, in her girlhood, 
was Miss Martha, daughter of Henry and Abigail 
Mason, natives of Ohio, who became residents of 
LaSalle County about forty-three years ago. Their 
family included eight children, namely: Vesta, Lu- 
ther, Wilbur, John, Ida, Norah, Ellen and Arthur. 
Mr. Gatchell has spent his time principally in at- 
tending to his own concerns, but has never been 
backward in giving his assistance to those enter- 



,, 

4 



786 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



prises calculated for the good of the community. 
He is decidedly Republican in politics, is an oblig- 
ing neighbor and friend, and distinguished by all 
the qualities of an honest man and a good citizen. 



J~ OSHUA T. COX is known as the proprietor 
of the beautiful farm on section 10, which 
comprises 160 acres and is finely adapted to" 
1 stock-raising, to which it is largely devoted. 
Mr. Cox deals largely in high-grade cattle and first- 
class general purpose horses, including several 
brood mares of fine blood. He located in Belle 
Prairie Township eleven years ago and was at once 
recognized as a valued addition to the community. 
He is what may be properly termed a self-made 
man. as he started out in life when a lad but fifteen 
years of age and has since "paddled his own canoe." 
His first venture was as a soldier in the Union 
army, enlisting in the 161st Ohio Infantry, and was 
accepted, notwithstanding his youth. He served 
over a year and met the enemy in several important 
battles. He fortunately escaped wounds and sick- 
ness, and received his honorable discharge in 1864. 

Mr. Cox was born in Harrison County, Ohio, 
Aug. 25, 1845, and is the son of Joshua and Edith.a 
(Bell) Cox, natives of Maryland. The father died 
in Harrison County, when our subject was a young 
child. He had never been of robust constitution, 
and although remaining upon the farm and super- 
intending its operations, was able to do but little 
manual labor, consumption having fastened upon 
him, which claimed him for a victim when about 
forty-eight years of age. The mother continued a 
resident of the Buckeye State, and died there in May, 
1885, at an advanced age; both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children, nine 
in number, were named respectively: William F., 
Elizabeth, Rebecca, James. John, Ebenezer, George. 
Joshua T. and Sarah. 

After leaving the army Mr. Cox returned to his 
old home in Ohio, where he was variously employed, 
and finally appointed cashier of the Tuscarawas 
Valley Bank at New C'omerstown, which position 
he occupied about five years. He came to Illinois in 



1876, locating first on a farm near Fairbury, where 
he carried on agriculture until accumulating means 
with which to purchase his present homestead. He 
was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Thomp- 
son, Jan. 25, 1883. Mrs. Cox is of English birth 
and parentage, beginning life in Huntingdonshire, 
April 19, 1863. Her parents, Charles and Emma 
(Hillson) Thompson, immigrated to the United 
States in 1873, and located in Minonk, 111., where 
the mother died nine years later, in December, 
1882. Mr. Thompson is still living and a resident 
of Washburn, Woodford County, where he carries 
on butchering. The parental family included twelve 
children, namely: Sarah A., Alberta, James, George 
W., Sarah, Charles E., Polly, John, Emma. Lizzie, 
Florence and Ella. Sarah A., Alberta and Polly are 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two sons Charles 
D. and Amos F. 

In addition to his farming and stock operations 
Mr. Cox in the year 1887 interested himself in a 
steam thresher of the J. I. Case pattern, which he 
has operated to good advantage, in thirty days 
turning out 60,000 bushels of oats. It may readily 
be surmised from the foregoing that he is unusually 
wide-awake and enterprising, and is never so con- 
tented as when busily employed. He takes a lively 
interest in what is going on around him, and polit- 
ically is a true-blue Republican. 




HARLE8 II. HOKE, the leading and popular 
liveryman of Odell, although but twenty- 
seven years of age, has already established 
himself in a good business and secured the patron- 
age of the best people in his township. He is a 
native of Livingston County, and was born in Un- 
ion Township, June 28, 1860. His parents, Samuel 
and Elizabeth "(Kenney) Iloke, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and among the most highly re- 
spected residents of the northeastern part of Liv- 
ingston County. 

Mr. Hoke, as the son of a farmer, passed his 
childhood amid the quiet scenes of country life, and 
like Whittier's '-barefoot boy," attended the com- 
mon school. He continued under the home roof 
until twenty-one years old and then, having already 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



87 



ir 



formed his plans for the future, married one of thfe 
nicest girls of the neighborhood, Miss Alice S. 
Funk, the wedding occurring at the home of the 
bride, Nov. 22, 1881. Mrs. Hoke was the eighth 
in a family of nine children born to her parents, 
Abram and Margaret (Hutchison) Funk, a sketch 
of whom appears on another page of this ALBUM. 

The young people first settled on a farm in Un- 
ion Township, not far from the parental homestead, 
but Mr. H. believing he could do better elsewhere, 
repaired to Odell and purchased the lively outfit of 
Mr. Vosburg. The following May 14, the estab- 
lishment was destroyed by a cyclone, which carried 
away indiscriminately animals and vehicles. The 
harness and other equipments were many of them 
scattered to the four winds. Mr. Hoke, however, 
made the best of circumstances and immediately 
re-established himself in the same business, in which 
he has prospered and built up a fine patronage both 
in the city and suburbs.- He is one of the most 
prominent members of the Horse Fair Association, 
which meets monthly and furnishes a market for 
this necessary animal within a radius of thirty-five 
miles. 

Considering the important interests over which 
Mr. Hoke has control, it is not to be wondered at 
that he finds little time to meddle with the concerns 
of his neighbors or enter into the strife for public 
office. He recognizes, however, the influence of 
each citizen upon the affairs of the country, and 
performs his duty in times ol general election by 
casting his vote with the Republican party. 



LSOM P. CHAMPLIN. By a law of na- 
ture the traits of the parents are often trans- 
mitted to the children, and if the sins of 
the father are visited upon the sons in some 
instances, there are undeniable and unmistakable 
evidences that the virtues of the parents are in- 
herited by sous and daughters, and in this way the 
equilibrium between the good and the bad is main- 
tained. In the sketch we have in hand are traced 
the lives of the father and mother, who were honest 
members of society while living, and were sincerely 




mourned when dead, and it is to one of their off- 
spring this page is dedicated. In him will be found 
those traits that characterize honorable and hon- 
ored parents, and fully illustrate the axiom, "Like 
father, like son." 

Mr. Champlin is a representative farmer of Avoca 
Township, where he is located on section 28. He is 
a native of Jefferson County, N. Y., where he was 
born on the 10th of June, 1842, and is the son of 
Moses and Tirzah Champlin, both of whom were 
natives of New York. His paternal ancestors are 
of German, and maternal ancestors, of English de- 
scent; both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, 
it is said, were soldiers in the War of 1812. To his 
parents were born eight children, of whom the fol- 
lowing survive: Lewis C., Alsom P., Henry C., 
Nancy M., and Ella J., the wife of Klias Virgin. 

When about twelve years of age the subject of 
this sketch accompanied his parents when they re- 
moved to Illinois, where they settled in Wood ford 
County, whence, after a short time they removed to 
Marshall County, where they resided until 1857. 
In the spring of that year they came to Livingston 
Count} 7 , settling in Avoca Township, where the 
father died on the llth of January, 1887, and the 
mother on the 10th of August of the same year. 
Moses Champlin came to this county a poor man, 
and through hard work, good management and 
economy, acquired a comfortable home for his fam- 
ily. He was one of the representative pioneers of 
the county, and was esteemed by all for his many 
virtues and scrupulous honesty in all his business 
transactions. It can very truly be said that in his 
death the county lost one of its best citizens and 
most public-spirited men a man who was always 
engaged in some good work. In political affilia- 
tions he was always loyal to the Republican party, 
of which he vvas a member for many years. 

Alsom P. Champlin has been a farmer all his life, 
and in connection with that occupation, has at 
times engaged in the work of a plasterer and mason. 
On the 10th of August, 187G, he was married to 
Jennie Virgin, of Livingston County, and they have 
had one child, upon whom they conferred the names 
of Clara Myrtle. Mr. Champlin owns a good farm, 
in the management of which he has been eminently 
successful. In many traits of his character he re- 



4 



788 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



sembles his father, and is esteemed for many of the 
virtues which were possessed by his son. He also 
is a Republican in politics, and gives his best ener- 
gies to that party. On account of his warm inter- 
est in all educational matters he has been for several 
successive terms chosen as Director of Schools, anil 
has also served as Assessor of Avoca Township. 
He and his wife occupy an enviable position in the 
esteem and respect of their neighbors, and what- 
ever they find to do for the good of the community 
they do with a right good will. 




1 NDREW J. CORBIN. One of the snug- 
gest 80-acre farms in lEsmen Township is 
located on section 4, and has been owned 
and occupied by the subject of this sketch 
for thirty -three years. Mr. Curbin was born in Har- 
rison County, W. Va., on the llth of August, 1818, 
and was the youngest in a family of twelve chil- 
dren, of whom Auderson and Elizabeth (llaines) 
Corbin, natives of the eastern part of Virginia, were 
the parents. The father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and lived and died in Harrison County. He 
was a Revolutionary soldier, entering the Conti- 
nental army at the age of sixteen, and serving un- 
til the close of the war. He experienced all the 
hardships and horrors of that period in the history 
of our country, and at one time lived seven days 
on a few grains of corn and an old leather belt 
which he burned to a crisp and ate. He died at the 
age of eighty-six, on the 1st of March, 1845. 

Mr. Corbin was reared to farm life., and had no 
opportunities for education except short terms at 
country schools in the winter season. From the 
time he was sixteen years old he worked in a black- 
smith-shop on his father's place, and became quite 
proficient in that trade, which he followed exclu- 
sively for eight years. On the 18th of January, 
1843, he was married to Sarah J., second child in.a 
family of eight, born to Dr. Jesse and Mary (Lucas) 
Flowers, who were of Irish ancestry. Before mar- 
riage Mr. Corbin went to work in a distillery, where 
he remained for four years, and followed the same 
occupation for five years after marriage. He then 
bought eleven acres of land and farmed until 1854, 



when he sold out and came to Illinois, locating in 
Livingston County", where he bought eighty acres 
of land in Esinen Township, which constitutes the 
farm on which he now resides. He immediately 
moved upon this farm, and has since devoted his 
life to developing and improving it. They have 
had >ix children, four of whom are living Thomas 
J., Francis B., Rachel and" William Perry. The eldest, 
Celia Ann, and an infant are dead ; Thomas married 
Mary Nichols, and is engaged in farming in Chase 
County, Kan.; they have a family of nine children 
Joanna, Nora, Anderson, Bertha, Charlie, Lloyd, 
Morgan, Olive and Jackson. Francis also lives in 
Chase County, and is a farmer and horse-dealer; 
Rachel is the wife of Benjamin Flowers, of Em- 
poria, Lyons Co., Kan., and they have two chil- 
dren, Cecil and Nettie; Perry married Flora Rhodes; 
they have three children Jessie S., Ora and an in- 
fant. 

Mr. Corbin has never taken a very active part in 
politics, but invariably caste his vote for the Dem- 
ocratic ticket. He has served as School Director, 
and Road Commissioner several times. During the 
late war he was drafted for service in the army, but 
being over the age established by law for compul- 
sory service, he was never taken into active service. 




EORGE B. MONGER, a retired hotel-keeper, 
but now the owner of 1,000 acres of land on 
sections 35 and 36, Esmen Township, where 
he is devoting his time exclusively to agricult- 
ure and stock-raising, was born in the town of 
Sullivan, Madison Co., N. Y., on the 9th of April, 
1838, and was the fourth in a family of seven boys, 
children of William II. and Emily A. (Buslmell) 
Munger, natives of New York. The maternal 
grandparents were Reuben and Betsey (Chapman) 
Bushncll, who were natives of Connecticut. The 
father of Mr. Munger was an inn-keeper, and built 
Lafayette Hall at Verona, N. Y., and kept it as a 
hotel for twenty-five years. He was an enterpris- 
ing man, and largety interested in the country's 
progress at that time. lie was a neighbor and warm 
personal friend of Hon. Horatio Seymour, and 



I 






t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



7S!I 



- 



wielded a strong influence in State politics. He 
died in 1854. The widow survives him, and re- 
sides with her son at the Arcade Hotel, Springfield, 
Ohio. 

Mr. Munger was reared" to hotel life, and was 
educated in the city schools of his home. His 
mother moved West, and settled near Morris, 111., 
where she had purchased a farm. He remained at 
home until the war broke out, and in August, 1861, 
enlisted in Company G, 36th Illinois Infantry, 
Capt. Parkhurst commanding. Mr. Munger be- 
gan to raise a company, but afterward united his 
men with Capt. Parkhurst's command, and \v.-is 
mustered in at Aurora. The company was placed 
under Col. Grossell, and was first sent to Rolla, 
Mo., where he was assigned to Curtis' command, 
which was attached to the Army of the Southwest. 
It was engaged in active skirmishing from the start, 
and met the first stubborn resistance at Pea Ridge. 
After this engagement Curtis' army moved from 
Pea Ridge in the direction of Helena, Ark., on the 
Mississippi River, which place was reached after a 
long and severe march, through a country which 
was barren of subsistence. Mr. Munger remained 
with the same division during his entire service, 
participating in all the marches and engagements in 
which it took part. Three of his brothers were in 
the service also. He was injured at Pea Ridge, but 
not wounded afterward. All the brothers went 
through the war without serious damage, but one of 
them died soon after his return. Mr. Munger was 
mustered out at Washington, and returned to his 
home, where he spent the next year, and then he 
and his brother started a hotel at Bridgeport, N. Y. 

In the city above mentioned, on the 18th of No- 
vember, 1863, Mr. Munger married Miss Mary M. 
Siver, daughter of Joseph and Betsey (Ochempach) 
Siver, who were natives of New York. Three years 
later they came West, where he bought a hotel at 
Earlville. He remained there three years, and then 
went to Princeton, 111., and purchased the Empire, 
the leading hotel there. He bought it on Tuesday, 
and on Thursday it was totally destroyed by fire, 
without any insurance, leaving him to begin at the 
bottom of the ladder again. In a little while he 
started the National Hotel in the same town, from 
which he went into the American, remaining in that 



place altogether seven years. From there he went to 
Chicago^ where he managed the Burdick House 
three years, the Clifton House some years, and the 
Matteson House five years. He then concluded to 
quit the hotel business and become a farmer and 
stock-raiser. In December of 1885 he bought a 
little more than 1,000 acres of laud in the township 
of Esmen, which he has stocked with fine Norman 
horses, Short-horn cattle and Southdown sheep, 
and where he proposes to indulge his taste for farm- 
ing and stock-raising the remainder of his life. 

Mr. and Mrs. .Munger have but one child, Carrie 
E., wife of Clarence Russell Britton, of the Britton 
Iron and Steel Company, of Cleveland, where they 
reside. Mr. Munger takes no part in political mat- 
ters, but devotes his entire time to business and 
domestic affairs. 



It' 

l\ m 



HESTER F. CROUCH. The early life of 
this gentleman was spent in New England 
^^^7 among the New Hampshire hills, where his 
birth took place in the little village of Haverhill, 
Aug. 27, 1815. lie was reared and educated in his 
native county, remaining under the home roof until 
after passing his thirty-first year, and working with 
his father on the farm, which had been in posses- 
sion of the latter for a long period. He came to 
the West in 1854, and two years later purchased 
eighty acres of his present homestead, which now 
consists of one-quarter of section 22 in Indian 
Grove Township. He brought with him to Illi- 
nois the substantial traits of character with which 
he had been born and bred, and is tacitly accorded 
the respect and esteem of his neighbors. 

Our subject is the son of Ephraim and Rebecca 
(Whitmore) Crouch, also natives of the old Granite 
State, where they spent their entire lives. They 
are remembered by their son as Christian people 
possessed of the noblest qualities, and performing 
all their duties in life as parents, neighbors and 
friends, in a most praiseworthy manner. Ephraim 
Crouch was reared to farming pursuits, which he 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



followed all his life near the place of his birth, and 
there rested from his labors in August, 1 853. He 
was a Christian in the broadest sense of the word, 
although never having connected himself with any 
religious organization. The same may be said of 
the mother, who passed to her rest many years 
previous to the death of her husband, her decease 
taking place in December, 1837, while she was com- 
paratively a young woman. The eight children of 
the parental household were named respectively, 
Eliza, Sarah, Rebecca, Olive, Franklin, Chester F., 
Richard and Ephraim. Of these six are living and 
mostly residents of Illinois. 

Mr. Crouch was first married in New Hampshire 
in 1847, to Miss Harriet Taplin, who remained his 
companion for a period of thirty years and passed 
away Nov. 20, 1877, leaving two children George 
B., who married Miss Lucetta Watkins, and Evelyn, 
Mrs. Elliott Carter; both reside in this county. 
The mother came to the West with her husband 
and died at her home in this township, where her 
remains were laid to rest in Indian Grove Ceme- 
tery. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Oct. 20, 1879, was formerly Mrs. Ursula 
(Makepeace) Sackett, daughter of Solomon and 
Jane Makepeace, and widow of James Sackett. 
The latter, a native of Lewis County, N. Y., was 
born in 1822, followed farming all his life, and died 
at his home in Pleasant Ridge Township in 1871. 
He was a true Christian gentleman, and served as 
Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church 
for many years. He had been a resident of Illi- 
nois twenty years, locating first in Kendall County, 
whence four years later lie came to Livingston and 
took up a tract of land in Pleasant Ridge Town- 
ship, where he spent the remainder of his days. 
He was prominent in local affairs, and held the of- 
fice of Justice of the Peace four years. 

Mrs. Ursula Crouch was born in Jefferson County, 
N. Y., in 1827. Her father and mother were na- 
tives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respect- 
ively, and their family included seven children, 
namely : Lucy, Ursula, Jackson, Mary J., Solomon, 
John D. and Lydia. The marriage of Ursula with 
Mr. Sackett resulted in the birth of ten children, 
namely: John H., Delia, Sabrina, Emma, J. E., 



Mary, Ella, Lydia, Hattie and Willie. Mr. Crouch 
is a decided Republican, politically, and served -as 
Postmaster at Haverhill eight years. 



y" 1LLIAM A. PHILLIPS occupies the home- 
stead of his father, one of the most thor- 
oughly cultivated farms of Newtown Town- 
ship, and also represents this township in the 
County Board of Supervisors. He is a man of 
standing in his community, possessing good business 
capacities, and in all respects a public-spirited and 
liberal-minded citizen. His property is located on 
section 5, and he in common with a large propor- 
tion of the farmers of Livingston County, takes 
pride in his live stock especially, and gives to this 
department a large share of his attention. 

The subject of this biography was born under 
the roof where he now lives, Oct. 3, 1855, and is 
the son of Jacob and Mary (Zeigler) Phillips, a 
sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this 
ALBUM. The father is still living on the old 
homestead. The dwelling formerly stood three- 
fourths of a mile west, whence it was removed to 
its present location as being a more convenient and 
desirable one. 

Young Phillips passed his childhood and youth 
after the manner of most farmers' sons in the early 
days, and pursued his first studies at the district 
schools. He was a studious boy, ambitious to ex- 
cel, and in the fall of 1872, when seventeen years 
old, repaired to Clarke County, where he took a thor- 
ough course of study, spending two years and six 
months preparing to enter upon a collegiate course 
at Westfield College. His plans, however, were 
sadly broken in upon by his failing health, and he 
was obliged to abandon his books and return to the 
more active life of the farm. Soon- afterward he 
commenced working on his own account and began 
the establishment of a home for himself. 

In pursuance of his later plans Mr. Phillips now 
secured himself a wife and helpmeet in the person 
of Miss Catherine Parcel, to whom he was married 
at the home of the bride, in Westfield, Aug. 27, 
1876, Rev. William McGinnis, of the United 
Brethren Church, officiating. Mrs. Phillips was 

I 



I 



.- 









RESIOENCEOrTHOMAS MILLS, SEC I. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP 



RESIDENCEOF CHRIST. GMELICK, SEC 7, AMITY TOWNSHIP 






RESIDENCE OF IRA COOK, SEC 16, AMITY TOWNSHIP, 




t. 

; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



793 



born in Westfleld, May 8. 1857, and is the daugh- 
ter of John I. and Jane (McQuern) Parcel, natives 
respectively of New Jersey and North Carolina. 
The father was born in 1805, and the mother about 
1821-22. The parents of both migrated first to 
Ohio during its early settlement, and subsequently 
to Indiana, where the young people were married. 
From the new State of Indiana they removed to 
Illinois, and located in Clark County, where they 
still live, the mother in good health but the father 
quite feeble. They are people highly respected by 
all who know them, and members in good standing 
of the United Brethren Church. Their six children 
were named respectively, Margaret and Frances, 
twins; Samuel, Catherine, Alexander and Linnie. 
Of these two are deceased, and the others are mar- 
ried and residents mostly of Illinois. Margaret, 
the widow of Edwin Fish, resides in Kansas. 

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips after their marriage made 
their home at their present residence, and are the 
parents of one child, a son, Clifford, born March 
17, 1885. They belong to the United Brethren 
Church at Smithdale. The wife of our subject is 
in every way fitted to be the companion of an in- 
telligent and well-educated man, having taken a 
course of studies at Westfield College, giving par- 
ticular attention to music, in which she became 
proficient as a performer, and engaged in teaching 
before her marriage. 

Mr. Phillips is a firm adherent of the Republican 
party, and besides his present office has held that 
of Township Clerk. He has been Supervisor of 
Newtown four years, and has proved himself ad- 
mirably fitted for the discharge of his duties. 



J^ OHN COCKRAM. The United States pos- 
sesses more inducements to emigrants from 
European countries than any other country 
' in the world, and affords more opportunities 
also for the vocations of life. All varieties of cli- 
mate are represented within its boundaries, and its 
natural resources include nearly all that are com- 
prehended by other sections of the globe. So far 
as climate and soil are concerned, they stand unex- 
celled for the production of crops, which form the 



staple of life in all civilized countries, and as far as 
the relations of the people are concerned, the far- 
mer in this country is the peer of any other man, 
no matter what his calling in life may be. or how 
exalted his political position. 

The subject of this sketch, who is a representa- 
tive and progressive farmer and stock-raiser, resid- 
ing on section 30, in Avoca Township, is a native 
of Devonshire, England. He was born on the 4th 
of July, 1836, and can consequently celebrate his 
birthday and the anniversary of the Declaration of 
Independence of his adopted country simultane- 
ously. He is the second son of William and Mar- 
tha Cockram, also natives of England. While yet 
a boy in his native country he received a very fail- 
English education, and acquired a practical exper- 
ience in farming. In 1856 he took passage at Liv- 
erpool on a steamer bound for America, and after 
a voyage of nine days landed at Quebec, whence he 
almost immediately proceeded to the State of New 
York, where he resided in Batavia for about eight 
years. 

On the 7th of March, 1862, at Batavia, N. Y., 
Mr. Cockram was married to Helen Haslip, a na- 
tive of London, England. In the fall of 1869 they 
came west and located in Livingston County, where 
for several years they lived on rented land until he 
could acquire sufficient means with which to pur- 
chase a farm. Their efforts in this direction were 
successful, and the home place now consists of 
eighty acres of well-improved land, equipped with 
appropriate buildings. When he landed in Amer- 
ica he had but $8 in his pocket with which to begin 
life among strangers and in a .strange land, but he 
had an indomitable will and a determination to 
succeed, having come to this country for the pur- 
pose of making it his permanent home. 

Mr. Cockram is a Democrat when it comes to 
National issues, but in the matter of electing town- 
ship and county officers he gives his support, re- 
gardless of party, to the candidate he considers 
most competent to fill the office. He has been fre- 
quently solicited to accept office at the hands of 
his fellow-citizens, but has invariably declined, be- 
ing of an unassuming nature, and not having a 
taste for office-holding. He and his wife are both 
reputable and respected members of society, and 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



enjoy the confidence and esteem of the community. 
They are so situated that in their declining years 
they will enjoy all the comforts of life, and will 
look back with considerable satisfaction at the 
events which led up to their success. 




\ 



. NDREW B. CLAUDON, money loaner, 
K-ll grain and coal dealer, and owner of the 
ft Fairbury Elevator, .was born in Lorraine, 
while it was yet a Province of France, 
Aug. 31, 1846, and is the son of Nicholas and Bar- 
bara (Bechler) Claudon, who were also natives of 
France. The father was born in 1800 and is still 
living in France, following his occupation of farm- 
ing. The mother was born in 1814, and died in 
January, 1880. 

Mr. Claudon is one of a family of eight children, 
namely : Christian, Joseph, Mary, Andrew B., Bar- 
bara, Peter, Nicholas B., and one who died in in- 
fancy. Christian married Miss Annie Beckler; Jo- 
seph married Miss Mary Mosierman ; Mary is the 
wife of M. D. King; Barbara married C. Summers, 
and they are residents of France; Peter married 
Miss Katie Vercler, now deceased, and his second 
marriage was to Miss Lena Engel; Nicholas B. mar- 
ried Miss Maty Schertz, of Tazewell Count}', 111. ; 
they have two children Chester, and an infant not 
named. 

Andrew and Nicholas compose the firm of 
Claudon Bros., grain dealers, which business was 
established in the fall of 1877. They are the larg- < 
est grain-buyers in Livingston County, their pur- 
chases annually aggregating about 000 carloads. 
They have the confidence and esteem of the grain- 
raisers of all this section of Illinois, and virtually 
control- the trade within the teriitory tributary to 
Fairbury. Andrew B. Claudon was married, in 
1877, to Miss Mollie A. McDowell, a native of Illi- 
nois, where she was born in 1853. They have had 
three children Allie B.. Annie J. and Burt, the 
last-named dying in infancy. 

Nicholas Claudon was married on the 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 188l', to Mi>s Mary Sdiirtz, whose father, 
Joseph Schirtz, a miller by occupation, was one of 
tlic pioneer:- of Ta/ewcll County; she was born in 



May, 1860. Nicholas Claudon came to Illinois in 
1873, and located in Chenoa, where he remained 
seven years engaged in farming. In 1881 he moved 
to Danvers, McLean County, where he entered into 
partnership with C. R. Stuckey, as dealers in gen- 
eral merchandise, in which business they accumu- 
lated some money. On the 5th of July, 1883, 
Nicholas disposed of his interest there and moved 
to Fairbury, and entered into partnership in the 
grain business witli his brother. Andrew B. Clau- 
don came to Illinois in 1867, locating in Chenoa, 
where he remained two years engaged in the har- 
ness business. In 1809 he closed up his affairs there 
and came to Fairbury, where he worked at the same 
business for five years, at the end of which time he 
made a visit to Europe and again looked upon the 
scenes of his childhood. Upon his return to the 
United States, he entered upon the business of grain- 
buyer, which he has since continued. In political 
matters both brothers act with the Republican 
party. 




IRAM DRONENBURG, a representative 
farmer and stock-raiser of Owego Town- 
ship, where he owns a finely cultivated tract 
of 156 acres on section 4, is a native of 
Frederick County, Md., where his birth took place 
Dec. 28, 1817. He remained in his native State 
until after his marriage, and then migrating west- 
ward to Marshall County, 111., during its pioneer 
days, pitched his tent in this localit\", and here he 
has since remained. This movement on his part 
proved an advantageous one for himself and of 
equal benefit to the community. He has acquitted 
himself creditably us a citizen and with marked 
skill as an agriculturist, besides developing prime 
qualities as a business man. 

The parents of our subject, Jacob and Ma 1-3' 
(Madary) Dronenburg, were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. and the paternal ancestors were of Holland 
descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject. 
Jacob Dronenburg, Sr., served in the War of 1812, 
and spent his last years in his native Maiyland. 
Hiram, of our sketch, was the fifth in a family of 
twelve children, of whom besides our subject the 
following survive, namely: Jacob, of Maryland; 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



795 






Margaret, widow of the late Charles Hagan, of 
Richmond, Va.; Henry, of Maryland : Rachel, the 
widow of the late SamneJ Kit-miller, of Bartholo- 
mew County, Ind. ; Mary A., Mrs. Nathan Jones, 
of Maryland, who is now a widow; William and 
Charles. The two last named are also residents 
of Maryland. 

Mr. Dronenburg spent his childhood and youth 
in his native county, receiving a limited education 
and assisting his father in the blacksmith-shop, 
(where the latter employed much of his time) until 
fourteen years of age. The father of the family 
wa> then called hence, his death taking place about 
1832. Several of the sons of Jacob Dronenburg 
had learned the trade of their father, and after, the 
death of the latter Hiram also began a regular ap- 
prenticeship, and followed blacksmithing entirely 
until 1857, in which year he came to Illinois. He 
was a resident of Marshall County until 1871, and 
thence came to Livingston County, where he prac- 
tically abandoned blacksmithing and took up the 
more congenial pursuit of agriculture. 

When Mr. Dronenburg took possession of the 
land which he now owns the sod had scarcely been 
turned by the plowshare, and the transformation 
which has been brought about, it will be apparent 
at once to the reflective mind, has been accom- 
plished only by the most persevering industry and 
patient waiting. The fields are now enclosed with 
beautiful hedge fencing, and the dwelling is sur- 
rounded by shade and ornamental trees, while a 
fine orchard stands in the rear, indicating at once 
the commendable pride and taste of the proprietor. 

The lady who has shared the fortunes of our 
subject for a period of over forty-five years, and 
to whom he was married Dec. 12, 1839, was in her 
girlhood Miss Sarah A. Price, a native also of 
Maryland, and daughter of Job and Mary Price. 
Of this union there were born six children, of whom 
they have suffered the loss of three. Those sur- 
viving are: Bertie, the wife of Robert Miller, of 
Odell Township; Robert, who is farming in Owego 
Township; and Laura, the wife of David Dowhow, 
who resides in the eastern portion of the county. 
Those deceased were named Mary, William and 
Reverdy. Mary died at forty-four years of age ; the 
others passed away in early childhood. 



Our subject is essentially a self-made man, carving 
out his own fortune unaided, and has proved an ad- 
mirable illustration of the results of industrious ef- 
fort coupled with an upright and worthy life. He 
has taken a lively interest in the moral and educa- 
tional welfare of his community, and has been a 
cheerful and liberal contributor to those enter- 
prises tending to this end. Politically he is a con- 
scientious Democrat, and with his estimable wife 
occupies an enviable position in his township, en- 
joying the confidence and esteem of all who know 
him. He has. represented Owego Township in the 
County Board of Supervisors several terms, and has 
also served as Commissioner of Highways, and to 
whatever position he has been called he has dis- 
charged his duties with credit to himself and satis- 
faction to all concerned. Mr. Dronenburg and his 
aged partner are now passing down the sunset hill 
of life, a life which they may justly feel has been 
well spent, for they have reared their children care- 
fully and have striven to exert a good influence 
upon all around them. 



OIIN G. LOCKNER. This gentleman is pro- 
prietor of one of the most beautiful home- 
steads in Livingston County. It comprises 
160 acres of land and is located on section 
.">, in Germanville Township, in all respects forming 
one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of 
that region. The soil has been brought to a high 
state of cultivation, while the farm buildings invari- 
ably attract the attention of the passer-by as having 
evidently been erected under the supervision of a 
proprietor of refined tastes and ample means. The 
residence stands on a slight elevation and com- 
mands a view of the surrounding country within a 
radius of many miles, including the town of Mel- 
vin, which at a distance of nine miles is plainly 
visible. 

Mr. Lockner took possession of this delightful 
.-pot in the spring of 1871. It would not then by 
any means bear comparison with its present condi- 
tion, although its natural advantages were great. 
Mr. Lockner by his skill and industry has developed 
in .1 surprising manner the resources at hand, and 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



has been well repaid for his outlay of time and 
means. Of all the men who came from the Father- 
land to build up a home in the New World few 
have been more fortunate in their undertakings 
and none more deserving. The essential points in 
a history of more than ordinary interest are as fol- 
lows: 

Our subject was born in the central part of the 
Kingdom of Prussia, June 24, 1840. He was the 
second of three children, the offspring of Goothelf 
and Anna Lockner, who were also of German birth 
and parentage, and were reared and married in their 
native Province. In 1857, when John G. was a 
youth of seventeen years, they came to the United 
States with their family and first located in Men- 
dota, this State. The parents resided in LaSalle 
County the remainder of their days, engaged in 
farming pursuits. The father rested from his 
earthly labors in the spring of 1878, and the mother 
eighteen months later, in 1880. The three children 
of the parental household were all born in Ger- 
many. William, the youngest, a bright and intel- 
ligent lad nine years of age, was drowned in New 
York Harbor when the}' landed in this country. 
Anna is the wife of John Dnmett, a farmer of La- 
Salle County. 

Our subject celebrated his seventeenth birthday 
upon the Atlantic Ocean on the voyage to Amer- 
ica. He remained with his parents on the farm 
until the outbreak of the late war. in the meantime 
having become thoroughly Americanized. Feeling 
that the interests of his adopted country were his 
own, it is not surprising therefore, that now, in 
common with thousands of other young patriots, 
he was anxious to do battle in defense of her in- 
stitutions, and accordingly proffered his services as 
a soldier of the Union, soon after the first call for 
troops. He was mustered into service as a member 
of Company K, llth Illinois Infantry, and partici- 
pated in the battle of Shiloh and other minor en- 
gagements, after which he was detailed to service 
at the headquarters of Gen. McPhcrson for eight- 
een months. With the exception of a furlough of 
thirty days, he was continuously in service there- 
after until the close of the war. During this period 
he traveled over nine of the Southern States, and 
although seeing much danger and hardship, was 



neither wounded nor captured, although in the 
thickest of the fight at Shiloh and where five men 
were shot down at his right side. He \vas mustered 
out by special order in December, 1865, at Mem- 
phis, Tenn., after having gained the marked ap- 
proval of his superior officers, and the good-will 
and esteem of his comrades, by his bravery and un- 
selfishness. 

Upon returning to civil life Mr. Lockner took 
up his abode in Marshall County, this State, where 
he was engaged in farming pursuits until 1871. 
Then, having some means, he decided to invest in 
real estate in this county and settled where he now 
resides. Very little of the sod had been broken 
and there were no buildings of any kind. The land 
is now all under cultivation, and the residence, 
erected in 1887, is acknowledged to be the best in 
Germanville Township. The lady who has presided 
over his household affairs for a period of nearly 
twenty years, was in her girlhood Miss Catherine 
Seifert, and became the wife of our subject in 
Woodford County, 111., in 1870. Mrs. Lockner 
was born in 1842, and is now the n.otlier of six 
bright children, namely: Jacob, Mary, Katie, John, 
William and Henry. 

Mr. Loekner is a stanch Republican, politically, 
and always ready to support the principles of his 
party. He is wide-awake, enterprising and indus- 
trious, and no man in the county stands higher or 
enjoys in a larger degree the esteem and confidence 
of his fellow-citizens. He has served as School Di- 
rector in his township and is a member in good 
standing of the Lutheran Church. 

As illustrative of the progress made in the style 
of architecture in this section of coimtrj' we present 
On another page a view of Mr. Lockner's residence. 



ETER HARRINGTON, a native of the Em- 
pire State, has been a resident of Dwight 
Township for eighteen years, and is- one of 
the most useful and substantial members 
of the agricultural community. The history of his 
family is one eminently worthy of record. :inc| 
which he preserves with conscientious care as a mat- 
ter which will be of invaluable interest to his chil- 




I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



797 



dri'ii. The world naturally reverts to tlie antece- 
dents of the prominent man involuntarily, wish- 
ing to know under what circumstances he com- 
menced life, and with what elements he has had to 
contend, particularly if his career has been fortu- 
nate, as has that of our subject. 

Michael Harrington, the father of Peter, was born 
in County Cork, Ireland, whence he emigrated 
when a young man, about 1837, after his marriage, 
and after the birth of two children. The mother, 
formerly Miss Ellen Mahony, was born in the same 
locality as her husband, and cheerfully accompanied 
him to the New World, which they had sought in 
the hopes of bettering their condition and giving to 
their children the advantages which there seemed 
no prospect of obtaining upon their native soil. 
They located in New York, where the father was 
employed at farming for eight years following. In 
1844 they removed to Wisconsin, and Mr. Harring- 
ton purchased a farm in Saukville, Ozark Countv, 
where he built up a comfortable home, and where 
his death took place in 188G. He had lived to the 
advanced age of eighty-one years, and his course 
had been such as to secure for him the highest re- 
spect of all who knew him. The parental house- 
hold included eight children, who were named re- 
spectively, Bartholomew, John, Peter, George, Den- 
nis, Michael, Mary and Ella. They are all living, 
and residents mostly of Wisconsin. The mother is 
dead. Michael Harrington, after becoming a nat- 
uralized citizen, identified himself with the Demo- 
cratic party, whose principles he supported with all 
the energy of his character. He was an industrious, 
hard-working man, and is remembered by his chil- 
dren with the highest respect and veneration. 

Peter Harringcon was born in Herkimer County, 
N. Y., in 1837, and was a lad of but seven years 
when his parents removed to Wisconsin. He re- 
members the fact that they settled in a home among 
the Indians, when a large portion of the countrv 
was still a wilderness, and wild game was plenty. 
Amid these surroundings it was hardly to be ex- 
pected that he could acquire a finished education, 
but he was naturally fond of reading, and after be- 
coming acquainted with the tirst rudiments, made 
good progress in learning through his own exertions 
and by the aid of observation and experience. He 



remained contented with the quiet pursuits of farm 
life, his greatest ambition being the establishment of 
a home of his own. 

The men of thirty years ago, and in that section 
of country, not being as fashionable and exacting 
as they are at the present day. bravely started out 
when comparatively young in years, and took upon 
themselves the responsibilities of a famrly. The 
young lad IPS too were usually thoroughly trained in 
those arts which have such great influence in the 
happiness and contentment of a home. Young Har- 
rington accordingly, at the age of twenty years, 
having already selected his future helpmeet, was 
married in the spring of 1857, to Miss Catherine, 
daughter of Dennis and Ellen (Leary) McCarty, of 
Saukville, Wis. They settled contentedly down to 
housekeeping on the little farm which had been pre- 
sented Mr. H. by his father, and where they resided 
until 1864. Our subject then disposed of his prop- 
erty in Wisconsin, and removed with his family to 
Chicago, 111., but six months later rented a farm in 
LaSalle County, upon which he operated three years, 
and then secured possession of his present farm. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Harrington there were born ten 
children, whom they named respectively, Michael, 
Dennis, Mariah, Kate, Daniel, Celia, Peter, John, 
George and Arthur. 

The faithful and affectionate wife and mother de- 
parted this life at her home in Dwight Township, 
March 8, 1869. She possessed all the qualities of 
a worthy Christian lady, conscientious in the dis- 
charge of her duties, and doing everything in her 
power to make the home of her husband and chil- 
dren the most attractive spot on earth. With her 
husband and family she adhered firmly to the Catho- 
lic faith of her forefathers, and her name is held in 
universal respect by all who knew her. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Oct. 8, 1885, was formerly Miss Ellen, 
daughter of Patrick and Johanna (Donohoe) Burk, 
of Dwight. Mrs. Harrington - was born July 1, 
1848, at the home of her parents in Ireland, and 
was favored with a good education and careful 
training in those duties and accomplishments which 
have fitted her to preside with nice judgment and 
discretion over the home of one of the most promi- 
nent citizens of a highly intelligent community. 



t 



t. 



I 



798 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



The Harrington homestead invariably attracts the 
eye of the passing traveler as being one eminently 
desirable, and under the supervision of a gentle- 
man of good taste and thorough experience as a 
farmer and business man. The dwellings are sub- 
stantial, and kept in good order, and the farm stock 
and machinery are entirely creditable to the proprie- 
tor. 



/ OIIN W. MARSH, who is now a farmer and 
I stock-raiser on section 8 in Pontiac Town- 
ship, is a man who has siK-ut most of his life 
in other business pursuits, and became an 
agriculturist but a few years ago. He is a native 
of Madison County, N. Y., where he was born on 
the 23d of July, 1834. His parents were James 
and Esther (Miller) Marsh, the father being a na- 
tive of New England, and the mother of Chenango 
County, N. Y. His paternal ancestors were of 
Scotch-English descent. When about three years 
of age, his parents moved to Chenango County, X. 
Y.,and there lived until he reached his twelfth year. 
In his fifth year his mother died, and his father died 
when he was but twelve years of age, making him 
an orphan at this tender age. After his father's 
death he returned to Madison County, N. Y., and 
for two years resided with an uncle named Isaac 
Marsh. At fourteen years of age he began busi- 
ness for himself, working by the day, job or month. 
In his seventeenth year he began learning the trade 
of a shoemaker, serving for two years and a half, 
at the end of which time lie bought out the busi- 
ness of his employer, Alexander Covey, of Brook- 
field, N. Y., and conducted the business succe.-.- 
fully for several years, when he sold out with the 
intention of going West. He reconsidered his pur- 
pose, however, and again entered into business in 
the same town, which he continued until nearly the 
close of the war. 

In November, 1854, Mr. Marsh married Cornelia 
Beebe, daughter of Amos Beebe, of Madison Coun- 
ty, N. Y., and by this marriage there were five chil- 
dren: Louisa, the wife of William Black, of Wood- 
ford County, 111.; John A. married Ellen A. Hake. 
of Wood ford County, 111., and is superintendent of 
the manufacturing department and salesroom of 



John McCalla, of 1'outiac; William A. is operating 
a part of the homestead; Willis S. is foreman in 
the fitting department of the shoe manufactory in 
the State Reform School at Pontiac. John AY. 
Marsh married his present wife in 1871, she being 
Mi-s Lucene A. Lawson, originally of West Vir- 
ginia, but at the time of marriage residing in Wood- 
ford County, 111. By this marriage there are four 
children Esther. Edson, Mary and Lucinda. 

Mr. Marsh came to Livingston Count}- in the 
spring of 1 866, and was located for two years three 
miles northeast of Pontiac, and then moved to 
Cayuga, where he engaged in farming and the boot 
and shoe business. In the fall of 1869 he moved 
to Pontiac, and for a short time was employed 
in the boot and shoe business for other parties, and 
then began business for himself, and gradually 
worked his business up to that point that made it 
the largest in the city. He continued in this busi- 
ness until 1876, when he moved to his farm, on 
which he has resided ever since. His farm consists 
of eighty acres of good land, which he successfully 
cultivates. 

Mr. Marsh is a non-partisan in politics, and when 
he does take any part it is in furtherance of the 
Prohibition party. He is a member of the Baptist 
Church, and for many years has devoted consider- 
able time to ministerial work. He lectures quite 
frequently in Livingston and adjoining counties on 
questions of morality and reformation. He is a 
man of education and large information, and has 
pronounced views upon all the questions of the 
day, particularly those which relate to religion and 
reform. 

NDERSON COKBIN. The subject of this 
biography is one of the oldest and most 
(! highly respected residents of SunbniT 
Township. At the time of his coming here, 
in !&>;>, there were but four families within its 
limits. He has watched with interest and satisfac- 
tion the development and growth of Central Illi- 
nois, and contributed in no small degree to its pres- 
ent importance and prosperity. 

Mr. C'orliin was born in Harrison County, W. 
Va., March l.'i, 1813, and came to the West in the 




t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



70!) 



1 



strength of his young manhood, prepared to battle 
with the elements of life in a new country, to es- 
tablish a homestead, and build up a record that 
should reflect honor upon his posterity. When we 
consider what he has accomplished and the estima- 
tion in which he is held by the people who have 
known him so long and well, it is hardly necessary 
to say that his career has been a success. He is 
now retired from active labor, and in the precincts 
of a pleasant home in the village of Blaekstone is 
enjoying the fruits of his early industry. 

The father of our subject, Anderson Corbin, Sr., 
was born in Culpeper, Va., and was the son of 
Francis Corbin, also a native of the Old Domin- 
ion. The latter was a farmer by occupation but 
afterward joined Hhe army, and died in the service 
of his country while fighting on the side of the 
Colonists during the Revolutionary War. His son 
Anderson, encouraged by the example of his hon- 
ored sire, also entered the army when but fourteen 
years of age. He served as a substitute until the 
close, and was present at the surrender of Corn- 
wallis. The father of our subject, after retiring 
to civil life, purchased a tract of timber land in 
Harrison County, and located there during its ear- 
liest settlement. He redeemed a farm from the 
wilderness and established a comfortable homestead, 
upon which he spent the remainder of his days, his 
death occurring about 1 SSo. He had married in early 
manhood Miss Elizabeth Haines, a lady of excellent 
character and well fitted to become the companion 
of an intelligent and worthy man. The mother of 
our subject was born in Maryland, and was the 
daughter of Henry Haines, one of the earliest pio- 
neers of Harrison County, W. Va. He removed 
to Greene County, Ohio, and died at an advanced 
age. 

The parental household of our subject included 
six sons and six daughters, of whom Anderson was 
the tenth in order of birth. He was reared on the 
old homestead in Harrison County, and remained 
with his parents until ready to establish a home for 
himself. After marriage he purchased a tract of 
partly improved land five miles from his father's 
farm, where he resided nine years. He then sold 
this property and removed to Ritchie County, W. 
Va., where he carried on farming until the fall of 



1854. Not being entirely satisfied with the results 
of his labor he decided to seek the great West, and 
disposing of his property interests in the Old Do- 
minion, he started upon a long journey overland 
to the Prairie State. He was accompanied by his 
wife and seven children, and had a conveyance 
consisting of a wagon drawn by two horses. Upon 
arriving at Lal'orte, Ind., however, they concluded 
to spend the winter there, but in the spring they 
resumed their journey, and arrived in this county on 
the 29th of April, 1855. They had traveled after the 
manner of the emigrants of those days, camping 
and cooking by the wayside and sleeping in their 
wagon at night. Much of their road lay through 
an untraveled countiy, and in many districts the 
inhabitants were few and far between. Wild game 
was plentiful, and the traveler of those da_ys, who 
seldom started out without his gun, was able to 
supyly his family with the finest of wild meats. In 
this manner the emigrants fared not badly. 

Mr. Corbin located at once in Sunbury Township, 
where he purchased a quarter section of land at 
$5 per acre. It was wild prairie upon which not a 
furrow had been turned. He rented a tract of im- 
proved land adjacent, and in connection with 
farming carried on blacksmithing, which he had 
learned in his native State. In the course of five 
years he was enabled to build upon his own land, 
and located in a dwelling of his own in February, 
1860. He also put up a blacksmith-shop, and pur- 
sued his trade while superintending the improve- 
ment of his farm. He lived and labored there con- 
tinuously until the spring of 1881, when he wisely 
decided to retire and spend his declining years in 
the ease and comfort which he had so justly earned. 
He accordingly purchased a neat home in Black- 
stone, and, surrounded by his children and friends, 
is enjoying a green old age. Although having 
passed beyond his threescore years and ten, he is 
still active, and takes a lively interest in National, 
State and county affairs. He made the most of his 
opportunities for education while young, and has 
always kept up a regular course of reading, by 
which he has become well posted upon all matters 
of general interest. His manners are those of a 
gentleman born and bred, and his conversation 
that of a man who has had a rich experience in life 



T 



son 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and has kept his eyes open to what was going on in 
the world around him. He is liberal in his relig- 
ious views, and politically one of the stanchest ad- 
herents of the Democratic part}'. 

The lady who has been the close companion and 
friend of our subject for a period of over fifty 
years, was in her girlhood Miss Mary A. Coplin, 
and became his wife on the 4th of May, 1837. 
Mrs. Corbin is a native of the same county as her 
husband, and was born in 1812. Her parents were 
Benjamin and Nancy (Bartlett) Coplin, natives of 
Harrison County, W. Va. Of her union with our 
subject there were born the children whose record 
is as follows: Nancy E., the wife of William Van 
Schoy, is a resident of Streator, 111. ; Olive lives in 
Pontinc; Augustine makes his home in Streator; and 
Benjamin remains with his parents in Blackstone ; 
Celia became the wife of Henry Bregg, and they 
are residents of Newtown Township ;Garrett died in 
1885, when forty years of age; Martha married C. 
C. McDonnel. and died in Esmen Township in 1880. 
The children were carefully trained and educated, 
and those surviving have taken their rightful place 
in the community as the offspring of one of the 
most valued residents and honored pioneers of 
Livingston County. 




THEODORE MONK. This gentleman has 
located his permanent home very many miles 
from the place of his birth, which was on the 
other side of the Atlantic, in the little manufactur- 
ing town of Sommerda, Prussia. He there began 
life April 26, 1839, and at an early age was placed 
in school, continuing at his studies until a youth of 
fourteen. His parents were natives of the same 
Province as their son, and the father, Gustavus 
Monk, was a cloth-dresser, preparing the material 
for market after it had been woven. The mother's 
maiden name was Leinsenbast. 

Our subject upon leaving school was bound out 
to learn the machinist's trade, at which he worked 
three years, and then prepared to immigrate with his 
father to the New World. They embarked on a 
sailing-vessel, and after a tedious voyage of seven 
weeks arrived in New York Harbor, whence they 



proceeded to Milwaukee, Wis. There young Theo- 
dore secured employment at his trade, but a year 
later went south to St. Louis, and for two years 
thereafter was employed in a machine-shop. We 
next find him engaged as cook on board a boat ply- 
ing the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. He was 
thus occupied until the outbreak of the Rebellion, 
and then enlisted in the 4th Missouri Cavalry, 
under the command of one of his own countrymen, 
Gen. Sigel, and they began to encounter the 
enemy at various points in the Southwest. Later, 
at the battle of Pea Ridge, our subject received a 
serious injury from his horse falling upon him. and 
from which he has never fully recovered. He 
would not abandon his comrades, however, but 
persisted in remaining in the service, and was pres- 
ent at the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Jackson, and 
all the engagements of that campa'gn, up to the 
siege and capture of Vicksburg. He afterward 
with his regiment pushed on to Atlanta, where, 
having served out the period of his enlistment, 
three years and four months, he was honorably dis- 
charged and mustered out at St. Louis. 

Mr. Monk upon leaving the army came to Peoria 
and engaged as "mine host" of the Washington 
House. Six mouths later he abandoned hotel- 
keeping, and locating in Minonk engaged in the 
grocery trade, where he continued successfully for a 
period of fifteen years. In the meantime he had 
been married, Sept. 9, 1866, to Miss Louisa, daugh- 
ter of George A. and Dorothea (Swartz) Sauer, of 
Nebraska Township, Livingston County, Rev. Henry 
C. Dent officiating. While residents of Minonk 
they became the parents of six children, two of 
whom died there. Since their removal to Nebraska 
Township there has been born one more. Their 
eldest son, Einil T., was born July 29, 1 867 ; Will- 
iam H., Nov. 9, 1868; Matilda L., Dec. 28, 1871; 
Elizabeth F., July 20, 1874; Lydia D., May 28, 
1880; George A., Sept. 21, 1882; and Henry C., 
Oct. 11, 1885. 

In 1880 our subject, abandoning the grocery 
business, came to this county and commenced 
farming on rented land. Three years later his 
father-in-law, Mr. Sauer, presented him and his 
wife with 160 acres of land, which our subject and 
his family have since occupied, and where he has 






FACTORY of J.W M F - DOWELL.SEC. 22 . AvOCA TOWNSHIP. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



803 



given liis undivided attention to the cultivation of 
the soil and the raising of fine stock. Mr. M. is 
distinguished by the leading traits of his country- 
men, namely, honesty, industry and a strict atten- 
tion to his own concerns. He has consequently 
become a popular citizen, and his farm forms one 
of the most attractive spots in Nebraska Township. 
He is a Democrat politically, and is serving his fifth 
year as School Director of his township. Both Mr. 
and Mrs. M. arc members in good standing of the 
Lutheran Church, at Minonk. 

The mother of our subject, who was of German 
birth and ancestry, spent her entire life in her na- 
tive country, and died there in early womanhood. 
The father, after coining to this country, subse- 
quently crossed the Mississippi and spent his last 
days in Frankfort, Mo., where his deatli took place 
about 1858. Theodore was the 3'oungest in a 
family of three children, the other two being sis- 
ters. Louisa, the eldest, is married, and continues 
in her native land ; Theresa came to America, and 
wj- afterward married in St. Louis; she is now a 
resident of Frankfort, Mo., and has one child. 

The mother of Mrs. Monk was of French descent, 
and born in the city of Paris about 1825. She 
came to America with her parents when a maiden 
of sixteen years, and was married at Lacon, 111., 
about four years later. She departed this life in 
1882. and was buried at Minonk, 111. Mr. Saner 
was born in Germany, about 1818, and emi- 
grated from the Fatherland when a youth of six- 
teen years. After the death of his first wife he 
married a second time, and there was born one child. 
He is now a resident of Dana, 111. Theodore Monk 
is a man of fine personal appearance, about five feet 
four inches in height, with a bright, Imzel eye and 
black hair. 



<j|?OHN W. McDOWELL, tile manufacturer, 
fanner and stock-raiser, and a prominent 
resident of Avoca Township, is a native of 
Jj Livingston County, and was born on the 
of December, 1841). He is the son of James 
and Frances McDowell. The father was a native 
of Ohio, and the mother of Indiana. His paternal 



ancestors are of Scotch descent. Before settling in 
Illinois his parents were residents of Indiana, from 
which State they migrated to Livingston County 
about 1832, and settled on section 14, Avoca Town- 
ship. The grandfather of our subject, William Mc- 
Dowell, there entered a tract of land from the Gov- 
ernment at a very early day, and the parents of our 
subject were among the very first settlers of Avoca 
Township. The father died in June, 1880, and 
during his residence in Avoca served as Supervisor 
and Treasurer of the township for a number of 
years. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and an active advocate of every move- 
ment and enterprise to benefit society. He was a 
Republican in politics, and always gave his party 
warm and cordial support. In his death the county 
lost one of her best citizens and most public-spirited 
and enterprising men. He was the father of a 
large family of children, of whom five survive, 
namely : Jason L., of Chase County, Kan. ; John 
W., our subject; Sarah L, the wife of H. J. Ram- 
say, of Fairbury, 111. ; Grant Y"., also of Fairbury, 
and Lillie E. The mother of the subject of this 
sketch resides in Fairbury, and is now past three- 
score years of age. In presenting the portrait of 
Mr. McDowell, which is done in this connection, 
we give that of one of the most active and highly 
respected men known in the early history of Liv- 
ingston County. A man whose character was above 
reproach, and whose hand was ever ready to help 
the needy, it is nothing strange that his memory 
is to-day held in veneration by the older residents 
of the county. 

John W. McDowell, the subject of this sketch, 
\v.-i> reared to manhood in Livingston County, 
where he obtained a good education in the common 
schools, and afterward was graduated from the com- 
mercial department of the Onarga Business College, 
located in Iroquqis County, 111. He was married, 
on the 13th of February, 1877, to Miss Chloe M. 
Fugate, of Livingston Count}', and to them was 
born one child, Gertie M., in 1879. This wife died 
in 1880, and Mr. McDowell was again married, this 
time to Luella A. Tanner, daughter of the late 
William Tanner, of Livingston County. One child 
has been born to them. 

Mr. McDowell is the owner of a good farm of 



ff 



804 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



jieros, all of which is under an excellent state 
of cultivation. He established his present tile fac- 
tory in 1883, and it is fitted up with the newest 
and most modern machinery used in that business. 
He employs on an average for the year round, 
eight men. The good quality of the tile he manu- 
factures has created such a demand for it in Liv- 
ingston County that the entire product is used nt 
home. Both in his farming and tile business he 
has been successful. In addition to his other busi- 
ness enterprises, he, in company with his brother, 
Grant Y., has engaged in the importation of En- 
glish Shire horses. During the autumn of 1887 
they brought over thirteen head of these splendid 
animals. 

Mr. McDowell is known as one of the leading- 
Republicans of Avoea Township, and his party, 
friends and the people generally have kept him in 
office for several years. For four years he served 
as Clerk of the township, and as Road Commis- 
sioner, in which position he is serving his ninth 
year, and is now serving his second year as Town- 
ship Treasurer. He is classed among the most in- 
fluential and highly esteemed citizens of Livingston 
County. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell are both members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they 
take an active interest and occupy a conspicuous 
position. \Ve give a view of their homestead in 
this volume, as one of the representative places in 
the county. 



RS. ASENITII NORMAN, the widow of 
Isaac Norman, late of Avoca Township. 
occupies the comfortable homestead which 
was left her by her first husband at his 
death. Her property includes eighty acres of land, is 
located on section 13, and comprises one of the 
most fertile tracts in Livingston County. 

Mrs. Norman is the daughter of John and Mary 
(Blunt) Snider, the former a native of Virginia and 
the latter of Ohio. After marriage her parents 
located in Vermilion County, this State, and were 
anidiiir its early settlers. Their daughter, Asenith. 
was born there Jan. 30, 1834, and remained with 
her parents in her native county until her first mar- 
riage, Dee. 5. 1850, to Alfred Lane. This gentle- 




man was a native of Illinois, and born May .",. 
1826. This union resulted in the birth of four 
children, namely: Mary E., now the wife of James 
W. Graves, of Avoca Township; Nancy, who died 
when twenty-four years of age; John C., a resident 
of Avoca Township: and Sarah .1., who died when 
nearlj' seven years old. Mr. Lane departed this 
life at his home in Avoca Township, Jan. 10, 1859. 
He was a gentleman of much force of character, 
and became prominent in the township affairs, serv- 
ing as School Director, and otherwise identifying 
himself with the best interests of the people. He 
came to this county in 1851, and located on the 
farm now occupied by Mrs. Norman, in Avoca 
Township. When he first took ^possession the sod 
was still unturned by the plowshare. 

Mr. Lane had secured 160 acres of prairie and 
twenty -eight acres of timber, which he operated in 
the wisest manner, and from which he built up one 
of the most valuable homesteads in the southern 
part of this county. He was active in the cause of 
religion, and one of the most prominent members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Avoca, to 
which he was a liberal and cheerful contributor. 
In his family he was kind and indulgent, and among 
his neighbors self-sacrificing and obliging. He had 
commenced in life comparatively without means, 
and at his death left an estate including 300 acres 
of land, with good farm buildings, a choice assort- 
ment of live stock, and a goodly amount of valu- 
able farm machinery. He did not mix very much 
in political matters, but uniformly cast his vote 
with the Democratic party. 

Mrs. Lane continued a resident of this township 
until her marriage with Isaac Norman, Jan. 10, 1 M: 1 . 
Mr. Norman was born in Licking County, Ohio, 
Feb. 14, 1S40. and his marriage with Mrs. Lane re- 
sulted in the birth of the following children: Will- 
iam, now deceased; Amie and Rosa, residents of 
Avoca: Delia and Eli/a, deceased; Wesley and 
A-ciiith, the latter of whom died in infancy. 

Isaac Norman came to this county in l^.'il, 
which remained his residence until his death, Feb. 
4, 1884, and during the more than thirty years in 
which he walked in and out among the people of 
this section, he had by his upright course in life 
commended himself to their esteem and confidence. 



r 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



805 






Religiou>ly lie had been at one time a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically 
voted with the Democratic party. 

John ('. Lane, the son of Mrs. Norman by her 
first marriage, has inherited in a marked degree 
the talents of his father, and is starting out in life 
under the most favorable auspices. He was born 
in this county on the 23d of March, 1857, and is 
now consequently thirty years of age. He has for 
the last few veal's been operating a snug farm on 
section 14, where he is building up a comfortable 
home, and is ahead}- looked upon as a citizen of 
whom much -is expected in the future. He has 
spent his life so far in this county, and has also 
thus far in life been engaged in farming pursuits. 
He was married, Sept. 26, 1878, to Miss Maggie, 
daughter of Michael Fogle, who was formerly of 
Avoca Township but is now a resident of Kansas. 
The young people are the parents of three children 
Cora M., Rosanna and George W. The property 
of young Mr. Lane comprises fifty -six acres, where 
he has a neat residence and is conducting his farm 
operations with excellent judgment. He is also a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
Republican in politics. 



NDREW S. McMILLAN, of Rook's Creek 
Township, owns eighty acres of good land 
on section 10, where he carries on general 
farming and stock-raising, and by his hon- 
esty and industry has secured the confidence and 
esteem of his neighbors. His possessions have been 
accumulated by his own industry and perseverance, 
and he has suffered adversity with the balance of 
mankind, having lost considerable by the rascality 
of an unscrupulous man. His career has been 
marked by steady persistence, however, and as he 
is still a young man it is probable that a few years 
will find him occupying a good position among the 
landed proprietors of Livingston County. He has 
served as School Director in his township several 
years, but has declined seeking other offices, pre- 
ferring to give his principal attention to his farm 
and his family. Politically, he votes the straight 
Democratic ticket, and religiously is a member of 




the Missionary Baptist Church. His household in- 
cludes six bright children, born as follows: Fran- 
ces A., Feb. 14, 1872; Andrew Benjamin, June 
3, 1874; Louisa Pearl, Aug. 24, 1877; William 
Ernest, Jan. 20, 1880; Ira Reason, Jan. 12, 1883, 
and Harry Robert, Jan. 18, 1886. The family resi- 
dence is a modest but comfortable dwelling, and 
the out-buildings are kept in good repair. 

Mr. McMillan, a native of this county, was born 
in Pontiac Township, Jan. 8, 1848, and was the 
youngest of four children, the offspring of Andrew 
S. and Mahala (Springer) McMillan, the former a 
native of Virginia, where it is supposed the mother 
was also born, and whence she afterward removed 
with her parents when young to Ohio. The mother 
died when our subject was an infant of six or seven 
months, and he was then taken into the family of 
his aunt until after the second marriage of his 
father. He then returned to the parental roof, and 
six or seven years later was doubly orphaned by 
the death of his remaining parent. He then went to 
live with an uncle, William McMillan, who also died 
a few years afterward. Thus deprived of a home 
again, he worked about from place to place, and 
subsequently made his headquarters at the house of 
his eldest sister, Mrs. Mary Brown. When nine- 
teen years of age he took a trip to Kansas, driving 
a team through for J. M. Edenfield, of Rook's 
Creek. He was gone three or four months, then 
returned to Illinois, and in 1868 rented a tract of 
land in Pontiac Township, where he carried on 
farming until the following year. He then crossed 
the Mississippi again into Kansas, returning to Illi- 
nois a few months later. He was married, Jan. 6, 
1870, to Miss Frances Helen Blue, daughter of 
Benjamin II. and Elizabeth (Johnson) Blue, natives 
of Ohio and Illinois respectively, the father now 
deceased, and the mother a resident of Rook's 
Creek. The young people commenced life together 
on section 12, in Rook's Creek Township, where 
Mr. McMillan had purchased forty acres of hind, 
which they occupied six years. He then secured 
his present homestead, where he has since resided. 

The parents of our subject were residents of 
Rook's Creek Township at the time of the Black 
Hawk War, living near the old fort, all traces of 
which are now swept away by the hand of time. 



1 806 

Oft 
th 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Of the first marriage of his father there were burn 
the following: Mary, now the wife of Reason 
Brown, a prosperous fanner of Pontiac Township, 
and the mother of five children; Hannah, who first 
married John Edgington, now deceased, and sub- 
sequently his brother Richard. Of the second 
marriage of his father there was born one child. 
Anna C.; now the wife of Oman Hendershott. of 
Pontiac Township. 




fILLIAM H. ENTWISTLE, pleasantly lo- 
cated in the southeastern part of Living- 
ston County, on section 25 in Charlotte 
Township, occupies the homestead which his father 
built up from the primitive soil, and where that 
parent is now spending, his declining years The 
property includes 360 acres of finely cultivated 
land, which, naturally fertile and beautifiill}' located, 
has been thoroughly developed and produces in 
abundance the richest crops of the Prairie State. 
The farm is stocked' with good grades of the do- 
mestic animals, including Durham cattle and Nor- 
man and Clyde horses. The farm buildings are all 
that could reasonably be required for comfort and 
convenience, and everything about the place indi- 
cates thrift and prosperity. 

The early home of our subject was in Waukesha 
County, Wis., where his birth took place in March, 
1 852. lie is the youngest in a family of four children, 
the offspring of James and Jane (Draper) Entwistle, 
natives of Lancashire, England. The father learned 
the trades of carpenter and weaver in his native 
town, and first immigrated to America in 1831. A 
few years later he returned to his native shire, and 
was there married to one of his childhood associ- 
ates, Miss Jane Draper, the wedding taking place 
at the home of the bride in June, 1836. Not long 
afterward the newly wedded pair set sail for the 
purpose of establishing their home in the New 
World. They made but a brief stay in New York 
City, and from there proceeded to Waukesha 
County, Wis., where their four children were born. 
and whence they removed to Peoria, this State, in 
the spring of 1864. The father not long afterward 
purchased 160 acres of wild land in Charlotte 



Township, this county, of which the family took 
possession the following spring, making themselves 
comfortable in the small frame house which stood 
upon it. 

James Entwistle was prospered in his farming 
operations, and added piece after piece to his landed 
possessions until he became proprietor of one of 
the most desirable homesteads in that section of 
country. The two elder children married and es- 
tablished themselves in comfortable homes of their 
own, but our subject, William II., has continued 
under the home roof all his life. The faithful wife 
and mother departed this life on the 18th of No- 
vember, 1880. The father is still living and re- 
mains on the homestead with his two younger sons. 
James Entwistle, upon coming to this country had 
very little means, and the valuable homestead 
which now attracts the admiring gaze of the trav- 
eler is the result of his own unaided industry. He 
trained his sons to habits of economy and correct 
moral principles, and has lived to see them become 
highly respected members of the community. 



AMUEL I. CAIRNS. The vocation of a 
farmer is an honorable and independent one, 
and he who succeeds in that occupation, 
particularly under circumstances which are 
at first unpropitious, is entitled to more credit than 
the man who becomes a millionaire ns a sequel to 
having been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. 
Among the agriculturists of this country all the 
happinos and comfort is not to be found upon 
the threshold of those who count their acres by the 
thousands and their cattle upon a thousand hills, 
but real contentment may be looked for on the 
farms with quarter-section boundary lines or less. 

The subject of this sketch is the owner of eighty 
acree on section 26, Rook's Creek Township. lie is 
the sou of Michael K. and Mary (Skeels) Cairns, and 
was born in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio, Aug. 10, I*."p2. 
lie cnme with his paivuN to McLean County in 
isfili, where his father bought a farm of 160 a<Tc- 
near Bloominglon, which he sold in 1851), and then 
moved to Ta/.ewell County, where he bought eighty 
acres which he farmed and at the same time ran a 




t; 
I 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



807 



i; 



ditching machine. Mr. Cairns continued to live 
with his father until he grew to manhood. 

On the 25th of December, 1875, Mr. Cairns was 
married to Mi.s Ella, daughter of Tunis and Mar- 
garet Dumont (Fr. De Mort) Ten Eyck. Shortly 
after their marriage they removed to Woodtord 
County, where Mr. Cairns rented a farm of Will- 
iam Jerry, which lie managed for three years, and 
then moved to Iroquois County, and managed his 
father's farm for five years. He then came to Liv- 
ingston County, where soon after he bought a farm 
of eighty acres, on which he now lives. Mr. and 
Mrs. Cairns are the parents of three children 
Maggie, who was born Sept. 4, 1876; Minnie B.. 
Nov. 5, 1881, and Laura Grace, April 20, 1885. 

The father of Mr. Cairns was born near the city 
of Cork, Ireland, and came to the United States 
with his parents when about seven years of age; he 
died on the llth of April, 1883. The mother was 
born in Ohio about 1830. They were the parents 
of four children Margaret J., Samuel J., Eleanor, 
and Rosa B. Margaret J. married Isaac Tobias, and 
dying left one daughter, Carrie.B. Tobias, who was 
born Dec. 11, 1874. and lives with her grandmother: 
Eleanor married Samuel Amsler, has one child, and 
lives in Fairlmry ; Rosa B. spent two years in Mon- 
ticello Seminary, four miles from Alton, and after- 
ward was graduated from the Jennings Seminary 
at Aurora, III. During his youth Mr. Cairns re- 
ceived his education in a common school, but 
he improved his opportunities to such an extent 
that when he quit school he was much further ad- 
vanced than most of his fellow pupils. He cast his 
first Presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes in 
1876, and continued to vote the Republican ticket 
until 1884. He has never been an office-seeker, nor 
has he held otlice. In religious matters his an- 
cestors were of the Methodist faith, and whatever 
church sympathies he has are for that denomination. 

.Mrs. Cairns was born on the 16th of September. 
1856. Her father was born near Jersey City, N. 
J., on the 25th of September, 1K2, and the mother 
on the 28th of April of the same year. They were 
married on the 2d of May, 184!, and moved to 
Ta/ewell County in 1*55, where they are still liv- 
ing on a farm : her father is a carpenter by tiade. 
.Mrs. Cairns is the fourth child in a family of eight, 




their names being as follows: Elizabeth A., Adeline 
C., Johanna, Ella, John, Charles, Henry \\~. and 
Caroline B. Elizabeth A. was born Sept. 29, 1850, 
married Isaac Vorhees, has fourchildren. and lives in 
Livingston County; Adeline C. was born July 16, 
1852, and lives in Tazewell County; Johanna was 
born July 4, 1854, married William Boyts, and 
lives in Fairhope, Pa.; John was born March 11, 
I860, and died March 22, 1874; Charles was born 
Sept. 23, 1862, and lives in Ness City, Kan. ; Henry 
W. was born May 17, 1867, and died Nov. 13, 
is,x7, and Caroline B. was born May 7, 1870. The 
grandparents of Mrs. Cairns were of French and 
German descent. 



HARLES E. DIXON, one of the younger 
citizens of Owego Township, has just fairly 
embarked in farming on his own account, 
and is engaged in the cultivation of eighty acres of 
land on section 4, which he purchased in 1883. He 
possesses all the elements required for a successful 
career as an agriculturist, being wide-awake, per- 
sistent and inustrious, and blessed with the quali- 
ties of heart and mind which commend him to his 
fellow-citizens as a desirable member of the com- 
munity. 

Mr. Dixon was born in this county, Nov.. 3, 
1862, and is the son of George and Margaret Dixon, 
the former of English birth and parentage, and the 
latter a native of Ohio. George Dixon came to 
this section of country during its early settlement, and 
spent twenty-seven years in Livingston County, 111., 
where he first located upon emigrating from his 
native England. He was married to Miss Marga- 
ret Young in Livingston County, Nov. 3, 1861, 
and they became the parents of four children, 
namely: Clarence E., Mary, Sarah J., and Charles 
E., our subject. In 1867 the parents of our sub- 
ject removed to LaSalle County, where the death 
of the father occurred soon afterward, in Septem- 
ber, 1867, and the mother passed away Feb. 12, 
1883. Both were members of the United Brethren 
Church and most estimable people, who carefully 
trained their children in those principles which con- 
stitute, them worthy and desirable members of so- 
ciety and an honor to their progenitors. George 




I 



808 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i: 



Dixon, by his own efforts, had acquired a good ed- 
ucation, and took a warm interest in the welfare of 
the people around him, always favoring the estab- 
lishment of schools and other institutions that would 
give to the rising generation a fair chance to dis- 
tinguish themselves in life. He watched with pride 
and satisfaction the development and progress of 
his adopted country, and during the late war no 
man was more interested in the preservation of 
the Union, and the triumph of those sentiments and 
principles which first established it, and upon which 
it must depend for its perpetuation. 

Our subject spent his boyhood days at his father's 
homestead in Otter Creek Township, and early in 
life began to lay his plans for the future. One of 
the most important steps was his marriage, which 
occurred on the 5th of February, 1884, at the home 
of the bride, Miss Amelia Thorndjke, in Ford 
County, 111. Mrs. Dixon is the daughter of John 
and Maria Thorndyke, natives of England, and now 
residents of Ford County, 111. She was born in 
I860, and by her marriage with our subject has 
become the mother of two children John A., born 
April 17, 1885. and Nellie M., June 18, 1887. 
Thej r have a snug farm dwelling, flanked by suita- 
ble out-buildings, and Mr. Dixon each year is add- 
ing to the beauty and value of his property. 



.WJULIUS ULRICH, a prominent farmer and 
stock-raiser of Broughton Township, pleas- 
antly located on section 5, was born in the 
Kingdom of Prussia, Nov. 19, 1845. His 
parents. Charles and Minnie Ulrich. were natives 
of the same Province as their son, and their family 
included four children, of whom three are living, 
namely: Charles, a resident of Nebraska; Minnie, 
who continues in her native country, and Julius, 
the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Ulrich continued on his native soil until 
twenty-two years of age. and then resolved to CMS! 
his fortunes with the large number of his country - 
men who had crossed the Atlantic, and for whom 
success had sprung up in the New World. Accord- 



ingly, in the spring of 1867, he embarked on an 
ocean steamer at the port of Bremen, and after a 
pleasant voyage of eleven days, landed in New 
York City: thence he came directly to this State, 
and for the year following was a resident of Mar- 
shall County. For one year after reaching the 
United States he was employed as a farm laborer, 
and afterward for four years operated on rented 
land in company with his brother Charles, who had 
left the old country about two years before Julius. 

Mr. Ulrich came to this county in the spring of 
1872 and located in Broughton Township, of which 
he has since been a resident. He purchased a part 
of the land which he now owns in 1870, and com- 
menced the improvements which have been com- 
pleted in such a praiseworthy manner, and which 
bear fair comparison with those of any farmer in 
the eastern part of this county. He now owns 
240 acres, which he has brought to a good state of 
cultivation, and which he has accumulated through 
his own industry, as upon landing in this country 
he had only about $50 in money. There were 
many disadvantages connected with his arrival 
here the difficulties of acquiring a new language, 
and becoming acquainted with strange customs and 
the different methods of transacting business from 
those with which he had been familiar on his native 
soil. These he overcame successfully, as the result 
indicates when we see him as one of the leading 
men of an intelligent and prosperous community. 
He has served as School Director in his district, 
and politically, is ti stanch Republican, and has 
taken a warm interest in everything pertaining to the 
welfare of his adopted country. 

Our subject, after becoming a resident of Illi- 
nois, was married, on the 1 1th of March, 1*73, to 
one of his own country-women, Miss Emma Lentz, 
who was born in Prussia, March 12, 1855. Mrs. 
I'lrich is Hie daughter of Louis and Rosanna Lentz, 
the former deceased and the latter a resident of 
Marsh.il] County. They immigrated to the United 
States when their daughter Emma was a young girl, 
and located in Marshall County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are the parents of seven 
children, all living at home: Gustav A. was born 
Feb. 1, 1874: Mary B., Sept. 16, 1875; Ernestine. 
Aug. 16. 1877; Augusta A., Aug. 26, 1 879 ; Henry 




>-- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



809 



G.,Nov. 3, 1881; Louis H., Sept. 17, 1884, and 
Paulina R., Sept. 2(J, 1887. The eldest is an inter- 
esting girl fourteen yenrs of age, and little Paulina, 
a babe of four months. 




I 



LEXANDER GRANT, who first opened 
his eyes among the Highlands of Scotland. 
U crossed the Atlantic to the New World in 
l.s, r >2. and for twenty years thereafter fol- 
lowed the carpenter's trade. In I8G1 he decided 
to change his occupation and take up farming. In 
tin's he has been more than ordinarily successful, 
and is now the proprietor of a fine estate, includ- 
ing 273 acres of land, a fine residence and all the 
other surroundings of a desirable and comfortable 
home. The main points in a history of more than 
ordinary interest are substantial!}' as follows: 

Our subject was born Feb. 21, 1821, and re- 
mained upon his native soil until 18;V2. He had in 
the meantime served his apprenticeship at the car- 
penter's trade, and after coining to America located 
first at Joliet, III., in the vicinity of which place he 
lived, with the exception of one year, until coming 
to this county. Soon after his arrival here he lo- 
cated on section 12, Round Grove Township, where 
he continued, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
in 1882 put up his present residence at Reddick, 
where he is'now living- retired from active labor. 

When Mr. Grant first arrived in this county the 
country was comparatively new and his neighbors 
were few and far between. He put up the first 
building in Gardner, Giundy County, which was 
a section-house of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. 
He has never been afraid of hard work, always 
made it a point to live within his income, and has 
been particularly fortunate in his investments. 
Although a Republican, and a strong temperance 
man, he has never aspired to be an office-holder, 
and has coii>eqnently given his time and attention 
to his real-estate interests and the cultivation of his 
land, 

The marriage of Alexander Grant and Miss 
Katie C. Leonard was celebrated at the home of 
the bride, in Joliet, 111., in May. 18G1. Mr.-. Grant 



was born in the city of Manchester, England, in 
1 s i 1 , and came to Canada with her parents when 
thirteen years of age. A year later they migrated 
to the States and then took up their residence at 
Joliet, 111. Her parents, Frank and Mary (Leh- 
man) Leonard, were natives of England, and the 
father a stonemason by trade. Their family in- 
cluded eight childien, of whom Mrs. G. was the 
youngest. 

The parents of our subject, John and Mary (Irv- 
ing) Grant, were of pure Scotch ancestry, and 
spent their entire lives in the land of their birth. 
John Grant was a farmer by occupation, and pos- 
sessed all the honest and reliable traits for which 
his nationality is so greatly noted. The parental 
hou>chol<l included eight children, of whom Alex- 
ander was the third in order of birth. Of these, 
five arc living one in Kansas, two in Illinois and 
tiro in Scotland. 

Mr. and Mrs. Grant are members in good stand- 
ing of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, to the sup- 
port of which they have for j'ears contributed lib- 
erally and cheerfully, and in which Mr. G. has of- 
ficiated as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He 
lias always, taken a deep interest in the training of 
the young, believing that "as the twig is bent, so 
the tree inclines." 



ILLIAM NIGH, son of one of the most 
honored pioneers of Livingston County, 
he has spent his entire life, was born 
in Amity Township, Oct. 29, 1847. He is now 
pleasantly located on section 25, in Owego Town- 
ship, where he is carrying on farming and stock- 
raising, in which he has had ample experience, and 
has been uniformly successful since starting out for 
himself in life. He is numbered among the val- 
ued members of an intelligent community, where 
he has always distinguished himself as a man in- 
terested in the general welfare of the people, and 
willing to contribute of his time and means to the 
various worthy enterprises inaugurated with this 
object in view. 

Our subject is the son of Philip and Lydia (lid- 
ward) Nigh, natives respectively of Ohio and 





* IklLLIA 
\ijM honore 
Ww where 



810 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 







New York. They were married in Ohio, whence 
the\ T immigrated to this county while the country 
was thinly settled. Philip Nigh took up -a tract of 
land on section 28, in Amity Township, where he 
labored industriously to build up a homestead, and 
was greatly prospered in his efforts at securing a 
good position socially and financially. He pos- 
sessed those qualities of mind and heart which at 
once secured the confidence and esteem of his fel- 
low-citizens, and besides holding the various town- 
ship offices he officiated as Postmaster at Rook's 
Creek. His devoted wife proved a most worthy 
helpmeet, and both were prominently connected 
with the Methodist Protestant Church. The par- 
ental household included four children, three now 
living, namely: Nancy, Mrs. McClelland; Lydia, 
the wife of William Martinson, and William, the 
subject of our sketch. The two sisters are resi- 
dents of Amity Township. The father departed 
this life at his home in Dundee, Mich., on the 14th 
of March, 1887. In his death that section lost one 
of its most valued citizens. He meddled little 
with politics, but uniformly voted the Republican 
ticket; was a stanch Union man during the war, and 
a firm believer in the principles of universal free- 
dom. He built up a record which his children 
may view with pride and satisfaction. 

William Nigh was educated in the common 
schools, and remained under the parental roof un- 
til his marriage, which occurred after he had passed 
his twenty-second birthday. The maiden of his 
choice was Miss Maria McClelland, and the wed- 
ding took place at the home of the bride, in Amity 
Township, Jan. 2,1870. Mrs. Nigh is the daugh- 
ter of Thomas and Esther W. McClellairl, who 
are natives of Pennsylvania, and are now residents 
of this county. .She was born Aug. 8, 1840, and 
by her union with our subject became the mother 
of four children, three living, viz.: Robert, born 
Sept. 12, 1878; Stella, Aug. 13, 1882, and Ray, 
Sept. 19, 18.S4. Mr. and Mrs. Nigh spent the first 
few years of their married life in Amity Township. 
Our subject purchased his present farm of eighty 
acres in 1886. The land has been highly culti- 
vated, and the farm buildings are neat and substan- 
tial. In his stock operations Mr. Nigh deals mostly 
in cattle. His premises attract attention on ac- 



count of the general neatness observable every- 
where and the care exercised in the treatment of 
the stock, and the economy with which the farm 
operations are carried on. Mr. Nigh, like his father 
before him, votes the straight Republican ticket, 
and is bearing worthily the mantle 'which has de- 
scended upon him as the only son. 

The parents of Mrs. Nigh came to Illinois from 
Indiana in the fall of 1855, settling in Rook's Creek 
Township in the pioneer days, where they spent the 
remainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1H78 
and the father in 1872. Their family included ten 
children, seven now living: Thomas S. is practicing 
law at Chicago; Milo A. is a successful physician 
of Knox County; DeVVitt C. is an extensive far- 
mer and stock-raiser of Labette County, Kan.; 
, Sarah A. is the wife of William Paine, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Rook's Creek Township; Carrie M., 
Mrs. Wesley Aspey, lives with her husband on a 
farm in Esmen Township; Maria L. ; Joseph W., 
ex-County Clerk of Nance County, Neb. The 
parents were - most excellent people, and worthy 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 




PETERSON. Among the hardiest people 
who come to this country from foreign 
shores are those who were born and reared 
to early manhood in Denmark. They make 
most excellent citizens, and as they are lovers of 
liberty and freedom, readily adjust themselves to 
the existing state of affairs under a Republican 
t'< inn of government. Their business habits are 
generally correct, and they are above the average 
in intelligence, as the laws of Denmark require 
that all children shall become pupils in the schools 
at a certain age. Wherever we find a native of 
Denmark engaged in agricultural pursuits, we find 
a prosperous and contented farmer. 

The subject of this sketch, who is a fanner and 
stock-raiser <>n section 7, in Nebraska Township, is 
the son of Barthol and Mary (Westergar) Peterson, 
and was born in Denmark on the 24th of .lime. 
iM.'iS. lie was reared on a farm, and in accord- 
ance with the laws of his country, attended the 
schools during the required time. He was twenty 






-- _'i .jZJr-^ 8, ,. t I !i I -t F 






FARM RESIDENCE AND PROPERTY OF BENJAMIN CA 



TENANT HOUSE. 




M, SEC. IS. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP, LIVINGSTON Co. 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



815 



years of age when he came to this country, being 
on the ocean twenty-one days, lie lander! in New 
York in 1858, and remained in that State during the 
winter, and in the spring went to StaU'ii Island, 
where he engaged in work for a farmer for about 
two years. Soon after the commencement of the 
war, he enlisted as a soldier in the 2!tth New York 
Infantry, and served with that command until he 
was honorably discharged in June, 1863. During 
the time he was in the service he participated in 
the first battle of Bull Run, battle of Winchester, 
second battle of Bull Run, where he was twice 
wounded, first in the left thigh, by which the bone 
was fractured, and was hit by a piece of shell on 
the lower part of the right leg. He was taken pris- 
oner and for lack of transportation was left to lie 
in the hot sun on the battle-field for eight days. 
Afterward he was paroled and sent to the hospital 
at Washington, where he remained for two months, 
and was then sent to the hospital at Annapolis, Md., 
and remained there about three months, at which 
time he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment. 
After this he was in the battle of Chancellorsville. 
where the famous Confederate General, Stonewall 
.lackson, was killed. His entire service was in the 
Army of the Potomac, and he endured all the hard- 
ships which befel that army, and participated in 
many skirmishes and reconnoissances which' have 
no place in history, but in which many men lost 
their lives or became maimed and crippled for life. 
After his discharge from the army in 1863, he re- 
turned to New York, where he remained about one 
year and then went to Rhode Island. 

On the 29 th of January, 1865, Mr. Peterson was 
married to Christina Yost, daughter of Charles and 
Margaret (Welt) Yost. Mrs. Peterson was the old- 
est child in a family of six: Edward, her brother, 
who went through the army without injury, is mar- 
ried, and lives in Rhode Island near Narragansett 
Bay, and has six children; Margaret, who married 
John Morgan, lives in Rhode Island, and has four 
children; Caroline married George Friday, lives in 
Rhode Island, and has two children; Charles is 
married, lives in Rhode Island, and has three chil- 
dren; Albert lives in Rhode Island; Louisa, born 
July 27, 1808, lives with Mrs. Peters >n. In the 
March following- his marriage, Mr. Peterson again 



enlisted in the army, this time joining the 29th 
United States Veteran (Hancock's) Corps. After 
remaining in Camp Stoneman until July, his com- 
mand went to Rhode Island, where they did pro- 
vost duty until Jan. 21, 1866, when they went to 
Staten Island, where they did various kinds of duty 
in connection with companies of the regular army. 
They remained on Staten Island until the 7th of 
March, 1866, when they were honorably discharged. 
Within two days after his discharge from the 
army, Mr. Peterson and his wife started for Liv- 
ingston County, 111., where he purchased forty acres 

! of land on section 30, Nebraska Township. On 
this land they lived for three years, and then dis- 
posed of it and purchased eighty acres of land in 
Woodford County. On this he lived one year, 
when he leased it to other parties and moved to 
Minonk. At the end of a year he sold his land 
and bought property in that town. In 1X72 he 
again went upon a farm, which he rented, and re- 
mained for two years; he then bought eighty acres 
of land in Waldo Township, and lived there one 
year, when he sold that land and bought eighty 
acres in Woodford County, on which he remained 
nine years. He then disposed of that land and 
bought eighty acres on section 7, Nebraska Town- 
ship, and forty acres on section 1 X. On the home 
place he has as fine a building site as there is in 
Nebraska Township, and his various buildings are 
first-class in all respects. The farm is well drained 
with tile ditches, and the fences are constantly kept 

! in good repair. In stock-raising his specialties are 
fine Norman horses and Poland-China hogs. Al- 
though Mr. Peterson is Democratic in politics, he 
cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. 

Mr. Peterson's parents never came to this coun- 
try, and his father's death occurred before our sub- 

< ject was born, and the mother tiled in her native 
country in April, 1866. Our subject was the 
youngest child in a family of four, whose names 
are as follows: Peter B. was married, and at his 
death left a family of four children, one of whom, 
Chris, came to this country, and is now in the em- 
ploy of oiii- subject; John came to America and 
served as a soldier for three years during the war, 
and escaped without injury; he is married, and 
lives in the State of Nebraska. Mary married II. 



"I 

T 



LIVINGSTON COl'XTY. 



Christenson, and died in Denmark, leaving four 
children, one of whom, Peter, was reared by our 
subject, and now lives in Minnesota. The subject 
of our sketch is of a genial and generous nature, 
and makes friends readily, and when a friendship is 
once formed with him it is retained. lie is de- 
servedly popular with all the people of the sur- 
rounding country, and enjoys their confidence to 
the fullest extent. 

5- ---- +-> v C- --------- : ;K 




ENJAMIN CARLTON is spoken of as "a 
thorough gentleman, and one of Long 
Point's most substantial men." He is finely 
located on section 16, where he has a good 
farm, and where for the last ten years he has made 
a specialty of stock-raising. lie is one of the pio- 
neers of Livingston County, coming here before 
wild game was exterminated, and has seen as many 
as 100 deer in a single herd bounding over the 
prairie or through the forest, and has often killed 
several in a day. He took up his residence in Long 
Point Township in 1840, and no man has watched 
with more satisfaction the development of Central 
Illinois, and the settling up of this section by an 
industrious and intelligent people. He selected for 
his future home a spot many leagues from his birth- 
place, he having been born in County Kent, En- 
gland, Aug. 21, 181.0. His parents were Edward 
and Judith (Preble) Carlton, also natives of County 
Kent, and of pure English ancestry. His father 
was a carpenter by occupation, and spent his entire 
life in England. Both his father and mother were 
high-minded Christian people and members of the 
Episcopal Church, in the doctrines of which their 
children were carefully reared, and to which our 
subject still adheres. 

Mr. Carlton continued to reside in his native 
county until the summer of 1835, employing his 
time after becoming of suitable age mainly in fann- 
ing. Then, deciding to immigrate to America, he 
embarked on a .-ailing-vessel, and after a tedious 
voyage of sixty-one days landed in New York City. 
Thence he proceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, where he 
served an apprenticeship at the mason's trade, which 
be followed at Columbus, in Southern Ohio, and 
St. Louis. Mo. Since a resident of Lonu' Point he 



\v.-i.- united in marriage with Miss Laura Miller, their 
wedding taking place in 1854. Mrs. Carlton was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and of this union there- 
was born one child, a daughter, Mary L., who is 
now the wife of Royal R. Gould, and resides in 
Long Point. The mother passed from earth, dying 
at her home. 

Mr. Carleton was subsequently married, in 
the year 1859, to Miss Jane Silleck. a native of 
Canada. This marriage resulted in the birth of 
one child only, a daughter, who is now the wife of 
Franklin Bosserman, also of Long Point, and the 
mother of one child. Mrs. Jane (Silleck) Carlton 
departed this life Oct. 18, 1881, and her remains 
were laid to rest in the cemetery at Long Point. 
The homestead has since been presided over by 
Mrs. Bosserman, the daughter. 

The property of Mr. Carlton includes 400 acres 
of some of the finest farming land in Central Illi- 
nois, all under a good state of cultivation, and sup- 
plied with a handsome residence, good barns, and 
three tenement houses for the use of those who 
work the land. The homestead invariably attracts 
the eye of the traveler as being complete in all its 
appointments, and under the supervision of an in- 
telligent and industrious man. It is with pleasure 
that we present a fine double-page view of the es- 
tate in connection with this brief outline of its en- 
terprising owner. Mr. Carlton keeps himself well 
posted upon matters of general interest, and has 
contributed his full quota toward the development 
of the western part of Livingston County, which 
when he came here presented a wild and desolate 
appearance, the homes of the settlers being few and 
far between, and the present flourishing towns of the 
county then but mere hamlets. He has been promi- 
nent among those resolute men of forethought and 
good judgment through whose foresight and energy 
this county now rank> among the best in the Prai- 
rie State. 



M. McINTOSIl. a general merchant at 
lilackstone, Sunbury Township, was born 
in ConiKTSville, Favette Co., Ind., on the 
2<!th of October. 181(1. His father, David Mcln- 
tosh, was born on the L'Tlh of September, 1M'4. 




t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



817 



The grandfather, Joshua Mclntosh, lived for many 
years in Connersville, where he followed the trade 
of a shoemaker, and also engaged in mercantile 
business. He moved to Illinois about 1853, and 
was a pioneer at New Michigan, Livingston County, 
where he remained until his death. lie was a local 
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
many of the older inhabitants will remember the 
enthusiasm with which he engaged in Gospel work. 
During that time he was Postmaster and a Justice 
of the Peace. 

The father of Mr. Mclntosh came to Illinois in 
1847, and located at Ottawa, where he was engaged 
in clerking in a general store for four or five years. 
He then came to Livingston County, and entered 
Government land in Newtown Township, going for 
that purpose to Danville, where the land-office was 
then located. lie improved a good farm and re- 
sided there until 1882, when he removed to Kansas 
and settled in the town of Marion, where he now 
resides. He has been three times married, his first 
wife being Mary E. Wherrett, the mother of the 
subject of this sketch, who was her only child. She 
was a native of Indiana, and died in 1846. The 
second wife was Lircinda Lambert, and his third 
wife is Rebecca N. Holland. There were two chil- 
dren by the second marriage and five by the third. 
Mr. Mclntosh was but a few weeks old when his 
mother died, and he was then cared for by his 
aunt, with whom he came to Illinois to join his 
father in 1847. He received his.early education in 
the common schools of this county, and advanced 
by attendance at Grand Prairie Seinintiiy, located 
at Onarga. He resided on the homestead and en- 
gaged in farming until 1869, when he engaged in 
the mercantile business at New Michigan, where he 
was also Deputy Postmaster. In 1870 he came to 
Blackstone, and bought a stock of goods and the 
good-will of the store where he hns since conducted 
a successful biiMiie. On the 20th of December, 
1867, Mr. Mclntosh was married to Miss Sarah J. 
Fleshman, who was born in Vermilion ( '0111113-, 111., 
on the 3d of October 1850. She is the daughter of 
John and Margaret (Lockett) Fleshman, who were 
pioneers of Vermilion Count3 r ; her father is a far- 
mer, and resides at Watson, Eflingham Co., 111. 
Mr. and Mrs, Mclntosh have four children: Lizzie 




M., who was born Dec. 1, 1868; Elmie, Oct. 3, 
1871 : Jessie L., Nov. 25, 1875, and Jay. March 23, 
1877. 

Mr. Mclntosh is a member of Streator Lodge 
No. 607, A. F. & A. M. His political affiliations 
are with the Republican party, in which he evinces 
considerable interest. Mr. Mclntosh has become 
thoroughly established in his business at Blackstone, 
and enjo3 - s the trade of a ver3' considerable pro- 
portion of the population of that section of country. 



jEORGE WEBER. One of the incentives 
which prompts men to great endeavors in 
life is to do something that will meet with 
the hearty approval and commendation of the 
father and mother who tenderly cared for him in 
in fan 03', taught him to walk in straight and nar- 
row paths in boyhood, and started him on the rug- 
ged journey of life at manhood. One of the great- 
est afflictions that can be placed upon a boy whose 
ideas of life are not yet crystallized, is to be de- 
prived of the counsel and kindness of parents, and 
he who begins life as an orphan is entitled to much 
sympath3', for he must fight his battles singly and 
alone, withoutany parental influences. In this condi- 
tion the subject of this sketch found himself at the 
age of fifteen. Mr. Weber, who is a farmer on 
section 31, Pontiac Township, is a native of Ger- 
many, and was born on the 1 2th of February, 1823. 
He is the son of Michael and Barbara Weber, both 
Germans, who had six children, two of whom sur- 
vive George and Michael. The father died when 
George was fifteen years of age, and he was left an 
orphan, his mother having died when he was in his 
seventh 3- ear. lie remained in Germany until he 
was twenty-four years of age, during which time 
he was engaged in work upon a farm, and as occa- 
sion permitted attended school, and succeeded in 
obtaining a fair education in the German language. 
In 1847 he concluded to immigrate to America, and 
after a \oyage of fifty-two da3's in a sailing-vessel, 
landed in New York 'City, and for a short time re- 
mained in that vicinity; then he went to the neigh- 
borhood of Utica, N. Y., where he worked by the 
da3 - and farmed for about eight 3' ears. In 1855 he 



4- 
4 818 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



came to Woodford County, 111., where he resided 
for several years. In 1860 he came to Livingston 
Count}', for two years made his home here, and 
then moved back to Woodford County, and 
after a fix years' residence there he again returned 
to Livingston County, in the spring of 1877, and 
settled on his present farm in Pontiac Township, 
which consists of 200 acres of very valuable land. 
His present condition is far different from what it 
was on the day he first landed in New" York, for 
when he stepped ashore from the vessel which car- 
ried him over he possessed but $1 in money. His 
pleasant home, and its adjuncts of stock, machinery, 
etc., are the result of his own industry and per- 
severance. 

In 1847 Mr. W. married Sophia Hoerner, and 
they have had nine children, six of whom are liv- 
ing: Leonard; Lucy, wife of John Chicadunce; 
John. George, William and Frank. He and his 
wife are members of the German Evangelical As- 
sociation, and in politics he affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and has been elected to the of- 
fice of Overseer of Highways. 




& IIARLES WHEATON CARPENTER, a 
gentleman in the prime of life, forms one 
of the important factors in the business 
interests of Odell, where he is carrying on a profit- 
able trade in live stock and coal. He was thrown 
upon his own resources early in life, and spent his 
youth mostly in the agricultural districts of his 
native State of Pennsylvania. He was born in 
what was once Luzerne. but is now Lackawanna 
County, Dec. 11, 1837, and was the eldest in a 
family of eight children, the offspring of Squire F. 
and Matilda (Champlin) Carpenter. 

Our subject pursued his early studies in the com- 
mon school and later attended the academy near 
his home for a brief time, where his education un- 
completed. He then commenced life as a farm 
laborer and a>si>tcd in the maintenance of his 
father's family until after passing his twenty-fourth 
year. Then, desirous of something better he de- 



termined to seek his fortune in the West, and al- 
though without means, made his way to LaSalle 
County, to the home of his uncle, and soon after- 
ward secured employment on a farm. '1 here he 
remained a year, and the following winter was pur- 
snadecl to take charge of a school in the country 

, near by. He gave such good satisfaction that at 
the close of his first term his wages were increased 

j and he was invited to teach the winter following, 
which he" did. He remained in that region until 
the fall of 1H6G, and then, accompanied by a brother, 
came to Livingston County and purchased 236 
acres of wild land. This they afterward sold at an 
advance, and Mr. Carpenter was variously employed 
for five years following, though mostly engaged in 
farming upon rented land. He had now some 
means and felt justified in taking upon himself the 

I responsibility of family ties. 

Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Mrs. 
Clara A. (Parker) Stone, on the oth of Januaiy, 
1871. Mrs. C. was the widow of Hannibal Stone, 
and the daughter of Alvah and Polly (Chambers) 
Parker, natives of New York State. Their daugh- 
ter Clara was born in Luzerne County, Pa., Sept. 
11, 1837, and was the youngest in a family of five 
children. Of her union with Mr. Stone there were 
born five children, namely: Columbus, Mary A., 
Hattie E., Frederick A. and Ella. The latter died 
in infancy; Columbus is farming and stock-raising 
in Gunnison County, Col.; Mary A. is the wife of 
Obey Aspy, and the mother of two children 
Pearl and Clara; her husband is a carpenter by 
trade and they reside in Kansas City, Mo. Hattie, 
Mrs. William Truxal. is the mother of two chil- 
dren, and resides in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., where her 
husband is engaged in farming; Frederick A. is a 
stock dealer of Ouray County, Col., and runs a 
transfer train to and from the mines in the mount- 
ains. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter resulted 
in the birth of one child, a daughter, Mabel E., 
who was born Dec. 5. 1872, and is now a bright 
young girl of fifteen summers. The family resi- 
dence is pleasantly located on Prairie avenue, and 
its inmates enjoy the society of man}' friends. 
Mrs. Carpenter is a member in good standing of 
the Baptist Church. Mr. Carpenter is one of the 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



810 



Town Trustees, and politically, is a strong Prohi- 
bitionist. His pronounced opposition to the liquor 
trallic in all its forms has made him a leader of his 
party in this section. 




TEPHEN WOODING. One of the finest 
homes in Pike Township is located on sec- 
tion 12, on the road leading from Chenoa 
to Pontiac, and is the property of the gen- 
tleman whose name heads this sketch. It com- 
prises 126 acres of finely cultivated land, an 
elegant frame residence flanked by shapely and 
substantial out-buildings, including two new barns 
and all the necessary structures required by the 
enterprising and progressive modern fanner. The 
dwelling is situated in the midst of beautiful 
grounds, about fifty-five yards back of the public 
road, with a fine driveway and surrounded by 
choice shade trees and shrubbery. The hand of 
taste is everywhere apparent, and the outlay of 
means has been clearly most wise and judicious. 
Mr. Wooding took possession of his property in the 
fall of 1867, which, however, he had purchased two 
years previously, and since that time has given his 
attention principally to increasing its attractive- 
ness and value. The result is one in which he may 
reasonably take pride. 

Our subject was born in Northamptonshire, En- 
gland, Feb. 11, 1830, and is the son of Jesse and 
Anna (Rainbow) Wooding, natives of the same 
country. Jesse Wooding was born about 1805, in 
Northamptonshire, and received a common-school 
education. His father died when he was but a 
youth, and he remained with his mother until she, 
too, passed away. He was married to Miss Ann 
Rainbow in 1828, and for several years thereafter 
followed farming and brewing. The condition of 
his finances not being quite satisfactory, neither 
the prospects for the welfare of his children, he 
decided to emigrate to the New World, and accord- 
ingly, accompanied by a part of his family, sailed 
from Liverpool and landed in New York City about 
June, 1854, with his wife, his sons, James, George 
and Isaac, and his daughters, Ann and Eli/abeth. 
They first located in Salem, N. J., where the father 



was taken fatally ill and died ten days afterward. His 
remains were buried in the cemetery at Pennville. 
The widow and her family remained in New Jersey 
about two years, then came west to Fulton County, 
this State, where she resided four years. Subse- 
quently she removed to Piatt County, where her 
death took place in February, 1 87 I . The parents 
of our subject were members and regular attend- 
ants of the Church of England and reared their 
children in the faith to which they had adhered for 
many years. These, eleven in number, are re- 
corded as follows: Jesse died in infancy; Stephen, 
our subject, was the second born: William, David, 
Joseph, James, Isaac, George, Ann, Elizabeth and 
Mary, comprise the remainder. They were all 
born in Northamptonshire, and with the exception 
of Jesse, Mary and David, all came to the United 
States. 

Mr. Wooding was educated in the common 
schools of his native town,, and remained there, 
variously employed, until reaching his majority. 
He and his brother William then decided to seek 
their fortunes on the other side of the Atlantic, and 
bidding farewell to their childhood associates, 
sailed from Liverpool on the 1st of April, 1851. 
After a pleasant voyage of thirty days they landed 
in Philadelphia, May 1, and proceeded to Salern, 
N. J., where they went to work by the month, and 
were afterward joined by the balance of the family. 
The brothers when they landed had one pound 
sterling between them. This, however, did not dis- 
may them so long as they were in possession of 
their health and strength, and they were busily em- 
ployed usually until the time of their starting West. 
I'pon this trip our subject visited the States of 
Illinois, Missouri and Louisiana, but finally re- 
turned to New Jersey and remained at Salem a 
year longer. He now determined to locate perma- 
nently in the West, and coming to Fulton County, 
this State, rented a tract of land, upon which he 
farmed four years ami then removed to Piatt County. 
A year later he returned to Fulton County, farmed 
tin-re another four years, and in tbe fall of 18(57, 
having invested his capital in Pike Township, this 
county, came in and took possession of his property, 
with the results we have already stated. 

Mr. Wooding was married, while a resident of 





' 8-20 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Fulton County, March 1, 18(50, to Miss Sarah 
Humphrey, at the home of the bride, in Canton 
Township. This union resulted in the birth of 
four children, namely: Benjamin F., Charles 8., 
Nettie and Jessie. The two younger died in child- 
hood and the others continue 'vith their father. 
Mrs. Sarah (Humphrey) Wooding departed this life 
at her home in Pike Township, in 1873, and her re- 
mains were laid to rest in Rook's Creek bury ing- 
ground. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Oct. 4, 1874, was formerly Mrs. Susanna 
(Cheney) Mycr, widow of Martin H. Myer, 
and daughter of David and Susannah (Stallings) 
Cheney, both natives of Alleghany County, Mfl. 
They spent their entire lives in their native 
county, and there their remains were laid to rest. 
Mrs. W. was born in the same county as her parents, 
July 3, 1837, and was the eighth in a family of 
fourteen children, namely: Nancy, Robert, Eliza- ' 
beth, Thomas, Deborah, Isaac, Maria, and six who 
died in infancy. Nancy, the widow of H. Harris, 
is living near Columbus, Ohio; Robert is a resident 
of Hampshire County, Va. ; Elizabeth is deceased: [ 
Thomas is living in Missouri; Deborah, Mrs. Ed- j 
ward O'Neill, remains in Maryland; Isaac occupies 
the old homestead, and Maria is the wife of Thorn- 
ton Crabtree, a resident of Cumberland, Md. The 
parents of Mrs. W. were active and devoted mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the ! 
doctrines of which they faithfully reared their chil- 
dren. Mrs. Wooding by her first marriage had 
three children: Eli B. ; Adelia, now the wife of 
Levi Lacoek, of Eppard's Point Township, and 
William T. 

During the past three years Mr. Wooding has 
wisely taken life easy, enjoying the fruits of his 
early labors. During the summer of 1887, he 
crossed the ocean and visited the scenes of his 
childhood in Northamptonshire, being accompanied 
by his brothers, William and Joseph. Although 
they greatly enjoyed the trip, and weie received 
with open arms by their kindred and friends. Mr. 
Wooding, when his vi>it was ended, checrfnllj' re- 
turned to his adopted county, and exclaims with 
enthusiasm, "Give me America." His admirable 
qualities as a citizen received early recognition by 

' 



the people of Pike Township, whom he served as 
School Director and Trustee for seven years, and 
has been otherwise prominent in local affairs. He 
cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, 
and has been a stanch Republican since the organ- 
ization of the party. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Stephen 
Wooding by name, was also of English birth and 
ancestry, and spent his entire life in his native 
shire. He was the father of five children, the eld- 
est being a daughter, Avis, who married George 
Sparks, and immigrated to America in 1855. They 
settled in St. Paul, Minn., where both died, leaving 
one child, a daughter, who is now a widow and 
lives in St. Paul. Rebecca and her husband, 
Benjamin Stan ton, are both deceased; Jesse, the 
father of our subject, was the third child ; Elizabeth 
and her husband, James Winters, both died, and 
left two children ; James, the youngest, lived and 
died in England. 



ENRY IMMKE, a gentleman in the prime of 
life, proprietor of a splendid farm on section 
36 in Owego Township, is a man respected 
for his sterling worth and integrity, and 
comes of that class of citizens noted for their en- 
ergy and determination to get on in the world. He 
is a native of Germany, where he was born on the 
1st of September, 1843, and is the son of John and 
Christina Immke. He remained in his native coun- 
try until in his eighteenth year, when, making up 
his mind that whatever future there was for him lay 
in America, he took passage on a sailing-vessel 
at Bremen in 1861, and after a voyage upon the 
ocean of six weeks, with the usual discomforts and 
thrilling episodes, landed safely in New York, and 
almost immediately came west to Illinois. In 1867 
he came to Livingston County, where for a time lie 
worked as a farm hand, and in this manner accumu- 
lated sufficient money to begin business for himself. 
In November, 18G9. Mr. Iminke was married to 
Anna Licsge. and they have had seven children, 
six of whom are living Maggie, Katie, William, 
Frederick, Henry and Elizabeth. Upon coming to 
Livingston County, he did not chose any permanent 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



S21 



abiding-place, but shortly after marriage he settled 
in Saiincinin Tovvnslii[), where he remained until lie 
removed to his present residence in Owego Town- 
ship, in the spring <>f 1< S 7*. His Imiiie place con- 
sists of 400 acres of land, and he has the satisfaction 
of knowing that every ncre of it, and all its equip- 
ments, are the result of his own hard labor and judi- 
cious management. Upon his arrival in America, 
he not only had no means, but was in debt to the 
amount of $43. This obligation he soon dis- 
charged, and then began the work of Accumulating 
for the future. A visit to his home and an inspec- 
tion of his farm audits surroundings, will convince 
any one that he has been eminently successful. 

Mr. Immke is a member of the Evangelical Asso- 
ciation, and is a devoted teacher in the Sunday- 
school of that church. He is a man of moral and 
religions sentiments, and is a liberal contributor of 
time and m< mey for the enhancement of the moral 
tone of the community. He is not a political par- 
tisan, but places his vote where he considers it will 
do the most good for the greatest number of peo- 
ple, regardless of the aspirations of party politicians. 
For three years he has served as Director of Schools, 
and takes a lively interest in educational matters. 



SNYDEK, a native of Jefferson County, 
N. Y., took up his residence in this county 
in tlie spring of 1876, locating on eighty 
acres of land on section 32, in Broughton Township, 
where he has since remained and given his attention 
to the cultivation of the soil. He has been skillful 
and industrious, exercised good judgment in his 
operations and his investments, and is a man held 
generally in roped by his community. He comes 
of a good family, his father having been ninny years 
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
who at pre.-ent reside- near Ben ton Harbor. Mich. 
Mr. Snyder was born Aug. 2!i. 1*11, his parents 
being Warren and Louisiana Snyder, natives of the 
Empire State, and the mother now deceased. His 
paternal grandfather, Richard Snyder, was one of 
the early settlers in the Mohawk Valley, where he 
spent the latter years of his life. The parental 
family included seven children, of whom the fol- 



lowing survive, namely: Mahlon, a resident of 
South Chicago; Mary, the wife of C. J. Huffstater, 
of Benton Harbor. Mich.; Orin, of our sketch; 
Eliza, Mrs. Lewis Svvisher, living near Benton Har- 
bor. Mich., and Jay, a resident of Iowa. 

Our subject continued in his native county until 
reaching manhood, receiving a limited education in 
the common schools, and employed himself prin- 
cipally in farm pursuits. He was married not far 
from the home of his childhood, on the 17th of Au- 
gust, 1862, to Miss Martha Allard, a native of his 
own county, and born Sept. 15, 184a. The parents 
of Mrs. Snyder, Almon and Ann E. (Etheridge) 
Allard, were also nalives of the Empire State, and 
are now dead. Their family included eleven chil- 
dren; those living are : William, and Dorcas A., the 
wife of James Huffstater, both residents of Jefferson 
County; Matilda, Mrs. Francis Shoecraft, of Wayne 
County, N. Y. ; Clarinda, the wife of Boswell Brown, 
of Jefferson County ; Edson, of Jefferson County, 
and Martha, Mrs. Snyder. 

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder remained in New York 
State three years after their marriage, then in Michi- 
gan about two and a half, and then came directly to 
this county, locating a few years afterward on their 
present farm. The record of their eleven children 
is as follows: James A. was born Aug. 14, 1 864, and 
married Hattie Stacey Nov. 26, 1 887 ; Edgar, born 
June 8, 1866; Jennie, born Sept. 20, 1867, married 
Isaac Herner, March 16, 1886; Almond, born Dec. 
11, 1869; Merlon, Feb. 19, 1872; Cora, Aug. 18, 
1873; Menzo, Aug. 18, 1 876 ; Frederick, April 27, 
1878; Eva, Oct. 27, 1880; Elmer F., Aug. 11, 1883: 
and Harry, April IK, 188.".. 

Mr. Snyder has been the architect of his own 
fortune, commencing in life with comparatively 
nothing. This condition by no means proved a 
drawback, as the men who have acquired their prop- 
erty by their own industry are usually competent to 
take care of it. He cast his first Presidential vote 
for Lincoln, and has since been a decided Repub- 
lican, although in local matters he sets politics aside, 
and votes for the man whom he considers best quali- 
fied for office. He has been School Director in his 
district several terms, and takes an active interest 
in the measures set on fcot for the general welfare of 
his community. 



- 8-22 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



KLIN CONVERSE, one of the oldest living 
pioneers in his neighborhood, resides on sec- 
lion 33, Owego Township, and was born in 
Addison County, Vt.. on the 1st of November, 
1834. He is a son of Heman and Hannah (Cramp- 
ton) Converse, both of whom were natives of New 
England. His paternal ancestors were of English 
and the maternal of Holland descent. The grand- 
father, Paine Converse, was a soldier in the War of 
1812, and was at the battle of Plattsburg. 

To Heman Converse were born ten children, 
nine of whom are living: Alonzo, Melissa, Hnl- 
dah ,1., Emily, Orlin, Louisa, George, Harvey and 
Melinda. Alonzo is in Dakota; Melissa is the wife 
of J. W. Benham, of Barber County, Kan.; Hnldah 
J. is the wife of Harvey Newell, of Wisconsin; 
Emily is the wife of Robert Smith, of Barber 
County, Kan., and Louisa of W. O. Hinde, of Ad- 
dison County, Vt. ; George resides in Addison 
County, Vt., and Harvey in Butler County, Iowa; 
Melinda is the wife of Dennis Norton, and they re- 
side on the homestead in Vermont. For many gen- 
erations the Converse family has been noted for its 
longevity, and the mother reached the age of eighty- 
nine years, dying in July, 1887, and the father in 
1872, at the age of seventy years. The grandfather 
died in his eighty-first year. 

Orlin Converse was reared to manhood in his 
native State, receiving a fair education in the com- 
mon schools, and in 1855 he migrated to the West 
and located in Livingston County, where he has 
ever since resided, with the exception of three 
years that he was a soldier in the Union army. He 
was married, Jan. 7, 18G2, to Rebecca Rockwood, a 
native of Livingston County, and daughter of Dan- 
iel Rockwood, one of the pioneer settlers of the 
county, and one of the commissioners appointed to 
locate the county seat. To Mr. and Mrs. Converse 
two children W'jre horn Roland P., and Jessie, de- 
ceased. 

On the 2d of August, 1862, Mr. Converse en- 
listed in Company G, 129th Illinois Infantry, in 
which command he served until the close of the 
war. and participated in the battles of Rcsaca, Peach- 
tree Creek. Kennesaw Mountain. Marietta, siege of 
Atlanta. Bentonville. and the entire campaign, 
which included Sherman's march to the sea, wind- 



ing up with the grand review in Washington nt the 
ce>sation of hostilities. He was discharged from 
the service with the rank of Sergeant, on the 20th 
of June, 1865. Immediately upon his discharge 
from the army he returned to Livingston County 
and settled permanently on his present farm. He 
now owns 360 acres of good land, which he has 
brought under a high state of cultivation, all of 
which has been accomplished through his own in- 
dustry and good management. For two terms he 
has served as Supervisor of Owego Township, and 
is at present serving as Road Commissioner. For 
twenty years he has served continuously as School 
Director in District No. 9, and takes a very great 
interest in all matters pertaining to schools and ed- 
ucation. In politics he is an adherent of the Re- 
publican party, to which he shows his devotion by 
regularly voting its ticket and giving to its candi- 
dates a cordial support. 



ERNARD LYONS, who came to this coun- 
try a poor boy and is now the owner of 
numerous farms in Livingston and Kendall 
' Counties, was born in Longford County. 
Ireland, on the 22d of November, 1822. He 
is the son of Daniel Lyons, and the grandson of 
Thomas Lyons, both natives of that county. They 
both followed farming and spent their entire lives 
there, the father d3 T ing at the age of eighty -four 
years. The maiden name of the moiher of our 
subject was Ann Gilligan, a native of the same 
count}", and a daughter of Bryan Gilligan. She 
died at the age of eighty-four years, having spent 
her entire life in that county. The paternal grand- 
mother of our subject was Ann Brady, and the 
maternal grandmother was Ann Corcoran. The 
parents of our subject had thirteen children born to 
them, and of that number eight came to America: 
Thomas G. now lives in Nevada Township; Ber- 
nard is our subject; John lives in Odell Township; 
Patrick resides in Dakota; Stephen, in Saune- 
inin Township: Maria MeCorniick, in Saunemin 
Township: Kate Dougherty lives in Ottawa, La- 
Salle County : Francis, one of the brothers, was in 
this country about five years and while here en- 





FARM RESIDENCE OF S . GOLEM AN , SEC. 9 . LONG POINT TOWNSHIP . 




FARM RESIDENCE OF ELIA5 J. LUNDY.5EC5 .28flc.29.NEW TOWN TOWNSHIP. 

I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



825 



ga^-ed in teaching a portion of the time. lie re- 
turned to Ireland, and now resides on the old home- 
stead. 

Mr. Lyons remained a resident of his native 
country until he was twenty-four years of age and 
then came to America, at first locating in New 
York City. I'pon his arrival in New York he was 
without funds, but soon found employment of var- 
ious kinds, which enabled him to support himself. 
He remained in New York and vicinity until the 
fall of 1849, when he concluded to come West and 
see what there might be in store for him. He 
traveled by rail to Buffalo, and by boat across 
the Lakes to Detroit, and then by rail across the 
State of Michigan to Chicago. Upon his arrival 
in Chicago he supplied himself with a stock of 
Yankee notions, which he engaged in peddling 
throughout the surrounding country. In the spring 
of 1850 he began farming in Kendall County. 
where in the fall of that year he purchased eighty 
acres of wild prairie land, and the following sum- 
mer built a frame house of small dimensions. He 
resided there until 1855, and improved the land 
materially and erected good frame buildings. In 
1865 he rented this land to other parties and came 
to Livingston County, where he first purchased 
160 acres of land in Nevada Township, and has 
been a resident continuously of the county all the 
time. In 1868 he bought the farm he now occupies, 
which at that time was wild prairie, but through 
his untiring energy it has been reduced to a state 
of splendid cultivation, and he lias erected a good set 
of frame buildings. In this home farm there are 
360 acres of well-improved land. In addition to 
this he owns 160 acres in Owego Township, and 160 
acres in Esmen Township, besides the farm he 
own- in Kendall County. These farms were all 
wild prairie lands when he first purchased them, 
but they arc now all models of cultivation and im- 
provement. 

On the 13th of August, 1851, Mr. Lyons was 
married to Mary McKanna, who was born in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 29th of July, 18:!:!. 
She is the daughter of John and Ellen (Trayner) 
McKanna. both natives of County Tyrone. They 
came to America in 18:!,"), and located in Lowell, 
Mass., where they remained four .years, and then 



came to Illinois and settled at Lockport, Will 
County, where they lived until 1814. In that year 
they moved to Kendall County, and bought a tract 
of unbroken prairie laud. At that time wild ani- 
mals were numerous, and game of all kinds was 
plenty. He built a log cabin on his land and lived 
there until 1X58, when his death occurred. The 
wife died about 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons are 
the parents of eleven children, whose names are as 
follows: Ann, John H., Margery E., Daniel S., 
Sarah J., Joseph P., William F., Catherine M., 
Michael E., Adeline A. and Bernard A. Daniel S. 
resides on the farm in Esmen Township. 

Mr. Lyons has been Highway Commissioner for 
three years and has served as School Director and 
Trustee, and has been Supervisor for the township 
one .year, and in all these various official capacities 
has given excellent satisfaction. In his attention to 
public business as well as his own private business, 
he displays much intelligence and enterprise, and 
pardonably prides himself on the accomplishments 
of his life, considering the humble start he had. 




TEPIIEN COLEMAN, who has for many 
years been a resident of Long Point Town. 
ship, is now engaged in farming and stock- 
raising on an excellent farm of 174 acres 
located on section 9. He is a native of Obio, and 
was born on the 10th of September, 18:>1. He is 
the son of George and Sallie (Triplet) Coleman, 
who were natives of Ohio. The father was born in 
1799, and died Dec. 2:3, 1850. He taught school 
for some time in Ohio, and in the fall of 1833 he 
came to Illinois and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. By this marriage, besides the subject of our 
sketch there were born the following-named chil- 
dren : Edward was born on the 26th of May, 1833, 
married Miss Hattie Smith, of Bureau County, 111., 
and they have six children; Eli was born Aug. 30, 
1 835, and went to Colorado twenty-one years ago, 
since which time no intelligence has been had from 
him: James was born May 10, 1837, and died on 
the Gth of May, 1843, from the effects of being 
scalded by the contents of a coffee-pot; Emily was 
born May 29, 1 840, and was the wife of Marion 



*_><! 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Ament; she died on the 7th of March, 1872, leav- 
ing one child. William L. was born May 1 1, 1842, 
and died May 1 , 1 852 ; Mary was born Nov. 1 8, 
1843, and married Miletus Ellis, of Bureau County, 
111. ; he died in Colorado, leaving four children. 
Chester was born Nov. 8, 1846, is married, and 
lives in Dakota. 

Stephen Coleman was married, on the 6th of No- 
vember, 1 853, to Emily, the daughter of Moses 
and Mary (Terry) Fowler, natives of New York, 
who were the parents of the following-named chil- 
dren: Laura, Emily S., Thomas, Caroline and Louis 
Le Grand. Laura was born in September, 1828, 
and was married to M. E. Allen; they had eight 
children, two of whom are deceased. Emily was 
born May 28, 1832; Thomas was born in 1834, and 
married Julia Whitmore; they reside in Long Point 
Township. Caroline, whose age is not exactly 
known, died in Bureau County in 1850; Louis Le 
Grand was married to Martha Smiley, and they re- 
side in Kansas. Both parents of Mrs. Coleman are 
dead. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of the 
following-named children : Mary L., George A., 
Sarah, John, Lydia, Leonora, Julia, Laura, Charles 
and Stephen E. Mary was born Aug. 25, 1854. 
married John Halstead, and has a family of four 
children; they reside in Nebraska. George A. was 
born March 27, 1857, and married Emma Stewart; 
they have two children. Sarah was born March 6, 
1859, was married to George B. Kaub, and they have 
a family of three children ; John, born Dec. 28, 1860, 
and married Miss Lucretia Hakes: Lydia was born 
Aug. 29, 1862, and was married to Franklin Ellis; 
Leonora was born Oct. 29, 1864, and died March 
8, 1872; Julia was born Jan. 12, 1867, and died 
Oct. 30, 1877; Laura was born March 6, 1868, and 
Charles, Jan. 3, 1871; they reside at home. Ste- 
phen E. was born March is. 1873, and died Aug. 
29, 1874. 

Stephen Coleman came to Illinois with his par- 
ent* and settled at Princeton in ls:53. In the 
course of time he purchased a farm of eighty acres, 
which he sold after one year's ownership. He 
now owns 174 acres, which is well improved and ! 
drained by 1,300 rods of tile ditch. Everything ; 
about the place denotes thrift and enterprise, and i 




the home of an intelligent and progressive fanner. 
In connection with this sketch is shown a view of 
Mr. Coleman's residence. Politically Mr. C. is a 
Democrat, and while taking an interest in his party 
does not allow politics to interfere with his businc--. 
Mrs. Coleman is a member in good standing of 
the Protestant Methodist Church. They enjoy the 
universal esteem of all their neighbors. 



LIAS J. LUNDY. This gentleman occu- 
pies one of the most valuable farms in New- 
town Township, which is doubly prized by 
him as having been the homestead of his father. 
He was born in a log house not far from the site of 
the present dwelling, July 12, 1849, and is the son 
of Henry and Mary (Copse) Lnndy. His father, 
a native of Logan County, Ohio, was born June 3. 
1816, and was the son of Nathan and Amy (Pick- 
erel) Lnndy, natives respectively of New Jerse}- 
and Virginia, and of Welsh and Scotch descent. 
Nathan followed the occupation of a farmer. The 
great-grandfather of our subject was Amos Lnndy. 
The children of Grandfather Nathan Lundy were 
ten in number, and named respectively: Susanna, 
John, Amos, Nicholas, Enoch, Samuel, Nathan, 
Henry, Diana and Eli; of these four are still liv- 
ing. Nicholas is fanning in Iowa, and although 
an old gentleman, is quite active. Uncle Samuel 
has lived with Elias J., our subject, nearly forty- 
seven years, and has been blind since a boy eight 
or nine years old, which affliction was brought 
about by a severe attack of fever. He came with 
his parents to Illinois when a youth of fifteen, and 
remained with them until their decease. AVith the 
sense of touch peculiar to the blind lie has con- 
trived to make himself quite useful, and was for 
many year* engaged in the manufacture of baskets 
and brooms. He also exhibited great ingenuity in 
the carving of chains from peach pits, in which 
work there was necessarily employed much time 
and patience, and which were marvels of beauty 
and greatly admired by all who saw them. lie is 
now seventy-three years old and in very good 
health. Another son, Nathan, when last heard 
from was in Nebraska: Eli lives in Missouri : John, 



r 







LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



827 



Ames ;ui(l Nii'lii il.'is served as soldiers in the Blnck 
Hawk War, and are now deceased. The mother of 
these children died in Ohio at the age of about 
fifty-five yours. Her husband, Nathan, came to 
Illinois during its early settlement, making the trip 
overland by wagon. He located among the pio- 
neers of Logan County, where he built up a com- 
fortable home from the wilderness and spent his 
last days. 

Henry Lundy, the father of our subject, cahie 
with his parents to Illinois about 1829 or 1830, lo- 
cating first in Sangiimon County, where they lived 
about three years, and thence removed to what 
was then Tazewell but is now DeWitt County, 
whore he reached manhood and was married in 
February. 1837. The young people shortly after- 
ward removed to LaSalle County and rented a 
tract of land, but a year Inter they came to Liv- 
ingston County. After gathering in the crops of 
three seasons from the soil of that section, Mr. 
Lundy came to the conclusion that it was about the 
best locality that could be found. He accordingly 
entered a tract of Government land besides pur- 
chasing claims adjoining, and was greatly pros- 
pered in his labors, thereafter. He continued to 
purchase land until he became the owner of 560 
acres, the greater part of which he afterward di- 
vided among his children, giving eighty acres to 
each. He was a very industrious and hard-work- 
ing man, kindly and generous in disposition, and a 
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
lie lived to a good old age. passing away at his 
home in Newtown Township on the Oth of August, 
1885. The mother was the daughter of Robert 
Copse, one of the pioneer settlers of Livingston 
County. His family included nine children, namely : 
Catherine, Susannah, Nancy, Mary, William, Jacob, 
Sarah, Elizabeth and Thomas. Of these but three 
are living Susannah. William and Jacob. Susan- 
nah resides with her grandson, Levy Snyder, of 
Xowtown Township, and has reached the advanced 
age of eighty -four years j William is a resident <f 
Logan County, this State, and Jacob, some years 
ago, migrated across the Mississippi into Kansas, 
where he now resides. The father, Robert Copse. 
died in Newtown Township, Dec. 10, 1853, at the 
age of one hundred years, six months and ten days. 
* ". 



His remains were laid to rest in Phillips Cemetery, 
and he is remembered as a good man in the broadest 
sense of the term. 

The family of Henry Luudy included four chil- 
dren Diana, Samuel Porter, Francis Marion and 
Elias J. Diana was born Nov. 15, 1837, and be- 
came the wife of Lansen Pope, of Newtown ; she 
died Feb. 18, 1880, leaving several children. Sam- 
uel Porter was born Dec. 2, 1839, and is farming 
in Newtown Township; Francis Marion was born 
June 30, 1842, and is conducting a hotel and liv- 
ery stable at Cornell. The mother of these chil- 
dren spent her last years in Newtown, where her 
death took place July 21, 1884, at the age of sev- 
enty-four years. 

Our subject remained under the parental roof 
until the fall of 1879, when he was over thirty 
years of age. He then moved across the creek, 
where he lived until the fall of 1881, and then re- 
turning to the home farm, remained with his par- 
ents until their decease. He was married in Pon- 
tiac, April 0, 1879, to Miss Lizzie L. Goddard. 
There was already provided a home for his bride, 
and they settled down comfortably upon the place 
where they now live. Mr. Lundy is keeping pace 
with the various improvements introduced in con- 
nection with farming, and is highly valued as an 
agriculturist and a member of the community. He 
has of late years given considerable attention to 
stock-raising, and has attained to quite a reputation 
in this line. The premises are marked by an air of 
solidity and comfort which distinguishes the home' 
as one of the most comfortable in Newtown Town- 
ship. 

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Orrin 
and Elizabeth (Smith) Goddard, the former a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They 
came to Illinois in the fall of 1848, and located in 
Livingston County the following year. They are 
now retired from active labor, and are spending 
their later years in a comfortable home at Manville. 
They were the parents of nine children Burr B.. 
Lizzie L., Emma, John, James P., Julia, Guy, Por- 
ter and Frank; all except Lizzie L. are at home. 
Lizzie L., the wife of our subject, was born April 
17, 1860, in Reading Township, this county, and 
by her union with Mr. Lundy has had two children 



I 



828 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Jessie G., who wa.- horn Feh. 1C, 1880,. tind 
Clement G., who was born Sept. 27, 1S81, and died 
Feh. 17, 1885. Mr. Lundy votes the straight Re- 
publican ticket and, with his estimable lady, is a 
member in good standing of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of the county we present on an adjoining page of 
this Ai.itfM a view of Mr. Lundy's residence and 
surroundings. 




WILLIAM WASHFORD CRITTEN, who is 

actively engaged in farming and stock- 
raising on section 9, in Reading Township, 
is a native of Ohio, and was born on the 22d of Au- 
gust, 1824. He is a son of Christopher and Eura 
Eaton (Drake) Critten. The parents removed 
from Ohio to Indiana when our subject was about 
four years of age, and it was not until he was four- 
teen years old that he was permitted to enter a 
school-room, because of the distance to the nearest 
school-house from his home. 

Mr._ Critten was married, on the 5th of June, 
1848, in Montgomery County, Ind., to Laura Ann 
Rector, who was born on the 18th of August, 1821). 
She was the daughter of George and Mary (Riddle) 
Rector, natives of North Carolina. To her parents 
were born the following children: Laura Ann, wife 
of our subject; Matilda E., March 5, 1832; John 
J. was born on the 21st of October, 1834, is 
a farmer and resides in Fountain County, Ind; he 
married Catherine Laton, and they have six chil- 
dren, two of whom are deceased. Stephen L., born 
Aug. 21, 1837, is a farmer by occupation and re- 
sides in Indiana; he married Sarah Duncan, and 
they have had two children, both of whom are de- 
ceased. William P. married Miss C. Duncan and 
removed to Iowa, where he is engaged in farming. 
Mr. and Mrs. Critten had one child, George F., 
born Sept. 25, 1*53. The latter married Miss 
Emmeretta Swan, the daughter of Henry P. and 
Deborah Swan, Feb. 24, 187(!. 

To Mr. and Mrs. George F. Critten the following 
children have been born: Lina Augusta, June 26, 
1877; an infant, born June 30, l.ssi. died July 10, 



1 ss I ; Laura Deborah, born Oct. 3, 1882: Adclia 
Pearl, Aug. 3, 1884, and Amy Luetta, Aug. 1C, 
1887. The wife of our subject, who wa> a very 
estimable woman and endeared herself to all who 
knew her, died" on the 13th of May, 1854. Mr. 
Critten has never married again. His deceased 
wife was a member of the Methodist Church, and 
died in the full faith. Mr. Critten's farm consists 
of eighty aCres of excellent land, which is hand- 
somely improved and highly cultivated. 

Politically our subject is a Democrat, and has 
served three years as Road Commissioner of Read- 
ing Township, and also three years as Road Super- 
visor, Mr. Critten became a citizen of Livingston 
County in the fall of 1858, and during this time has 
been. exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
At the time of his first settlement in this county 
Ottawa was the nearest market point for the selling 
of grain and the purchase of supplies. He has been 
a witness of the progress made in the opening and 
developing of the county. 



J1AMES LANGAN. A large proportion of 
| the early residents of Sunbury Township 
I were self-made men, and sought a home 
' many miles from the place of their birth. 
Many of these crossed the Atlantic in the strength 
of their youth and courage, and the review of their 
career is intensely interesting, inasmuch as it proves 
to what extent a man is dependent upon his own 
exertions. The subject of this biography is one of 
the finest illustrations of the self-made man who in 
his youth battled with adverse circumstances, but 
allowed nothing to disma}' him. 

In tracing the history of our subject we find that 
he was born in the maritime county of Mayo, Ire- 
land, June 15, 1828, and is the son of Patrick and 
Mary (Langan) Langan: the former was the son of 
James Langan, and both were natives of the same 
county, where the grandfather spent his entire life 
engaged in farming pursuits. lie married one of 
liis youthful associates. Miss Julia Rooney. who. 
like her husband, remained a permanent resident of 
her native county. They were the parents of two 
-on- and three daughters. One son died when a 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



\ 



youth of sixteen years, the other son, Patrick, Mini 
the three sisters married and reared families of 
their own. Patriek, the father of our subject, was 
the only one who came to America. He was 
reared to manhood on the homestead of his parents 
and learned the trades of bricklayer and stone-cut- 
ter. He subsequently operated as a contractor and 
also superintended his farm, residing in Ireland 
until about 186K. He then, with his wife, crossed 
the Atlantic and spent the last years of his life at 
the home of our subject, his death taking place in 
1S7:> when he was seventy -three years of age; the 
mother had died in Streator at the age of sixty-nine 
years. She was in her maidenhood Miss Mary 
Langan, the daughter of John and Catherine 
(Burke) Langan. Both daughter and parents were 
born in County Mayo, in which the latter passed 
their entire lives. 

The children of Patriek and Mary Langan, five 
in number, consisted of four sons and one daughter, 
<>f whom our subject is the eldest. His parents 
were in fair circumstances and gave to their chil- 
dren a good education. They were at the same 
time trained to habits of industry and frugality, and 
early in life learned to make themselves useful. 
James remained a member of his father's household 
until the spring of 1IS51. He was a youth of more 
than ordinary intelligence, and believed that with a 
fair opportunity and in a suitable locality he could 
make of himself what he could never expect to be 
under existing conditions. He had received letters 
from friends across the water and had eagerly pe- 
rused the papers relating to the advantages given 
the enterprising emigrant in the New World, and 
determined to seek its shores. One morning in 
July he left home with a younger brother to take :i 
load of ,( raw ),, sell in the town- of Balliiui. From 
this sale he realized '5, nearly 2;"), in cash. lie 
sent his brother home and took the next stage 
for Dublin and thence to Liverpool, where he en- 
gaged passage on the next vessel for America. 
Seven weeks and three days later found him disem- 
barking from the ship "\V~arbler" at the wharves of 
New Orleans, with a cash capital of fifty cents in 
his pocket. His lirst business was to look around 
for something which would increase his exchequer, 
but from this effort he realized oiilv his board, be in" 



cheated out of his week's wages. He then decided 
to leave the Crescent City, and succeeded in con- 
tracting to work his passage on a steamer to St. 
Louis and thence in a similar manner to LaSalle, 
III., where he landed still clinging to the fifty cents 
which he had brought with him from the old coun- 
try. This he finally offered to the landlord where 
he stopped for his night's lodging, but the gentle- 
man very humanely refused to take it. 

Young Langan had an uncle in LaSalle County, 
twenty-five miles from the town, and lie set out on 
foot for the house of his relative. Soon after reach- 
ing his destination he was attacked with ague and 
was for nearly a year unable to work. He finally 
presented his cherished fifty cents to one of his 
cousins, and was most of the time without money 
for twelve months thereafter. As soon as he was 
able he engaged as a farm laborer at #12 per month, 
and was thus employed for fifteen months following. 
Subsequently he assisted in the construction of the 
Rock Island Railroad and afterward performed the 
same duties with the Illinois Central Railroad. He 
worked for the latter with a shovel four weeks and 
then went into the stone quarry. His intelligence 
and industry won him the confidence and approval 
of his employers and not long afterward he was ap- 
pointed foreman over a large gang of workmen, at 
a salary of $60 per month, which position he re- 
tained nine months. He then purchased a one-half 
interest in a threshing-machine and the same in a 
McCormick reaper, both of which he operated two 
seasons, afterward selling out and investing the 
proceeds in live stock. In the summer he employed 
herders to look after them on the prairie and in 
winter hired men to cut hay for them. In the 
meantime he was himself engaged in breaking prai- 
rie for the Illinois Central Railroad Company at $6 
per day. When this job was completed he was em- 
ployed by the farmers around at the same work and 
in the mild seasons often slept on the grass on the 
open prairie and without shelter. 

Our subject, still pursuing the climbing process 
and making headway at each move, now began to 
enlarge his sphere of action, and rented the farm of 
his uncle for a period of three years. He had in 
the meantime been married, and now located with 
his family on a piece of ground belonging to his 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



father-in-law. He still kept his stock, and his herd 
steadily increased in numbers until he had nearly 
100 head. In September, 1863, he visited this 
county and purchased 240 acres of land at $0.50 
per acre in Sunbury Township, upon which he lo- 
cated two years later and has since remained. He 
made purchases of land from time to time until he 
became the owner of 1 ,200 acres, besides town lots 
in Dwight. When Mr. Langan became a property 
owner in Sunbury Township, the larger portion of 
it was wild prairie, owned by non-residents, and he 
was appointed agent for the sale of a large propor- 
tion of these lands. He also dealt in real estate in 
Kankakee and Grundy Counties. His business talent 
was phenomenal, and as the conservator of large in- 
terests he has acquitted himself as a most valued 
and useful factor in the development of Sunbury 
Township. The intelligent and industrious class of 
people with whom it was soon settled came here, 
many of them, through his solicitations, and he 
smoothed the way many times out of their difficul- 
ties. His example proved a stimulus to numbers, 
who made desperate efforts to emulate his enter- 
prise. His home farm embraces 560 acres, with 
the most elegant and substantial improvements, and 
everything indicative of the progressive agricultur- 
ist and the enterprising citizen. 

Mr. Langan was united in marriage with Miss 
Catherine Coffey, Nov. 29, 1854. Mrs. Langan was 
born in Jersey City, N. ,1., March 7, 1*36, and is 
the daughter of Timothy and Mary (Gorman) 
Coffey, natives of Roscommon Count}', Ireland, 
and both now deceased. Of her union with our sub- 
ject there were born the children whose record is 
as follows: Thomas N. is farming in Sunbury 
Township: Mary is the wife of Hugh Molanney and 
lives in Grundy Count}'; Katie married William 
Cusick and also lives in Grundy County; James II. 
is a student at Dixon College, 111.: one child died 
young. 

Mr. Langan politically is a conservative Demo- 
crat, casting hi:- vote at Presidental elections with 
the party of his choice, bnt in local affairs voting 
independently, lie keeps himself well posted upon 
current events and takes a lively interest in every- 
thing pertaining to the welfare of his adopted 
country. He has never consented to hold office, 



but became a Justice of the Peace for his own con- 
venience in transferring lands. He always, how- 
ever, gives his time cheerfully to the promotion of 
his friends at times of election, and nothing ple;i.-i - 
him better than to see a worthy man entrusted with 
the interests of the people. He was reared in the 
faith of the Catholic Church, in the doctrines of 
which his honored parents were firmly engrafted, 
and still clings to the religion of his forefathers, 
being a member and an attendant with his wife and 
children of the Catholic Church in Sunbury Town- 
ship. 




W. KENYON, one of the reliable and sub- 
stantial business men of Odell, which is an 
important station on the Chicago & Alton 
Road, in Livingston County, is the subject 
of this sketch. He is now engaged in the lumber 
trade, and kindred branches. He was born in Troy, 
N. Y., on the 17th of December, 1824, and was the 
second in a family of ten children born to Daniel 
and Araminta (Armstrong) Kenyon, both of whom 
were natives of New York. The paternal grand- 
father was Amasa Kenyon. The maternal grand- 
parents were Isaac and Phu-be Armstrong, all of 
whom were natives of New York. The father of 
Mr. Kenyon was reared on a farm until he grew to 
manhood, and when he started in life for himself, 
located at Troy, N. Y., and engaged in boating on 
the Hudson. In 1836 he moved to Newark, Wayne 
County, where he followed a mercantile life for a 
time, and then engaged in farming until his death. 
Mr. Kenyon was reared to farm life principally, 
and engaged in farming on his own account three 
years before his majority. All the education he 
received was obtained in the common schools. At 
the age of twenty-one years he was married to Mary 
Grant, on the 8th of October, 1845. She was the 
eldest in a family of five children born to Eliab T. 
and Eliza (Wilkinson) Grant, who were natives of 
Rhode Island, and. early settlers of New York. 

Mr. Kcnyon and his wife first settled in Newark, 
where he engaged in the dry -goods business, which 
he continued until 1806. when failing health com- 
pelled him to give up his business, and for two or 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



831 



three years he retired from active life. During the 
war he was a member of the War Committee in his 
district, and spent the greater part of the your in 
organizing troops and doing other things connected 
with tin 1 war recruiting service. In 18G6 he sold 
all his interests in the East, and coming to Odell on 
a visit to his brother, he became interested in the 
lumber business with him. In 1808 lie made a sec- 
ond visit, and was so greatly benefited in health by 
the climate, that he resolved to bring his family and 
locate for a time. In 18(J8 he moved, and for a 
number of years he and his brother were associated 
together in the lumber and coal business. Me then 
bought the interest of his brother, and for the past 
ten y ears has been alone. Seven years ago he 
opened a second yard at Cabery, which is now man- 
aged by his brother, who was his former partner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon are the parents of three 
children, two of whom are living. Willie T. and 
Annie M. ; Charles died in childhood ; Willie mar- 
ried Miss Abbie Supplee, and lives in Chicago, 
where he is with Felix & Masters in a wooden- ware 
establishment. Mr. Kenyon has always been more 
or less active in politics, usually voting the Demo- 
crat ic ticket, and was a member of the Town Board in 
Newark, where he was engaged in business. Since 
locating in Odell, he has served as President of the 
Town Board, and was a Town Trustee for many 
terms. For the first time in many years he is now 
not connected with any office. His excellent wife 
is a member of the Universalist Church, and with 
the aid of her husband, has been instrumental in 
building up the society in all its branches. 




4 



I OUIS M. IPSON. Bornholm is an island in 
the Baltic Sea. lying ninety miles east of 
Zealand and twenty-five miles south of the 
southernmost point of Sweden, and belongs to Den- 
mark. It is about twenty-three miles long by eight- 
een broad, and has an area of 2:>0 square miles. 
In general the coast is high, presenting perpendicu- 
lar cliffs, close to which is deep water, but where 
the cliffs do not prevail reefs and sand banks 
stretch out to sea, rendering approach dangerous. 
Excepting a heath tract near the center the land is 



generally fertile. Good building stone and marble 
are quarried and coal is likewise produced, but it is 
<>f an inferior quality. The island has long been 
famous for its rock crystals, and agriculture, cattle 
raising, fishing and seafaring afford the chief sup- 
port of the inhabitants. It was at the fort of 
Christainson, not far from the Island of Bornholm, 
that the subject of this sketch, who is a farmer and 
stock-raiser on section 12, Rook's Creek Township, 
was born on the 17th of October, 1853. 

Mr. Ipson is the son of Didrik Funk and Char- 
lotte (Larson) Ipson, and with them resided in the 
town of Honne, the capital of Bornholm, until he 
was twenty years of age, receiving a good common- 
school education and also learning the trade of a 
shoemaker from his father. In the spring of 1873 
he bade good bye to his island home and came to 
America. Immediately after landing he came to 
Livingston County, and in 1875 went to Wiscon- 
sin, where he remained a short time and then re- 
turned to Illinois. On the 23d of December, 1879, 
he was married to Elizabeth M., daughter of Claus 
and Christina B. Anderson, of Bornholm. After 
his marriage he rented land which he farmed for 
three years and then purchased eighty acres, on 
which he now lives. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ipson have four children, whose 
names are: Clarence William, who was born Get" 
19, 1880; Agnes Luella, June C, 1882; Elmer Louis, 
March 2, 1884, and Charles Didrik, June 13, 1886. 
Mr. Ipson is the second in a family of seven chil- 
dren, five of whom are living; they were named 
as follows: Louisa Didrikka, Louis M., Charles 
Peter, Magdalena Charlotte and Ilansine. Louisa 
married Christian Oleson, has seven children, and 
lives in Pontiac; Charles is married and has one 
child: Magdalena is married and has two children; 
both live in Bornholm. as also does Hansine. Mr. 
Ipson's father was born on the 2d of February, 
182(i, and his mother in 1834. The wife of our 
subject was born on the Island of Bornholm on the 
20th of May, 1 8GO. She and a younger sister came 
to this country in 1876, landing at New York on 
the 21st of May. after a voyage of nineteen days. 
They were delayed on the way two days by heavy 
fogs, and at one time they thought they were go- 
ing to be shipwrecked. She is the fourth child in 



I 



1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



;i family of eight, five of whom came to this coun- 
try. The names of the children are : Eliza Cather- 
ine, John Peter, Caroline Maria, Elizabeth M., Maria 
Christina, Hansine Wilhelmina, Annie Boeldine and 
James Otis. Eliza C. is married, has three children, 
and lives at Bornholm; John P. is married, has three 
children, and lives in Kansas; Caroline M. is mar- 
ried, has two children, and lives in. Piatt County, 
111. ; Maria C. is married, has two children, and lives 
in Kansas; Hansine W. and Annie B. live in Born- 
hulm; and James O. lives in Piatt County, 111. 

Since coming to this country Mr. Ipsou has 
been successful in his business affairs, and his 80- 
acre farm is the result of his thrift and industry. 
He has erected a comfortable home and his farm 
buildings are of good quality. 




ARTIN PEARSON. Of course the early 
settlers of Illinois had no forests to fell and 
clear away in order to make their land 
tillable, but they had the prairie which 
had grown wild from the beginning of time to 
break and convert to a condition of cultivation. 
This was not an easy task, and the work had to be 
performed with the most primitive kind of imple- 
ments, for but little progress had been made in the 
improvement of machinery. At the time the sub- 
ject of this sketch came to Illinois but little of the 
hind was under cultivation, and the prairie grass, 
which had -been growing for centuries, hud become so 
rank and matted together, and the roots had become 
so strong and tenacious that oxen or teams of four 
horses had to be attached to the plow in order to 
prepare the ground for cultivation. But when 
this grass wa> finally subdued the pioneer farmer 
was repaid for the arduous labor required, for Hie 
rich soil produced abundant crops. Mr. Pearson 
is one of the oldest pioneers in Avoca Township, 
and is a representative farmer and stock-raiser, re- 
siding on section 24. 

Mr. Pearson is a native of Tippecanoe County, 
Ind., where he was born on the 22d of July, 1830. 
He is the son of Lot and Sophia (Staley) Pearson, 
natives of Ohio and North Carolina respectively. 
His maternal grandfather, Jacob Staley. was a sol- 



dier of the War of 1812, and his paternal ancestors 
were of English de.-cent. His parents settled in 
Tippecanoe County, Ind., at a very early day, and 
both died when our subject wa.s only about nine 
years of age. Of their family of children the fol- 
lowing are living: Meredith, of Kansas; Eli, of 
Avoca Township; Mary, wife of David Bod ley, of 
Kansas, and Martin. The subject of this sketch 
having been left an orphan at such a tender age, 
was thrown upon his own resources and con- 
sequently received but a limited education. At 
seventeen years of age lie was apprenticed to the 
blacksmithing trade, which he followed for about 
thirteen years. In 18;"3 he came to Livingston 
County, where he has since resided. During the 
first four years of his residence here he engaged in 
blacksmithing, and then began farming, settling on 
his present farm in Avoca Township. He settled 
on this farm when it was raw prairie with the ex- 
ception of about live acres, which had been broken, 
and has witnessed the development of the county 
from its most primitive condition until it is now 
one of the best improved counties in the State. In 
common with all pioneers the hardships which he 
endured were many and trying, but he nobly sur- 
mounted all obstacles and now owns 160 acres of 
land thoroughly drained, and under the most perfect 
state of cultivation. The farm buildings are of mod- 
ern architecture, and include all the conveniences. 

Mr. Pearson heeded the call for men to assist in 
suppressing the Rebellion, and in the month of 
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 12!)th 
Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the Army 
of the Cumberland. During his term of service he 
participated in the battles of Resaca, Burnt Hick- 
ory, Kennes;iw Mountain, Peach tree Creek, the 
siege of Atlanta, and the battle of Nashville. 
Becoming sick at Atlanta he was fnrloughed for 
twenty days, and at Nashville he had a relapse 
which compelled him to remain in the hospital for 
three months. He was honorably discharged on the 
5th of July, 18G5, and immediately returned to 
Illinois. 

Mr. Pearson was first married in 1 *52, to Clarissa 
Tucker, a native of Ireland. His second marriage 
was to Sarah L. Hefner, on the 18th of March, 
IS;")!!. She is a native of Livingston County, and 




.' 1 , - 




RESIDENCE OF DANIEL 6ALLU P.5EC . 16 , DWI6HT TP. 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN M ? G E E ,S EC . 24 , SU N BU RY TP, 




-7- . .: : ' 



;;, 5V :c -':-: 



^fe ^^ 



RESIDENCE FO A . G . P T TE R , 5 E C . 5, DWIGHT TP. 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



835 



a daughter of Nicholas and Mary Hefner, who 
were among its pioneers. To them have been 
born seven children, four of whom are living 
Leo W., Mattie A., the wife of Wallace Foster, 
Oscar E. and Eva. He and his wife are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which lie 
has served as Steward for a considerable time. 
Politically he is a Prohibitionist, and in the cause 
of that party he is an untiring and earnest worker. 
So far as official position is concerned he has 
served the people well, in the capacity of Justice 
of the Peace twelve years, Assessor two years, 
Collector two years, and is now serving his fif- 
teenth year as Road Commissioner in Avoca 
Township, and has "likewise served five years as 
Township School Trustee. He has all his life been 
an energetic, hard-working man, and his accumula- 
tions testify to his industry and good management. 
In all matters pertain ing to the welfare of the com- 
munity in which he lives he occupies a leading 
position. 



ARTIN ALLEN NEWMAN, a leading 
farmer and stock-raiser on section 22, New- 
town Township, lives on a fine farm of 200 
acres, which is under a good state of cul- 
tivation. He was born in Vermillion County, Ind., 
on the 25th of October. 1818, and remained there 
until 1838. 

During the boyhood days of our subject he had 
no educational advantages whatever, and has 
learned to read and write since his marriage in 
1H43. In 1837 he took a wagon-load of apples 
from Vermillion County to Chicago, requiring four 
weeks to make the trip with an ox-team. In 1838 
he removed to Illinois and settled in Ottawa, where 
he lived until he came to Livingston County, break- 
ing prairie and working on the ferry across the Illi- 
nois River during summer, and chopping wood in 
winter. In 1840 he returned to Indiana and 
brought his mother and four children to LaSalle 
County, where he cared for the family until 1843. 
On the 2d of January, 1843, Mr. Newman was 
married to Hannah Springer, a native of Livingston 
County and daughter of Job and Dorothea (Parker) 




ma 
f Coi 



Springer, who were old residents of Livingston 
County, in which they have since died. After 
marriage Mr. Newman engaged one year in farm- 
ing, but not being successful, he removed to Ot- 
tawa and hired out to a carpenter at $10 per month 
for one year. After this he worked at that trade 
on his own account for several years. He then ac- 
cepted employment from the State for some time, 
building the aqueduct across Fox River. While 
engaged in this work his health became impaired, 
and he was compelled to remain idle for a consid- 
erable time. He then engaged in peddling, in De- 
cember. 1847, visiting monthly during the next 
year almost every house in Livingston Count}', and 
meeting with good success. He then worked for 
Walker & Hickling for a time, and in the spring of 
1850 moved to what is now New Michigan, Living- 
ston County, and opened a store, pre-empting also a 
quarter section of land, on which he located the 
town. In 1851 he contracted to carry the mail 
from Ottawa to Bloornington weekly, by the way 
of Pontiac and Indian Grove, at $7 per trip. After 
this he exchanged eighty acres of his land for a 
tavern stand in Lexington, McLean County, which 
he soon afterward sold, and with the proceeds pur- 
chased land near Pontiac. In the spring of 1854, 
he purchased an interest in a mill at Ottawa, and 
in 1857, during the panic which swept over the 
country in that year, lost all of his accumulations, 
excepting the 160-acre farm that he now lives upon. 
His actual loss at the time was about *G,000. In 
June, 1860, he took a mail contract between this 
point and Odell and to Ottawa, which he held six 
years, and then for seven years he kept the post- 
office at Manville, Newtown Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Newman are the parents of the fol- 
lowing-named children: Lysander, Flavilla, Mauley 
J., John Milton, Clarinda G., Martha Jane, Lueiiia 
Belle, Dorothea J., Ida May, Emma and George 
Walker. Lysander died in childhood ; Flavilla and 
Mauley J. died in infancy; John M. is married and 
lives in Streator, where he conducts a feedyard ; 
he lias three children. Clarinda G. died in her 
thirty-third year, and left three children, one of 
whom diedln infancy. Martha J. married W. H. 
Palmer, has four children, and lives in Genesee 
County, N. Y. ; Lucina 1). is unmarried, and lives with 



< 



1 830 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



her sister in New York : Dorothea J. is the wife of \\. 
,1. Pilcher, has four children, and lives in Kansas : 
Ida Maj' died at the age of four years: Emma and 
George W. are at home. Mrs. Newman i.s an ardent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
Mr. Newman belongs to the Republican party. 
They are both most estimable people, and enjoy 
the esteem and respect of all their neighbors. 



; AMES BRYDON. The farm property of this 
gentleman is beautifully located in Charlotte 
Township, on section 24, and comprises 120 

1 acres of land with n handsome and substan- 
tial residence, a good barn and other out-buildings, 
and is well stocked with graded Durham cattle, 
thoroughbred Norman horses and Poland-China 
swine. The fields are divided with neatly trimmed 
hedges and the whole presents a pleasing picture of 
the model country estate. Our subject beside> 
these good things of life has an intelligent family 
of children, to whom he is giving a good education 
and training them to become praiseworthy and use- 
ful citizens. He is practically a self-made man, 
who has battled with many difficulties in life, and 
his property is the accumulation of his own indus- 
try and frugality. The dwelling stands in the midst 
of handsome shade trees, both natural and orna- 
mental, and not far away is one of the most beauti- 
ful groves in Livingston County, planted by the 
hand of the proprietor. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in the city of Liverpool, En- 
gland, where his birth took place July 27, 1838. 
He is the younger of two children born to George 
and Eliza (Ballantyue) Brydon, natives of Scotland 
and of Scotch descent. George Brydon in early 
life learned the cabinet-maker's trade at Liverpool 
but subsequently returned to his native county, and 
died there when his son Jann^ was but three years 
of age. The mother only survived three years, and 
.lames was taken by his maternal aunt, Miss Jane 
Ballantyne, of Selkirkshire, Scotland, where he was 
reared and obtained his education. In 1853. when 
a youth of fifteen years, in company with his sister 



and aunt he set sail from Liverpool on the vessel 
"Benjamin Adams." and after a pleasant voyage of 
five weeks and three days, they landed in New 
York City. Thence they proceeded directly to 
Kankakee, 111., to the home of an uncle, with whom 
our subject remained until March following. lie 
then set out in life for himself, being employed as 
a farm laborer until in August, 1861. 

The outbreak of the Rebellion necessitating a 
call for volunteers, our subject, Aug. 28, 18G1. en- 
listed at Chicago in Company K, 42d Illinois In- 
fantry, and at once entered into active service. 
With his comrades he first met the enemy at Farm- 
ington, Miss., and subsequently participated in the 
battles of Stone River, Chattanooga and Chicka- 
mauga, and was engaged in the raid through Ivist 
Tennessee to Knoxville. At the expiration of his 
first term of enlistment he re-entered the ranks Jan. 
1, 1864, and not long afterward joined the army of 
Gen. Sherman on its march upon Atlanta, and wa.- 
present at the siege and capture of the city. He 
received his honorable discharge Jan. 10, I860, and 
suffered but one wound, which confined him to the 
hospital a little over a month. 

Mr. Brydon upon retiring from the army, came 
to this county and purchased eighty acres of wild 
prairie land, which is now included in his present 
homestead. He continued, however, working for 
others until he could obtain sufficient capital to 
secure the implements required for the cultivation 
of his land, and in the spring of 1868 broke the 
sod of about forty acres and put in a crop. As 
soon as this was completed he commenced the erec- 
tion of a house, which was finished in June fol- 
lowing and to which he brought a bride not long 
afterward, his marriage with Miss Eliza A. Je.-sup 
taking place July 27, 1868. 

The wife of our subject was born in Cambridge, 
Ind., March 29, 184o, and is the daughter of Jona- 
than E. and Mary (Burkett) Jessup, natives of 
South Carolina. The mother is deceased and the 
father is now living in Nebraska. The young peo- 
ple commenced life together on the new farm, and 
as years passed by there were added by degrees 
the various improvements which the passing traveler 
now looks upon with admiration as the embellish- 
ments of a home supplied with all the comforts of 



t 

; 



i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



837 



life and ninny of its luxuries Mr. B. subsequently 
added forty acres to his first purchase, and the whole 
120 acres is under a fine state of cultivation and 
exceedingly fertile. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brydon were nine 
in number, seven now living, namely, four sons 
and three daughters These bear the names respect- 
ively of Mary E., George E., James F.. Florence 
I., Ai. Edith and Wesley. They form a blooming 
family of whom the parents have reason to be 
proud, and whom they are training in those vir- 
tues and accomplishments which will constitute 
them valuable citizens and desirable members of 
the social circle. 



ACOB OPPY. There is something about an 
unselfish man which naturally attracts you to 
him; something which makes you feel better 
when you are in his presence and under his 
influence. An unselfish man is a valuable acquisi- 
tion to any community, for lie is happiest when en- 
gaged in good deeds, and doing something which 
will make the community better. When the unselfish 
man is connected with the work of religion and reform 
liis influence penetrates every nook and corner of his 
surroundings, and to him can lie traced either directly 
or indirectly the beginning of nearly all enterprises 
which have for their object the amelioration of the 
distress and the reformation of mankind. In the 
Mibject of this sketch we have illustrated the good 
which can be accomplished by unselfishness in con- 
nection with earnestness and sincerity. 

Mr. Oppy is an honored citizen of Avoca Town- 
ship, and a native of Champaign County, Ohio. He 
was born on the 20th of October, 1819, and is the 
son of Abraham and Sarah Oppy, the former a native 
of Virginia, and a soldier in the War of 1812. His 

ther died when Mr. Oppy was but ten days old, 

and when he \\.-is quite a small boy he accompanied 
his father to Logan County, Ohio, where he resided 
until he reached his fifteenth year. At that n-e he 
removed to Grant County, Ind.. where he remained 
until he reached the years of manhood. The greater 
portion of his life has been devoted to agricultural 
pursuits .-ind stock-raising, except during his ten 



years' residence in Grant County, Ind., where he 
was engaged in milling. 

On the 2d of February. 1840, our subject was 
married to Emma A. Xeal, a native of Grant Coun- 
ty, Ind. She died on the 22d of September, 1842, 
and on the 8th of January, 1843. Mr. Oppy was 
married to Elizabeth P. Briggs, a native of Grant 
County, Ind., who bore him six children, and died 
on the 31st of October, 1858. On the 30th of 
March, 1859, Mr. Oppy was married a third time, 
the lady of his choice being Rebecca A. Kendall, a 
native of Indiana, and she had five children Dor- 
cas- J., Tillie A., Minnie E., Cora D. and Linda L. 
In the spring of 186;") with his family he came to 
Livingston County, and immediately located upon 
the farm he now occupies near Fairbury. This 
farm consists of 130 acres of well-improved land, 
which is fully equipped with appropriate farm build- 
ings. Besides this he is the owner of a good 
property in Fairbury. lie and his wife are both 
identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
Fairbury, in which he served fifty years as a local 
minister and in other official capacities. He has 
been a generous supporter of the church, and is 
quite liberal-spirited and unselfish in all his motives. 
While in a general sense he affiliates with the Re- 
publican party in the selection of officers for the 
administration of local affairs, he aims to cast his 
ballot for men of pure character and best fitted for 
the positions to which they aspire regardless of 
political parties. In his earlier business career Mr. 
Oppy endured many hardships and exercised much 
self-denial, but was always confident that the future 
had in store success for those who strived for it. 
His faith was well founded, for he has been success- 
ful, and no man ru the community enjoys more of 
the respect and confidence of the community than 
the worthy subject of this sketch. 



UGH McKEE, retired farmer and a resident 
of Fairbury, came to Illinois thirty-five 
years ago, locating first in Putnam County, 
where he spent one year, and then coming 
to this county, entered 200 acres of land from the 
Government, and which is still in his possession. 




' 



838 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






Although carrying on general agriculture, he has 
distinguished himself as a successful breeder of 
Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and has 
exhibited some of the finest animals ever raised in 
this county. He has been prominent in local af- 
fairs, serving as School Trustee thirteen years, Road 
Commissioner two terms, and in 1855 was elected 
Justice of the Peace, receiving his commission from 
Gov. Matteson. While holding this position he 
officiated at the marriage of four couples, one of 
these being John Darnell, son of a Baptist minister. 
Politically, he is a straight Democrat, and has been 
identified with the Baptist Church over tliirty years, 
and officiated as Deacon and Trustee. It will thus 
be seen that Mr. McKee has been no unimportant 
factor in the affairs of Indian Grove Township. 

Our subject is a native of Westmoreland County, 
Pa., and was born March 8, 1823. He is of Irish 
parentage and the son of Henry McKee. The fa- 
ther followed farming pursuits, and is still living in 
Pennsylvania. He was born in 171(2, and is con- 
sequently nearly ninety-five years of age. The pa- 
rental household included nine children, namely: 
Mary A., William; Hugh, our subject; Diana, Lou- 
isa, Sarah, Finley, Henry and Margaret. Sarah 
and Margaret are still unmarried and living with 
their father. The paternal grandparents of our 
subject came from the North of Ireland in time for 
grandfather John McKee to serve as a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War, and during the later trouble 
in 1812. Subsequently he settled in Pennsylvania, 
where he spent his last days. The maternal grand- 
father, Isaac Linn, served as a Captain in the War 
of 1812 under the immediate command of Gen. 
Harrison. 

Mr. McKee spent his boyhood and youth in his 
native State, and after reaching his twenty-third 
year was united in marriage with Miss Jemima 
Linn, on the 2(!th of March, 1840. Mrs. McKee was 
born in Fayette County. 1'a.. June 11, l,S2:j, and 
by her union with our subject became the mother 
of seven children : Their eldest born died in in- 
fancy: William 11. grew to man's estate, and was 
killed by the faU of a tree when twenty-five years 
of age: Andrew L. married Miss Flora Crouch, 
and i> a fanner: Henrietta K. M., the wife of Will- 
iam J. Fowler, is living in Nebraska; James A. 



died soon after his birth; Antoinette died at the 
age of one year and two days; Olive V. K., the 
j'oungest, is unmarried and remains with her 
parents. 

Mrs. McKee is the daughter of Andrew and Ra- 
chel (Fry) Linn, natives of Pennsylvania, where 
they followed farming and spent their entire lives. 
Andrew Linn was born in 1797, and departed this 
life in 1881, being eighty -four years of age. The 
mother was born in June, 1803, and died in 1883, 
at the age of eighty years. They were the parents 
of eight children, of whom Mrs. McKee was the 
eldest. James T. was married, and died during his 
service in the army as a member of the 85th Penn- 
sylvania Infantry: Isaac C. ; John W. also served 
in the Union army four years; Martha; Caleb F. 
lost his life in the army; Mary S. : Coiirtland S., 
and Isaac, the youngest, who died when eleven 
months old. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. 
McKee was a minister of the Baptist Church, in 
which he labored faithfully for a period of forty 
years, during this time occupying one pulpit. 







QUIRE F. CARPENTER, the father of 
Charles Wheaton Carpenter, the well-known 
dealer in live stock and coal at the city of 
Odell, was born in Luzerne Count}', Pa.. 
June 15, 1815, and w;is the sixtli in a family of ten 
children, the offspring of Amos and Cynthia (Frank- 
lin) Carpenter, natives resi>ectively of Connecticut 
and Khode Island. Mr. Carpenter was reared to 
the various employments of farm life, and received 
but a limited education, lie spent most of his life 
in his native county, where his death took place 
Oct. 29, 1883, at the age of sixty-eight years. 

Mr. Carpenter began farming for himself when 
twenty-two years of age, and on the Kith of Febru- 
ary, 1837, was united in marriage with Miss Ma- 
tilda Champlin, who was the eldest of four children 
born to Benjamin and Mary (Clark) Champlin. 
She began life June (i, 1*1:5. Her parents were na- 
livoof Rhode Island, and her father descended 
from a long line of people who had been uniformly 
engaged in agricultural pursuits, Mrs. Carpenter 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



839 



departed this life a few months previous to the 
death of her husband, passing away Dec. 30, 1882. 
The remains of both were laid to rest in Waverly 
Cemetery, near the old homestead, which is still in 
possession of their descendants. 

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter included 
eight children, seven now living. They are re- 
corded as follows : Charles Wheaton was born Dec. 
11, 1837: Mary Cordelia, Sept. 28, 1839; James 
Clark, Jan. 30, 1842; Christopher Champlin, Aug. 
10, 1843; Willet Manuel, Jan. 3, 1848; Isaac Mon- 
roe was born June (i, 1849, and died Feb. 8, 1852; 
Cyrus Benjamin was born Sept. 3, 1852, and Amos 
Franklin, Sept. 12, 1853. Three are married and 
settled in comfortable homes, living mostly in Odell 
and vicinity, and represent the intelligent and re- 
spectable element of society. Of Charles, the eldest, 
a sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. 
They received careful training under the home 
roof, and a good education in the common schools. 

Mr. Carpenter was a stanch Democrat, politically, 
although he meddled little with public affairs, pre- 
ferring the quiet retreat of his home and family, 
and devoting his attention mainly to the labors and 
duties of his homestead. Both he and his excellent 
wife identified themselves with the Baptist Church 
early in life. 



BARREN WEBSTER, one of the most wor- 
thy and intelligent members of the farm- 
ing community of Broughton Township, is 
a fine illustration of the self-made man, who com- 
menced life without other capital than his strong 
hands and resolute will, and has built up a good 
homestead from a tract of land of which he took 
possession when it was little removed from its prim- 
itive condition, lie has been a resident of this 
county for a period of over thirty years, and num- 
_ bers scores of friends among its intelligent and 
most highly respected people. He followed gen- 
eral farming the first two years, but latterly has 
given considerable attention to stock-raising, in 
which lie has met with unqualified success. He has 
been particularly active in the establishment and 
maintenance of schools, and has served as Director 




in his township for a number of years. His pre- 
cepts have closely been followed by practice in his 
own famih', as he has given his children the best 
advantages which his means would afford, and fitted 
them to take their station in life as useful and in- 
telligent members of society. 

Our subject was born in Little Valley, Tuscara- 
was Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1<S34, and is the son of 
Warren and Eveline (Ewell) Webster, of New En- 
gland ancestry, the father a native of Connecticut 
and the mother of Massachusetts. They removed 
to New York State after their marriage, where the 
death of both occurred when about forty and thirty- 
five years of age respectively. 

Mr. Webster spent his early years at his father's 
homestead in Tuscarawas County, in the meantime 
receiving a common-school education and becom- 
ing familiar with farm life. He started out for 
himself when a youth of nineteen years, and com- 
ing to Seneca County, this State, wan engaged two 
years thereafter as a farm laborer. He then mi- 
grated as far east as Norwalk, Ohio, in the vicinity 
of which town he worked probably five years, and 
there met his fate in the person of Miss Phoebe 
Knapp, to whom he was married on the Kith of 
October, 1855. The young people a few weeks 
later came to Kendall County, where they remained 
a year, and Mr. Webster then purchased the 100 
acres of land in Broughton Township, this county, 
to which he soon removed and where they have 
since remained. They were not exempt from the 
early struggles of life in a new settlement, but in 
looking around upon their comfortable home with 
its modern buildings and other embellishments, feel 
well repaid for their toil and sacrifice. 

The household of our subject and his excellent 
lady in due time included six children: Chloe Eu- 
dora was born July 5, 18GG, and is now the wife of 
Michael Kuhn, a prosperous farmer of Henry 
County, this State; Charles Emmet was born Dec. 
1C, 18(17, and is now living at home; Herman Alva 
was born Feb. 20, 18C9; Warren Alonzo, Aug. 21, 
1870; Geneva, June 19. 1874; Delbert Eli, Aug. 
17, 1880. Mr. Webster has two brothers and four 
sisters living: Austin is a resident of Kansas; Levi 
is farming in Dwight Township, this county: Ap- 
phia is the widow of Matthew Cox and resides at 



*-*-*- 

sin 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




Seneca, III.; Julk is married and a resilient of Iowa; 
Anise, Mrs. Ehen Neff, lives at Newark, 111.; Eve- 
line is the vvife of Samuel Broughton, of Iniliana. 
The wife of our subject was born Dee. 19, 1 828, 
near Norwalk, Ohio, one of the most beautiful cities 
in the Buckeye State. . Her parents were Ethan 
and Hannah (Smith) Knapp, natives of New York 
State, where they were reared and married, and 
whence they soon afterward removed to Ohio, where 
the}' spent the remainder of their days. Airs. Web- 
ster has two sisters and one brother living, namely : 
Catherine, the wife of Lewis Wilbur, of Wood 
County. Ohio; Charles, and Julia, Mrs. Herman 
Tervvilliger, who reside near Norwalk. 

11. CHAITNCEY B. OSTRANDER, of 

Fairbury, has operated as a successful 
practitioner in this section for a period of 
thirty-seven and a half years. He is a grad- 
uate of the Medical College at Fail-field, Ilerkimer 
Co., N. Y., receiving his diploma in 1836. He is of 
German birth and parentage, his native place being 
the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, where he was 
born Oct. 531, 1818. His parents, Tobias and Rox- 
ana (Fisher) Ostrander, when their son was a child 
five years of age, immigrated to America and settled 
at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where they remained the 
few years which they were permitted to live. The 
mother died on the 1st of January, 1837, and the 
father eight days later of smallpox. Our subject 
at the same time had the varioloid. Four children 
were thus orphaned, and our subject was cared for 
by Troy Conference Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Reuben upon reaching manhood married Miss 
Martha MeLauth, a native of his own country, and 
located in Farmington, Wayne Co., N. Y. ; Matilda 
became the wife of Dwight Donelson, of Ohio, and 
died in Painesville, Ohio, Aug. "26, 1880; Olive 
married Dr. Stunner Taylor, who died in St. Jo- 
seph County, Mich., in September, 1876. 

Our subject was the youngest member of the 
family, and after completing his primary studio at 
the common schools, commenced reading medicine 
under the instruct ion of Dr. Daniel Chapman, an 



eminent physician of Lyons, N. Y. He remained 
with him three years and nine months, and after 
graduating immediately started West, July (!, 1836. 
On arriving in Chicago he was the possessor of one 
pair of hose and one shirt extra. He started on foot 
but soon fell in with a benevolent family who were 
migrating westward , and made arrangements to take 
passage in their wagons across large streams of 
water. He left them in Michigan and proceeded 
to the city of Chicago. There he entered at once 
upon the duties of his profession, and on the 1st, of 
November, 1837, received an appointment as As- 
sistant Surgeon in the 2d Infantry, United States 
army, and joined the regiment at Florida on the 
10th of December following. They were stationnd 
at a point near Tampa Bay, and soon afterward Dr. 
Ostrander accidentally received a compound frac- 
ture of the wrist, on account of which he was unfit 
for duty for four months. He remained in that 
section of country until 1841, and then embarked 
on the frigate "Brandy wine" for New York City. 
In September following he started for the West 
again, first locating in Chicago, where he commenced 
practice and continued a resident nine years. Upon 
leaving there he started for this county, and on the 
7th of July, 1850, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, en- 
tered the limits of Poutiac. He opened an office 
and commenced the career which has subsequently 
been marked with entire success. He has had 2,605 
cases of obstetrics and has never lost a single case, 
forty -four pairs of twins and four sets of triplet.*. 

Besides his handsome residence in town and other 
valuable property, Dr. Ostrander has a farm of 
eighty acres in Avoca Township, and the lots No. 
237 and 239 on Lake street in Chicago and two 
lots in Pullman, besides town property in Bellmont, 
Fla., and sixty acres near the limits of Brtmson, 
that State. 

The marriage of Dr. Ostrander and Miss Jane E. 
Holland was celebrated in the city of Chicago, June 
14, 184(1, Rev. William M. I). Ryan officiating. 
Mrs. Ostrander is a native of Geauga County, Ohio, 
and was born Jan. !), 1826. Her parents were 
Stephen and Elizabeth. They died early in life, 
and little Jane was placed in the family of a min- 
ister of the old-school Presbyterian Church, Orange 
Lyman, by whom she was reared and educated. 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



841 



The Doctor and Mrs. Ostrander have no children 
of their own, but have given parental cure to eight 
little ones, whom they reared and educated as their 
own, and who have now become worthy members 
of society. Dr. Ostrander and his estimable lady 
are prominently connected with the Presbyterian 
Church and our subject, politically, is a decided 
Republican, and a Prohibitionist, notwithstanding 
the fact that he cast his first Presidential vote for 
Andrew Jackson. 

The deep benevolence which is a marked char- 
acteristic of Dr. Ostrander is illustrated by the fol- 
lowing incident. In 1850, and on the day follow- 
ing his entrance into Fairbury, he found a fugitive 
slave chained to the floor of a second-story building 
and who was to be returned to his master in Vir- 
ginia. The Doctor was also a stanch Abolitionist, 
and determined to rescue the unfortunate. His 
first business was to procure a conveyance, for 
which he was obliged to travel six miles, and also 
to procure a chisel, crow-bar and sledge. With 
these he cut the shackles from the negro, and sent 
him to Chicago, a distance of ninety miles, landing 
there at 4 P. M. the following day, and delivering 
him to Dr. C. A'. Dyer, who was connected with the 
underground railroad and the other means of free- 
ing the oppressed. The victim was placed on the 
steamer "Illinois," commanded by C'apt. Blake, and 
landed at Maiden, Canada. For this service they 
paid the Captain well, and also gave the fugitive 
10 in money. 



ETER GOOD, one of the most substantial 
farmers of the northern part of Livingston 
County, is the scion of an excellent old 
Pennsylvania family of German descent, 
whose first representatives in this country settled in 
Lancaster County, Pa., where their descendents 
have lived for many generations. The maternal 
grandfather of Mr. Good was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War, serving the entire seven years, 
distinguishing himself as a most disinterested pat- 
riot, and receiving the high approval of his superior 
officers. 

The father of our subject, David Good, was 
born in Lancaster County, Pa., and in his youth 




learned the weaver's trade, which he followed several 
years. He married a lady of his own county, Miss 
Barbara Zeigler, and they became the parents of 
five children, all of whom grew to mature years and 
were named respectively : Isaac, Benjamin, Peter, 
Solomon and Mary Ann. Tile parents spent the 
latter years of their lives upon a farm in Lancaster 
County, where the father died when seventy-two 
years of age. He was a member of the Dutch Re- 
formed Church, and a man of much prominence 
and personal worth. 

Our subject was born at the homestead in Lan- 
caster County, in the spring of 1825, received a 
common-school education, and learned the weaver's 
trade of his father. He possessed much mechani- 
cal genius, and became familiar with millwrighting, 

O O O ' 

which he adopted as his vocation in preference to 
weaving, and followed nine years. He continued 
under the parental roof until twenty-six years of 
age and was then married to Miss Annie, daughter 
of William and Rebecca (Hosier) Conrad, formerly 
of Berks, but at that time residents of Lancaster 
County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Good commenced life together in 
Lancaster County, where they remained seven 
years, and in 1858, gathering together their house- 
hold effects, came with their family to Illinois. 
They located first near Napervillc, DuPage County, 
whence two years later they removed to Kankakee 
County, where Mr. Good rented a tract of land 
and carried on farming four years. In 1866 he 
came to Dwight Township, this county, where he 
farmed on rented land three years, and in the spring 
of 1869 removed to his present residence. This 
farm which contains 240 acres had been but indif- 
ferent^' cultivated and improved, and Mr. Good 
lias since expended much time and mone\" in order 
to bring it to its present condition. He has availed 
himself of modern methods of agriculture and the 
most approved machinery, and the result is a coun- 
try homestead of which he may well be proud. His 
days of exhausting labor are now passed, and he is 
in such condition that he can take life easier and 
rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his early in- 
dustry. He has around him a pleasant family, and 
the large circle of acquaintances whom he has 
gathered about him during his long residence in 



/" 



842 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




I 



this section have given him an unstinted measure 
of their confidence and esteem. Since becoming a 
voter lie lias afliliated with the Republican party, 
and with his excellent wife, is a, member in good 
standing of the Evangelical Church. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Good there were born nine 
children, four in Pennsylvania and live in Illinois. 
These were named respectively: Elizabeth, Aaron, 
Solomon, Henry, Emma, Barbara, Rebecca, Alice 
and Lettic M : Barbara died in infancy. Their 
eldest son, Aaron, was inclined to study, and they 
gave him the advantages of a good education. Af- 
ter completing his primary course he took a course in 
the Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and in the 
Northwestern College at Naperville. He is now a 
minister of the Evangelical Church. Alice and 
Aaron are unmarried and make their home witli 
their parents; Rebecca died at the home of her par- 
ents when twenty-two years of age, and Lettie was 
called from the household circle at the age of four- 
teen. 

AMUEL D. WEBSTER, of Chatsworth. and 
whose portrait is given in connection with 
this sketch, is conspicuous among the well- 
known and highly respected citizens of 
Livingston County. He is a native of the Empire 
State, and was born in the northeastern portion of 
Dutchess County, Sept. 8, 1811. His ancestors 
were numbered among the earliest settlers of New 
England. 

Daniel Webster, the father of our subject, was 
born in Litchfield, Litchfield Co., Conn., where he 
spent his childhood and youth, and when a young 
man migrated to Dutchess Count}', N. Y., where, in 
due time he was united in marriage with Miss Je- 
ruslia Goodrich. This lady was a native of Dutches* 
County, where she and her husband remained, 
locating upon a farm, and establishing a permanent 
homestead which the\ T occupied the balance of their 
lives. The mother died soon after the birth of 
Samuel D., our subject, in June, 1812, while the 
father preceded her a few hours only, both being 
victims of an epidemic fever which swept that part 
of the country, and selected for its victims some of 
the best eiti/.ens: they were buried upon the same 
day. The six children (bus left orphans were: An- 




janette, who married Hiram Martin, and died in 
Manchester, Mich.; Benjamin, Edward and Daniel. 
who only lived to middle age, and spent their entire 
lives in their native county, where their remains 
were laid to rest; John M., who died in Monroe 
Count} 1 , N. Y.,and Samuel D. It will thus be 
seen that our subject is the only surviving mem- 
ber of the family. 

Mr. Webster thus early in life deprived of his 
natural protectors, was taken in charge by his ma- 
ternal grandmother, who reared him with pious care 
and gave him as good an education as her means 
permitted. He attended the common school until 
sixteen years old, and afterward spent a short time 
in the academy at Sharon, Conn. Subsequently he 
commenced teaching, in the meantime employing 
his leisure hours with his books, and finally entered 
the High School at Rochester, N. Y., where the 
finishing touches were given to his literary and busi- 
ness education. Upon attaining his majority he 
received his portion of his father's estate, and com- 
menced dealing in land. In 1X35 he migrated 
West, and became the owner of many thousand acres 
in the State ot Michigan. The close times of 1 s:>7. 
which had their effect upon so many business mer, 
induced Mr. Webster to dispose of his Michigan 
land, and he then returned to his native State, 
About this time the New York <fe Erie Railroad was 
in process of construction, and he became a heavy- 
contractor. The company failed, however, and our 
subject thereby lost heavily. His next venture was 
at milling in Monroe County, and in 1859, once 
more setting his face westward, he landed in this 
State. Stopping at a point near Chicago, he en- 
gaged extensively in the manufacture of pressed 
brick, which also proved a losing enterprise. 

In 18(!1, with his fortune nearly gone, Mr. Web- 
ster repaired to Annawan, Henry County, where he 
set about repairing his losses, and locating upon a 
tract of land, engaged for a period of several years 
in stock-raising. His efforts were now crowned 
with success, and a removal to Chatsworth appear- 
ing advisable in a business point of view, he ac- 
cordingly took up his abode within the town, where 
he has continued operating in stock, and sub.-e- 
quently adding grain ajid real estate. He has also 
kept watch of the delinquent's tax-list, and by the 



fcf- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



84. r > 



purchase of titles has still further added to his re- 
sources. For the past three years, however, Mr. 
Webster has been quite an invalid, only being able 
to move about in a rolling chair. His active mind, 
however, remains unimpaired, and he can still give 
his attention to the investment of his funds. 

Mr. Webster has been twice married. His first 
wife was formerly Miss Louisa Clark, of Monroe 
County, N. Y., who died eighteen months after her 
wedding, leaving one child, D. Franklin, who fol- 
lowed the mother six years later. The present wife 
of our subject, to whom he was married Feb. 3, 
1848, was in her girlhood Miss Elizabeth Lewis, a 
native of Monroe County, N. Y., and born in 1827. 
This union resulted in the birth of one child, a 
daughter, who died at the interesting age of twelve 
years. Mrs. Webster, a lady held in the highest 
esteem by her neighbors and acquaintances, gives to 
her invalid husband all possible care and attention, 
and has proved his closest friend and counselor. 

Mr. Webster cast his first Presidential vote for 
John Quincy Adams, and supported the old Whig 
party until it was succeeded by the Republicans, 
since which time he has been a stanch adherent of 
the latter party. While a resident of New York 
State, he frequently discharged the duties of the 
local offices to which he was from time to time 
elected, and has always kept himself thoroughly in- 
formed upon matters of general interest. He was 
in Western New York during the excitement con- 
nected with the reputed abduction of Morgan by 
the Masons, and became strongly prejudiced against 
secret societies, to which he has sturdily opposed 
himself since that time. His whole career has been 
illustrative of courage and perseverance, which 
seem to have largely constituted the inborn ele- 
ments of his character, and which have served him 
so well in time of need. 



<ffl * P. GOEMBEL, a well-to-do resident of 
\w/l ^ trawn ^ r il' a ge, and numbered among its 
Ww most highly esteemed citizens, was born 
on the other side of the Atlantic, in what was for- 
merly Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Feb. 20, 18:5;5, and 
there spent the early years of his life. Fie is the 



son of Phillip and Caroline Eliza (Stober) Goem- 
ble, who were also natives of Germany. The 
father carried on a damask manufactory for a 
period of thirty years, and then immigrated to 
America in 1851. He at once sought the West, 
and located in Tazcwell County, 111., where he en- 
gaged in farming five years. He subsequently 
came to this county, locating in the extreme south- 
eastern portion, which was then familiarly known 
as Oliver's Grove but is now Germanville Town- 
ship. 

The parents of our subject remained in the 
above-named township until the death of the 
! father, which took place in 1875. He had secured 
a comfortable property and spent his declining years 
retired from active labor. There were but two 
children in the family; our subject was the elder, 
and his sister, Caroline, became the wife of Nich- 
olas Froebe, who was then engaged in farming in 
Germanville Township, but is now retired from act- 
ive business and lives in C'hatsworth. The mother 
had passed away previous to the death of her hus- 
band', in 1872. 

Mr. Goemble remained with his parents until 
about twenty-three years of age, and then began 
farming for himself in Tazewell County. He 
came to this county in the fall of 1856, and re- 
mained in Germanville Township until 1882, when 
he took up his residence at Strawn, where he has 
since been engaged as a dealer in lumber, coal and 
grain, and is the only gentleman representing this 
business in the town. He still owns his farming in- 
terests in Germanville Township. He consequently 
has all that he can conveniently attend to, and con- 
ducts his trade in such a manner that he receives 
thi! patronage of the best people of his locality. 
He is quite prominently identified with local affairs 
and has been a member of the Village Board since 
1881. 

The lady who has presided over the household 
of our subject for nearly twenty-five years was 
formerly Miss Elizabeth Shroen, and became his 
wife Dec. 13, 1863. She is a native of the same 
Province as her husband, and was born in 1844 on 
the farm of her father, who carried on agriculture 
in a modest way and spent his entire life on his na- 
tive soil, his death taking place about 1852. The 



* 



t 

I mother is still living, and resides in Chatsworth 
Township. Mr. and Mrs. G. arc the parents of 
ten children. Their oldest daughter, Catherine 
Elizabeth, married Nelson Kinor, a prosperous 
fanner of LaSalle County. Mollie is the wife of 
Frank M. Cm-yea, who ha* a farm not far from 
the village limits. The younger children, at home 
with their parents, are Maggie, John, Charles, 
Mary, William, Paulina, Mena and Stella. Mr. 
Goembel is a member of Sibley Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., and is a member of the Commandery at 
Fairbury. Among the portraits of leading men of 
the county given in this volume may be found 
that of Mr. Goembel. 



t 



su; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



J JOSEPH K. OSTRANDER is the proprietor 
| of the largest general merchandise establish- 
| nicnt in McDowell, Avoca Township. The 
' room in which he conducts his business is 
the first floor of a building 60x24 feet, and he car- 
ries a general line of merchandise such as is usually 
found in a store kept by a man who seeks to supply 
all the want-* of the community which surrounds 
him. Mr. Ostrander became the proprietor of this 
establishment in 1885. and has conducted the busi- 
ness ever since. There is continually invested in 
the stock about $2,500, and the sales annually 
amount to about 18,000. In 1871! he engaged in 
grain-dealing at McDowell Station, and has pursued 
the business ever since, shipping annually 50,000 
bushels and upward of the various grains produced 
in this part of the State. 

Joseph K. Ostrander is a native of Pennsylvania, 
being born in the city <>f Philadelphia on the 13th 
of March, 1847. He received a fair common-school 
education, which he has materially improved by 
study and constant reading since grown to man- 
hood. Mr. Ostrander was married, in December, 
1878, to Miss Ophelia Foster, daughter of R. B. 
Foster, of Avoea Township. To them have been 
born three children Hariy M.. Elbert R. and Roy. 
Mr. Ostrander lias met with considerable success in 
his various business ent-erprii-es. in all of which he 
' displays good judgment as well a> proper conserva- 



tism. Aside from business affairs he is one of the 
leading citizens of Avoca Township, and takes an 
interest in all matters which concern the people. 
In the matter of office-holding he has served :i~ 
Treasurer of Avoca Township school-, four years, 
and as Township Clerk one term, while he is now 
serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. 
In 1864 Mr. Ostrander enlisted as a soldier in the 
Union army, serving in Company F, 138th Illinois 
Infantry, as private. The duties of this regiment 
lay mostly in Kansas and Missouri, and consisted 
of garrison and outpost duty. After serving from 
May until October, 1864, he received his honorable 
discharge. 

In business circles people do not misunderstand 
Mr. Ostrander, for they know that whatever he en- 
gages to do he will perform, and as the saying goes 
"his word is as good as his bond." He enjoy? the 
confidence of all the people with whom he has busi- 
ness relations, and in the offices of public trust 
which have been confided to him he has shown 
much ability and given great satisfaction to the 
people. He is a man of whom anj' community may 
justly be proud. 



J"~/AMES A. HUNTER, the ex-Sheriff of Liv- 
ingston County, who has retired from active 
business life and is residing in Odell, was 
' born in Mercer County, Pa., on the 1st of 
November, 1831, and is the youngest of ten chil- 
dren born to John and Jane (Mortimore) Hunter, 
who were natives of Westmoreland County, Pa. 
The paternal grandparents were David and Jane 
(Galloway) Hunter, who were natives of Westmore- 
land County, and originally of Protestant- Irish de- 
scent: the maternal grand pa rents were Jonathan 
and Mary (Gray) Mortimore, the former of Scotch 
descent. Mary Gray, at the age of twelve years, 
was captured by the Delaware Indians, while her 
parents were attending to the evening duties of the 
farm. The parents were both killed and the little 
girl carried into captivity, where she remained in 
the family of the chief for three years, and then es- 
caped and returned to her friends. She was treated 



r 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



47 



with the utmost courtesy all the time, but con- 
stantly guarded as a prisoner. She afterward mar- 
ried Jonathan Mortimore, who was a miller by 
trade, and built the first gristmill in that part of 
the country. 

The father of Mr. Hunter was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and spent his life in Pennsylvania. He was 
a soldier in the War of 1812, and was wounded at 
a drill exercise, from the effects of which he was 
afterward disabled and discharged from the service. ' 
His death occurred at his home in Lawrence 
County, Pa., in 1854. Mr. Hunter attended the 
common schools when a boy, and at the age of 
eighteen began to learn the trade of a blacksmith. 
He followed this occupation in the neighborhood of j 
his home for some time after completing his ap- 
prenticeship. 

On the 2d of November, 1H54, Mr. Hunter mar- 
ried Miss Jane Struthers, who was born in Mercer 
County, Pa., on the llth of March, 1834, and was 
the daughter of John and Carrie (Duff) Struthers. 
She was the mother of four children: Edwin A., 
who was born Nov. 5, 1857; Alexander Lawrence, 
March 1, 1800, and two who died in infancy. Alex- 
ander L. died July 31, 1864, and the blow fell so 
heavily on the mother that she never recovered 
from the shock, and dying, left Mr. Hunter with 
only his little boy to cheer him. 

In 1862, on the 2d of August, the subject of this 
biography enlisted in Company H, 134th Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry, beginning service as Second Ser- 
geant, but was soon promoted to Orderl}' Sergeant, 
and then commissioned Second Lieutenant by An- 
drew G. Cm-tin, War Governor of Pennsylvania. 
The muster into service occurred at Harrisburg on : 
the 9th of August, 1862, and his rapid promotion ! 
placed him in the position of Second Lieutenant on 
the 1st of January, 1863. His first active service 
was at the second battle of Bull Run, and following 
in succession were the battles of Shepherdstown, 
under Col. Ed. O'Brien, 5th Army Corps: Fred- 
ericksburg; Antietam, under Hooker, where he was 
wounded while in command of his company by the 
bursting of a shell, a piece of which struck him in 
the left breast, from the effects of which he was 
disabled for active duty. Later he again took 
command of the company, and was soon afterward 



discharged, on the 27th of May, 1863, when he re- 
turned to his home. Then he went into the oil 
fields of Pennsylvania, where he remained for a 
time, but not wishing to again settle among the 
scenes of his sorrows, he turned to Illinois and lo- 
cated first at Morris, where he engaged in the con- 
fecti< inery business. 

On the 25th of October, 1806, Mr. Hunter mar- 
ried Mrs. Rhoda (Galloway) Shields, the seventh 
in a family of twelve children born to George and 
Angeline (McFarland) Galloway, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. The father makes his home with his 
daughter, and is now in his eighty-ninth year, hav- 
ing been born on the 25th of October, 1798: he is 
hale and hearty, with a clear and active mind. Mr. 
Hunter moved to Odell, where he bought grounds 
upon which he built a residence, and engaged in 
blacksmithing and carriage manufacturing. This 
he followed until 1878, when his popularity as a 
citizen and his executive ability, shown in local 
offices and as a delegate to county conventions, 
led the Republican party to select him as a candi- 
date for Sheriff's office. He was elected by a good 
majority, and entered upon the duties of the office 
with the zeal and earnestness he always displayed 
in the discharge of uny duty that might be assigned 
him. During this term occurred the celebrated 
Johannes Deboer case of Livingston County on a 
change of venue, and prosecuted by the Hon. S. S. 
Page, now Judge of the Circuit Court at Peoria. 
The case terminated in the execution of Deboer in 
the jail at Pontiac during Mr. Hunter's term of 
office. In 1880 he was again a candidate for the 
office, and was re-elected. The Greenback and 
Democratic parties united on the opposition candi- 
date, and a strong fight was made on him and the 
Hon. L. E. Payson. They carried the county in 
spite of the combination against them, tying on all 
their majorities from districts to total results. This 
term was characterized by the energy he displayed 
in clearing np and completing all the work on his 
hands, so that when he passed out of office there 
was no business left unfinished except what court in- 
junctions had retarded. At the close of this term 
he retired to his home in Odell, where he had 
erected a fine residence during his incumbency, and 
the only official position he' has held since was the 



\ 



t 



84 8 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Postmastership of the Senate in 1883 at Springfield. 

Mr. Hunter lias purchased fifty acres of land in 
the village limits, which he cultivates at his leisure, 
and enjoys the fruits of his industry and frugality. ; 
One of his sisters, Mrs. Ruth Hamilton, the only 
one now living besides himself of a family of ten i 
children, is now a widow, and makes her home with 
him. Mrs. Hunter is an active member of the 
Congregational Church, closely uniting with that in 
the absence of a Presbyterian Church, to which her 
membership belonged. 



r 



J1ACOB KING is one of the enterprising 
I farmers and stock-raisers of Waldo Town- 
I ship, and is located on section 14. He was 
I born in Germany, Sept. 14, 1833, and is the 
son of Christian and Phu'be (Bernard) King. When 
he was about one and one-half years of age he was 
brought to America by his parents, who located in 
Butler County, Ohio, where the father followed 
farming on rented ground for six years, and then 
moved to McLean County, 111., where he located 
on a farm between Bloomington and Danvers. 
Here our subject secured what education he was 
able to obtain, working a portion of the time for 
himself, and a part for his father, until he was 
about twenty-four years of age, when he rented 
ground and commenced farming for himsi-lf. 

When about twenty-five years of age Mr. King 
was married, Dec. 8, 1858, to Miss Ann, daughter 
of John and Magdalena (Salzman) Newhauser. 
After his marriage he farmed rented ground for 
about six years and then moved to Waldo Town- 
ship, where he purchased eighty acres of land, which 
he has since increased to 160 acres, all of which is 
finely located and well cultivated. He has erected 
good and comfortable buildings, and constructed a 
sullicit'iit number of tile ditches to thoroughly drain 
the farm. In this ALBUM is shown a view of Mr. 
King's residence. 

Mr. and Mrs. King have had born to them ten 
children, whose names are as follows: Samuel, 
Plm-be. Barbara, John, Christian, Jacob, Emma, 
Anna, Simon and Amlia. Samuel was born Nov. 
1, 1859, and died April ]>, 1863; Phu'be was born 
.March 0. I.S(',L>, married Joseph Xehr, has two chil- 



divn, and lives in Waldo Township: Barbara was 
born March 11, 1864, married Christian Augustine, 
and lives in Nebraska Township; John was born 
March 30, 1866, is unmarried and lives in Waldo 
Township; Christian was born April 4, 1868, and 
is unmarried ; Jacob was born Jan. 10, 1871, and 
died June 16, 1872; Emma was born Jan. 3, 1*7:!. 
and died June 10, 1876: Anna was born Dec. 17, 
1874, and died July 10, 1883: Simon was born Dec. 
8, 1876, and Amlia, Aug. 9, 1879. 

Our subject was the third child in a family of 
ten, eight still living, who are married and have 
families, as follows: Christian has five children, and 
lives in Waldo Township; John has seven children, 
and lives in the same township; Jacob, our subject; 
Daniel has three children; Peter, six; James, four, 
and all live near Hudson, 111.; Barbara married 
David Ropp. and has five children, and Samuel has 
two children; both also live near Hudson, III. 

Mrs. King was born in France on the 20th of 
April, 1841, and came to America with her father 
when she was fourteen years of age. She is the 
seventh child in a family of eight, who were named 
as follows: John, Joseph, Andrew, Christian, Peter. 
Valentine, Ann and Barbara. John is married, 
has one child, and is engaged in the busine>> of 
milling in France: Joseph was married and died, 
leaving one child, who has since died : Andrew was 
married and died, leaving two children; Christian 
is married, has two children, and lives in Africa; 
Peter and Valentine are deceased : Barbara married 
Peter Zehr, has four children, and lives in Nebraska 
Township. Mr. King is Democratic in politics, and 
has filled the office of School Director for seventeen 
years, a record which is not excelled by any other 
citizen of the district. He is a member of the 
Mennonite Church, and devotes considerable atten- 
tion to church matters. 



a IMEON ARNETT. Virginia has the honor 
of having produced more occupants of the 
Presidential Chair than any other State in 
the Union, and i> commonly called the 
Mother of Presidents. Virginia is also the birth- 
place of many of the most estimable citizens of the 
West, among whom is the subject of this sketch, 





LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



849 



I 



an extensive farmer and large stock-raiser on sec- 
lion 11, Rook's Creek Township, who was born in 
Washington County, Va., on the 13th of August, 
1814. His maternal ancestors were of Irish-Swe- 
dish descent, and his paternal ancestors were pure 
Irish. 

When a hoy Simeon Arnett moved to Marshall 
County, Va., where he was apprenticed to the 
tailor's trade in the city of Wheeling, and served two 
years, but not liking the place he walked to Penn- 
sylvania where he remained about two years, and 
then returned to Randolph, Va., in 1X31. From 
there he went to Scottsville, Albemarle County, 
seventy-five miles above Richmond, and then to 
Charlottesville. In 1832 he crossed over the Alle- 
ghany Mountains on foot. At that time the coun- 
try was infested with wild animals, particularly 
bears, which were very vicious at that season of 
the year. At Beverly, Clarksburg and Marietta, 
he worked at his trade as a journeyman for a time, 
and then returned to Moundsville, Marshall Co., 
Va., where he settled. 

Mr. Arnett was married to Elizabeth Ward, 
daughter of William and Margaret (Koiikle) Ward, 
on the 15th of October, 1836, near Moundsville, 
Va. After marriage he engaged at his trade and 
remained there until 1854. While lie resided in 
Moundsville he was Treasurer of the Council, and 
took great interest in the affairs of the State Mili- 
tia, being Colonel of the 13 4th Virginia Militia 
Regiment, and during his residence here he also 
held the office of Justice of the Peace. In 1854 
lu- moved west to Clayton County, Iowa, where he 
at one time owned 1,000 acres of land, but not 
liking the climate he sold out and came to Wood- 
ford County, 111., where he purchased 190 acres of 
land in May, 1856, and afterward enough to make 
501 acres in all. He resided in Woodford County 
until 1S83, when he sold part of his land, retaining 
310 acres, which he still owns. His home farm on 
sections 14 and 15 contains 410 acres of land, 
which constitutes one of the best stock farms in 
the county. It is well tiled, the buildings are first- 
class, and every appointment of the farm is ar- 
ranged for comfort. Mr. Arnett's social standing- 
is very high, and lie is a favorite with all hi> neigh- 
bors. In 176 he visited the great Centennial Ex- 



hibition at Philadelphia. Oh the Kith of October, 
1 886, he and his wife celebrated their golden wed- 
ding, at which there assembled all the relatives who 
found it possible to attend, and the people of the 
entire neighborhood availed themselves of this op- 
portunity to show their deep respect for them. Mr. 
Arnett is a man of much firmness of character, as 
is shown by his resistance of temptation to be led 
into intemperate habits, which were so prevalent 
among journeymen tailors in early days. He be- 
came a member of the Methodist Church in 1833, 
and since then has been a prominent figure in that 
organization. In 1885 he was elected to the office 
of Justice of the Peace, and is the incumbent at 
the time this sketch is written. During the exist- 
ence of the old Whig party he belonged to that or- 
ganization, and took part in the Log Cabin and 
Hard Cider campaign, during which he attended a 
barbecue on Wheeling Hill, at Wheeling, W. Va., 
at which Southgate, of Kentucky, was the orator, 
and where he saw many old soldiers of the Revolu- 
tionary army. He followed the fortunes of the 
Whig party until it was merged into the Republican 
party, and has ever since been a steadfast and firm 
Republican. 

Mr. Arnett had one half-brother, Alfred Arnett, 
who fell from a tree in which he was gathering 
hickory nuts, and was so badly injured that he died 
soon after, at the age of seventeen. He also had 
a half-sister, Margaret V. Cockayne, who married 
Rev. William B. McFarland, of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South. She died in Marshall 
County, W. Va., and left two daughters: Florence 
V., who was married to W. J. Hunsaker, and lives 
at Los Angeles, Cal., and Lucy W., who is unmar- 
ried and also lives in California. 

Mr. Arnett has seven children living, named as 
follows: Margaret A., Hannah V., Martha A., Will- 
iam 11., James A.. Belle J. and Edwin II. Marga- 
ret A. was born June (i, 1838, and married Marion 
Moore, by whom she has one child living, named 
Ulysses S. ; her husband was wounded in the battle 
of Ft. Blakeslev, and shortly afU'rward died in the 
hospital at New Orleans. She was a second time 
married, to J. A. Armstrong, and lives at West 
Cliff, Col. Hannah V., born Sept. 29, 1840, has 
been twice marr.ed, first to (Jeorge ICmeiy, and a 



I 



I 



850 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



second time to William Keever; they live at Gre- 
nola, Elk Co., Kan. Martha A., born Nov. 2, 1 si:;. 
married John Niergarth, has six children, and lives 
in Woodford County, 111.: William II., born Aug. 
26, 1816, married Mary Ann Bryson, of DesMoines 
County, Iowa, has one child, and lives in Rook's 
Creek Township; James A., born Aug. 16, 1855, 
married Martha E. Ayres, has three children, and 
lives in Lane County, Kan . Belle J., born May 20, 
1858, married George Marks, has one child, and 
lives in Rook's Creek Township; Edwin II., born 
Jan. 10, 1862, is unmarried and lives at home. 

Mr. Arnett's maternal grandfather, Charles Mc- 
Donald, took up about 1,100 acres of land near 
Moundsville, W. Va., over 100 years ago. He 
kept that farm, but took up his residence on an- 
other near Abingdon, in Southern Virginia, near 
the Tennessee line, where he died soon after. The 
great-grandfather, James McDonald, removed the 
widow to Fayette County, Pa. During the Revo- 
lutionary War James McDonald slept in his stable 
to protect his horses from the Tories. He was a 
Roman Catholic, and Charles McDonald belonged 
to the Baptist Church. In September, 1765, a 
brother of Mr. Arnett's grandmother was massa- 
cred by the Indians who were in ambush about 
eight miles below Wheeling, W. Va. He was a 
soldier in Capt. Foreman's company of scouts de- 
tailed to watch the Indians along the Ohio River. 
Besides the Captain twenty-one soldiers were killed. 
This grandmother was reared in a fort until she was 
five years of age, and at her father's house Gen. 
Washington used to stop when on his surveying 
tours. Mr. Arnett's uncle, Bartholomew McDon- 
ald, was in the War of 1812, belonging to the reg- 
ulars, and at Ft. Wayne was instrumental in saving 
the fort from destruction after it had been set on 
fire by the Indians who had surrounded it. The 
garrison was relieved the following day by Gen. 
Harrison. 

Mrs. Arnett is the second in a family of six chil- 
dren, as follows: J. C., Elizabeth, Henry C., John, 
William B. and Martha J. J. C. married Rebecca 
E. Bonar, has six children, and lives near Onarga, 
111.; Elizabeth was born Jan. 31, 1819; Henry C. 
married Martha Konkle; John married Jane B. Bry- 
-011. has two children, and lives near Panola, Wood- 



ford Co., III. ; William B. married Sarah Hedges, 
has four children, and lives near Overtoil, Neb.: 
Martha J. married William Holliday; both died, 
leaving five children, four of whom live in Rutland, 
111., and one is married and lives in Iowa. Mr. 
Arnctt has twelve grandchildren, one of whom, 
Mary Margaret Niergarth, was born in Woodford 
County, III., on the 23d of February, 186"), and 
makes her home with Mr. Arnett. She has four 
sisters and one brother living in Woodford County, 
111. The mother of Mrs. Arnett was born on the 
1st of March, 1797, and was married on the 7th of 
November, 1816, to William Ward, who was born 
on the 27th of October, 1792, and died on the 2()th 
of March, 1858. She is still living in her ninety- 
first year, enjoying such good health that there is a 
possibility of her being able to celebrate her one 
hundredth birthday. 



/^JEORGE D. PADDOCK is a gentleman 
i|| < -, widely known throughout Livingston Coun- 
'^^ ty, who has held many positions of trust 
and honor at the hands of his neighbors. For 
many years he has been a resident of Saunemin. 
where he is universally respected and esteemed. 
He was born in the city of Milwaukee, Wis., on the 
25th of December, 1839, atid is the son of Aaron 
A. and Susan Paddock. 

The parents of our subject were natives of Onon- 
daga County, N. Y., while the paternal and ma- 
ternal ancestors were of Welsh and English descent 
respectively. Lewis Norton, the maternal grand- 
father, was a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1*11 
our subject was brought by his parents when they 
migrated to Lake County, 111., where his father 
died on the 1 1th of May, 1877. To his parents were 
born eleven children: Elnora; Adelia, wife of John 
Monroe, of Baraboo, Wis. ; Asa B., of Lake County, 
111. : Julia, wife of Samuel Lockwood. of Chicago, 
111.; Lewis, of Lake County, 111.; George 1).; Mar- 
shall, of Saunemin; Albert, of Spencer, Iowa; Helen, 
wife of John Rich, of Saunemin: Ada, wife of 
Lewis Savage, of Antioeh, 111., and Richard, of Chi- 
cago. Elnora is deceased. 

George I). Paddock was reared in Lake County, 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



851 



4 



III., where he received his education and resided 
until the breaking out of the 'var. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in Company D. 96th Illinois 
Infantry, under Capt. A. Z. Blodgett, and the regi- 
ment soon afterward became a part of the army of 
the Tennessee. Mr. Paddock went with his company 
to Rockford, III., and there engaged in drill for 
about four weeks, and thence went to Kentucky and 
joined in the pursuit of Gen. Price, participating in 
several skirmishes. Subsequently he was under the . 
command of Gen. Rosecrans, and fought at the j 
battle of Franklin, while he was in numerous minor | 
engagements. While in (Jen. Rosecrans' com- ; 
maud he contracted a disease of the heart, and it 
was found necessary to send him to the hospital at 
Ttillahoma, Tenn., where he remained a short time, 
and was afterward in hospital at Nashville, Louis- 
ville, and finally at Qiiincy, 111., where he was dis- 
charged on the 25th of February, 1865. After his 
discharge from the army he returned to Lake j 
County and there resided until 1867, when he re- 
moved to Bourbon County, Kan., and there resided 
until 1869, in which year he came to Livingston 
County, and immediately engaged in general mer- 
cantile business, which he followed uninterruptedly 
fourteen years, lie being the pioneer merchant of | 
Sfumeinin. He was also Postmaster of the village 
seven years, and served as Justice of the Peace 
four years, and Police Magistrate four years. He 
is the present Treasurer of Sauneniin Township, 
and is now serving the second year of his term. 
He has also served as Clerk of the township sev- 
eral years, and was for four years Constable. 

Mr. Paddock was married, on the 31st of Au- 
gust, 1869, to Miss Mary Warner, who was born on 
the 7th of October, 1842, in Kendall County, III. 
She is a daughter of Charles and Melinda (Pierce) 
Warner, the father a native of the State of New 
York and the mother of Ohio. Her parents were 
among the pioneer settlers of Kendall County, and 
her grandfather, Thomas Warner, was a soldier in 
the War of 1812. The family of Mrs. Paddock's 
parents consisted of eight children: Daniel, of 
Iowa; Dewey, now deceased; Sarah, wife of L. P. 
Barnes, of Salem, Wis; George, John and William, 
of Iowa; Florence, wife of David Harvey, of Iowa, 
and Mary. Two children have been born to .Mr. 
-4. 



and Mrs. Paddock Lyman, of Bluff Lake, 111., and 
Agnes. Mr. Paddock had two brothers in the Union 
army, Marshall and Albert. Marshall went out as 
a musician and was present at the battle of Pea 
Ridge and numerous other engagements, and re- 
turned from the army with impaired health. Al- 
bert participated in the battles of Chattanooga, 
Missionary Ridge, Chickamanga, Franklin, the siege 
of Nashville, and was captured at Franklin and 
confined four months in a rebel prison pen at Ca- 
haba, Ala. He endured many hardships while there, 
but was finalh" properly exchanged, and subse- 
quently discharged at the close of the war, in April, 
1865. 

The farm on which Mr. Paddock and family re- 
side consists of 220 acres, and is under a high state 
of cultivation, containing good and substantial 
buildings, fences and other improvements. Mr. 
Paddock's political proclivities are Republican, and 
he is active in his efforts to assist that party in 
electing its candidates. lie and his wife are both 
members of the Christian Church, and take a 
lively interest in church affairs. They spend the 
summer season principally at Bluff Lake, III., where 
he owns a summer residence and a steam pleasure 
yacht. Mr. Paddock is broad and liberal in his 
views, both in regard to public affairs and private 
enterprises. He has always been a stanch advocate 
of better schools and a higher grade of moralitj", 
and so far as practicable and possible has put these 
views into operation. 



/CHRISTOPHER C. HUMPHREYS. One 

fl( thing will attract the attention of whoever 
^^^x reads the contents of this ALBUM, and that 
is the number of persons now living in Livingston 
County who responded to the call of the Govern- 
ment from 1861 to 1865, for soldiers to assist in 
suppressing the most gigantic rebellion the wo: Id 
ever knew. No matter what their nativity may lie. 
;i large proportion of the biographies of the present 
citizens of Livingston County must record the 
heroic deeds of the subjects of the sketches in the 
war for the I'liiou. This shows patriotism, and 



T 8.52 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



wherever the people are patriotic, there citizenship 
is of a high standard. 

The subject of this sketch is a prominent farmer 
of Avoca Township, located on section 21. He is [ 
a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, where he 
was born on the 28th of April, 1830, and is the son 
of William and Mary Humphreys, both natives of 
Ireland, who settled in Muskingum County in 1818. 
He is the youngest son of his father's family, and 
when four years of age accompanied his parents 
when the}- moved to Coshocton County, Ohio, 
where he was reared to manhood, receiving but a 
limited education owing to the meagre advantages 
afforded him. In the spring of 1861, while a resi- 
dent of Coshocton County, he enlisted in Company 
A, Kith Ohio Infantry, for the preliminary three 
months' service at the beginning of the war, and 
participated in a few of the engagements which 
soon followed in Western Virginia. On the 23th 
of December, 18G1, his three months' term of en- 
listment having expired, he again enlisted, this 
time in Company G, 80th Ohio Infantry, and dur- 
ing his term of service participated in the sieges of 
Corinth and Vicksburg, and in Sherman's march to 
the sea until Savannah was reached. After having 
served through the entire war, and made an honor- 
able and enviable record as a soldier, he was dis- 
charged on the 7th of February, 1805, and then re- 
turned to Ohio. 

On the 8th of June, 1871, Mr. Humphreys was 
married to Mar}- R. Beyer, and they have four 
children AVilliam A., John 15., Mary E. and Mar- 
garet H. In 1881 he came to Illinois and settled 
on the farm which he now occupies, consisting of 
240 acres, all of which is highly cultivated, and 
contains good improvements. He 1ms recently ad- 
ded eighty acres to his landed area, making a total 
of ;!20 acres. In th!s connection we present a view 
of Mr. Humphreys' residence with its surroundings. 
Mr. Humphreys is practically a self-made man, for 
he had neither inheritance nor capital with which 
to begin the business of life, and what he possesses 
to-day is the result of his own industry and man- 
agement, seconded at all times by the best efforts 
of his estimable wife. In political matters Mr. 
Humphreys acl> with the Republican party, through 
patriotic motives, and not with the hope of obtain- 



ing office as a reward for his services. At the time 
this sketch is written he is serving acceptably as 
School Director, and under his administration the 
school affairs of his district are kept in admirable 
condition. 

Mrs. Humphreys, the very excellent wife of the 
subject of this sketch, is a native of Franklin 
County, Ohio, where she was born on the 18th of 
May, 184G. She is the daughter of John and Mar- 
garet Beyer, who were Pennsylvanians by birth, 
and died in Franklin County, Ohio. They had ten 
children, five of whom are living Cornelia, Will- 
iam, David, Sarah and Mary R. Mrs. Humphreys 
takes a warm interest in all matters which concern 
and affect the society in which she moves, while she 
is highly esteemed and respected as a neighbor. 




1)() DIRKS. This gentleman, who is vigor- 
ously prosecuting his farming operations on 
section 26, Avoca Township, is a fair repre- 
sentative of the substantial German element which 
has been so prominent and useful in the early settle- 
ment of this State. He was born in the Province 
of Hanover, Germany, March 26, 1842, and is the 
son of Lnctken and Annie (Mueller) Dirks, who 
were also of German birth and parentage. He was 
reared to manhood in his native Province, and in 
accordance with the laws and customs of the Em- 
pire, was placed in school at an early age and thor- 
oughly educated in his native tongue. He remained 
under the home roof until reaching manhood, and 
as the eldest sou of the family was the first to com- 
mence life on his own account. 

Mr. Dirks immigrated to the United States in 
1870, after reaching the twenty -eighth year of his 
age. The voyage was made on the sailing-vessel 
% 'Leipsic," bound from Bremen to Baltimore, and 
after a safe passage, which consumed fifteen days, 
he landed in the New World. He started directly 
for the West, stopping first in Woodford Count}', 
where he remained employed as a farm laborer un- 
til the spring of 1882. lie had lived economically 
and now had a snug sum of money, by the aid of 
which he secured possession of the eighty acres of 
land which constitutes his present farm. Heovcr- 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



855 



came tin.' difficulties of struggling with a strange soil 
in a new country, and has met with excellent suc- 
cess in his farming operations. His straightforward 
methods of doing business have also secured him 
the confidence and esteem of the community, where 
he is held in the highest respect. 

Mr. Dirks, after becoming a resident of Avoca 
Township, and finding that he could comfortably 
maintain a family, was united in marriage with one of 
his own country-women, Miss Katie Wilts, May 20, 
1 87 1 , and they became the parents of three children. 
They have met with a great attliction, however, in 
the loss of two of these, Bernhardt and Maggie, 
having now only one child living, a son, Louis, 
who was born July K>, 1883, and remains at home 
with his parents. The residence is a neat and sub- 
stantial structure, while the barn and out-buildings 
bear fair comparison with those of the other pro- 
gressive farmers of the township. Mr. Dirks after 
becoming a naturalized citizen identified himself 
with the Republican party, to which he has since 
given his cordial support. 

As representative of the buildings in this sec- 
tion of country we present on an adjoining page of 
this volume a view of Mr. Dirks' residence. 



1 



Jp^OBERT DUNLAP, who is engaged in farm- 
f ing on section 21, Dwight Township, is of 
Scotch-Irish descent, his remote ancestors 
emigrating from Scotland to Ireland, where 
they settled. James K. Dunlap, the father of the 
subject of our sketch, came to this country in 1861. 
Two of his brothers, Rev. George K. Dunlap, 
Bishop of the Episcopal Church, diocese of Ari- 
zona and New Mexico, and William Dunlap, a re- 
tired merchant of St. Paul, Minn., had come sev- 
eral years before. James K. Dunlap was a stone- 
mason, and worked at his trade in Newport, Ky., 
and Cincinnati, Ohio. He left there in 186!) and 
came to Livingston County, where he engaged for 
a time in farming, but is now working at his trade 
in Dwight. While yet living in Ireland, he was 
married to Miss Jennie Meins, of Ireland, and of 
the same descent as himself. To them were born 



nine children Thomas W., Robert, Alexander, 
Mattie A., George J., James, Lydia L., Adam and 
Maggie. 

Robert Dunlap, our subject, was born in Ireland, 
on the 29th of August, 18411, and came to this 
country with his father when a lad of thirteen years, 
lie received a common-school education by dint of 
his own efforts, and partially learned the trade of a , 
stonemason. When twenty years of age he located 
in Illinois, and rented a farm in Livingston County, 
where he began the chosen vocation of his life. 

On the 26th of November, 1874, Mr. Dunlap was 
married to Miss Agnes M. Stephenson, daughter of 
James and Primrose (King) Stephenson, of Union 
Township, Livingston County. Her parents were 
born in Scotland, and her mother came first to Can- 
ada with her parents, and then with them, located 
in Pennsylvania. Upon his arrival in this country, 
Mr. King went directly to Pennsylvania, where 
they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunlap 
are the parents of four children Jennie A., Mabel 
II., Maud L. and Ada F. 

In 1875 Mr. Dunlap rented a farm owned by 
Jesse Diffenbaugh, and upon this place he still re- 
sides, although in 1883 he purchased a farm of 
eighty acres in Round Grove Township, which he 
has leased to other parties. Mr. Dunlap is consid- 
ered a skillful fanner, and HI this section of Liv- 
ingston County has earned an enviable reputation 
as such. There is one maxim he always lives up 
to, and that is, " Whatever is worth doing at all, is 
worth doing well," and the system and order which 
prevail about his premises prove conclusively that 
he fully comprehends the meaning and force of the 
same. 




UGUSTUS E. DINET, who is engaged in 
the business of general merchandising in 
the town of Odell, was born in Alsace, 
then a Province of France, on the 28th of 
April, 1851, and is the eldest of four children born 
to August and Catherine (Roy) Dinet, natives of 
France. The father was a farmer by occupation 
and a cooper by trade, who left France in 1854, 
and settled in Syracuse, N. Y., where he remained 
for two years, and then sent to France for his fam- 



! 



h 

i s.-.r. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 



ily. They arrived in 1850, and he has made his 
home at Syracuse ever since that time, living upon 
a farm. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in Syra- 
cuse, N. Y., in the common schools, and afterward 
attended Ames Business College for two years at 
Syracuse. At the age of seventeen he engaged as 
a clerk in a grocery store, and two 'years later he 
came West and located at Ottawa, 111., where he 
engaged as a book-keeper in a general merchandise 
store and remained about five years, when ho re- 
moved to Joliet and took the management of a dry- 
goods store, which he conducted for three years. 
From there he went to Chicago and entered the 
employ of the wholesale dry-goods firm of Carson, 
Pirie, Scott & Co., and for three years represented 
them as a traveling salesman. He then entered the 
firm of Dinet, Nachbour & Co., as its senior mem- 
ber, and opened a dry-goods store at Joliet. At 
the close of the first year he sold his interest in 
this firm and returned to Chicago, where he again 
took the road as a traveling salesman, engaging 
with the Chicago Corset Company, and remained in 
their employ six months, when a change in their 
plans caused him to resign his position. He then 
came to Odell, 111., and in 188:> bought a general 
store, which was in the hands of an administrator ; 
and for sale. Since that time he has continued this 
business with good success. 

While living in Joliet, on the 5th of September, 
1 s.si, Mr. Dinet married Katie McAllister, of 
Odell, who was the second child in a family of four 
born to Patrick and Mary McAllister, who were 
natives of Ireland but immigrated to America at an 
earl}" day, and are now residing at Odell. Mr. and 
Mrs. Dinet reside in a house which they built soon 
after marriage, and in which they are permanently 
settled. Mr. Dinet lias been prosperous in his 
business affairs, and ranks with the best nu'ivantilc 
firms in this part of Illinois. His varied experi- 
ences as clerk, merchant and traveling salesman, 
make him thoroughly acquainted with the details 
of merchandising, both as seller and buyer, lie is 
a thorough-going bu>iness man, and to his affairs 
devotes such constant attention that he (iuds little 
time to give to politics, other than to go to the 
election and vote the ticket, of the Democratic 



party, of which he has always been a member. He 
and his excellent wife are active members of the 
Catholic Church, to which they are much devoted. 




ENRY D. FISK, Superintendent of City 
Schools at Dwight, is the scion of an excel- 
lent American family of English descent, 
and a gentleman eminently qualified for his 
responsible position. His first years were s]>ent in 
Abington, Mass., where he was born Sept. 2">, 1855. 
and whence he came with his parents to Illinois 
when a child five years of age. 

Young Fisk remained on the farm with his par- 
ents, pursuing his studies in the district school and 
afterward entering the city school at Chenoa. He 
studied until fifteen years of age, when his prospects 
were sadly broken in upon by the death of his 
father, and he was then thrown upon his own re- 
sources and obliged to look out for himself. He 
had thereafter not only his own living to make, but 
he assisted in the support of his widowed mother, 
employing himself at whatever he could find to do 
to increase the family income, while at the same 
time he employed much of his leisure time with 
his books, and when eighteen years of age was con- 
sidered qualified to assume the work of a teacher. 
Ilis first labors in this direction began in Chenoa 
Township, where he taught one year. He then 
taught three years in what is known as the Ilogan 
School, Pike Township, this county: two years in the 
"Ballinger" district, and then one year in the same 
township in which he began teaching. He removed 
from Chenoa in 1881 and took charge of the school 
at Cayuga, where he remained two years, and at the 
end of this time was chosen Principal of the Dwight 
High School. The year following he was elected 
City Superintendent, and for the past four years 
has discharged his duties in an eminently creditable 
and satisfactory manner. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a 
New Hampshire fanner, and possessed all the staid 
and sturdy attributes of his New England progeni- 
tors. lie was reared among his native hills, and in 
early life married :i lady of his own county and 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



857 



I 

r 



reared a family of children. His son, William B., 
the father of our subject, was born and reared on 
the farm in the Old Granite State, but on arriving 
at years of maturity left the agricultural districts, 
and going into the city of Boston, engaged in con- 
tracting and building, for which work he possessed 
natural talent. When twenty-eight years of age he 
was united in marriage with Miss Angeline Farrar, 
of Buckfleld, Oxford Co., Me., and the daughter 
of David and Cynthia (Waterman) Farrar, who were 
also of New England birth and parentage. The two 
children of this union were a son and a daughter, 
Flora and Frank, the latter of whom died when 
eleven years of age. The mother passed away in 
early life and William B. Fisk subsequently married 
her sister, Sarah C. This marriage resulted in the 
birth of eight children, namely : Henry 1)., Helena, 
Frederick E., Clara, Webster, Albert, Howard and 
William B. Helena died at the age of three years, 
Howard at thirteen months; the others are all liv- 
ing. The elder Fisk followed his profession of 
architecture in Boston for several years, after which 
he removed to Abington, Plymouth County, where 
he remained until 1858. He then determined to 
see something of the great West and started out 
by team, traveling through the States of Iowa, 
Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The year fol- 
lowing he located on a farm five miles west of 
Chenoa, McLean County, this State, and while cul- 
tivating the soil continued the business of architect 
and builder until 1865, when he removed to the 
city of Chenoa, where he spent his last years. His 
death occurred in 1 870, after he had passed his 
fifty-first birthday. 

The father of our subject was a strong Repub- 
lican in his political belief, a radical temperance 
man, and a leading member of the I. (). G. T., 
in which organization he took a deep interest. He 
was the contractor and builder of the High School 
building at Chenoa, the Hamilton Block, which was 
the first brick structure of importance in the city, 
and the Presbyterian Church, the first house of 
worship put up in Chenoa. During the late war his 
sympathies were entirely with the Union cause, and 
the care of his family alone prevented his becoming 
an active soldier, although he was beyond the re- 
ijnired age. He possessed intense moral convictions 



and had a peculiar abhorence of decit and hypoc- 
risy. The children inheriting such characteristics 
and with such an example could scarcely fail to be 
otherwise than truthful and correct in their habits 
of life, as the result has proved. 

Henry 1). Fisk has been a hard student, and for 
years has given all his leisure time to his books. 
He takes a lively interest in the establishment and 
maintenance of educational institutions, and regu- 
larly attends the Teachers' Institutes in order to 
give and receive instruction in regard to the best 
methods of carrying on the training of the present 
generation. Politically, like his father before him, 
he is a strong Republican, but is so thoroughly ab- 
sorbed in educational work that he gives but little 
attention to politics, aside from casting his influ- 
ence upon the side of good Government, and to as- 
sist in the election of men best qualified for office. 

On the lllth of November, 1879, Mr. Fisk was 
united in marriage with Miss Estella E., daughter 
of Jonathan and Lovica (Day) Ilaynes. The two 
children born of this union were named respectively 
Josie Dee and Ora Lou, of whom the latter died 
in infancy. Little Josie is now five years of age, 
a bright and interesting child and the joy of the 
household. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fisk are active 
members in the Congregational Church of D wight. 



ALAt;I11 SHELLY, many years one of the 

most substantial farmers of Round Grove 
Township, is now retired from active labor, 
enjoying the fruits of his industry at a 
snug home in the village of Campus. He came to 
Livingston County in the pioneer days, and has 
contributed his full share toward the development 
of its resources, and the encouragement of its set- 
tlement by an intelligent and progressive class of 
people, lie has been a man prominent in all pro- 
gressive movements, and one regarded by his com- 
munity with universal respect. 

Mr. Shelly is a native of Bucks County, Pa., 
where his birth took place June 21. l.sis. Hjs 
early life was spent upon the farm of his father, but 
like many a youth he desired a change, and accord- 
ingly leaving home, he took up the trade of a cigar 




< 



I 858 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






in:iker, and was thus employed two years: In 
1841, bent upon seeing something 1 more of the 
world, he started out on foot from the city of Phil- 
adelphia and walked to Pittsburgh, a distance of ,300 
miles, making the journey in nine days. From 
there he migrated to Beaver County, where he re- 
turned to farming pursuit*, and from thence to 
Butler County, where he worked by the month two 
years. Thence he went over into the State of Ohio, 
and rented a farm in Mahoning County one and 
one-half years, and when this contract had expired 
determined to go farther west. 

Mr. Shelly arrived in Gardner, Grundy County, 
this State, in August, 185G. and remained in that 
section of country until the following spring. In 
the meantime he had been looking about for a per- 
manent location, and coming to this county, de- 
cided there was nothing more desirable, and ac- 
cordingly purchased 140 acres of land on section 1, 
Round Grove Township. The appearance of this 
section of country thirty years ago was widely dif- 
ferent from that of the present, and Mr. Shelly per- 
formed his full duty upon the plat of ground which 
he had selected for the field of his future operations. 
In due time he had the land all enclosed and laid 
off into convenient fields, had erected a good resi- 
dence and the necessary farm buildings, and was 
looked upon by his neighbors as one of the most 
valued members of their community. He had en- 
couraged the establishment of schools and lent his 
aid and influence to all those enterprises which had for 
their object the progress and welfare of the people 
around him. He also added to his first purchase, and 
finally became the owner of 344 acres. He contin- 
ued to live there and prosecute his farm work un- 
til August, 1883, when he rented the homestead 
and removed to Whiteside County. He has lived 
in that and Livingston County alternately, but now 
makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Emma 
Simpkins. 

Mr. Shelly, while a resident of his native State. 
was married, in Butler County, in April, 1*12, to 
Miss Lovina Shelly, who wa.- born in Butler County 
Oct. 22. 1.S22, and i> the daughter of Henry and 
lietsey (Landis) Shelly, also natives of the Key- 
r-tone State. ( )ur subject and hi.- wife were play- 
mutes Almost from (.'hi Id hood, and have lived to- 



gether harmoniously now for :i period of fortv-fivc 
years. Their union was blessed by the birth of eleven 
children, the record of whom i-:i> follows: Rosetta, 
the eldest daughter, is now the wife of William 
Bauehnmn, and resides in Franklin Count}', Iowa ; 
Matilda is the wife of B. F. Whitmore, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Grundy County, 111.; Absalom mar- 
ried Miss Mary McLean, and died in Round Grove 
Township Nov. 28, 1875; Addison married Esther 
Lapp, and is a resident of Whiteside County, this 
State; Andrew married Miss Mary M. Ibe, and is 
carrying on fanning in Frontier County, Neb. : Sa- 
rah, the wife of Cyrus Miller, resides in Whiteside 
County, 111.; Uriah married Miss Sarah Clover, and 
is engaged in merchandising in Emington: William 
married Miss Mary Slade. and is also farming in 
Frontier County, Neb. ; Mary became the wife of 
C. W. Simpkins, and died in Grundy County, 111., 
in March, 1882; Lovina, Mrs. Elmer Clover, re- 
sides with her husband on a farm in Round Grove 
Town.-hip: Emma married C. W. Simpkins, of 
Campus, and they have one child, a daughter, Eily 
May, who was born March 1, 1885.. 

Mr. Shelly has been a supporter of Republican 
principles since 1856, a period of thirty years, hav- 
ing been a Whig before the organization of the 
Republican party. He and his estimable lady, re- 
ligiously, are connected with the Church of God. 




>ILLIAM P. JOHNSON, a large land-owner 
in Livingston and Grundy Counties, resid- 
ing on a 280 -acre farm on section 10, 
Round Grove Township, is the son of Nicholas and 
Melinda (Cloud) Johnson. The father was born in 
Montgomery County, Pa., and the mother wa> a 
native of Kentucky. The father of Nicholas John- 
son was William Johnson, who served as a soldier 
during the entire continuance of the Revolutionary 
War. He was a Captain, and expended his entire 
property -in securing funds with which to clothe the 
men under his command, lie died in Montgomery 
County, 1'a., about live years after the war closed. 
His wife, the grandmother of our subject, was Sa- 
rah Johnson, who also died in Montgomery County. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



S.-,9 



The parents of our subject married and settled 
in Dearborn County, Ind.. where they engaged in 
farming, although in his younger days the father 
followed the occupation of a butcher. The mother 
died in Dearborn County, Ind., and the father in 
Hamilton County, Ohio. They had a family of 
thirteen children, ten girls and three boys, nine of 
whom are at present living. Our subject was the 
fifth child, and was born in Dearborn County, Ind., 
March 10, 1829. He was trained to the work of a 
farmer, and during his boyhood days attended the 
common schools in Indiana and Ohio. He re- 
mained at home until he was twenty-six years of 
age, at which time he was married. 

On the 29th of October, 1854, in Hamilton 
County, Ohio, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss 
Martha A., daughter of Aaron and Margaret (Pass- 
more) Simonson. Her father was born near New- 
ark, N. J., and it is supposed the mother was born 
in Ohio. The father and mother died within two 
days of each other, of cholera, in 1850. The grand- 
father of Mrs. Johnson was Barney Simonson, who 
moved with his family from New Jersey to Ohio at 
an early day. He was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War, and died in Hamilton County, Ohio. His 
wife, the grandmother of Mrs. Johnson, was Cather- 
ine Freeman, who was reared in New Jersey and 
died in Ilamilion County, Ohio, at the age of 
ninety-eight years. The parents of Mrs. Johnson 
had nine children, six girls and three boys, of whom 
she was the fifth child. She was born in Hamilton 
County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1837, and there grew to 
womanhood. 

Two years after marriage, in the fall of 185(i, Mr. 
Johnson came with his wife and one child to Liv- 
ingston County, and settled in Round Grove Town- 
ship on section 10, where he purchased eighty acres 
of partially improved land. Besides a stable there 
wa> a log house on the farm, which they occupied 
four years, when they built a neat and comfortable 
farm house, and afterward erected a good and com- 
modious barn and other out-buildings. He began life j 
without means, and has secured to himself a good 
competency through the very best management and 
jndiciou- economy. Be-ide the farm already men- 
tioned lie owns eighty acre> in Grundy County. 
When lie and his family came to Livingston County 



the transportation was by ox-teams, and they en- 
joyed the novel trip to the fullest extent. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of eight 
children, who were named as follows: Margaret 
M., Zarum S., Eliza J., Susan A., John B., William 
E., Oscar E. and Martha N. Margaret, Eliza and 
John are deceased, /arum married Jennie Miller, 
and resides in Dwight, 111. ; Susan married Fred Tan- 
ner, and resides in Gage County, Neb., while Will- 
iam, Oscar and Martha reside at home with their 
parents. Mr. Johnson is a Democrat in politics, and 
has ae ceptably filled the oltice of Assessor of the 
township. He is devoted to his business affairs, and 
is a citizen highly esteemed by the people of his sec- 
tion, enjoying their confidence to the fullest extent. 



OE W. SIMPKINS, who represents the res- 
taurant and confectionery business at Caui- 
pus, is a rising young citizen of good busi- 
ness ability, and has been located here since the 
spring of 1884. His straightforward business 
methods and the creditable manner in which he con- 
ducts his establishment, have secured for him the 
patronage of the best residents of the town and 
vicinity. 

Mr. Simpkins was born in Mercer Count}', Pa., 
Sept. 13, 1859, and reared on a farm. He was a 
bright, ambitious boy, and greatly desiring a col- 
legiate education, he attended closely to his studies 
in the primary school, and then entered the Normal 
School at Valparaiso, Ind., where he intended to re- 
main until he had completed the full course and was 
graduated. Circumstances, however, over which 
he had no control, broke in upon his cherished plans, 
and after two years he was obliged to leave school 
and return to his father's farm, in Grundy County, 
111. A year later he engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness, and made his home in Grundy County until 
the spring of 1 *H.">. Then he came to this county 
and rented a tract of land in Round Grove Town- 
ship, lint the result of this venture not being en- 
tirely satisfactory, he repaired to Gardner, and was 
there occupied as a clerk and in the insurance busi- 
ness until taking up his residence in Campus. The 



F 



t 



SCO 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



t 



busbies* in wliidi lie is now engaged requires tact 
and good judgment, :md there are. indications Ili.-il 
lie possesses these in a measure equal to the de- 
mand. 

Mr. Simpkins while a resident of Round Grove 
Township was united in marriage with Miss Mary 
Shelly, on the 8th of March, 1881. The young 
wife lived but a little over a year after her wed- 
ding day, her deatli taking place in Grundy County, 
March 23, 1 882. The present wife of our subject, 
formerly Miss Knima Shelly, was born Oct. 23, 1863, 
and they were married at Pontiac, 111., Nov. 15, 
1883. Of this union there is one child, Eily May, 
born March 1, 1885, and now a bright little girl 
of three years. Mrs. S. is the daughter of Malachi 
Shelly, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this 

Al.lilM. 

Our subject is a reliable member of the Repub- 
lican party, and belongs to the Baptist Church of 
Gardner. 




CUNNINGTON. The traveler in 
passing through the southeastern part of 
Livingston County and in noting the fine 
farms and substantial buildings of that section, 
particularly observes the property of the subject of 
this sketch, which comprises 160 acres, and is pleas- 
antly located on section 29, Charlotte Township. 
It speaks for itself as having been under the super- 
vision of a thorough and intelligent agriculturist, a 
man of sound sense and refined tastes, who is at- 
tached to his friends and his family, and has en- 
deavored to make his home the pleasantest spot on 
earth. The residence and adjacent buildings are 
neat and substantial, kept in good repair, and the 
farm stock and machinery are of excellent descrip- 
tion. Everything about the premises seems to 
have been made subservient to the one design of a 
homestead that should be at once an ornament to 
the township, and a credit to its projector. In this 
volume is shown a view of Mr. ('nuningtou's resi- 
dence with the adjacent grounds. 

Mr. Cunnington is a native of England, his birth 
taking place in Cambridgeshire in 1H2!, at the 
modest home of his parents, Thomas and Su>an 
(Turpitt) Cunningtoii, who were also of English 



birth and ancestry. Their household included 
seven children, of whom Thomas wa* the lifth in 
order of birth. His father was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and presented the example of an honest and 
upright citizen who provided comfortably for his 
family, and performed well the pn.-t assigned him 
in life. He lived to be quite well advanced in 
years, and looked his last upon earthly scenes in 
the home where he had lived for so many years and 
where his children were born. His death occurred 
in the spring of 18(iC, aged seventy years. The 
faithful and affectionate wife and mother survived 
her husband twelve years, and then passed away 
when seventy -eight years of age. 

Thomas Cunnington early in life became familiar 
with farm pursuits, and received a common-school 
education. He had always been a serious and re- 
flective lad, and began earl}- in life to think about 
the future. When nineteen years of age, not being 
satisfied with his prospects on his native soil, he set 
sail from Liverpool in August, 1848, and after a 
rough voyage on .an English vessel, arrived in New 
York Harbor five weeks from the time he started. 
He remained near the metropolis two or three years, 
where he was occupied as a farm laborer, working 
in the fields in summer, and chopping wood in the 
winter. He then migrated west, coming into Ta/.e- 
well County, this State, where he had acquaintances, 
and remained until the spring of 18(11. The previ- 
ous year, however, having been fortunate in saving 
a snug sum of money, he purchased eighty acres of 
wild prairie, and now commenced the erection of a 
shelter for himself and his young family. 

Mr. Cunnington while a resident of Tazewell 
County had met and married Miss Matilda Turpitt, 
the wedding taking place Dec. 16, 1858. Mrs. 
Cunnington was born about 1837, and is of English 
!ince.-trv. She accompanied her husband to the 
West, and in the spring of 1*01 they took po>scs- 
sion of their land, where our subject cultivated the 
soil until 1872, and put up a few necessary build- 
ings besides the dwelling. He then sold out and 
purchased Hie quarter section where he now reside*. 
Its natural resources were fair, and through his 
wise management the land has been brought to a 
high state of cultivation and is very fertile. He 
keeps good horses and cattle, and has contributed 



T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



861 



in no small degree to the assessment value of Char- 
lotte Township. 

Mr. and Mrs. ( 'imnington became the parents of 
three children Annie Elizabeth, A-lvin T. and Will- 
iam Henry. Annie E. was born Feb. .">, 18GO, and 
was taken from the household circle by death on the 
27th of March, 187!l, when an interesting young 
girl of nineteen years; she suffered greatly, being 
ill about three weeks, and in their deep affliction 
the parents received the sympathy of the entire 
community. As an only daughter she was the 
pride of the household, and a child of whom the}- 
had great hopes for the future. Alvin T. was born 
Dec. 23, 1863, and William II., Dec. 2.1, 1867. 
Mr. Cunnington has given to his two sons a good 
education, performing in this respect all that his 
means would justify. They are bright and prom- 
ising young men, and if their lives are spared, will 
without doubt prove an honor to their parents. 

Mr. Cunnington has been quite prominent in the 
affairs of his township, serving a number of years 
as School Director and Road Commissioner. He 
came to the township while it was still a part of 
Pleasant Ridge, and as one of the early settlers who 
made good use of his time and interests himself in 
the welfare of the people around him, enjoys in a 
marked degree the confidence and esteem of his 
fellow-citizens. 



JJOHN H. BEATTY, a farmer and stock-raiser, 
I living on section 2, Broughton Township, is 
| the son of William and Eliza (Smith) Beatty, 
' and was born in Loudoun County, Va.,Nov. 
10, 1847, of which State his parents were na- 
tives, and where they spent their entire lives. His 
father, a farmer, was born about 1811, and was 
probably of English descent. He at one time 
owned a few slaves, but at the breaking out of the 
Rebellion he espoused the cause of the Union, and 
realized the terrors ami cruelties of war, living as 
he did in the section of the country which witnessed 
the marching and counter-marching of armies, and a 
constant succession of battles. He experienced 
many hardships, having his horses taken, and his 
buildings set on fire, though the flames were extin- 
guished by two of his sons. His loyalty to the 



cause of the Union never wavered, however, and he 
lived to see his country at peace and his State again 
restored to the Federal Union. His death took 
place in July, 1883. 

The elder Beatty was the father of fourteen chil- 
dren, eleven by the first wife and three by the second. 
There are seven by the first wife still living, all of 
whom are married and doing well. There are six- 
teen grandchildren. The mother of our subject 
was of German descent, and died in October, 1871, 
aged about fifty-six years. Our subject was too 
young to do military service in the army, but be- 
fore the war was over he joined the Home Guards, 
an organization designed for the protection of pri- 
vate property from the enemy, and has in his pos- 
session a revolver given him by Gen. Stephenson, 
who told him to keep it as a memento as long as he 
should live. 

In November, 18C9, our subject made his first 
migration to the West, going to Kansas, where he 
engaged in various occupations. Apparently not 
suited with that country, he returned to his father's 
home in Virginia, where he remained until Jan. 21, 
1873, at which time he was united in marriage with 
Miss Annie Arnold, daughter of Martin L. and 
Elizabeth (Smith) Arnold. Her parents were of 
German descent, but were natives of Virginia, where 
she was born in Loudoun County, May 20, 1851. 
The Arnold homestead, which has been in the family 
for several generations, is still owned by the Arnold 
heirs. 

In 1874 our subject moved to Maryland, where 
he engaged in farming for one year, when he mi- 
grated to his present home, which consists of 160 
acres of as fine land as can be found in Livingston 
Count}'. That he has met with abundant success 
in his western home, is evidenced by his well-filled 
cribs, his good farm buildings, and the excellent 
character of his live stock. He is an intelligent, 
progressive and wide-awake citizen, and is deeply 
interested in educational matters, having served as 
School Director for several years. He is the kind 
of man whose proence in any community tends to 
its improvement and upbuilding, morally and so- 
cially. 

Mr. Beatty is the seventh child in a family of 
eleven, seven of whom are still living: Samuel re- 



862 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 




t 



sides in Virginia; Charles in Broughton, III.; Mary 
is the wife of Thomas Slater, and resides in Round 
Grove, as does also James; Jennie is the wife of 
Theodore Gruzen, and lives in Virginia; George 
Townsend lives in Brougliton Township. The wife 
of our .subject has one brother, Americus, who was 
born June 29, 1849, and lives in Ohio. 



AMUEL BARLOW. Many of the men of 
stroii"; hands and resolute will, who came 
to this section of country during the early 
days, had emigrated from foreign countries, 
and bent their energies to the development of the 
great West. Among these was the subject of this 
sketch, who is now the owner of a beautiful farm on 
section '28, in Nebraska Township, where he has 
established one of the pleasantest homesteads in the 
western part of Livingston County. In this con- 
nection is shown a view of Mr. Barlow's residence 
with its surroundings. 

Our subject, the son of Samuel and Ellen (Wrig- 
ley) Barlow, was born in Lancashire, England, Aug. 
18, 184'.*, and seven years later crossed the Atlantic 
with his parents, landing first in New York City. 
Thence they immediately proceeded westward to 
Peoria County, this State, where the father farmed 
on rented land for a period of seven years. They 
then went into Woodford County and purchased a 
tract, where they made their home until their death. 
They wore both natives of Lancashire, where they 
were born in 1811, the father in March, and the 
mother in May, and the}' were married about 1830. 
The mother passed away in March, 18(>C, and the 
father nineteen years later, on the 31st of July, 
1885. Their remains lie side by side in Clayton 
Cemetery, Woodford County. 

Samuel Barlow continued under the parental roof 
until twenty-seven years of age, farming and buying 
hind in partnership with his father and brother. In 
the meantime his affections had been captured by 
the daughter of a neighbor, near whom his father's 
family had lived for a number of years, namely, 
Mi>> Mary T. R. Vilven, who became his wife March 
28, 1877. She is the daughter of William and 
.Mary (Richards) Vilven. natives of England, the 



father born July 1 I, 1824, and the mother in June, 
1817. The latter died at her home in Woodford 
County, Feb. 20, 1886. Mr. V. is still living in 
Woodford County. Mrs. Barlow was born in Dev- 
onshire, England. April 29, 1848, and came to 
America with her parents when a child five years of 
age. She is the second in a family of six. namely : 
John Richards, Mary, Richard T., William Richards, 
Elizabeth E. and Malora R. William and Malora 
are at home with their father. 

After his marriage Mr. Barlow continued in 
Woodford County, farming for himself about six 
years, when selling out, he purchased eighty acres 
in Nebraska Township, this county, where he has 
since resided. His land is remarkably fertile and 
well cultivated, and the low places have been thor- 
oughly drained with tile. Amid his other bless- 
ings have come four bright children, all living, and 
born as follows: Mary Ellen, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 
1879, in Woodford County; Addie V., Sunday, 
Oct. 2, 1881 ; Frank T., Thursday, Aug. 14, 1884; 
and Lawrence Guy, Friday, March 25, 1887. The 
last two were born in Livingston County. 

Mr. B. was the seventh in a family of eight chil- 
dren, who were named respectively: William, Rob- 
ert, Ann Jane, Stephen Thomas, Sarah M., Ellen, 
Samuel and James H. These are all residents of 
Illinois, are all married, and with the exception of 
Stephen, all have children. 




OBERT A. GRAHAM. One of the later 
valuable acquisitions of Livingston Count v 
in the way of enterprising citizens is the 
subject of this sketch, who is a farmer lo- 
cated on section 3, Long Point Township. He was 
born on the 8th of February, 1855, and is the son 
of William and Mary (Jefferson) Graham, the 
former born in Ireland and the latter a native of 
England, who came from that country to Canada, 
thence to Michigan, and afterward to Illinois. Rob- 
ert Jefferson, her father, was about ninety years of 
ago when he (lied in Newtown, Livingston County. 
William Graham was born on the 20th of Febru- 




RESIDENCEOFSAMUEL BARLOW, SEC. 28. NEBRASKA TOWNSHIP. 




'f?M/UM~EMMA,3H 3/4/4-.JJ 




RESIDENCE orRoBT. A.GRAHAM,(BREEDER OF POLAND CHINA HoGS),SEC.3. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



865 




ary, 1814, and was a fanner by occupation. lie 
came from Ireland to America about 1X38, and par- 
ticipated in the Mexican War. He was married, 
on the 27th of March, 1845, to Deborah Evans, 
Rev. S. B. Brown officiating. By this union there 
was born one child, Margaret J., on the 3d of Feb- 
ruary, 1846; she died Aug. 23, 1847. Deborah 
Graham, the wife, died on the 12th of September, 
1846. After coming from the Mexican War Will- 
iam Graham took up a claim in Reading Township, 
Livingston Count}', in 1848, and soon afterward 
married Mrs. Mary Smith, widow of George Smith, 
the Rev. Fletcher Royal performing the ceremony 
on the 24th of June, 1841). In the same year she 
died of milk-sickness, and Mr. Graham was again 
married, on the 6th of July, 1851, to Miss Mary 
Jefferson, by Isaac Painter, Esq. She was born 
June 7, 1 835, and bore to her husband the follow- 
ing-named children: John A., William, Robert A., 
Emma and George W. John A. was born 
April 23, 1852, and died Sept. 3, 1852; AVill- 
iam was born June 19. 1X53, and died Sept. 2, 
1875; Emma was born Jan. 26, 1857, and married 
Benjamin G. Miller, from whom she obtained a di- 
vorce after the birth of two children; in 1886 she 
married Frank Muller, has one child, and they re- 
side in LaSalle County. George W. was born Feb. 
12, 1859, married Miss Cordelia Law, of Bruce, 
LaSalle County, in September, 1880; they have 
two children, and live in Bruce Township, LaSalle 
County. William Graham died Oct. 20, 1858, and 
his widow, Mary, married Frederick Richards Sept. 
16, 1859; he had been married twice before, first 
to Miss Grotey in Germany, by whom he had one 
son. boni Dec. 25, 1852, and one daughter, who 
died in infancy. By his second wife, Miss Greener, 
he had one child, who was born Dec. 1 1, 1854, and 
died Jan, 22, 1855. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Richards were born the follow- 
ing-named children: Melissa J., Thomas, Mary, 
Frederick, Alexander, Louis, Walter and Charles. 
Melissa J. was born Nov. 15, 1860, and died April 
4, 1879; Thomas was born Aug. 19, 1X62, married 
Lena Missell, and resides in Bruce Township, La- 
Salle County; Mary was born July 29, 1864, mar- 
ried George M. Loy March 4, 18X6, has one child, 
and resides in Otter Creek Township, LaSalle 



County; Frederick was born Oct. 26, 1866, and 
died Feb. 11, 1876; Alexander was born Aug. 15, 
1868; Louis was born Dec. 15, 1870, and is a stu- 
dent at the High School at Streator; Walter was 
born Aus-. 31, 1873, and Charles in October, 1875. 

Robert A. Graham was married, on the 22d of 
February, 1877, to Miss Maggie A. Armstrong, of 
Reading Township. She is the daughter of Thomas 
and Maria Armstrong, natives of Ohio. The latter 
now makes her home at the residence of Mr. Gra- 
ham. To Mrs. Graham's parents were born the 
following-named children: Martin, Edward, Salem 
S., William, Theodore, George, Doom, Maggie A., 
Kate and John. Martin married Susan Fox, of 
Ohio, and they have had six children, three of 
whom are living, and live in Montgomery County, 
near Havana, Kan. ; Salem S. married Susan Buz- 
zard, of Ohio, who bore him the following-named 
children: Allen, Lizzie and Eugene. Allen mar- 
ried Alniira Deafenbaugh, and they reside in Read- 
ing Township; Lizzie married Henry Walter, has 
two children, and lives in LaSalle County; Eugene 
is at home. The first wife died, and Salem subse- 
quently married Miss Jane Kellogg, daughter of 
William Kellogg, and to them were born six chil- 
dren, all of whom reside at home in Reading Town- 
ship. William Armstrong married Lib. Arnold, of 
Reading Township, and had one child: Theodore, 
deceased : George married Sarah Skaggs, daughter 
of Joseph Skaggs, and they had one child ; the 
mother and child both died, and George was again 
married, to Clara Holcomb, daughter of John Hol- 
comb, who bore him three children, two of whom 
are dead. George was killed in the coal mines in 
Eagle Township, LaSalle County, in January, 1881. 
Doom married Kate Kepple; they have four chil- 
dren, and live in LaSalle County; Kate, Maggie's 
twin sister, married Elijah Deafenbaugh; John mar- 
ried Lizzie Holcomb, daughter of John Holcomb; 
they have three children, and reside in Reading- 
Township. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Graham was born 
one child, Etta Florence, Oct. 22, 1882. Mr. Gra- 
ham came to Livingston County in the spring of 
1884, and now owns 225 acres of land in an. excel- 
lent state of cultivation, on which is a first-class 
line of improvements. This farm is drained by 



sr.o 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



about 500 rods of tile, which were put in at a <-o>t 
of $300. A view of this homestead embellishes this 
volume. 

Mr. Graham belongs to the Democratic party, 
and is at present discharging the duties of Road 
Commissioner and School Director. He holds a mem- 
bership in Lodge No. 602, I. O. O. F. : Encampment 
No. 147, and is also a member of Lodge No. 89, 
Knights of Pythias, at Streator. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in which they take an active interest. 



J" AMES H. COSGROVE. Among the multi- 
tude of employes engaged upon great vail- 
way lines, none occupy a more important 
' position, so far as the safety of lives and 
property is concerned, than the telegraph operators 
at the various important stations. It is through 
tlie operator that all the orders for running trains 
between his and other stations must pass, and a 
mistake on his part in receiving and writing an or- 
der may result in the most dire disasters, involving 
loss of life and destruction of property. The careful 
and competent operator who attends strictly to his 
delicate duties, soon makes himself secure in his 
position, and can depend upon permanent employ- 
ment. One of the most careful and competent 
operators along the line of the great Chicago & Al- 
ton Road Is the subject of this sketch, who occu- 
pies that position and also that of Station Agent at 
Odell, 111. 

Mr. Cosgrove was born in Nevada, Livingston 
County, on the 13th of May, 18C5, and is the sec- 
ond child in a family of four born to Peter and 
Mary (McAllister) Cosgrove, natives of Ireland and 
Pennsylvania respectively. His father came to 
America with his parents when quite young, and 
they settled in Livingston County. Mr. Cosgrove 
was reared on a farm, and during the winter months 
attended the common schools until the age of eight- 
een, at which time he left the farm Mini came to 
Odell, for the purpose of learning telegraphy in the 
railway station office. After one year's service un- 
der instruction, lie war- appointed night operator, 
and served in that capacity eleven months, at which 



time J. E. Birch, the agent at Odell, was transferred 
to Braidwood, 111., and Mr. Cosgrove was then made 
the agent and official operator, in which capacity be 
has since acted. 

Mr. Cosgrove was married, on the 17th of Feb- 
ruary, 1887, to Miss Agnes Chapman, the eldest 
child in a family of four born to Edwin O. and 
Mary J. (Thompson) Chapman, and born in Mont- 
rose, Iowa, on the Kith of September, 1805. She 
learned telegraphy under the instructions of her 
father in C'ayuga, at the age of nine years, and 
later had charge of the office at that place, where she 
remained until her marriage with the subject of this 
sketch, since which time she has been a resident of 
Odell, and has popularized herself with the best ele- 
ment of society. Mr. Cosgrove is not active in 
political matters, and has no taste for office-getting 
or office-holding. He devotes his entire time and 
energies during business hours to the discharge of 
the duties of his position, and is known as one of the 
most careful and painstaking operators on the Chi- 
cago it Alton Road. He and his bride are favorites 
in the society of the young at Odell, and by their 
geniality add much to its cheerfulness. They en- 
joy the esteem of all their friends and acquaint- 
ances. 



J~j OHN D. MARKS, a prosperous and happily 
I situated farmer and stock-raiser on section 
I 24, Rook's Creek Township, was born on 
I the 2d of July. 1813, in Fail-field County, 
Ohio, and is the son of Jacob and Rebecca (Cham- 
bers) Marks. He received a common -school edu- 
cation under adverse circumstances, studying at 
odd times when the labor at home would permit it. 
He is the second in a family of seven children, and 
was married to Elizabeth L. Eli, of Knox County, 
Ohio, who died about one year after marriage. 
leaving one child, Mary Jane, who was born on the 
9th of August, 1830. She was married to William 
Chambers and moved to Missouri, where she died 
in the fall of 1885. leaving four children. 

Mr. Marks came from Ohio to Rook's Creek 
To\vn.-hip with his father, who brought his family 
West in 183(1, driving through with horse-team^ 
and arriving on the 9th of June. He lived with 



MB 

'4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



867 



his father some two years after the death of his 
wife, and then went to Mackinaw. McLean County, 
where he clerked about six months, when he pur- 
chased the store. Soon after he came to Rook's 
Creek Township, where he built a water-power 
grist and saw mill upon the Vermilion River, part 
of the ruins of which yet remain. He continued in 
the milling business about two years, when he en- ' 
gaged a large force of men and took the contract 
for building the Hennepin Canal, which they con- 
tinued to work at until the State funds for the pay- : 
inent of the work were exhausted. 

Mr. Marks' second marriage occurred on the 2d 
of June, 1844, to Sarah Hancock, daughter of 
George and Nancy (Allen) Hancock. By this 
marriage there were born eight children Archibald 
A., Nancy E. L, Lucetta W., George W., Austella 
P., Timazone L., John A. and James W. Archi- 
bald A. was born April 21, 1845, married Sept. 30, 
1866, and has three children; Nancy E. I. was born 
Aug. 24, 1847, married George Fowler, and died 
June 17, 1883, leaving three children, viz: Mae 
Estelle, who was born Oct. 11, 1870; Elvaretta, who 
was born Nov. !>, 1872, and died Jan. 22, 1887, 
and Artie Beaumont, who was born May 14, 1876. 
Lucetta W. was born Sept. 27, 1849, married Alson 
P. Pemberton Sept. 19, 1867, has seven children, 
and lives in Rook's Creek; George W., twin brother 
of Lucetta, married March 16, 1886, has one child, 
and lives in Rook's Creek; Austella P. was born 
July 2, 1852, and died April 25, 18(>8: Timazone 
L., born April 7, 1854, married I. E. Thompson, 
\i:i> two children, and lives in Northern Kansas; 
John A. was born Feb. 29, 1856, married in Jan- 
uary, 1882, has three children, and lives in Rook's 
Creek, and James W., born Aug. 2, 1857, married 
Jan. 10, 1H1S3, has two children, and lives in Pon- 
tiac Township. Soon after Mr. Marks' second 
marriage he went to fanning on what is now the 
homestead, and continued until about 1858, when 
he became infected with the gold fever and went 
to California, where he remained nearly ten years, 
alternating between riches and poverty. On one 
occasion he was offered $25,000 for his interest in 
a claim, which he declined, and the next week it 
was not salable at any price. After various suc- 
cesses and reverses he returned no richer than he 
< 



went, excepting what his property in Illinois had 
increased in value during his absence. In the 
year 1836 Mr. Marks was elected Constable, the 
first in Livingston County, and in 1 840, as a special 
agent of the Government he took the census of the 
county. He voted the Whig and Republican tickets 
for half a. century. He was at one time a member 
of the First Presbyterian Church, with which his 
ancestors for 200 years were connected. 

The parents of Mr. Marks were Jacob and Re- 
becca (Chambers) Marks. The mother came from 
Ireland and was of Scotch descent; the father was 
a weaver by trade, and made trips to America on 
the vessel which his brother John commanded and 
of which he was mate, trading in the celebrated 
Irish linen. Two years before the Revolutionary 
War broke out he located a piece of land near 
Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., Va., but when the 
war began he returned to Ireland and remained 
there until peace was declared. Upon his return 
to this country he found that some one else owned 
his land under the new government, and he bought 
another tract, which lie farmed until, becoming dis- 
gusted with slavery, he sold out and moved to 
Fairfield County, Ohio. Here he discovered the 
woman who became his wife and the mother of 
our subject. The latter's wife, Sarah Hancock, 
was born on the 7th of August, 1817, in Erville, 
Muskingum Co., Ohio, to which State her parents, 
who were natives of Virginia, had removed in that 
year, the transfer being accomplished b\' putting 
their goods in large packs and loading them on 
horseback. Her great-grandparents came from En- 
gland at quite an early day, and she supposes that 
her grandparents were born in Virginia. Her 
maternal grandfather, Moses Allen, served in the 
Continental army as a soldier during the entire 
time of the Revolutionary War; he drew a pension 
from the Government until the day of his death, 
which occurred in Tennessee, when he was nearly 
one hundred years of age. Her great-grandmother, 
while a young woman, was kidnapped in England 
and brought to America, where she was sold for 
her passage. It was here that she met her future 
husband, who had also been kidnapped, and after 
working out his own time helped to work out hers. 

Mr. Marks' wife remained on the farm while he 



t 8<;s 

was in California, taking care of the children, one 
of whom was a babe in her arms when he left while 
the oldest was fourteen years. She had to take 
entire charge of the farm, do all the buying and 
selling, teach the children farm work, etc. During 
her husband's absence there came a great hurricane 
which wrought much damage to the property. His 
children are nearly all settled in life close to 
him, and his declining years are being spent amid 
scenes of comfort. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



two years, her death taking 



J"jOHN C'OE, one of the most genial and popu- 
j lar men of Reading Township, is the owner 
I of over 207 acres of land, the most of which 
' is under a high state of cultivation. The 
improvements which the passing traveler views 
with admiration are mainly the result of this gen- 
tleman's industry and enterprise, and he is con- 
stantly striving to bring about the best results after 
the most approved methods. His farm is a model 
one in every respect. The low land has been 
drained with 2,300 rods of tiling, and the buildings 
are in all respects a credit to the proprietor as well 
as an ornament to the township. We are pleased 
to present on an adjoining page of this AT.KIM a 
view of Mr. C'oe's residence. 

Our subject, like so many others who have largely 
contributed to the building up of Livingston County, 
was born in .Greene County, Pa., June 12, 1842, and 
is consequently in the prime of life and the midst of 
his usefulness. He is the son of most excellent and 
worthy parents, Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe, who 
were also natives of the Kej'stone State, and are 
mentioned in the sketch of Jared Fordj'ce, which 
will be found on another page in this work. Young 
Coe spent his childhood and youth after the manner 
of most farmers' sons, pursuing his studies in the 
winter season at the district school and in summer 
making himself useful in the corn and wheat field. 
I 'pon setting out in life for himself lie married a 
maiden of his own county, Miss Jemima Knight, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
about 18(55. The young people commenced house- 
keeping in Reading Township, and our subject oc- 
cupied himself at farming. This lady only sur- 



vived her marriage 
place in 1867. 

The second marriage of Mr. Coe took place in 
Reading Township in 1871. The present wife of 
our subject, who in her girlhood w:i- Miss Anna 
Keith, was born in Barry County, Mich.. July 11, 
1850, and is the daughter of Howard C. and Eliza- 
beth (Warren) Keith. Her father, a native of 
Winslow, Me., was born Nov. !>, 1807, and adopted 
the calling of an apiarist, in which he became an 
expert, and was the patentee of the "Keith Bee 
Hive," which was manufactured extensively in tin- 
East. He spent the greater part of his life in 
Maine, and died in Reading Township on the 15th 
of March, 1872. His wife Elizabeth was born in 
Waterville, Me., June 20, 1812. The record of 
their children is as follows: Sarah, their eldest 
daughter, was married to W. H. Douglas, of Liv- 
ingston County, this State, and they subsequently 
crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, where Mr. D. is 
now engaged in farming. Willard S. is farming in 
Amity Township, this county. His' first wife was 
Miss Jennie Russel, who died leaving one child, Jen- 
nie, who is now married ; he is a second time mar- 
ried and has five children. Mary M. is the wife of 
John Wince, and the mother of two children; her 
husband is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of 
Owego Township. Albert H. is engaged in the 
livery business at Hastings, Mich; Ellen died when 
four years of age, and Anna, the wife of our sub- 
ject, was the youngest of the family. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Coe settled 
at Cornell, and in 1874 took pos-es-ion of their 
present farm. Their union has resulted in the birth 
of six children, of whom two are deceased. Willie 
A. was born March 1, 187.">, and is at home with 
his parents: George Elmer was born Feb. 15, 187(1, 
and died October 28 following: Alvin W. wa> born 
Feb. 17, 1878; Blanche Ethel. Aug. 2'J, 1-s.su .-an 
infant daughter, born Aug. 16, 1*8:!. is deceased ; 
Ralph (i. was born Dec. 11, 1885. 

During the late Rebellion Mr. Coe enlisted in 
Company G, l>th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and fol- 
lo\ved the life of a soldier until his honorable dis- 
charge, in 1*<>5. His regiment was under the com- 
mand of (Jen. Kilpatrick. and he first met the enemy 
at the battle of Hanover, lie also participated in 









FARM RESIDENCE OF JOHN CO E , SEC. 28 .READ1NB TOWNSHIP 




FARM RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM R EE D , 5EC.5 ,LO N6 POINT TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



871 , ,1 



the engagements at Gettysburg; he was in the night 
attack at South Mountain, Md., where our force 
nf :!. i ii ii i captured 1,860 prisoners and destroyed .">00 
wagons, and Iluntsville, besides being present at 
Ilagerstown and Hoonesboro. He after the engage- 
ment at Boonesboro went in the hospital ten 
months. He is a strong Republican, politically, 
and has served his township as Assessor and Treas- 
urer, besides holding the office of School Trustee 
four terms. As one of the leading men of his 
township who has given his support to its educa- 
tional institutions, and everything tending to the 
financial and moral welfare of the people, he is re- 
garded with more than ordinary respect, and con- 
sidered an important factor in the buildirg up of 
its interests. 



c* JfclLLIAM 
\/:J// mid relia 
Wy ship, has 



1LLIAM REED, one of the steady-going 
reliable citizens of Long Point Town- 
has for the last five years been oper- 
ating on 120 acres of good land, which, although 
originally in fair 'Condition, he has improved by 
tile draining, and enclosed with neat and substan- 
tial fencing. The evidences of his thrift and sound 
common sense are exhibited on all sides, for he 
has built up a most comfortable homestead, not the 
least feature of which is an excellent orchard and 
plenty of small fruit besides. His buildings are 
neat and substantial, and the family residence is 
titled up with modern conveniences, tastefully fin- 
ished and furnished, and indicates the home of re- 
finement and intelligence. In this connection is 
shown a view of Mr. Reed's residence and surround- 
ings. Our subject is a very popular citizen, be- 
ing cheerful and genial in disposition, and having 
a due regard for the rights and the pleasures of 
those around him. 

The early home of our subject was among the 
hills of Clermont County, Ohio, where his birth 
took place July 1C, 1830. He is a son of Conrad 
and Catherine ( Weaver) Reed, natives respectively 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Conrad Reed was one 
of a family of seven children, his brothers and sis- 
ters being: Peter, John, Jacob, Martin, Elizabeth 
and Polly. The mother of our subject! also had six 
brothers and sisters, namely: Jacob, Mary, Daniel, 



Frederick, Nancy and Rebecca. Of these but one 
is living, her brother Frederick. The father of our 
subject departed this life in 1860. The mother is 
living at Streator, 111. 

William Reed spent his early years in Ohio, and 
came when a young man twenty-three years of age, 
to the Prairie State. He first engaged at farming, 
and was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth 
Andievvs. They became the parents of the follow- 
ing-named children: Lizzie Ann, who married 
William Wilkinson, of LaSalle County, and the}' 
removed to Kansas, where Mrs. W. died July 3, 
1882, leaving a family of four children, one of 
whom is now deceased: Florence, who married 
Smedley Wilkinson, and is living in Barton County, 
Kan.; they have six children; and George N., who 
was first married to Miss Thresher, of this county, 
now deceased. He subsequently married Miss 
Mary Alice Burkes, of Great Bend, Kan., and now 
resides at Portland, Ore. After the death of his 
first wife, our subject formed a second matrimonial 
alliance, with Mrs. M. J. (Marshall) Talbott. This 
lady was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July i), 
1840, and by her first marriage became the mother 
of one child. Her parents were Daniel and Han- 
nah (Smalley) Marshall, natives of Vermont and 
Pennsylvania respectively, and are both deceased. 

Mr. Reed has been no idler, either upon his farm 
or among his townsmen. He is a member in good 
standing of the Christian Church, and politically 
votes the straight Republican ticket. The temper- 
ance movement in this country enlisted his sym- 
pathies from the beginning, and he is one of the 
strongest advocates of Prohibition. He has always 
believed in the establishment and maintenance of 
schools, of which he has served as Director, and 
socially is a member of the Masonic; fraternity. 



IAL F. HAM LIN. The name of this gen- 
tleman is synonymous with honesty and re- 
liability. He has never made any great 
^) pretentious in life, simply placing his high- 
est ambition among those who have built up a 
good record as citizens, and who have secured the 
confidence of their t'ellowmen. Most of his life has 




872 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



*1 



been spent in the rural districts, where he imbibed 
with the pure country air those correct habits 
which have prolonged his years in health and in 
strength, and kept his mind clear and unclouded 
14x111 a firm basis. Most of his labors have been 
devoted to" farming and stock-raising, and he is now 
the owner of one of the finest estates in Odell 
Township, with his home located on section 1. 

Mr. Ilamlin first began life in Juniata Comity, 
Pa., Sept. 24, 182C, and was the third of eight chil- 
dren born to Thomas and Elizabeth (Kepner) Ham- 
lin, also natives of the Key.-tone State, where the 
father settled after his service in the War of 1812. 
The paternal grandparents were Thomas and Chris- 
tina (Shaffer) Ilamlin, natives of Pennsylvania, and 
his maternal grandparents, John and Mary (Fleigh- 
bnrger) Kepner. Both families were for many gen- 
erations reared in the country and familiar with 
farm life. Thomas Ilamlin was born in Junta ta 
County, Pa., Oct. 4, 1794, and remained there until 
after attaining his majority. He then migrated to 
Massillon, Stark Co., Ohio, making the journey 
overland in a lumber wagon, and being accompan- 
ied by his wife and three children, of whom our 
subject was a babe of six months. Thomas Ham- 
lin had intended establishing his permanent home 
in the Buckeye State, but was not satisfied with the 
outlook, and not long afterward returned to Penn- 
sylvania, locating in Huntingdon County. Thence 
lie removed to Blair County, and in 185;> to Illi- 
nois. 

The father of our subject upon coming to this 
State, located firvt in Livingston County, where he 
purchased a section of wild land of Alexander 
Campbell. He was better satisfied in this locality, 
and remained here the balance of his life,- improv- 
ing a good farm, and making for himself and his 
family a comfortable home, until his decease on the 
12th of August, 179. The wife of his youth had 
passed away more than fift\- ycar> before, but he 
never remarried. He was largely instrumental in 
building up the community, and in the establish- 
ment of its olliccs and laying out town-hips. He 
meddled little with political matters, but when 
called upon to support a candidate ivas particu- 
larly careful as to the character of the man whom 
lie assisted to place in ollice. Hi- entire life wa> 



marked by that prudence and discretion which are 
the most valued elements in the character of a man 
botli in private and public life. 

Under the influence of this healthy atmosphere, 
ilia! F. Ilamlin grew to manhood, in the meantime 
assisting his father in the development of the soil 
and the building up of the homestead. He remem- 
bers the time when he leveled his rifle at the deer 
roaming over the prairie which is now dotted with 
fine dwellings and bears all the evidences of civili- 
zation. He began learning the blacksmith trade 
when a youth of seventeen, but this not being con- 
genial to his tastes, he served only his apprentice- 
ship, and then abandoned it. His education was 
conducted in the common schools, and it fell to his 
lot to remain with his parents and come into pos-es- 
sion of the homestead. The place where he now 
resides has thus been his abiding-place since he 
landed in Illinois, and he came into posse.ssion of it 
after the death of his father. His three brothers 
before this had each received a quarter of the orig- 
inal tract. 

During the Rebellion Mr. Hainlin wa> draft eel 
for the Union service, but being the only support 
of his aged father, he furnished a substitute. He 
was married, April 18, 1867, to Miss Laura V. 
Kenne}-, a native of Texas, Armstrong Co., Pa., 
where she was born Jan. 1C, 1850. Her parents, 
Samuel W. and Mariam V. (Fox) Kenney, were 
also natives of Pennsylvania, where her father for 
many years followed the profession of a teacher, 
but later engaged in general merchandising'. In 
18;">5 he disposed of his interests in the Keystone 
State, and removed to Pulaski. Tenn., where he 
again engaged in trade, and remained until after 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. In 18G2 a de- 
tachment of Morgan's men raided the town, and 
destroyed his store with 13,000 worth of cotton. 
Mr. Kenney fled in order to save his life, and for 
three months remained in the woods secreted from 
the rebel-. In the meantime the town was captured 
by the Union soldiers, and under their protection 
lie returned North with his family, and leaving 
them with his wife's people at Red Bank, Pa., re- 
turned to Tennessee and became a scout for Gens. 
Rosccrans and Negly. lie was Mihscqucntry cap- 
tured by a detachment of (Jen. Bragg's command, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ST.-; 



; 



and -entenced to death as a spy. All efforts to 
save him were unavailing, and in January, 1863, he 
wa- executed at Tullahoma, Tenn. His family 
never knew the exact date of his death, and only 
of late years learned the place of his burial, which 
was one and ;\ half miles north of the city of Tul- 
lahoma. He had sold his property in that State, and 
at his death his money, papers and watch, were left in 
the hands of Capt. Peadon, of Nashville, but were 
never returned to his family. A disposition to de- 
stroy all evidences of his identity was manifested 
from the first, and had it not been for Rev. G. W. 
Western, who performed the last sad rites, no trace 
of him would ever have been obtained. 

Mrs. Kenney, after the disappearance of her bus- | 
band, made her home for a time in New Bethle- I 
hem, Pa., and then came West with her family; she 
is now a resident of the city of Dwight. this county. 
Of her marriage with Mr. K. there were born eight 
children, of whom only four are living, namely: 
Laura V., Annie, John M. and A. Washington. 
Those deceased were, Samuel Harvey, Jennie, Wal- 
ter and Mima T. Harvey was accidentally killed 
at Chicago, Sept. 19, 1887, being crushed between 
cars while in the discharge of his duties as an engi- 
neer. He served as a valiant soldier in the late 
war, and when his first term of enlistment was out, 
re-enlisted and was in the Union service until the 
close of the struggle. Subsequently he identified 
himself with the G. A. R., and at the time of his 
death was a member of Dwight Post No. 626. He 
wa> remarkably upright in his life, and a member 
of the Presbyterian Church at Dwight, where his 
remains were taken for burial. He was also a mem- 
ber of Peoria Consistory, and Captain of Company 
E. 10th l.atallion, I. N. G., at Dwight. He left a 
widow and two children Charles H. and Annie M. 
Annie Kenney married Charles C. Arlington, an 
artist of Chicago, and she is also engaged in the 
same profession. John M. married Miss Alice 
Neadham, and is a resident of Chicago, where he is 
engaged as a contractor and builder: they have 
four children Alice M., John William, Nettie and 
Annie L. Washington married Miss Kate Gra- 
ham, of Odell, ami is conducting a sale stable in 
Chicago: their only child, Virgil, died in infancy. 
Mi. and Mrs. Ilainlin commenced life toirclher 



on the old homestead which the father of our sub- 
ject had built up, and have become the parents of 
one child, Arthur V., now a young man, and en- 
gaged as a carpenter. He is finely educated, and 
has inherited the same industrious and reliable 
traits which characterize his father. Mr. Hamlin, 
in 1887, retired from active labor, and is wisely- 
enjoying the fruits of his early industry. Other- 
wise than voting the straight Democratic ticket, he 
takes little part in politics, but has represented his 
township in the County Board of Supervisors and 
has officiated as Collector and School Director. 
Mrs. H. is strongly Republican in sentiment. 

Mariam V. (Fox) Kenney, the mother of Mrs. 
Hamlin, was born in Pine Creek Township, Arm- 
strong Co., Pa., April 17, 1828, and is the daugh- 
ter of John and Anna (Barclay) Fox, natives of 
the same county. Mr. Fox was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and spent his entire life in his native county, 
his decease occurring in 18f>5. He dropped dead 
of heart decease as his daughter was bidding him 
good-bye, when starting to the South with her hus- 
band. 



ENRY NETIIERTON, one of the mostskill- 
ful and successful stock-raisers of German- 
ville Township, occupies a good farm on 
section 1 1 , of which he took possession in 
the spring of 1869. He is a gentleman in the prime 
of life, blessed with muscular strength, the result of 
sensible living and correct habits, and with his 
family presents a picture of blooming health, whom 
the doctor passes by as a very poor patron. 

Our subject, like many of the other early residents 
of Livingston County, was born on the other side 
of the Atlantic, in Cornwall County, England, Feb. 
12, 1838. He is the son of Richard and Catherine 
(Stevens) Netherton, w-ho were also of English 
birth and parentage, and who crossed the water 
about 1S48-49, locating first in Victoria, Province 
of Ontario, Canada, where they engaged in farm 
pursuits. The father, however, only lived until 
about 18;").'!. and our subject, a youth of fifteen 
3'ears, assisted hi- mother in carrying on the farm. 
She survived her husband only about twelve years, 
her death taking place in 18(15. The household in- < 







i , 874 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



eluded five children besides Henry, namely : Will- 
iam, Mary, Ann, Phillipi, and one who died in in- 
fancy. Ann is now deceased, and the other three 
are residents of Canada. 

Our subject received a common-school education, 
became familiar with farm pursuits, and continued 
in the Dominion until 1866. Upon coming to this 
State he located first in Grundy County, whence he 
afterward removed to Kendall County, and from 
there to Livingston. Here he first took up a tract 
of uncultivated land in Germanville Township, 
which he improved and added to, so that he is now 
the owner of 320 acres which each year is growing 
more valuable. He received $600 from his father's 
estate, but the balance of his property has been the 
result of his own industry. His farm stock includes 
horses, cattle and hogs, and he is able to exhibit 
some of the best specimens of these that are to be 
seen in the southeastern part of Livingston County. 

The wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss 
Sarah E. Walley, and they began life together in 
February, 1869, shortly before coming to German- 
ville Township. Mrs. N. was born in Grundy 
County, this State, Oct. 11, 1846, and is the daugh- 
ter of Zachariah and Catherine (Cryder) Walley, 
natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively. Of 
her union with our subject there are the following- 
children: Catherine E., William, Richard, Samuel, 
Arthur and Etta. Mr. N. is thoroughly imbued 
with Republican principles, and although meddling 
very little with politics, attends the general elections 
and to the best of his ability casts his influence in 
support of his convictions. 




OVEJOY HUNT is not only one of the lead- 
'"o fanners and stock-raisers of Reading 
Township, but he is an active man in the 
affairs of the county and township. His farm of 
100 acres is located on section 20, and contains 
many valuable improvements. Mr. Hunt is a 
native of Ohio, where he vvas born in Delaware, 
now Morrow County, on the 10th of December, 
1837. 

Our subject is the son of William Fleet and Mary 
L. (Barn>) Hunt, who were natives of New Jersey 

4* 



and Vermont respectively; the former was born in 
1804, and the latter in 1809. The father was the 
son of Stephen Hunt, who was born in 170 I, and 
died in 1852, in Ohio. The father was a fanner by 
occupation, and removed to the State of Ohio when 
a young man, where he first met the lady whom he 
afterward married; he died in Kansas in 1N75. His 
widow is now living in Tustin City, Los Angeles 
Co., Cal.. and is a hale and hearty old lady seventy- 
eight years of age. 

Lovejoy Hunt remained at home with his parents 
until the 22d of April, 1861, when he enlisted in 
Company D. 20th Illinois Infantry, for a term of 
three months, and after being in cainp one week, 
the company enlisted for three years, and served 
three years and nearly three months. From the 
13th to the 16th of February, 1862, he was engaged 
in the operations about and the battle of Ft. Don- 
elson, Tcnn. On the 6th and 7th of April, with 
McClernand's division, he engaged in the battle 
of Shiloh, Miss., the position of his regiment being 
in the advance of the right wing of the army. On 
the 1st of September, 1862, he was with the regi- 
ment which, in connection with the 30th Illinois 
Infantry, was engaged at Briton's Lane. On the 
1st of May, 1863, the morning after Grant threw 
his army across the Mississippi River below Vicks- 
burg, he was engaged in the battle of Port Gibson, 
and also at Raymond a few days later. He was 
also in the battle of Jackson, Miss., May 14, and 
on the l;">th, with his regiment, camped in the city. 
On the 16th he was in the battle of Champion Hills, 
where he was seriously wounded by a ball cutting 
off the leaders of the right foot, from which he has 
always been lame, and for which he now receives 
a pension of $6 per month. Upon leaving the 
army he returned to his home in this township, 
and remained with his parents until his marriage. 

On the 1st of April, 1866, Mr. Hunt was mar- 
ried to Lydia Rien, who was born on the 13th of 
.January, 1844. She is the daughter of Nathan 
and Martha (Fallows) Rien. who became the par- 
ents of ten children John F., Nancy Ellen, Will- 
iam, Eli II., Martha Elizabeth, Lydia, Mary Jane, 
Ku-aima, David Carter, and one born and died 
Dec. 30, 1836, unnamed. John F., born Jan. 28, 
1831, married Eli/.a belli McEllfresh, by whom he had 



I 




RESIDENCE OF ALEX. S. PIPER. SEC 31. AMITY TOWNS HI P. 




RESIDENCE OF LOVEJOY HUNT. SEC. 20. READING TOWNSHIP. 



t. 

>" 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



877 



eight children, six of whom died; Elizabeth Rien 
die.d in 1880, and John F. subsequently married 
Hannah Curtiss; they had two children, one of 
whom is dead. John F. was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and met his death in July. 1880, by a fall 
from ,-i ladder while picking apples. Nancy E. was 
born May 10, 1835, was married, and died Dec. 
1-2,1851; William was born Nov. 17, 18:53, and 
died June 9, 183."); his death was caused by being- 
knocked off the wharf into the Ohio River by a 
dog. Eli H. was horn June 22, 1840, and died 
Oct. 30, 1840 : Martha E. was born Jan. 1, 1842, mar- 
ried James Smith, a farmer by occupation, has had 
eleven children, eight of whom are living, and re- 
sides in Edwards County; Mary J. was born Sept. 
24, 1838, and died Aug. 30, 1839; Rosanna was 
born Dec. 9, 1846, and died Nov. 25, 1847; David 
C. was^born Aug. 11, 1848, and died in the army 
on the 1st of April, 1865, while a member of the 
179th Ohio Infantry. 

To the parents of our subject were born eight 
children Albina Jane, Fidelia Ann, Lovejoy, Cor- 
nelia Eliza, Lenora Marah, AVilliam L. G., Myron 
Holly and Virgil Fleet. Albina J. was born in 
September, 1833, married William McKinney, a 
farmer of Reading Township, and they have a 
family of three children; Fidelia A. was born July 
10, 1836, married Seymour Chambers, a lumber 
manufacturer, has eight children, and resides in 
Ohio; Cornelia E. was born April 18, 1839, mar- 
ried George Olmstead, a lumber merchant, had 
two children, and resides in Kansas City ; Lenora 
M. married Edbert Pratt, a farmer, has four chil- 
dren, and resides in Ohio; William L. G. was born 
in 1844, and died in Annapolis (Md.) Hospital, on i 
the 10th of August, 1863; he was a member of the 
53d Illinois Infantry, and was starved to death in 
Libby Prison. Myron II. married Sarah Wamsley, 
has three children, and lives in Sumner County, 
Kan.; Virgil Fleet was born in 1851, and is a min- 
ister of the Second Ad ventist Church, in California ; j 
he was married to Alice Jane Smith, and they have 
had four children, four of whom are living. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy Hunt the following- 
named children have been born: Jessie Fremont, 
Duran, Milton, David Garrison and George Wash- 
ington. Jessie Fremont was born Sept. 17, 1807, I 



and is now visiting at the home of an uncle in Cal- 
ifornia; Dnran was born March C, 1869; Milton 
was born March .'!, 1871, and died Sept. 18, 1875; 
David G. was born June 16, 1876, and George 
Washington, Aug. 11, 1879. Another daughter 
was born Jan. 19, 1884, and died at the age of five 
days. 

Mr. Hunt cultivates a farm of 100 acres on sec- 
tion 20, on which he has made good and substan- 
tial improvements. He takes quite an interest in 
all matters pertaining to agriculture and stock- 
raising, and is an active member of the board con- 
trolling the Union Fair at AVenona. He is an active 
member of Streator Post of the G. A. R., and in 
political matters goes with the Republican party. 
He lias been elected one term as Township Col- 
lector, and has also held the office of School Di- 
rector nine years. Mrs. Hunt is an active member 
of the Christian Church, in which she takes much 
interest. The family, the children as well as the 
parents, are deservedly popular in the neighbor- 
hood in which they reside. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
we present in the pictorial department of this 
Ai.r.iM a view of Mr. Hunt's residence and its sur- 
roundings. 




LEXANDER S. PIPER, one of the pro- 
gressive and liberal-minded citizens of 
Amity Township, located on section 31, is 
a native of Penns3'lvania, where he was 
born on the 10th of July, 1835. lie is the son of 
John and Ann ((^uigley) Piper, and the grandson 
of Samuel and Mary (Elder) Piper, while his ma- 
terual grandparents were Michael and Mary ijuig- 
ley. John Piper, the father, was a native of 
Pennsylvania, as was also the mother. lie was a 
Whig in early days and afterward a Republican, 
and was a leading member of the Presbyterian 
Church. His deatli occurred from heart disease in 
1866, and that of his wife in the month of Decem- 
ber, 1837, when the subject of this sketch was but 
two years of age. 

In 1858 our subject removed from Pennsylvania 
to Wood ford County, III., and thence to Livingston 
County in 1867. Alexander S. Piper was married 



I 



r^ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I 



to Miss Delency Rice, on the 28th of December, 
1866, in Woodford County, 111., by Rev. Isaac 
Cornelison, of the Presbyterian Church. She was 
the daughter of Elisha and Rebecca Rice, who were 
natives of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Piper 
have been born five children, three of whom are 
living Rebecca Ann, Ada Laura and Charles 
Klisha. Rebecca, the eldest child, was born in 
18G7, and is now attending the High School at Pon- 
tiac: Ada L. was born on the 8th of February, 
18G9, and is a pupil in the common schools, assist- 
ing her in other also in the household work; Charles 
E. was born on the 23d of July, 1871. 

The uncles and aunts of the subject of this sketch 
were named as follows: James Piper, Robert, Samuel 
and Peggy. James P. died when quite young; Robert 
died when about forty years of age ; Samuel died 
of old age;' Peggy died at the age of seventy, and 
another sister died of lung trouble. The brothers 
and sisters of Mr. Piper were named as follows: 
Jane Isabel, Samuel Elder, Sarah Ann and Nathaniel. 
Jane I. died of bronchitis when about twenty- two 
years of age ; Samuel E. is a farmer by occupation, 
lives in Pennsylvania, and has a family; Sarah A. 
married, and died of consumption; Nathaniel lives 
in Kansas, and is employed in farming and stock- 
raising. The In-other and sisters of the wife of 
Alexander S. Piper are named as follows: Helen 
Melissa, William and Rosanna Rebecca. Helen M. 
is married to George Item ley, a farmer, and they 
live in Marshall County ; William is unmarried and 
is farming in Woodford County: Rosanna It. lives 
in Woodford County, where her father settled 
when he first came to this State: Mrs. Piper is the 
youngest of the family. 

Mr. Piper was in the ranks of the Union army 
for a term of three years and two months, as a 
member of Company I. llth Illinois Infantry, and 
participated in numerous skirmishes and many of 
the important battles of the war. The first en- 
gagement he was in was at Helmont. Mo., which 
WMS the beginning of Gen. Grant's magnificent 
career. At Ft. Donelson he received a gunshot 
wound in the left knee, and at the >ame time was 
hit by a slug, which caused such a serious wound 
that lie was sent to the hospital and then furloughed 
home for sixty day.- that he might recover. At 



the expiration of his furlough he returned to his 
regiment just after the battle of Shiloh, and partici- 
pated in the engagements at Jackson, Tenn., and 
La Grange and Holly Springs. Miss., in all of which 
engagements the Union side was successful. lie 
also took part in the battle of the Big Black in the 
rear of Vicksburg, and in the siege of Vicksburg 
until the surrender of the Confederates on the 4th 
of July, 186;!. 

Mr. Piper and family are now pleasantly located 
on their fine farm of 160 acres, where, besides farm- 
ing he gives large attention to the raising of stock, 
and not withstanding the dry summers of the past 
few years has been quite successful. He is a strong 
Republican in politics and an ardent member of 
the Methodist Church. As a citizen lie is liberal 
and progressive, and an earnest friend of all educa- 
tional enterprises. 

On an accompanying page of this AI.IUM may be 
found a view of Mr. Piper's residence with its sur- 
roundings. 




lOONER T. GUNDERSON is a farmer and 
stock-raiser, residing since Nov. 7, 18(17, on 
section 26, Broughton Township, and is the 
son of Thomas and Ellen (Osman) G undersoil. He 
was born in Norway, April 10, 183;!, and was reared 
on a farm, receiving a common-school education. 
At the age of fourteen he came with his father's 
family, which included five children, to America, 
lauding in New York in June, 1847, after an ocean 
voyage of six weeks, and reaching Chicago on the 
8th of July. They located in LaSnlle County, III., 
where the father bought a farm, making a very 
small first payment as his means were limited. 

Our subject remained at home assisting his father 
until he was about twenty-five years old, when he 
went to Colorado, to the part called Big Timbers, 
near Pike's Peak. The following December he 
returned to Illinois, when lie began farming fur him- 
self on rented ground. By industry and economy 
he accumulated a little means, and was able to buy 
some ,-tock and teams, and finally eighty acre? of 
land where his home now is. -Sept. :i, 1 86.~>, lie wa> 
united in marriage with .Mi Juliette Mariott. 



t. 

If 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



879 



I 



daughter of John R. and Margaret (Davis) Mari- 
ott, and born in Cumberland County, N. J., Aug. 
31', 183!), of which county her parents were natives. 
Her father was of Welsh and Irish, and her mother 
of English descent. The father of our subject was 
born Dec. 6, 1800, and is now in his eighty -second 
year, living in LaSalle County, 111., retired from 
active pursuits. He was three times married. By 
the first marriage there were five children, as fol- 
lows: Ellen, Julia, Belinda, Isabella and George. 
Ellen married first A. Osborn, by whom she had 
two children; her second marriage was to David 
E. Davis, of which union there were no children. 
She is now a widow, living in LaSalle Count}', 111. 
Julia married Osmand Thomasson, lives in Leb- 
anon, Mo., and has five children ; Belinda married 
Lewis Jones, lives in LaSalle County, 111., and has 
four children; Isabella became ths wife of Ole 
Keikhus, resides in LaSalle County, and has six 
children. By the second marriage our subject's 
father had two children Edward T. and Amelia. 
Edward T. lives in LaSalle County, 111.; Amelia 
married Oliver Ellifson, who resides in Wright 
County, Iowa, and has two children. Our sub- 
ject's mother was born in 1 804, and died in La- 
Salle County, June 21, 1850. 

The wife of our subject is the youngest in a 
family of five children ; the record of the others is 
ns follows: Susan Ann was born Feb. 1, 1825, mar- 
ried John Heritage, lives in DeKalb County, 111., 
and has five children ; Anna Maria was born Sept. .'50, 
1831, married Charles William Yonggren, lives at 
Amboy, Lee Co., 111., and has three children : Jona- 
than was burn Nov. 30, 1833, and lives at Augusta, 
Hancock Co., Ill; he was a soldier in the 105th 
Illinois Infantry, Company E, beginning as First 
Sergeant, but was afterward promoted to First 
Lieutenant, and filled for about two years the place 
of the Captain who had been wounded. He has two 
children. Margaret was born Nov. 14, 1836, and 
died in January, 1881. 

The father of Mrs. ('.. was born Nov. 2i), 1800, 
at Shiloh, N. J., and came to Illinois in 1850. set- 
tling at Shabbona Grove, DeKalb County, and liv- 
ing for the first eighteen months in a double log 
house, which was built expressly for the great In- 
dian chief Slmlihoim, who was then living, and oc- 



casionally paid a visit to his old hunting-ground. 
It was burnt about 1876. He located about one 
and one-half miles from there, and spent the 
remainder of his life, dying March 20, 1885. 
Her mother was born Sept. 24, 1797, and died 
Jan. 9, 1875. 

Our subject has four children: Elnian E.. who 
was born May 16, 1867; Earle Lloyd, Aug. 25, 
1869; Margaret R., May 4, 1873; and Annie L., 
Aug. 8, 1875. In politics he is a Republican, hav- 
ing cast his first vote for J. C. Fremont. Mrs. G. 
is a member of the Christian Church. They arc 
among the leading citizens of the township, and 
have made all they possess by hard work, close 
economy and self-denial. 



EARING stands prominent among the 
| substantial farmers and stock-raisers of 
Broughton Township, where he lias a fine 
body of land on section 27, which comprises 
320 acres, and is under a good state of cultivation. 
Like most of his neighbors around him, he com- 
menced in life a poor man, and has the satisfaction 
of knowing that he is indebted to nothing but his 
own energy and perseverance for his present pos- 
sessions and standing in the community, He is a 
liberal-minded citizen, an encourager of all enter- 
prises tending to the general welfare of the people, 
and is accordingly held in high regard by all who 
know him. 

Our subject is a native of the Empire State, 
where he was born, in Rensselaer County, Oct. 14, 
1832. His parents were also natives of New York 
State, and to them were born five children, of whom 
four survive Samuel, Stephen, Sarah A. and our 
subject, all except the latter residents of their na- 
tive State, and living not far from the home of their 
childhood. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
county, receiving a limited education and making 
himself useful around the homestead. He was 
married, when twenty-four years of age, to Miss 
Catherine Lattimer, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride in Rensselaer County, in De- 
cember, 1<S5(). They became the parents of five 



, , 8 



880 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 



children : Frank .1. ; Annie, who is now deceased ; 
George Lewis, Melbern W. and Leslie. Mr. Ear- 
ing came to Illinois with his family in 1863, first 
taking up his residence in LaSalle County, and three 
years locating on a farm in Broughton Township. 
Thence he removed to his present homestead in 
1881. 

Mr. Baring's children have grown up to be re- 
spected members of society, and most of them re- 
side in this count} 1 . Remembering his own early 
struggles and difficulties, he gave to them all the 
advantages necessary for their well-being, and they 
have happily escaped the anxieties and arduous toil 
to which their parents were subjected in earlier 
years. Mr. Earing need now no longer labor as he 
did in years gone by, having the prospect of a com- 
petence by which he may, in his declining 3'ears, 
live surrounded with all life's comforts and relieved 
from its cares. 

AMES CLOSE, one of the oldest settlers of 
his neighborhood, residing on section 30 
Broughton Township, is a native of York- 
shire, England, where he was born Aug. 22, 
1820. He is the son of William and Barbara 
Close, both natives of England, and was reared to 
years of manhood in that country. 

In 1842, not satisfied with his prospects at home, 
Mr. Close determined to tr}' his fortunes in the 
New World, and embarking at Liverpool on a sail- 
ing-vessel called the " Olive Branch," after an ocean 
voyage of eighteen days, landed in New York City. 
Thence he went to Ontario, Canada, and located 
near what is now known as the town of Brampton, 
where he remained some two years, and then re- 
moved to what was then called the (Jneen's Bush, 
north of Guelph, Ontario. He resided there until 
18(34, when he immigrated to Illinois, locating in 
Boone County, where lie remained until 1866, and 
then came to Livingston County and settled on the 
farm where he now lives. 

While residing in Canada Mi-. Close was instru- 
mental in having the rest of the family come to 
America. They settled in Canada, where they con- 
tinue lo reside, and are all doing well. Sept. '!, 



1844, Mr. Close was united in marriage, in Canada, 
with Miss Jane Bentley, a native of Yorkshire, En- 
gland. Of this union there were born sixteen chil- 
dren, of whom eleven still survive: Robert, of 
Broughton Township; Mary, the wife of S. A. Mc- 
Feely, of Streator, 111.; .lames, of Louisiana: Jo- 
seph, of Jnlesburg, Col.; Martha, the wife of 
Joseph Shaw, of Kankakee, 111.; Sarah J., Mrs. 
George Weatherhead, of Chicago; Anna, the wife 
of Peter J. Gerhart, of Julesburg, Col.; William, of 
the same place, and John, Lillian and Hattie S., at 
home. The names of the deceased children were 
Maria, Wilhelmina, Frank, and two who died in 
infancy, unnamed. The mother of these children 
died Sept. 4, 1887, leaving behind her a circle of 
sorrowing loved ones. Her loss was not alone 
mourned by her family, but by her neighbors and 
many friends, whose respect and affection had been 
gained by her exemplary life. 

W hen our subject settled on his present farm it 
was a piece of raw prairie land, and he broke the 
first sod that was turned in that neighborhood. 
The surrounding country was wild and unsettled, 
and his only neighbors were the family of Mr. 
Johnson Sarvis, who resided on section 31. He 
had fo undergo the usual inconveniences and hard- 
ships incident to pioneer life, having for several 
years to go to Dwight, 111., some fourteen miles dis- 
tant, for all the necessaries of life, and to transport 
the products of his farm thither over unimproved 
and often well-nigh impassable roads. The advent 
of the Illinois Central Railroad, in later years, was 
hailed by the settlers with the utmost satisfaction. 
Mr. Close now owns eighty acres of good land, 
which is well provided with agricultural machinery, 
live stock and farm buildings. He has given his 
children a fair education, and a much better start 
in life than he himself had. Two of his daughters 
were engaged as teachers in the public schools. He 
is eminently a self-made man, having accumulated 
the very considerable property which he now has 
by his own unaided efforts. 

In politics Mr. Close is a Republican, having cast 
his lir-t Presidential vote for Gen. Grant. He is a 
member of the Methodist Kpiscopal Church, in 
which he has long scncd as Steward, and of which 
his departed wife was also an earnest member. As 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



881 



a citizen his reputation is without reproach, and lie 
is held in the highest esteem in the community in 
which he lives. Mr. Close is now, in his declining 
years, enjoying the well-earned fruits of a life of 
activity. His father and mother, three brothers 
and three sisters, still reside in Canada, he being the 
only one of the family to come, to the States. 




ENRY CANHAM owns a snug farm of 
eighty acres on section 23, in Bronghton 
Township, upon which he has labored since 
the spring of 1803. His efforts have been 
worthily rewarded, as he is in possession of a com- 
fortable home and realizes each year an income in 
keeping with his needs and the comfort of his fam- 
ily. He has passed his threescore and ten years, 
and has built up t'or himself a good record as an 
honest man, enjoying the warm regard of his friends 
and neighbors. The homestead is provided with 
suitable buildings and our subject, since 1803, has 
been considerably interested in stock-raising, deal- 
ing mostly in cattle and hogs. 

Mr. Canhain was born on the other side of the 
Atlantic, in the county of Norfolk, England, the 
shores of which are washed by the waters of the 
North Sea. In this county there are probably more 
railroads than in any other stretch of territory of 
its size in England. The birth of our subject took 
place on the 20th of March, 1820, at the modest 
home of his parents, Thomas and Jane (Hewitt) 
Canhain, where he was reared to manhood and 
became intimately acquainted with hard work and 
its attendant cares. Upon leaving the parental 
roof he engaged as a farm laborer, and continued in 
the employ of one man for a period of fourteen 
years. In the meantime he was married, Aug. 0, 
18;")0, to Miss Mary Ann Daniels, a lady of his own 
county, born and reared not far from the child- 
hood home of her husband. Her birth took place 
Oct. 2, 1827, and her parents were George and 
Harriet (Cousins) Daniels, natives of the same 
county and of pure English stock. 

Mrs. Canhain as a child was exceedingly bright 
and observant, but being the daughter of parents by 



no means wealthy, she was deprived of the oppor- 
tunity for education to the extent which she de- 
sired. She, like her husband, made herself useful 
at an early age by working out, and each day after 
her duty to her employer ended, would improve her 
leisure hours in study. In this manner she gained 
a fair amount of knowledge in the common branches, 
and was particularly expert as an accountant, being 
gifted by nature as a mathematician, and to this 
day, although not having been required to exer- 
cise the talent very much of late years, can keep 
accounts better than most ladies of her age. 

Mr. and Mrs. Canhain remained in England six 
years after their marriage and became the parents 
of three children. After their arrival in this conn- 
try, seven more were added to the household circle, 
one born in Cook County, this State, and six in 
Livingston County. The record of their family is 
as follows: The eldest son, William, was born July 
0, 1851, and died on the 2d of December follow- 
lowinff; Mary Ann was born Jan. 10, 1853, mar- 
ried Robert Drew, March 9, 1870, and died at her 
home in Streator, 111., on the 28th of June, 1879, 
leaving four children; Joshua was born April 3, 
1855, and died Aug. 3, 1850; Philetus George was 
born June 17, 1857, and married Miss Emma 
Crouch, March 0, 1 883, and is carrying on farming 
in Broughtou Township; they have no children. 
John Franklin was born July 29, 1857, and is a 
resident of Macon County, Mo. ; Sarah Helen was 
born Sept. 10, 1801, and on the 2d of October, 
1882, became the wife of Albeit Iluntly, of Brougli- 
ton;they have three children. Harriet Maria was 
born Jan. 15, 1804, and is the wife of Lawrence 
lintan, who is farming in Seward County, Neb. ; 
they have three children. Henry Elijah was born 
April 18, 1800, and died in July, 1807; Nelson 
Marion, born Nov. 8, 1808, and Frederick James, 
March 27, 1871, remain at home with their parents. 

Mr. Canhain immigrated to the United States 
with his own family and that of his father, in the 
summer of 1850, and landed in Cook County, this 
State, on the 21st of July. He remained there en- 
gaged principally in farming until 1801, when he 
came to Ford County, where he operated on rented 
land about two years and then purchased his pres- 
ent property. Upon this he has effected great im- 




_^ 



882 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



provements. a- the hind, which was but little re- 
moved from its primitive condition, has now been 
brought under a good state of cultivation. In 1877 
he invested some of his span- capital in another 
eighty acres, which had been the property of bis 
father and which lies on section 14, so that he now 
has a quarter section of hind in two different 
bodies, and all highly productive. 

The family of our subject and his estimable lady 
includes two orphaned grandchildren : Otho Henry, 
who was born Nov. 29, 1H70, and George William, 
Aug. '.), 1872. To these little ones Mrs. Canhani 
performs a mother's part, and is a lady who among 
her neighbors bears the reputation of being exceed- 
ingly kind-hearted and well worthy of their confi- 
dence and esteem. Mr. Canham votes the Repub- 
lican ticket, and has taken a warm interest in the 
temperance movement, being strictly prohibitory 
in his own habits, neither himself nor children using 
tobacco or ardent spirits in any form. 




i 



E LESLIE E. KEELEY COMPANY, of 

Dwight, is one of the industrial institutions 
<i' now known all over the civilized globe on 
account of the marvelous work it is doing in the 
cure of DurxKKxxKss and the OI-ITM HABIT. The 
agent used is the DOIHJ.K CIII.OIMDK of GOLD, a 
remedy that has laid in abeyance since nearly the 
daj's of the great Paracelsus, who first gave it to 
the world, till Dr. Leslie E. Keeley revived it for 
its present purpose, and gave it to the public in 
May, 1880. 

For several years previous Dr. Keeley had con- 
ducted an extensive medical and surgical practice, 
during which period he devoted much time and 
spent largely of his worldly possessions in experi- 
menting for the successful treatment of these social 
diseases, and for a just recognition of his discovery. 
This enterprise at its inception was conducted in a 
little 7x!) office on West street, which included the 
laboratory and shipping department. To-day the 
business occupies three buildings besides a ware- 
house, and keeps in constant employment, besides 
the members of the company, a large force of type- 
writer-- in the conduct of its extensive correspond- 



ence. To-day these remedies are being shipped 
to almost every portion of the Christianized globe, 
wherever Liquor and Opium arc used, and as a 
result this company exhibits more testimonials 
from victims of both habits saved for the same 
period of existence than all the specialists, sanitar- 
iums, physicians in general practice, and temper- 
ance leagues combined. Dr. Keeley has no sani- 
tarium at Dwight, preferring to treat a limited 
number of patients at private houses, and has all he 
can attend to. The most extreme cases are cured 
in from ten to twenty days, and so easily and com- 
fortably that they hardly know they arc under 
treatment. 

The Doctor's cure for Drunkenness is simpry a 
marvel. Patients come to him saturated with an 
alcoholic debauch of thirty years, and in from 
thirty-six to forty-eight hours turn their backs ni>on 
liquor forever. We had the opportunity of inter- 
viewing many recovered patients in Dwight while 
there gathering material for this sketch, and if the 
half told is true first, of the wonderful cures; and 
second, of the rapidity with which they are effected 
then truly is Dr. Keeley a benefactor of the 
human race. The increasing demand for these 
remedies assumed such proportions that in April, 
1886, the entire business was incorporated in the 
name of The Leslie E. Keeley Company, under the 
general laws of the State, with a capital stock of 
125,000. 

Dr. Leslie E. Keeley, the President and head of 
the company, is a regular graduate of Rush Medi- 
cal College, Chicago, of 1862-63. He entered the 
United States Army as a medical cadet, was pro- 
moted surgeon and served until the close of the 
war. He has been a resident of Dwight since 
1867, and for a period of seventeen years surgeon 
of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Co. His pub- 
lished works include ''Opium, Its Use, Abuse and 
Cure;" "A Treatise on the Liquor Habit:" "The 
Morphine User, or from Bondage to Freedom;" 
'Neurasthenia, or Nerve Exhaustion;" "A Treatise 
oh the Opium Habit;" and "Opium Smoking Does 
it Shorten Life." These subjects are all treated with 
a strength of argument and clearness of precept ion 
that cannot fail to convince the most incredulous. 
Years of careful stud}' and experience have given 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



888 



f 



s 



the author an excellent field from which to harvest 
valualile knowledge, and so well has he improved 
the opportunity that even among the medical pro- 
fession he is a recognized authority on these ques- 
tions. 

Mr. Curtis J. Judd, Secretary and Treasurer of 
the company, was a three years' member of the 
120th Illinois Infantry, entering as a private in 
Company B, in August, 1862. He was promoted 
at the close of his first year's service to Sergeant 
Major of the regiment, and served until the close of 
the war. He was afterward a successful merchant 
for seven years at D wight, in partnership with David 
McWilliams. His connection with this enterprise 
dates from its earliest conception, and through his 
rare skill, careful application and perseverance, the 
office illustrates a marvel of accuracy in the neces- 
sary details of its management. 

Mr. John R. Oughton, another member of the 
firm, formerly with the well-known drug house of 
Lord, Stoutenburg & Co., Chicago, is a regular 
graduated pharmacist, and an accomplished chemist 
of rare experience. He has exclusive charge of the 
laboratory, which is of ample proportions, and re- 
markably well equipped for the compounding and 
manufacture of these remedies. 

Every department of this valuable industry is 
under a perfect system, and every detail often the 
outgrowth of necessity seems to have had the 
most careful attention from the beginning. All 
shipments are made by express in pairs of two bot- 
tles, each securely packed in a plain case. The rem- 
edies are put up in an especially designed bottle, 
regularly patented in the United States Patent 
Office. It is peculiar in shape and can be readily 
distinguished from any other bottle in the market. 
It has only three sides, the back and right hand 
side being at right angles, while the other side de- 
scribes the arc of several circles. The portion aris- 
ing from the body of the bottle is, at different an- 
gles on different sides, and the lip is provided with 
a neat little spout or pour-out. On the front of the 
bottle, just below the neck, the letters "K. <i. C." 
are blown in. while the cork of each bottle is sealed 
with red wax, and stamped with the monogram "L. 
E. K." 

In the office, cabinets of filinu' cases offer all 



facilities for promptly tracing the correspondence 
in relation to any case, and a "Patients' Record" 
preserves the entire history of each case, and greatly 
economizes time in reference. There are scores <>f 
oilier details of the business, which all pass under 
the same methodical system, and the utmost lire- 
caution is taken to respect in every particular the 
wishes of correspondents. The only publicity given 
is through testimonials in cases where full written 
authority has been granted. The office literature, 
in taste, design and workmanship, is a marvel of 
beauty and appropriateness, while the host of pam- 
phlets and other matter issued from time to time to 
the public exhibit a lavish generosity and never 
fail to receive their admiration and appreciation. 

"We Belt the World," as a trade murk, is an ap- 
propriate expression as to the extent of country 
reached by these remedies. Shipments are recorded 
from St. John, N. B. ; Canada; through every State 
and Territory in the Union; thence to Honolulu, II. 
I.; the Sandwich Islands; Sidney, New South 
Wales; Australia; Bombay, Calcutta and Seharun- 
poor, India; Montserrat, W. I.; Balize, British Hon- 
duras: Victoria, British Columbia; San Marcos, and 
Chihuahua, Mex.; London and Hull, England, and 
numerous other foreign points. There are Sanitar- 
iums established for the exclusive use of these 
remedies at St. Louis, Mo., Paris, Tex., and San 
Francisco, Cal., each under charge of a graduated 
and experienced physician, besides several private 
Sanitariums throughout the United States, which 
have adopted these remedies with most satisfactory 
results. 



ARON PRICKETT is engaged in farming 
on his own place, consisting of 240 acres of 
land, located on sections 24 and 26, Round 
Grove Township, and in addition is dis- 
charging the duties of Road Commissioner of the 
township. Mr. Prickett has been a citizen of Liv- 
ingston County since 1868, at which time he re- 
moved here from LaSalle County. 

Our subject was born in Kendall County, 111., 
Nov. !;">, 183!), and is the son of James and Rebecca 
Prickett, who died in Kendall County, 111., when 
Aaron was quite young. He was reared upon the 




T 



884 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




i 



farm, and what education lie obtained was in tlie 
common scliools during his boyhood. He remained 
in Kendall County until the spring of 1861, when 
lie moved to Grundy County, and began farming 
on his own account, renting land for that purpose. 
In the fall of 1861, however, being siezed with a 
desire to assist his country in the troubles which 
had come upon it, he disposed of his interest in the 
crops he had raised and joined the ranks of the 
Union soldiers. In September he enlisted in Com- 
pany A, 3<ith Illinois Cavalry, and going to the 
front remained with this regiment until the expira- 
tion of its three years' term of service, when with 
a majority of its members he re-enlisted as a vet- 
eran, for the war, no matter how long its duration 
might be. He remained in the service until the 
close of the war, and was honorably mustered out 
at San Antonio, Tex., in November, 1865, but on 
account of the difficulty in supplying their places j 
in that section of the country with regular troops, ] 
they were compelled to remain until January, 18(1'!. 
lie went through this long service, participating in i 
all the marches, engagements and skirmishes with 
his regiment, without receiving a single injury. 

Upon his discharge from the army Mr. Prickett 
returned to Kendall County, 111., where he remained 
for a short time, and in the spring of 1866 bought 
a farm in LaSalle County. He soon disposed of 
this farm and purchased another, consisting of 1 60 
acres, which he managed until December, 1868, 
when he sold out and came to Livingston County, 
where he bought 160 acres of his present farm, and 
has since resided. He has added to his original 
purchase until he now owns 240 acres, every acre 
of which is subject to cultivation, and he has 
erected thereon good buildings and made other 
valuable improvements. 

( )n the 19th of February, 1 867, in LaSalle County, 
III., Mr. Prickett was married to Miss Nancy A. 
Hagby, who was born in Wells County, Ind., on 
the 19th of February, 184.), and is the daughter of 
Klishaaiid Rebecca Bagby. Her father died in La- 
Salle County, III., in August, 1867. and her mother 
in Indiana, in 1846. Mr. and Airs. Prickett have 
had four children, whose names are: Mary E., 
.lames E., Kdward and Klla, the latter two being 
twins. Mr. Prickett has held the oflice of Komi 



Commissioner since April, 18X2, and has also been 
Director of Schools. He is an enthusiastic comrade 
of D wight Post No. 224, (4. A. R. In polities he 
is a stanch Republican, and allows no occasion to go 
by in which he can further the interests of his 
party. He and his family are held in high esteem 
by the people of the neighborhood in which they 
live. 



eM. CYRUS, publisher and proprietor of the 
Weekly Gazette of Pontiac, is a native of 
the State of Illinois, having been born at Al- 
ton, Madison County, on the 24th of February, 
1854. He is the son of John M. and Adelia (Gor- 
don) Cyrus, who had a family of three children, 
Josephine L., William Wirtand Charles M., of whom 
the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. The 
mother, together with Josephine and William, died 
of cholera on the 3d of July, 1854. The father 
was again united in marriage, about three years 
later, to Miss Amanda Combs, of Ironton, Ohio, and 
has three children living by his second wife, namePy : 
Edward Everett, Helen M. and Ruth Wescott, the 
last two residing in Chicago; Edward is married 
and lives in Kansas City, Mo. The father of John 
M. was Matthew "Cyrus, a native of North Carolina, 
born in 17112, who was reared in Alabama, and en- 
gaged in farming, came to Illinois and settled 
in Morgan County, afterward lived in Jersey Coun- 
ty, and then moved to Litchfield, Montgomery 
County, where he kept hotel for a number of years, 
and died in 1871. For some years he served in the 
capacity of Justice of the Peace. 

Of a family of seven children, the only survivor 
is John M., who was reared on a farm in Illinois, 
where he came with his parents when a small boy. 
When lie was twenty-one years of age, he taught 
school, and about the year 18~>8 began the lum- 
ber trade at Alton, and continued there for a time, 
and then went to Cairo and engaged in the lumber 
and general commission business. In 186;") he went 
to Chicago, where he has been most of the time en- 
ganvd in the commission business. 

C. M. Cyrus began learning the trade of a printer 
in 1864, at Litchfield, Montgomery County. In 

' Ji 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



S87 



1877 he cstahli>hcd and edited the Dwiglit <'<ni<- 
mercia/, published .at Dwight, 111., and conducted i 
the same un^il the mouth of .Inly, 1881. In 
September he came to Pontiac and worked in the 
office of the Sentinel two years, and in 1883 began 
the publication of the Pontjac Weekly Gazette, 
which he has conducted since and established 
upon a substantial basis. It is a paper largely read 
by the people of Livingston and ad joining counties, 
and wields considerable influence. 

Mr. Cyrus was married, on the 10th of October, j 
1877, to Miss Columbia A'. K. Frame, daughter of 
Elder John R. Frame, of Eureka, 111. They have 
one son, named J. Howard. Mr. Cyrus' paper is 
independent in politics. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 



jANSLAER LAFAYETTE HOLDRIDGE. 

LThe best information which can be ob- 
tained in reference to the Holdridge family 
v^sj, of which the present representative in 
Saunernin Township is one of the most worthy de- 
scendants, is that several generations back two 
lirothcrs, natives of Wales, crossed the Atlantic and 
first settled in New York. From them sprang all 
the representatives of this name in the United 
States. They continued in New England for sev- 
eral generations, and the paternal grandfather of our 
subject, with others of the name, served as a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1*12. 
He spent his last years in Cortland County, N. Y., 
and died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years, 
having sprung from a race of people of excellent 
constitution, and generally noted for longevity. 
IK 1 married and became the parent of a son, Asa, 
the father of our subject. Asa married 31 iss Polly 
Warren, of Portland, Me., and they became the 
parents of our subject. 

The subject of thi> history was born in Madison 
County, N. Y., May 29, 1829, and the following year 
his parents migrated to Illinois, making the entire 
distance with two horses and a wagon. They had then 
bat two children, our subject and his sister, Clarinda 
A., and their road much of the way lay through 



the swamps, over a corduroy road, and in a section 
of country very thinly settled. They camped and 
cooked by the wayside and slept in their wagon, 
seldom seeing the face of a white man, and only 
the blue smoke of an occasional cabin. They 
reached Chicago thirty days from the time of start- 
ing and about the 10th of October, when the agents 
of the Government were delivering to the Indians 
their stated annuities. 

It is hardly necessary to state that Chicago fifty- 
seven years ago bore little resemblance to the city 
at the present time. There was but one frame 
dwelling, and altogether little to indicate that it 
ever would be the metropolis of the West. The 
lloldridges tarried here three days, and then went 
into LaSalle County, where the father of our sub- 
ject took up several claims and waited until the land 
office was opened at Galena before he could secure 
a clear title. When this time arrived he entered 
the land from the Government, and set about its 
improvement and cultivation amid the difficulties of 
life in a new country. 

Asa Holdridge was one of the pioneers of LaSalle 
County, and being a man of great enterprise and 
industry, also progressive and intelligent in his 
ideas, ere long became one of the leading citizens. 
He was instrumental in bringing to that section 
many of the families who were mostly concerned in 
the development of its resources, the building up of 
schools and churches, and all the other institutions 
so essential to the well-being of society. In the 
course of a decade the struggling community be- 
gan to assert itself, and Mr. Holdridge was chosen 
as Supervisor of Eden Township, to which he had 
come before its organization, lie also held the 
office of Justice of the Peace many years. The 
faithful wife and mother who had stood by the 
side of her husband through his toils and difficulties 
and presided with dignity over his household affairs, 
rested from her earthly labors in October, 1854, 
and the father followed on the 7th of October, 
1868. They spent their last years at the homestead 
which they had labored together to establish, and 
their names are held in grateful remembrance by 
those to whom they proved ever hospitable and 
kind. 

Our subject was reared to manhood amid the pio- 



f 



888 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



T 



neer scenes of LaSalle County, and as soon as old 
enough assisted his parents and pursued his studies 
in the subscription schools. Although there could be 
no regular school system as at the present day, young 
Holdridge, being fond of his books and ambitious 
to learn, acquired a practical education, which has 
served him well all through life. There never was 
a time when he considered himself too old or too 
wise to learn, and he still follows the habits of his 
early youth in availing himsell of the useful and 
instructive reading which is now so easily obtained. 
He consequently has become well informed, and his 
knowledge has not only enabled him to pursue his 
farming operations intelligently, but has given him 
a good position among the progressive men around 
him. 

Mr. Holdridge when twenty-five years of age 
was married, in LaSalle County, March 1, 1855, to 
Miss Hannah Simmons, whose family, like that of 
his own, had settled in LaSalle County before town- 
ship organization had been effected. Her parents. 
Ira and Susan (Bowen) Simmons, had come to the 
West from Ohio. Of the six children born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Holdridge five are now living, namely : 
Clarence R., Harry A. ; Lizzie, the wife of E. J. 
Scovel, a grain, merchant of Saunemin; Ira G. and 
Ward. One daughter. Ella, died when seventeen 
years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Holdridge continued 
to reside in LaSalle Count}', where our subject had 
purchased a farm upon which he operated until 
1871. Then, finding a spot in this county which 
appeared to him more desirable, he came to Saunemin 
Township in November, 1871, and took possession 
of his present farm, which is located on section 14. 
Here he commenced as a general farmer, and of 
late years has attained quite a reputation as a stock 
breeder. During these years he has been adding 
gradually to his real estate, and now in Livingston 
County alone has an area of 3.500 acre?, while in 
Kankakee he owns and controls a stock ranch of 
600 acres. This property has been largely accumu- 
lated through his own sagacity and forethought, 
as he had to start with but eighty acres, which had 
been given him by his father after reaching his 
majority. 

The home farm of Mr. Holdridge is supplied 
with a handsome and substantial set of buildings, 



which with their surrounding!) attract the admiring 
attention both of people in that section and the 
travelers passing through it. A view of the prem- 
ises is given in this volume. His live-stock trans- 
actions are probably larger than those of any other 
man in the county. He has always been contented 
with the free and independent life of an Illinois 
farmer, while at the same time he has never been 
backward in tendering substantial assistance to 
those enterprises in the town which naturally af- 
fected the interest of the people around him. He 
has, however, steadily declined becoming an office- 
holder, although solicited to accept that of Repre- 
sentative, yet he is a warm supporter of Republican 
principles, and willing to work in any way except 
that which would interfere with his unostentatious 
and chosen career. The home and business inter- 
ests which he has built up will remain as a monu- 
ment of his thrift and industry long after he has 
been gathered to his fathers, and men will relate to 
their sons the history of his life of perseverance 
and frugality which has made his name honored 
thoughout Livingston County, and the portrait 
presented in this connection will preserve the fea- 
tures of the man who has done so much. 



fljj ACOB WAKEY, a native of the Kingdom of 
Prussia, sought the New World and a home 
in the West when a youth of sixteen years, 
which was nearly fifty years ago. He is now 
one of the most highly respected residents of Odell, 
to which he retired after a period of forty-nine 
years spent in agricultural pursuits, in which he 
built up a good home and secured a competency. 
He is a substantial and reliable citizen, who has 
pursued his course "in life without ostentation, and 
whose word is considered as good as his bond. 

Mr. Wakey was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, 
Ma}' 2, 1820, and was the fourth child of Frederick 
and Sophia (Peters) Wakey, who were natives of 
the same country as their son, and followed him to 
the United States about two years after his ar- 
rival here. They landed at New Orleans, where the 
mother was seized with a fatal illness of which she 
died a short time afterward. Frederick Wakey 



n 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



889 



subsequently joined his son in this State and spent 
his declining years in LaSnlle County, where his 
death took place about 1839. The paternal grand- 
father of our subject, also Frederick Wakey, spent 
his entire life in his native Prussia, where he and a 
long line of his ancestors had been uniformly en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. The maternal 
grandfather of our subject, Jacob Peters, as well as 
all the other male members of both families, hail 
given several years of his youth to the service of 
the German Government in the army. Frederick 
Wakey participated in the revolution during which 
his native Kingdom was subjugated by the First 
Napoleon, and received a sabre cut across the head 
which nearly cost him his life. 

Mr. Wakey, our subject, in common with the ! 
youth of his native country, was thoroughly edu- 
cated in the common schools, and in addition to the 
employments of the farm, became familiar with the 
art of spinning. He remained with his parents dur- 
ing his residence in his native country, but at an 
early age began laying his plans for the future, and 
was strongly desirous of something better than the 
prospect held out to him there. Accordingly, one 
morning in April, 1836, he bade adieu to the 
friends of his childhood, and boarding a sailing- 
vessel at Bremen, moved out on the broad ocean to 
enter upon a new life in a strange country. After : 
a stormy voyage of forty-six days he landed in 
New York City, where he was joined seven days 
later by his brother, of Washington, Litchfield Co., 
Conn., who had come to meet him and welcome 
him to his home. He took up his residence in that 
State, and carried on farming three years and two 
months. In the meantime, his brother had mi- 
grated to the West, and Jacob followed him in 1841 , 
locating first upon a 40-acre tract of land near Ot- 
tawa, LaSalle County, which he had purchased, and 
where he had cultivated the soil until having an op- 
portunity to sell at a good advance. His next 
purchase was eighty acres in Bruce Township, where 
he determined to establish a permanent home. 
The next important step toward the consummation 
of his hopes was his marriage, which occurred on 
the 20th of June, 1848, his chosen bride being Miss . 
Eliza Jane McQuaid, who was then a resident of ! 
LaSalle County. 



Mrs. Wakey was born in Clearfield County, Pa., 
April 25, 1828, and was the fifth child of James 
and Jane (Ross) McQuaid, also natives of the Key- 
stone State, and the parents of five children. The 
father died in Clearfield County about 1828, and 
the mother subsequently married again, and came 
to LaSalle Count}', this State, with her second fam- 
ily of four children. Here with her husband, Isaac 
Corle, she resided on a farm, where our subject 
made the acquaintance of his future wife, and where 
they were married. Mr. Wakey and his young 
wife continued residents of LaSalle County until 
the spring of 1856, when selling out, they removed 
across the Mississippi to a point near Etna, Scot- 
land Co., Mo., where Mr. Wakey purchased a quar- 
ter section of wild land. They began housekeep- 
ing in a small frame structure and remained resi- 
dents there for a period of eight years, during which 
time our subject had brought about many improve- 
ments, and supplied the place with good buildings. 

At the breaking out of the late Rebellion, our 
subject formed one of the Home Guards, and in 
July following was mustered into a cavalry regi- 
ment of the regular service, whose duty was to 
watch the bushwhackers. Mr. Wakey's company 
was in active duty in that State most of the time 
during the war. and participated in the battle of 
Athens, where the Union troops were attacked by 
the rebel General, Greene. Later it fought at the 
battle of Kirksville, where 600 of the enemy were 
laid low. Its next encounter was with the rebel 
General, Marmaduke, at Cape Girardeau, who was 
defeated and driven out of that part of the State ; 
this occurred in April, 1863. Mr. Wakey then, on 
account of accumulated 3 - ears, and the exposure 
and hardship to which he had been subjected, was 
given his honorable discharge and returned home. 
The following spring he resumed his farming oper- 
ations, but found that the labor was beyond his 
strength, and accordingly sold out at the end of 
the season. He then took up his residence in La- 
Salle County, Me ride n Township, where he resided 
until the spring of 1865. Farm life, however, had 
a charm for him which he could not resist, and he 
accordingly purchased eighty acres of land near the 
town of Meriden, LaSalle County, upon which he 
commenced farming again and continued two yean. 



f 



t 



S!>0 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



He found, however, that this comparatively small 
area of land would not justify him in attempting 
to carry on agriculture in that section, and by the 
urgent advice of his children and friends, who en- 
deavored to convince him that he had labored long 
enough, he sold out once more and came to this 
county. Here the ruling spirit still predominated, 
and he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land 
on section 18, in Odell Township. His health now 
being quite recovered, he seemed to tike a new- 
lease of life and purchased the remaining quarter 
section which he improved and occupied for a pe- 
riod of twenty years. Here he erected a fine set 
of frame buildings and brought the land to a high 
state of cultivation. He now felt satisfied with 
what he had accomplished in life, and purchased a 
home in Odell. of which he has but just taken pos- 
session (October, 1887), and where he proposes to 
pass the balance of his days. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Wakey there were born four 
children: Lucy Ann, April 28, 1849; Mary Jane, 
Aug. 6, 1852: Lorenzo Dow, Oct. 9, 1856, and 
John Wesley, Oct. 9, 1859. The three eldest were 
laid away in the quiet country burying-ground in 
their childhood. John, the only survivor, married 
Miss Teresa Dunham, and manages the home farm. 
They have one child, Jacob A., who was born June 
17, 1887, and took the prize at the late bab3' show 
in the city of Odell. Mr. Wakey and his son are 
members of the Congregational Church, and our 
subject has served as Road Commissioner and 
School Director. He takes a lively interest in pol- 
itics and votes the straight Republican ticket. 

As a representative citizen, Mr. Wakey's por- 
trait is entitled to a place in this ALBUM, and ft 
may therefore be found on an adjoining page. 



AMES HAMILTON, one of the most sub- 
stantial farmers and reliable residents of 
Union Township, came to this section of 
country bringing with him all the substan- 
tial elements of his excellent Scotch ancestry. His 
life has been somewhat varied, and in this neces- 
sarily brief manner we give its principal incidents. 
Mr. Hamilton was born on the other side of the 
4 



Atlantic, on New Year's morning, 1S3.">, in Lennox- 
shire. Scotland, which had been the home of his 
parents. William and Jane (Morrison) Hamilton, 
since they began life together, and which was the 
birthplace of the father. The parental household 
included nine children, of whom our subject was 
the fifth. His paternal grandfather had also been 
born on this farm, which had been the property of 
the family for several generations, while the male 
members had, almost without exception, been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. William Hamilton, 
when about twenty-three years of age, parted with 
his possessions in Scotland and emigrated to Amer- 
ica, spending six years in the Southern States, after 
which he returned to Scotland. He made a second 
trip to this country. He finally returned to his 
native Isle, where he was married to one of his 
childhood associates, and remained in Scotland until 
1848, when he once more set sail for America, de- 
termined to establish a permanent home for him- 
self and his family. He embarked from Glasgow 
on the loth of April, on board the sailing-vessel 
"Merlin," which was lost with all on board, as no tid- 
ings of it were ever after obtained. One year later 
the bereaved wife died of a broken heart, and 
within a fortnight two of the children followed 
their mother to the silent land. Six children were 
thus left orphaned, and of these five are still living 
in America. The other four are recorded as fol- 
lows: Margaret became the wife of John Wyllie, 
who was formerly a resident of Union Township^ 
but is now deceased ; she still resides near her 
brother, our subject. Jeanette is the wife of Hugh 
Allen, a prosperous fanner of Peabody. Kan. : Mary 
is the widow of the late James Burnette, and is also 
living in Kansas; Lillie married John Stewart, who 
is carrying on farming near Fowler in Southern 
Indiana. 

After the loss of his father our subject continued 
in his native shire employed at farm labor until he 
reached his majority. His early advantages for 
education were quite limited, being confiiied to the 
country school, in which he spent only a short time. 
Upon becoming old enough to begin to lay his 
plans for the future, he determined to cany out 
his father's idea in regard to a home in the New 
World, and accordingly, in the spring of 1855, set 



4- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



sail from Glasgow on board the "Mary Marross." 
When near the banks of Newfoundland the vessel 
during a thick fog collided with an iceberg, which 
at once destroyed masts and rigging, and left them 
almost helpless upon the face of the deep, and they 
were obliged to take to the boats and row away 
from the dismasted vessel. The entire voyage 
consumed two and one-half months, and upon 
reaching New York Harbor they were nearly ex- 
hausted. Fortunately no lives were !ost, although 
they experienced fearful hardships and privations. 

Mr. Hamilton now set out for friends in Canada, 
but not being favorably impressed with that sec- 
tion of country, started a week later for Illinois. 
He first took up his residence with an uncle near 
Plaintield. and afterward commenced learning the 
carpenter's trade at Piano, 111. His employer, to 
whom he had apprenticed himself two years, now 
concluded to abandon carpentering mid take up 
farming, and our subject agreed to go with him 
farther west, to Kansas. The John Brown troubles, 
however, interfered with their plans, and they wisely 
concluded that it would be safer to remain this side 
of the Mississippi. Mr. Hamilton then repaired to 
Chicago where he proposed to follow his trade, but 
the free circulation of wild-cat mone3 r induced him 
to abandon this project also, and going down to 
Tiskilwa, Bureau County, he engaged one season in 
chopping wood. At the expiration of this contract 
he engaged in farming in LaSalle County, and for 
three or four years thereafter made his home with 
his brother-in-law, John Wyllie. 

Mr. Hamilton, notwithstanding the adage that "a 
rolling stone gathers no moss," had managed to save 
a little sum of money, which he now decided to in- 
vest in land. Accordingly in the fall of 1800 he 
came to this county and purchased eighty acres 
from Alexander Campbell, who was a resident of 
LaSalle County, lie now began in earnest the cul- 
tivation and improvement of his purchase, and laid 
the foundations of a home before taking upon him- ' 
self the responsibilities of a family. Nine years 
later, on the 2!)th of December, l(j!l, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Mary Ann, youngest daugh- 
ter of John and Mary (VValka) Kdgeeomb. Mr. 
and Mix Kdgecomb were of English birth and j>:ir- 
eutage and immigrated to America during their 



youth, settling first in Pennsylvania and afterward 
becoming residents of Peru, LaSalle County, where 
Mrs. Hamilton was born Dec. 22, 1840. Her father 
had followed farming all his life and spent his last 
years at the homestead which he had built up in 
Peru, his death taking place in 184'J, and that of 
the mother in 1870. 

Mr. Hamilton after his marriage at once brought 
his bride to the home which he had prepared for 
her, and where the}' have since lived harmoniously 
together. He added by degrees to his real estate 
until he was at one time the owner of 52(! acres. 
Later he commenced selling from this with the in- 
tention of removing to another part of the country, 
but subsequently abandoned the idea. He has now 
420 acres under a fine state of cultivation and em- 
bellished with handsome and substantial farm build- 
ings, of which a view is shown in this connection. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton became the parents of an 
interesting family of six children, four of whom are 
living, namely: Willis, who was born Oct. 13, 1870; 
John, Feb. 15, 1875; Benjamin, Nov. 3, 1880, and 
Elizabeth, May 29, 1883. In 1881 all the children 
they then had were stricken down with diphtheria, 
and little James and Mary fell victims to the dread 
disease, dying within nine days of each other. 
James was a bright lad of nine years and Mary had 
just passed her fourth birthday; the others were 
saved only by superhuman efforts. The sorrowing 
parents in their dread affliction received the sym- 
pathy of the entire community. They were more 
than ordinarily attached to their little ones, and 
the loss of two of these at once was to them a most 
terrible blow. Those surviving remain at home 
with their parents and form a remarkably bright 
and intelligent family group. They are being care- 
fully trained and well educated and fitted for the 
station in life which they will occupy as the offspring 
of citizens held in universal respect. 

Mr. Hamilton has been quite prominent in mat- 
ters concerning the best interests of his community, 
serving as School Trustee and Road Commissioner 
several years, and has represented Union Township 
in the County Board of Supervisors two terms. In 
his district he has ofliciaU d as Director for a long 
period. As the years advance he finds he is losing 
his active interer-t in politics. lie forsook the He- 



894 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



publican party several years ago, and since then 
has given his support to the Greenback element. 
Although Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are not identified 
with any religious organization, they realize the 
important influences of Christianity upon a com- 
munity, and give their support to that element as 
well as to all others tending to the welfare of the 
people. 



JOSEPH S. THOMAS. This gentleman comes 
of a family celebrated for the longevity and 
stature attained by its members. The ages 
of some of the ancestors have averaged one 
hundred and three years, and several of them were 
veritable giants. Great longevity and immense 
stature indicate a race of men of nearly physical 
perfection. The ancestors of Mr. Thomas were 
men and women who were leaders in their day and 
generation, and attained to prominence in whatever 
field in the vineyard of life they elected to work. 

Mr. Thomas, who is a farmer and stock-raiser 
and owns over 200 acres of land, lying in Eppard's 
Point, Avoca and Owego Townships, is a native of 
Madison County, Ohio, where he was born on the 
14th of August, 1831. He is the sou of Rev. Jo- 
seph and Sarah Ann (Price) Thomas, the former of 
whom, the son of Griffith and Mary (Williams) 
Thomas, was born in Grayson County, Va., and 
claims the relationship of first cousin of Jefferson 
Davis. Mary Williams was the daughter of Col. 
John Williams, of Revolutionary War celebrity, 
and a man who lived to be one hundred and nine 
years, nine months and seventeen days old, and re- 
tained his reason until the last moment. He was 
six feet two inches in height, and weighed 225 
pounds. During his life he was a leader among 
men, always standing at the front of any enterprise 
in which he might be engaged, He was born of 
Welsh descent, and died in Madison County, Ohio. 
He was the father of a large family of children, the 
ages of whom averaged one hundred and three 
years at their death. They were members of the 
Quaker Society, and the father of our subject was 
reared in that faith, but afterward became a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. 

To the parents of Mr. Thomas were born twelve 



children, whose record is as follows: James W. 
is married, has a family of eight children, and is 
engaged in farming at Cherry Vale, Kan. ; Joseph S., 
the subject of this sketch; Cicero F. is married, has 
a small family, and is a successful farmer in Indi- 
ana, worth about $25,000 ; Yensi was the wife of 
Warren Chamberlain, and died, leaving five chil- 
dren; Griffith was killed by guerrillas in Kentucky 
while serving in the Union army, and left a wife 
and one child ; Ann M. is the wife of John A. 
Thomas, a dealer in farm implements and hardware 
in Jasper County, Ind.; Sarah C. is the wife of 
Harvey Hillis. who died in Indiana; Mary was 
burned to death at the age of fourteen; John P. 
was born in Indiana, is married and has two chil- 
dren: Charles was in an Indiana cavalry regiment 
during the war for four years; soon after his return 
from the war he was married, and his death was 
caused by an accident with a threshing-machine. 
Lydia J. is the wife of Milo Gilkerson, of Kanka- 
kee, and has three children; Emma was the wife of 
Austin Cotton, whose death was caused by ex- 
I posure. 

Mr. Thomas' father died in 1873 in Livingston 
County, on what is now known as the Ively Pills- 
bury farm. He was a minister in the Christian 
Church forty-nine years, beginning when he was 
twenty years of age. He had lived in various 
States, moving from Ohio to Indiana in 1851, and 
thence to Illinois in 1863, having buried his wife in 
Indiana in 1862; their remains arc buried side by- 
side. 

Mr. Thomas was married, on the 4th of July, 
1 865, to Martha M. Houder, who was born Sept. 
1 G, 1 833, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is 
the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Kertz) IIou- 
der, who were the parents of ten children, four of 
whom are living: Ephraim, in Eppard's Point 
Township; David, in Pontiac; Nancy, in Ohio, and 
Mrs. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas had four brothers in 
the late war, two of whom were killed in battle and 
one died in prison ; Ephraim alone returned. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas five children have been born: 
Jennie Almeda, May 20, 1866: I'lysses S.. Nov. 
19, 1867; Mollie A., Nov. 18, 1870; Cicero L., 
Oct. 17, 1873, and Manette, April 25, 187C. Their 
eldest son was in the Chatsworth disaster, but fort- 



f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



895 




unately came out unharmed. Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas are members of the Christian Church, in 
which he holds the position of Clerk. They are 
both respected members of society, and the family 
enjoys the esteem of all their neighbors. 

We are pleased to present on an adjoining page a 
view of Mr. Thomas' residence and its sur- 
roundings. 



jILLIAM NORMAN, an esteemed and re- 
spected resident of Saunemin Township, is 
a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where 
he was born on the 2d of February, 1816. He is 
the son of James and Mar}- A. Norman, both of 
whom were also natives of England. 

Mr. Norman was married in England on the 30th 
of December, 1840, the lady whom he chose for a 
wife being Miss Mary A. Sharp, who was born on 
the 1st of May, 1820. She is a daughter of Jere- 
miah and Sarah Sharp, both of whom were natives 
of England. Mr. and Mrs. Norman have had born 
to them twelve children, of whom eight survive 
George W., Sarah E., Mary J., Thomas P., Robert 
J., Rachel N., John J. and Henry G. George W. was 
born Nov. 19, 1845, and now resides in Colorado; 
Sarah E. was born Oct. 4, 1847, and is the wife of 
Charles E. Smith, of Saunemin Township; Mary J. 
was born Nov. 12, 1850, and is the wife of A. J. 
Gimlon,of Dwight Township: Thomas P. was born 
Nov. 29, 1853, and resides in Saunemin Township; 
Robert J. was born June 28, 1856, and resides in 
Dakota; Rachel N. was born Oct. 16, 1858, and is the 
wife of A. J. Evans, of Saunemin; John J. was 
born March 15. 1861 , and lives in Saunemin, and 
Henry G., born Dec. 30, 1863. The names of the 
deceased were Jarnes L., Jeremiah J. and Caroline 
A.; one died in infancy unnamed. 

In 1852, with his wife and three children, Mr. 
Norman immigrated to America, taking passage at 
Liverpool, and after a voyage of ten weeks landed 
in New Orleans. From that city he came direct to 
Marshall Count}-, 111., where he engaged for manj- 
years in manufacturing brick and cultivating a 
farm. In the spring of 1878 he came to Livingston 
C'ount\ - , and settled on section 29. Saunemin Town- 



ship, on the 80-acre farm upon which he now re- 
sides. When he arrived in Marshall County he not 
only had no cash but was indebted in the sum of 
$11. He immediately went to work, and in a short 
time liquidated this indebtedness and began to 
gather a nucleus for his after prosperity. Mrs. Nor- 
man js a member of the Christian Church, and they 
are both respected members of society. Mr. Nor- 
man is a Republican in politics, and has been fre- 
quently solicited to discharge the duties of various 
township offices, but has invariably declined. He 
is modest and unassuming in his nature, and has 
never had any taste whatever for office-getting. 
He and his wife are now in their declining }'ears, 
and have provided themselves so that their remain- 
ing days may be spent in comparative ease and 
comfort. 

Thomas P. Norman, a farmer of Saunemin 
Township, is a son of William and Mary A. Nor- 
man, and was born and reared in Marshall County, 
where he received a fair common-school education, 
and has always resided ; he lias always been engaged 
in farming and manufacturing brick. On the 2d 
of January, 1876, he was married to Miss Abbie 
Scott, who was born on the 7th of March, 1850, in 
Grundy County, 111., and is the daughter of Sam- 
uel and Mary A. Scott, natives of Pennsylvania 
and Indiana respectively. Two children have been 
the result of this marriage, namely: Laura I., who 
was born Sept. 23, 1882, and Geneva, who was born 
July 22, 1879, and died Sept. 23, 1883. Thomas 
Norman owns eighty acres of good land, and in 
the cultivation of it has been quite successful. He 
is a Republican in politics, and supports his party 
with enthusiasm upon all occasions where he can 
assist in attaining success. He and his wife are 
members of the Christian Church and are regular 
in their attendance and liberal in support. 



>OHN PRITCHARD, now a resident of Sau- 
nemin Township, is n native of Wales, in 
which country he resided until twenty -eight 
years of age. He was born on the 7th of 
October, 1832, and is the son of David and Guine 
Pritchard, the former a native of Wales, but of 



I 



896 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Scotch ancestry, as was also the mother. To the 
parents were born six children, named : Margaret, 
William, Eleanor, David, John and Thomas. The 
Pritchard family are all long-lived people, the 
father having reached eighty-five years and the 
mother ninety years. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
country, where he was given but a meager educa- 
tion in the schools of that day. In 1860 he con- 
cluded to transfer his place of residence from the 
country of his birth to the United States, and taking 
passage on the steamship '-City of Washington," at 
Liverpool, he landed at Castle Garden, N. Y., after 
a stormy voyage of two weeks across the ocean. 
From New York he proceeded directly to Delaware 
County, Ohio, and there remained for seven year-. 
being employed as a farm hand and performing 
such other kinds of work as he was able to secure. 
Thence he came to Illinois, where he remained a 
resident of LaSalle County for a short time and 
then came to Livingston County. His stay in this 
county was but temporary, and in 1868 he moved 
to the State of Missouri. 

On the 3d of October, 1872, while living in Mis- 
souri, Mr. Pritchard was married to Mary M. Mil- 
ler, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born on the 
21st of November, 1851. To them were born 
seven children, whose record is as follows: John B. 
was born Sept. 23, 1873; Margaret E., Jan. 9, 
1876; David J., April 12, 1878; William C., Feb. 
11, 1880; Franklin T., Feb. 26, 1882; Mary J., 
Oct. 17, 1884, and Lavinia M., Sept. 25, 1886. 
Shortly after marriage, Mr. Pritchard came to Liv- 
ingston County and settled on the farm on which 
he now resides, on the Vermilion River. His tirst 
purchase of land consisted of eighty acres, to which 
he subsequently added until he now has a farm of 
160 acres, which is a model in all its appointments 
and equipments. When he became possessed of 
this land there had practically never been an}- im- 
provements made upon it, nor any cultivation at- 
tempted. 

Oil the 13th of October, 18XC, Mrs. Pritchard 
died after a short illness. She as a woman who 
had endeared herself by her many good qualities of 
head and heart, to all who knew her, and her loss, 
both to the family and the community, is sincerely 



mourned. Mr. Pritchard is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church, in which lie has served in the capacity 
of Deacon, and is also Superintendent of the Sun- 
day-school. He is a Republican in politics, although 
he does not take an active part in political matters. 
He has never been an office-seeker, but on the con- 
trary has declined political perferment when ten- 
dered by his friends. 



OIIN STUDLEY, the subject of this sketch, 
is engaged in farming on section 13, Round 
Grove Township, where he is the possessor 
of 240 acres of land eligibly located, and 
very productive. Mr. Studley's parents were Ben- 
jamin and Mary (Titt) Studley, who were natives 
of England, where they spent their entire lives. 
They were the parents of seven children, of whom 
our subject was the sixth. 

John Studley was born in England on the 9th of 
December, 1X44, and was reared on a farm till 
about nine years of age when he came to Canada 
where he lived about two years. At the end of that 
time he came to Illinois, and engaged in farm work 
in Kendall County until 1871, when he came to Liv- 
ingston County and settled in Round Grove Town- 
ship, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres on 
section 13. During his residence on this farm he 
has made many improvements, including the erec- 
tion of a fine set of buildings. He has added, by 
subsequent purchases, to this farm until it consists 
of 240 acres, and in addition to this he owns Kill 
acres in Kankakee County, 111., making him the 
owner of a total of 400 acres of Illinois lands, a 
possession of which any man may well be proud. 

In Kankakee County, ..111., on the 7th of March, 
1872, Mr. Studley was married to Luc}' Patchett, 
daughter of Paddison and Martha (Duddles) 
Patchett, who are residents of that county. They 
have a family of seven children living, of whom 
Mra. Studley is the eldest. She was born in En- 
gland, Feb. 13, 1852, and was about six years old 
when she accompanied her parents to America. 
Mr. and Mrs. Studley are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows: Martha M.. 
(.eorge V\ '., Laura L., Alice E., 1'liu-be A., Beit ha 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



899 



L. and John II. Mr. Studley was formerly a 
member of the Republii-an party, but of late years 
has earnestly co-operated with the Prohibition 
par tj' in its efforts to destroy the great curse of the 
nation, the manufacture and sale of intoxicating 
liquors. He has always manifested a lively interest 
in educational matters, and for a considerable time 
was enabled to put into practice his theories re- 
garding the conduct of schools, while serving in the 
capacity of School Director. 

Our subject and his excellent wife are members 
of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and take a 
lively interest in the affairs of that organization. 
They give hearty and substantial encourage- 
ment to all movements which have for their aim 
the dissemination of religious, moral and temper- 
ance truths The family enjoy the esteem and re- 
spect of all the people of the cominuuity. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country we present on an adjoining page a view 
of Mr. Studley's homestead. 



JOHN WYLLIE, who was a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 11, Union Township, was 
born near Kilmarnock, Scotland, on the llth 
of December, 1811, and died on the illth of 
December. 1873, at the present residence of his 
widow. He was third in a family of five children 
born to William and Jane Wyllie, who were also 
natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire 
lives. 

The subject of this sketcli was reared to farm life 
and educated in the common schools. At the age 
of twenty -two he and a Brother embarked for Amer- 
ica to find a home in the New World, and landing 
at New York he remained a short time, and then 
came to the West. lie first settled at Galena, where 
he engaged in work at the lead mines, remaining 
for several years, and then came to Peru, LaSalle 
County, win-re he formed a partnership in the gen- 
eral merchandise business, which hi- followed for 
several }'eai-s with indifferent success, lie then sold 
out and bought a farm of eighty acres, which he set 
about improving. His partner in business robbed 
him and tied to Canada, leaving him to bear 



the burden of the debt, and during the next few 
years his progress was slow and laborious. 

In 1848 Mr. Wyllie joined a company of specu- 
lators to seek their fortunes in the gold fields of 
California. Crossing the plains with ox-teams, they 
spent more than three mouths in reaching the gold 
mines near Sacramento, where he engaged in min- 
ing and prospecting, and was reasonably prosper- 
ous. After remaining two years lie concluded to 
return, but the mountains being infested with high- 
waymen, which made the trip overland very dan- 
gerous, lie came by water, crossing the Isthmus, 
touching at Cuba, and then around the coast to New 
York, and across the country to his home in LaSalle, 
III. Upon his arrival he bought 160 acres more 
land, and began to push his farming interests with 
renewed vigor, and prosperity began to smile upon 
him. In 1860 he began to invest in wild land in 
Livingston County, and bought and sold several 
times on speculation, but soon saw the indications 
of progress, and began to select the finest tracks he 
could secure for his own future use. Soon after 
his return from California he made a visit to his old 
home in Scotland. 

On the 27th of January, 1857, Mr. Wyllie was 
married to Margaret Hamilton, who was born in 
Scotland on the 1st of January, 1837, and was the 
fifth in a family of eleven children born to William 
and Jane (Morrison) Hamilton, whose history ap- 
pears in connection with the biography of their son 
James in this Ai.m M. Mr. and Mrs. Wyllie remained 
in LaSalle County until 1866, and then came to 
Livingston County, and settled on the faun the 
widow now occupies. He sold his farm in LaSalle 
County, and improved his estate in Livingston 
County until he owned 1,140 acres of as fine land 
as lies in the county. The palatial residence and 
commodious barns are indicative of his thrift, as 
well as of the progress made in the style of architect- 
ure in this section of country. On an adjoining 
page is shown :i view of Mr. Wyllie's handsome 
homestead. All the land he purchased he at once 
put under cultivation, and built upon it, thus gain- 
ing all the ad vantages of progress as well as develop- 
ment. In 1873 he made another visit to his old 
home in Scotland, and returned to die in a short 
time afterward. He had been a strong and hearty 



I 



, , 900 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



man all his life, but somewhat subject to attacks 
of pleurisy, one of which at last caused his death. 
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which he served as Trustee, and was an active man 
in politics, giving his life-long support to the Repub- 
lican party. He frequently held the various town- 
ship offices, such as Director, Trustee, Commissioner, 
etc. 

Mr. Wyllie was the father of six children, five of 
whom are living William, John, James, Jane and 
David. Mary died at the age of three years and 
eight months; James married Jessie McCloud, and 
lives on section 1, Union Township; Jane married 
Peter Fotheriugham, and lives in Union Township, 
while the others reside at home with their mother, 
who is educating them to the best of her ability. 
She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and is an energetic lady, devoting her time to her 
family and the admirable farm on which she lives. 
In 1886 she returned to her old home in Scotland 
on a visit, and remained three months among the 
scenery of the mountains. During his life Mr. Wyllie 
was specially noted for his thrift and enterprise, and 
good judgment in all business transactions, and his 
accumulations are sufficient to make his family 
comfortable during their days. Mrs. Wyllie is 
highly esteemed by all who have the honor of her 
acquaintance, and while giving her time and atten- 
tion to the care of her family, she gives with a will- 
ing hand and ready purse to all deserving people 
whose circumstances make it necessary to depend 
upon the charities of the world. 



RS. MARTHA R. FOX, widow of the late 
Abraham Fox, of Round Grove Township, 
was born in County T_yrone, Ireland, Aug. 
14, 1845. She came to America with her 
parents, Joseph and Margaret (Arnold) McCune, 
when a young girl, and is now one of the most 
highly respected ladies of her community. She oc- 
cupies a good farm on section 20. 

The parents of Mrs. Fox were also of Irish birth 
and ancestry, and upon reaching America settled 
in Guernsey County, Ohio, but not long afterward 
removed to Belmont County, whence two years 
later they migrated to the West. Upon reaching 




Illinois they located in Christian County, and three 
years later removed to Pike Township, thiscountj-, 
where they .remained until becoming members of 
the household of their daughter, Mrs. Fox. Here 
the father died on the 23d of August, 1885, when 
about eighty-one years of age. The mother is still 
living and is also well stricken in years, being eighty- 
five years old April 21. Their household included 
three children only, all of whom lived to maturity. 
Mary A. became the wife of Thaddeus Orr, and 
died in Christian County some years since; Martha 
R. ; Joseph A. during the late war enlisted in 
Company F, 30th Ohio Infantry, and was killed in 
the battle of South Mountain, Md. He was a 
bright and promising young man, and among the 
first of those who responded to the call for volun- 
teer troops. 

Mrs. Fox came to this county with her parents 
in March, 1866, and remained under the home 
roof until her marriage. She had been well edu- 
cated and was engaged as a teacher some years. 
Her union with Abraham Fox took place at the 
home of her parents in Pike Township, Nov. 15, 
1866. Mr. Fox was born in Dublin, Ireland, and 
immigrated to the United States when nineteen 
years of age. He first located in New Jersey, 
whence he came to Peoria, this State, and from 
there to this county, locating in Pike Township 
during its early settlement. After the outbreak of 
the late Rebellion he enlisted, in the fall of 1861, 
in Company I, 47th Illinois Infantry, and'served as 
a Union soldier three years. Although escaping 
wounds and capture, the privations and hardships 
which he endured undermined his health, and he 
never regained his former strength and vitality. 
His marriage took place after the close of the war, 
and the young people commenced life together in 
Pike Township, where they remained until the 
spring of 1883, Mr. Fox being mostly engaged in 
farming. At the date mentioned he removed with 
his family to Round Grove Township, where his 
death took place on the 6th of August following. 
lie is remembered as a good man of kindly im- 
pulses, and- he lived the life of a quiet and unob- 
trusive citizen, devoted to his family and oblig- 
ing to his friends. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fox became the parents of five 



t. 

*r 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



901 



children, namely: George, Joseph R., Margaret, 
Mary A. and Martha L. They are of great as- 
sistance to their mother in the management of the 
homestead, and are being educated in a manner be- 
coming their station in life. Mr. Fox was a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and to this Mrs. Fox also belongs, together 
with her three daughters. 



ORENZO B. DOM IN Y. No well-regulated 
town of any pretentions can get along very 
iL^. well without a banking institution, for sev- 
eral reasons, among which are, a place of safe de- 
posit for the surplus sums of money which, in the 
regular course of business, must accumulate in a 
community ; facilities for issuing bills of exchange 
on other points for the accommodation of business 
men, and above all, to loan money in times of com- 
mercial emergency with which business men may 
bridge over little chasms or enlarge their transac- 
tions commensurate with the demands upon them. 
Confidence and capital are the two great requisites 
demanded of a bank, and the firm of Beach & Dom- 
iny, of Fairlmry, has an abundance of each. The 
subject of this sketch is the junior member of this 
firm of bankers. He was born in Madison County, 
Ohio, in 1844, and is the son of Ezra and Hester A. 
(Beach) Dominy, who were natives of Ohio. The 
father was a farmer by occupation, and died on the 
3d of July, 1846, while the mother followed him a 
few days after. The subject of this sketch was 
their only child. 

Mr. Dominy was married to MissPlutbe A. Curl, 
in December, 1865. She was born in Greene 
County, Pa., in 1844, and is the daughter of James 
and Lavinia Curl. Her father is dead, but the 
mother is still living. Mr. Dominy came to Illi- 
nois in 1855, locating in Indian Grove Township; 
his education was received in the common schools 
and he followed the occupation of a farmer until he 
was twenty -six years of age. In 1870 he began his 
business career with Mr. Beach as :i hardware mer- 
chant, which he continued for three and one-half 
years, when lie disposed of his interests, and in 



1 874 entered the banking firm of Bartlett, Beach & 
Dominy, which continued for four years under that 
firm name, when Mr. Bartlett's health failed and he 
sold his interest to Beach & Dominy, who became 
the owners of the bank. At the time this sketch is 
written the firm is erecting an elegant banking 
house on the corner of Main and Third streets, in 
Fairbnry. Mr. Dominy is the owner of 1,200 acres 
of most excellent land in Livingston County, and 
his residence is credited with being one of the fin- 
est buildings in Fairbnry. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dominy are the parents of four 
children : Jennie and Jessie, twins; Lizzie Fern, and 
one who is now deceased. Mr. Dominy is the Su- 
pervisor for Indian Grove Township, and was elected 
by the people regardless of political questions. 
He has acted for ten years as a member of the City 
Council, and for three terms has been President of 
the Board. He is a very ardent Republican and 
makes his influence felt for that party in every 
political campaign. He is a shrewd and energetic 
business man, possessing a proper degree of con- 
servatism to make him a safe and reliable banker. 
His success in life is largely due to his individual 
efforts, and he is a fair illustration of what a man 
can accomplish through industry, prudence and 
economy. 




?REDERIC FALTER, a prosperous farmer 
and stock-raiser, residing on section 13, 
Broughton Township, is the son of Lewis, 
Sr., and Gertrude (Lukam) Falter, and was born in 
Hesse-Darmstadt, March 2fi, 1841. When he was 
about four years old his parents emigrated to Amer- 
ica, locating in Franklin County, Ohio, where our 
subject received a common-school education, and 
served an apprenticeship of three years at the black- 
smith's trade. 

Mr. Falter had barely reached his majority when 
the Civil War broke out. and he responded promptly 
to the call of duty in the service of his adopted 
country. In 1862 he enlisted in the 18th Ohio 
Infantry, and upon reaching the front he was de- 
tailed to do blacksmithing. After serving in the 
army about eighteen months he was discharged on 
account of sickness. Soon after his return he fol- 






902 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



- 



lowed the tide of immigration westward, coming to 
Illinois and locating near Joliet, where he worked 
for various farmers about four years and then 
removed to Ford County, where he cultivated his 
father's land. 

Our subject was married in Ford County, Oct. 
13, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and 
Anna (Carbcr) Breneisa, of that county. For about 
Ihroe years after his marriage Mr. Falter farmed on 
rented ground in Ford County, he and his frugal 
wife, in the meantime, saving their earnings for the 
purchase of a home. In 1871 he was enabled to 
buy the farm on which he now lives, consisting of 
160 acres, which he has brought to a fine state of 
cultivation, and upon which he has erected good 
buildings, and has everything needful for the mod- 
ern agriculturist. In politics he is not a strict party 
men, but always tries to vote for the best candidate 
when no important principles are at stake. His first 
Presidential vote was cast for the lamented Lincoln. 
In religion he is a member of the German Lutheran 
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Falter have five children, as 
follows: Anna Margaret, who was born Nov. 19, 
I860; Charles Lewis, Jan. 7, 1874; Daniel Luther, 
Nov. 29, 1879; Margaret May, July. 7, 1883, and 
Charles William, Nov. 15, 1886. 

Our subject is the fourth in a family of eight 
children, as follows : Mary, Lewis, John, Frederic, 
George, Amelia, Caroline and Catherine. Mary 
died at the age of thirteen, in Ohio; Lewis was born 
in Germany, April 4, 1837, married Margaret Ameh, 
lives in Ford County, 111., and has five children; 
John was killed at the battle of Murfrecsboro; 
George married Mary Heil, lives in Knnkakee 
County, 111., and has seven children ; Amelia married 
Matthew Fadling, and lives in Ford County ; Caro- 
line married John Heller, lives in Iroquois County, 
111., and has four children; Catherine first married 
Adam \Vainbeck, by whom she had three children, 
and after his death became the wife of Charles 
Schnltz, who resides in Ford County, and has three 
children by her second marriage. 

The father of our subject was born in Germany, 
Aug. '24, 1810, and died in Inxjuois County, 111., 
Aug. '27, 1 N8C>. II is mother was horn in Germany, 
Nov. "JO, l.sl'.i. and i> still living, making her home 
with her daughter Caroline. .Mrs. Falter is one in 



a family of four children, of whom the record is as 
follows: Reuben was born Dec. 6, 1849, married 
Sarah McLean, lives in Ford County, and has three 
children; Catherine and Elizabeth, twins, were born 
Oct. 28, 1851, in Lancaster County, Pa.; Fannie 
was born Dec. 14, 1853, married John Buxton, lives 
in Gardner, III., and has no children. 

The parents of Mrs. Falter were born in Pennsyl- 
vania, and the mother was of Scotch ancestry. The 
father was born May 1 8, 1 827, and the mother March 
14, 1832; their marriage occurred March 0, 1849, 
and both are still living in Cabery, 111. The 
paternal grandfather, Conrad Breneisa, was born in 
Lancaster County, Pa., Feb. 27, 179<!, and died Sept. 
20, 1876. His wife F^lizabeih was born near Ilager.s- 
town, Md., Feb. 22, 1797, and died in Lancaster 
County, Pa., March 29, 1853. The maternal grand- 
father, Gotlieb Carber, born April 5, 1800, died 
in Pennsylvania, Dec. 23, 1 84 1 . His wife, Catherine 
Carber, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 20, 
1810, and died in the same county, Oct. 16. 1870. 

>IIOM AS FALLIS. This aged and highly re- 
spected citizen of Livingston County car- 
ried on farming in Dwight Township for a 
long period of years, and in 1884 retired from act- 
ive labor, and took up his residence in the town, 
where he is now pleasantly located and in the en- 
joyment of a competency. He is the scion of an 
old Virginian family of English descent, and was 
born March 23, 1812, in Uniontown, Fayette Co., 
Pa. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, George 
Fallis by name, was a member of the Society of 
Friends, and immigrated to this country at a pe- 
riod antedating the Revolutionary War, about 1750. 
He was accompanied by his two brothers, and from 
them sprang the entire family in America. The 
mother of our subject was the descendant of a fam- 
ily who, during the persecution of the Quaker sect 
in England, immigrated to this country with Will- 
iam I'enn, to enjoy freedom of thought and the 
right to wor.-hip <Jod according to the dictates of 
conscience. The Friends, as is well known, were 
among the most valued and reliable citizen* of the 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



900 



Colonial times, and from them have descended a 
long following of noble men and women. 

The grandmother of our subject, formerly Mis- 
Mary Ridgeway, was the daughter of Richard 
Ridgeway, of England, and of her union with 
George Fallis there were horn the following-named 
children: John, Rachel, Jane and Richard. Rachel 
married John Gordon, of Virginia: Jane became 
the wife of Mr. Nichols, also of the Old Dominion, - 
and Richard, the father of our subject, was a na- ' 
tive of Culpeper County, Va.. and born in 177.'5. 
He followed fanning and milling, and took for his 
wife Miss Phebe, daughter of John Dillon, who was 
a descendant of Lord John Dillon, of Ireland. 
This branch of the Dillon family were also Friends, 
and came with William Penn to Pennsylvania. 
The children of Richard and Phebe Fallis were ten 
in number, including Thomas; the others are re- 
corded as follows : Mary, the eldest daughter, mar- 
ried Joseph Antrim, of Virginia; Lydia married 
Cyrus Farquhar; Rachel became the wife of Amos 
Welsh: Eliza was the wife of William Tong; John 
married Miss Deborah Cadwallader; Nancy mar- 
ried Darius Lapham ; Harriet became the second 
wife of Mr. Thomas M. Wales; Jane became the 
wife of A. D. Cadwallader, and Phebe married 
Thomas Cadwallader. All of these settled in Ohio. | 

Richard Fallis in 1809 located in Fayette County. : 
Pa., and put up a mill on Redstone Creek, near 
Uniontown, which was the first structure of the 
kind in that section of the country. Five years 
later lie removed to Clinton County, Ohio, whore 
he built one of the first mills and accumulated a ' 
large property. Later he purchased a farm upon 
which he spent his last years, his death taking place 
in 1828, when he was fifty-five years old. He had 
received a good education in the Old Dominion, 
and after his removal to Ohio became prominent 
in political affairs, representing Clinton County in 
the State Legislature three years. He was a man 
of great energy and enterprise, and was identified 
with the building of the Miami and Ohio Canals, in 
connection with which he lost his entire fortune. 
The old-time Friends were men of the sternest 
moral principle, distinguished for their simplicity 
and honesty, and among these Hon. Richard Fallis 
shone as one of their brightest lights. 



Considering the habits of life and character of 
the (junkers, it is not surprising that they were 
strong Abolitionists, and many a fugitive by their 
aid secured the liberty which fas his inalienable 
right, often at the risk of their own lives. The 
slave-holder, under the laws of Virginia at that 
time, could not emancipate his slaves if he wished, 
and accordingly when desiring to give them their 
freedom, frequently willed them to the (junker 
Church. Richard Fallis was often appointed a 
Trustee in these cases, removing the unfortunates 
to Ohio, and giving bonds to the county which re- 
ceived them, that they should never become a pub- 
lic charge. After the fugitives had thus been 
given their freedom, they were supplied by the 
Friends with a sufficient sum of money to start 
them toward a comfortable living. The father of 
our subject was first and foremost in all these good 
works, and stood second to none in his church. 

When a child two years of age, our subject was 
taken by his parents to Clinton County, Ohio, 
where he passed his early life amid the quiet scenes 
and pursuits of the Quaker community. He re- 
ceived a fair education, and learned the miller's 
trade of his father. The latter died when he was a 
youth of sixteen, and as there was no property, 
young Fallis was thrown upon his own resources. 
He was first employed as a miller, and continued in 
the work until he had earned enough to set up in 
business for himself, when in company with his 
brother lie purchased a mill in Clinton County, and 
continued there until 1855. In the spring of that 
year he was united in marriage with Miss Clara, 
daughter of George W. and Olive (Birdsell) Mory, 
of Clinton County, and leaving the Buckeye State 
the following year, he came to LaSalle County, 111., 
and purchased a tract of land in Waltham Town- 
ship. In 1H61 he sold out there and came to this 
count}', locating at once in Dwight Township, of 
which he has since been a resident. Mr. and Mrs. 
F. became the parents of two children: George B., 
who was born in 185(5, and Charles W. in I860; 
they are now in Vermilion County, 111. 

Mr. Fallis still clings to the religious principles of 
his ancestors, in which lie was trained from his 
earliest youth. He identified himself with the Re- 
publican party at its organization, and it is hardly 



t 



!)04 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



necessary to state, was an earnest advocate of the 
Abolition movement. He was familiar with the 
workings of the " underground railroad," and has 
seen in the barn of his brother-in-law, T. M. Wales, 
a dozen or more slaves at a time. This was one of 
the most important stations on the " underground," 
and the Friends, asking no questions, did what the}- 
could toward alleviating the condition of the op- 
pressed. They were carried secretly from one sta- 
tion to another until reaching Canada, the goal of 
freedom. 

Besides rearing their own sons, Mr. and Mrs. 
Fallis adopted two children, namely: Ellen Bate- 
man, who is now the wife of T. H. Hamlin, a re- 
tired farmer of Odell, and Nannie Mory, who mar- 
ried A. R. Hoke, a grain merchant of Rugby, 111. 
The elder son of our subject, Dr. George B. Fallis, 
now a druggist of Danville, attended the School of 
Pharmacy at Chicago, and holds a certificate from 
the State Board of Pharmacy. Charles also took 
up medicine, and is a graduate of the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago. He is now 
located at East Lynn, and is one of its most 
prosperous business men and esteemed citizens. 



Se^- 



AMES KELAGHER, junior member of the 
firm of Miller & Kelagher, grocers of Dwight, 
has been established in his present business 
since the spring of J 885. He is well known 
throughout the county as a young man of excellent 
family and good character, and is accounted among 
the valued members of an intelligent community. 
Mr. Kelagher is the son of an Irish gentleman, 
who was born in Ireland in 1 814, and emigrated 
to the United States in 1847. He settled in Wal- 
lingford, Conn., and there married Miss Esther 
Confry, a native of his own country. William and 
Esther Kelagher became the parents of six children, 
namely: James, Mary A., Katie, Esther, William 
and Rose. They resided in the Nutmeg State un- 
til 1857, when they migrated westward, and Mr. K. 
for a time was in the employ of the Chicago & 
Alton Railroad Co.. in this locality. In 1881 he 
crossed the Mississippi into Texas, where his death 



took place three years later; the mother is still liv- 
ing in Texas. 

Our subject was born in Wallingford, Conn., 
Oct. 25, 1856, and was but one year old when his 
parents came to this county. He received a com- 
mon-school education and began for himself as an 
employe of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He 
lived economically and saved what he could of a 
somewhat limited salary until in 1884, in company 
with his present partner, he embarked in the grocery- 
trade, in which he bids fair to succeed. 

On the 17th of April, 1882, while a resident of 
Dwight, our subject married Miss Mary A. Cassady, 
of Braid wood, and they became the parents of two 
children Katie, who was born Nov. 23, 1885, and 
one who died in infancy. Mr. K. meddles little 
with political or public affairs, giving his attention 
mostly to his business concerns, although when 
exercising the right of suffrage he casts his vote 
with the Democratic party. In the neat family 
residence the inmates enjoy all the comforts of life 
and many of its luxuries. 



J~|OHN D. KETCHAM, dealer in coal and ice, 
I at Dwight, is the descendant of an old 
j American family of English origin. His 
' father, also John Ketcham, was for many 
years a highly respected farmer of Dutchess County, 
N. Y., and married Miss Jane Losee, daughter of 
John and Eliza (Lewis) Losee, of the same county. 
They became the parents of two children, John and 
Eliza A., the latter of whom died young. 

The father of our subject was tin upright and in- 
dustrious man, correct and temperate in his habits, 
and lived to the advanced age of seventy years. 
The mother was the daughter of John Losee. a well- 
known clergyman of Dutchess County, and promi- 
nent among the best families of that section. She 
is now deceased. Their son, John D., our subject, 
was born at hi* father's homestead, in Dutchnss 
County, Sept. 20, 1848. He began his studies in 
the common schools, and when eight years of age 
came West with his uncle, Franklin Losee, who set- 
tled in Dwight, and engaged in carpentering. John 
completed his education in the schools of the city, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



005 



and started out for himself at the age of seventeen, 
becoming an employe of Col. J. B. Parsons, who 
was carrying on an extensive trade in coal and ice. 
He continued in the employ of the Colonel for a 
period of seventeen years, which speaks well for 
both parties. 

Mr. Ketcham, in 1873, when twenty-five years of 
age, was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, 
daughter of C. T. and Ellen (Lewis) Johnson. The 
young people commenced life together in a modest 
dwelling, and in due time the household was 
brightened by the birth of three children James 
B., Gertie M. and Graeie E. In 1881 Mr. K. pur- 
chased the coal and ice business of Col. Parsons, 
and since that time has carried on an extensive and 
lucrative trade. He bears the reputation of being 
a straightforward business man, careful and consci- 
entious in his dealings, and conspicuous for his in- 
dustry and perseverance. There is no doubt that 
his political opinions received their coloring from 
the gallant soldier in whose society he remained 
for so many years, and like him, he is a strong 
Republican. 

- **- 



i 



? AMES H. BE ATT Y, who owns 160 acres of 
land on section 30, Round Grove Township, 
where he is engaged in general farming and 
raising Norman horses and Short-horn cattle, 
is a native of Loudoun County, Va., and became a 
citizen of Livingston County in 1866. He was 
born in that county, May 12, 1845. and is the son 
of William and Eliza (Smith) Beatty, who were 
natives of Virginia and died in Loudoun County. 
Our subject was reared on a farm, where he re- 
mained until he was seventeen years of age, and 
during that time attended the common schools of 
his neighborhood. On the 1st of July, 1862, he 
enlisted in the Loudoun County (Va.) Rangers, 
a company made up of loyal Virginians, and 
served about three years, or until the close of the 
war. At the engagement of Charlestown, W. Va., 
he was wounded in the spine by a mini.e ball, a 
portion of his backbone being shot away. At the 
same time he was taken prisoner, and was afterward 



confined ten weeks in Libby Prison, at Richmond, 
and at Belle Island. He made his escape from the 
latter place by passing out of the prison at a time 
when 300 of the prisoners were taken out to be 
exchanged. He was subsequently taken prisoner 
at Waterford, Loudoun County, \V. Va.,by Mosby's 
guerrillas, but while on the way to Richmond, Va., 
he very cleverly made his escape from his captors 
and was two days making his way back to his reg- 
iment. 

After the war was over and he received his dis- 
charge from the army, Mr. Beatty returned to Lou- 
doun County, Va., and remained there until 
March, 1866, at which time he migrated to the 
West and located in Livingston County, where for 
two years he worked out by the month in Brough- 
ton Township. He then purchased eighty acres of 
land on section 30 in the township, which he has 
since made his home, and increased to 160 acres. 
He has shown considerable enterprise in the im- 
provement of his farm, and the class of buildings 
which he has erected thereon is much better than 
the average. Besides engaging in general farming 
he is a large producer of Norman horses and Short- 
horn cattle, and in that branch of business has 
been signally successful. His stock has a reputa- 
tion throughout Livingston and adjoining counties 
for correct and thorough breeding. 

In Odell, 111., on the 13th of September, 1868, 
Mr. Beatty was married to Miss Betsy J. Brough- 
ton, who was born in Crown Point, Essex Co., N. 
Y., on the 5th of August, 1840, and came to Liv- 
ingston County in 1866. She is the daughter of 
Dorwin and Martha (Phillips) Broughton, who 
were also natives of Crown Point, N. Y., where 
the mother died Jan. 5, 1884. The father died six 
weeks after coming to Livingston County, on the 
2;>th of March, 1 884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beatty have had but one child, who 
was named Mortimer F. and died in infancy. Mrs. 
Beatty is an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and takes great interest in church 
affairs. Mr. Beatty is a Republican in politics, in 
which part}' he is an active and leading man. As a 
citizen he is highly esteemed, and he and his wife 
enjoy the respect and esteem of the people of the 
surrounding country. 



f 



oor, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




I/ ON. IIKNKY J. FRANTZ, one of the most 
prominent .'ind popular men of Kppard'8 
Point, lias for many years been closety 

(gjt identified with its most important interests. 
He possesses :ill the elements of a good citizen, 
briny broad-minded, intelligent and liberal, and is 
rated in all respects as one of its most valued and 
representative men. His career has been more than 
ordinarily successful, and all who know him agree 
that it is hut the just reward of an upright and 
honorable course, in which he has sought to deal 
justly by his fellowmen, and to be of use in his 
community. 

Our subject was born near Salem, Roanoke Co., 
Ya., Feb. 7, 1834, and is the son of Jacob and 
Kliza (Petty) Frantz, also natives of the Old Do- 
minion. His father, born in 1802, was the son of 
Michael Frantz, whose father was of German birth 
and parentage, and emigrated to the United States 
in early manhood. The maternal grandfather of 
our subject, Abner Petty by name, was a native of 
Virginia, where his daughter. Eliza, was reared, and 
in 1824 became the wife of Jacob Frantz. The 
hitter spent their entire lives in their native State. 
Jacob Franz, although the possessor of a good farm, 
was a tanner by trade, and pursued this calling in 
connection with agriculture. He died at his home 
in Roanoke County, in 180!), at the age of sixty- 
seven years. The mother had died of typhoid 
fever in 1848, when our subject was fourteen year> 
old. She was married when fifteen years of age, 
and was of unusually robust and health}* frame, 
falling a victim, as is the case with many similarly 
constituted, at the first attack of disease. 

The children of Jacob and Eliza Franz are re- 
corded as follows: John, the eldest, is married, 
and engaged in the grain and lumber busine>- at 
Cisco, 111.; Thornton occupies a farm adjoining the 
old homestead in Roanoke County, Ya. : Mary is 
the wife of H. N. Burks, a farmer of Wood ford 
County, this State; Henry, of our sketch, was the 
fourth child: Lucy is the wife of Henry Shafaver, 
a prosperous farmer of Roanoke County. Ya. : Nancy 
married Christian Ninninger, who is carrying on 
farming and fruit-growing in Roanoke County, Ya. : 
Mai shall is married, and lives in his native county in 
Virginia: Fanny is the; wife of (ieorge Knskholder, 



and with him crossed the Missi->ippi into Allen 
County, Kan., where they live upon a farm: Emery 
is married and continues a resident of Roanoke 
County, Ya. ; Charles is also married, and farming 
near the old homestead: Mattie is unmarried, and 
lives with her brother on the home farm. 

Henry J. Frantz spent his boyhood and youth at 
the homestead in Roanoke County, Ya., being edu- 
cated mostly in subscription schools. After reach- 
ing his majority, and when starting out in life for 
himself, he sought the Prairie State for a location, 
taking up his residence first in Wood ford County. 
He there engaged in farming until 1879, and in the 
spring of that year located at Ocoya, in Kppard's 
Point Township, where he established the busi- 
ness in which he has since successfully engaged. 
He has been quite prominent in the affairs of Wood- 
ford County, and in the fall of 1867 was elected 
Treasurer, which position he held for a period of 
six years. He discharged the duties of this office 
with so much credit to himself and satisfaction to 
his constituents that in 1874 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the Illinois Legislature, serving thereafter 
two years in the House and four years in the Sen- 
ate. During this time, among the many other im- 
portant measures, he introduced the Funding bill, 
which became a law, and the provisions of which 
have been carried out in a manner most satisfactory 
to the people at large. At the same time he was a 
member of several important committees, most of 
the time serving as chairman, and was connected 
with the matter of roads and bridges, agriculture 
and charitable institutions. The very fact that he 
had not in any measure been an office-seeker com- 
mended him to the people of his section as one 
most thoroughly qualified to represent their interests. 

Mr. Frantz secured land in this county in 1878, 
before taking up his residence here. He first pur- 
chased the elevator at Ocoya, and subsequently 400 
acres on sections 17 and 18. He afterward sold a 
half interest in the elevator to Messrs. Haines, 
(.union A- Co., and added 250 acres to his landed 
interests. This he has brought to a fine state of 
cultivation, and has put up a fine residence with 
an ample and substantial barn, and the various 
other out-buildings required to complete the mod- 
ern country home. The elevator has a capacity 

+ * 




,,, 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



909 



of 30,000 bushels, and has become one of the in- 
dispensable institutions of that section. 

The family of Mr. Frantz includes his estimable 
wife and eight children at home, namely: William 
D., Montie, Lulu V., Minnie S., Mamie, Frank C., 
Walter P. and Orville G. Henry K., a resident of 
Wellington, Kan., completed his studies in Wes- 
leyan College, at Bloomington. and is now con- 
nected with the Wellington National Bank. Mrs. 
Frantz was in her girlhood Miss Maria, daughter of 
Christian and Elizabeth (Houts) Gish, natives of 
Virginia. Thej' came to Illinois in 1 852, locating in 
Woodford County. Maria was bofn Oct. 28, 1838, 
and became the wife of our subject Dec. 20, 1858. 
The parental household included six children, three 
now living. Kufus Gish is a minister of the Ger- 
man Baptist Church, and a resident of Woodford 
County: Elizabeth is the wife of John McCauley, 
of that county. The deceased were named respect- 
ively, John, Hester, Eliza and Susan. 



Ji OHN MONAHAN, whose portrait is given 
in connection with this sketch, owns 480 
acres of land in Charlotte Township, located 
' on section 21. Here he is engaged in farm- 
iiii!' and stock-raising on quite an extensive scale. 
He was born in County Meath, Ireland, May 1, 1838, 
and was the sixth in a family of eight children 
born to John and Bridget (Glacken) Monahan, who 
were natives of the town of Glackentown, Ireland, 
which was named after the original family of 
Glacken. The paternal grandparents were Michael 
and Mary (Hoden) Monahan, and the maternal 
grandparents were Eugene and Catherine (Cuddan) 
Glacken, all natives of Ireland. The father of our 
subject was a farmer in Ireland and remained in 
that country until his death, which occurred in 
1849. His excellent wife survived him and died 
at the advanced age of eighty-four years. 

Mr. Monahan remained in Ireland until he was 
nearly seventeen years of age, and received his ed- 
ucation in the national schools which are similar in 
their features to the Normal Schools in this coun- 
try. He then resolved to try his fortunes in the 
New World, and in the month of March, 1855, 
sailed from Liverpool on board the sailing-vessel 




" Duck Conqueror," and after a rough voyage of 
seven weeks and three days, he landed at Castle 
Garden, N. Y. He first located in Onondaga 
County, N. Y., where he remained for about two 
years, engaged at farm labor in the summer at flO 
per month, and attended school in the winter. At 
the age of nineteen, he with seven companions, 
went on a prospecting tour for the purpose of find- 
ing future homes, and stopped first at Dubuque, 
where they passed a short time, and then spent 
about six months in prospecting through various 
portions of Iowa. Not finding a location which 
exactly suited him, Mr. Monahan went to Mor- 
ris, Grundy Co., 111., and remained there for two 
years engaged in weighing coal at the mines in 
summer, and teaching school in the winter. When 
he left Grundy County he came to Livingston 
County and settled on section 22, Charlotte Town- 
ship, on the 24th of June, 1858. His brother, Pat 
Monahan, was a partner with him in this purchase 
of land, as well as in stocking the farm, and they 
remained in partnership until the month of Octo- 
ber, 1863. 

On the 17th of October, 1863, Mr. Monahan was 
married to Mary, daughter of James and Mary 
(I)onn) Glinnen, and was the fifth child in a fam- 
ily of eight born to her parents, who were natives 
of County Westmeath, Ireland. Mrs. Monahan 
was born March 1 1 , 1843, in the State of Maryland. 
Mr. and Mrs. Glinnen returned to Ireland when the 
wife of our subject was only seventeen daj's old, 
for the purpose of paying a visit to that country, 
and also of bringing over a brother. After mar- 
riage, Mr. and Mrs. Monahan located on the farm 
on which they now reside, erecting in 1864 a two- 
story frame house, which cost the sum of $1,600. 
In March, 1865, this building was totally destroyed 
by a cyclone which swept over that section of 
country, and in the same year he built the south 
wing of the house he has since completed and now 
occupies. Mr. Monahan's original purchase of 
land in 1863 was 160 acres of wild prairie land. 
He has from time to time made further purchases 
until he now owns 480 acres of fine, arable land, all 
under a high state of cultivation, and well im- 
proved ; 400 acres of this farm is enclosed by fences 
in 40-acre fields. His buildings, which include 



t 



010 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



residence, barns anrl stables, are all first-class. In 
his stock operations Mr. Monahan's preference 
seems to be for Norman horses and Holstein cattle, 
of which he raises a large number of the very finest 
grades produced. 

Mr. and Mrs. Monahan have had nine children, 
who were named as follows: Julia Ann, Maria Jane, 
Thomas Francis, Mathew Paul, Helena Bruno, John 
Joseph, John Dennis, Edward Alphonso and Katie 
Agnes. John Joseph died Aug. 17, 1874, at the 
age of eleven months and seven days. Mr. and 
Mrs. Monahan are. educating these children to the 
best advantage possible, affording them all the facil- 
ities that are within their power. The family are 
adherents of the Catholic faith, and are devoted 
members of the church. 

Mr. Monahan is not an active man in politics, 
but votes with the Democratic party. He has held 
the office of Township Supervisor for two terms, 
has served as Assessor for two years, and has been 
School Director of the district in which he resides 
twenty-one years. The district is very largely in- 
debted to him for the high standard of excellence 
the schools have attained. He was instrumental in 
organizing the present township of Charlotte. 
Practically, Mr. Monahan is a s.elf-made man, hav- 
ing accumulated all that he possesses by his own in- 
dustry and good management in connection with 
the support afforded him by his prudent and eco- 
nomical wife. 

In 1872 Mr. Monahan made a trip to the old 
home in Ireland to see his mother and many friends, 
remaining about three months and visiting many 
portions of Europe. 



i AMES P. HADLEY is a man whose name 
could not be omitted in writing the personal 
history of Sunbury Township and Livingston 
County, for he has been connected with 
most of the events which go to make up their his- 
tory. For years he has been engaged in farming 
and stock-raising on section 33, Sunbury Township. 

~4*- 



He was born in Toinpkins County, N. Y., March 30, 
1806, nnd \\tis the third child in a family of nine 
children, six boys and three girls, born to Ebenezer 
and Elizabeth (Patton) Hadley, natives of Vermont 
and New York respectively. The paternal grand- 
parents were Ehenezcr and Elsie (Adams) Hadley. 
The former was a Revolutionary soldier, and one 
of the stanch old Whigs of his time. Elsie Adams, 
his wife, was a cousin of John Qtiincy Adams. 
The maternal grand pa rents were James and Elsie 
Patton, who were residents of New York at the 
time of the " cold plague," and they and one son 
were found dead in the same house, having died 
from the disease. 

The father of our subject was a farmer and came 
to Illinois in 1848, where he died on the 8th of 
January, 1849, in the city of Aurora. He enlisted 
in the AVar of 1812, but on account of ill-health 
never served. Our subject was reared upon a farm 
and obtained his education in the common schools 
of his neighborhood. He was living between Seneca 
and Cayuga Lakes during the War of 1812, and 
distinct!}' remembers hearing the booming of cannon 
at the time. He remained in New York until 1819, 
and then accompanied his parents to Clermont 
County, Ohio, thirty miles east of Cincinnati, where 
he remained on the farm until 1831. 

December 25, 1831, Mr. Hadley was married to 
Miss Reinina Hill, who was born in New York, 
March 18, 1809, and was the daughter of James and 
Fannie (Tiffany) Hill, of that State. They lived 
there on a farm until 1848, and then came to Illinois 
to make their home. They settled in what is now 
known as Sunbury Township, and purchased 160 
acres of land of which ten were cleared. At that 
time wolves were plentiful, and often chased the 
dogs to the dooryard. Not long after coining, in 
1852, he buried his excellent wife, after having 
become the mother of a family of ten children, 
whose names were Mary, Amanda, Paulina, James, 
Sarah, William, John, Eugene and Eliza A. and 
Eliza J., twins, who died in Ohio. Maty, Paulina, 
James, William and John are living, but none of 
them reside in the State of Illinois. After the 
deatli of his wife. Mr. Hadley remained single for 
nine years, and carried on his farm with the assist- 
ance of his children, the daughters looking after the 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



911 



household duties in a most becoming manner. 

January 1, 1861, Mr. Hadley married Phoebe A. 
(Tripp) Hilton, who was the widow of Richard Hil- 
ton. She was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., 
Oct. 1 8, 1 830, and was the fourth in a family of ten 
children born to Ephraim and Sarah (Mason) Tripp, 
natives of New York. I lor grandfathers were Ben- 
jamin Tripp and Joseph Mason, both of whom were 
of English birth. The father of Mrs. Hadley was a 
soldier in the late war and served from the beginning 
to the close. Three of his sons were also in the 
service, one of whom, William, was wounded, and 
the others returned uninjured. Immediately after 
this marriage just above mentioned, Mr. Hadley 
settled upon the farm upon which he has resided 
ever since. He was one of the organizers of the 
township and assisted in appraising the school lands, 
which was dene in 1853, the lands ranging from 
$5 to $8 per acre in value. These are now worth 
at least five times that much. He also assisted in 
organizing the districts for road and school purposes. 
At that time the settlements were very sparse and 
the county was full of wild game and animals, includ- 
ing deer, turkey and bear. The second marriage 
resulted in the birth of seven children, all of whom 
are living Richard, Helen, Norman, Amanda, Irv- 
ing, Roxana and Oriri. Richard married Maiy 
McDougall, and lives on a farm in Esmen Township: 
Helen married Franklin Ileckman, and lives in Kan- 
sas. The others are at home and engaged in carry- 
ing on the affairs of the farm. 

Mr. Hadley votes the Republican ticket, but has 
never been active in politics, nor has he held office. 
There being no church organization within a rea- 
sonable distance of them, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have 
never connected themselves with any congregation. 
M r. Hadley is one of the oldest citizens of Livingston 
County, and his name is familiar to neai ly all its peo- 
ple. Among his neighbors he is familiarly known 
as " Uncle Jimmy," and with his immediate friends 
that name has become a household word. Having 
lived an upright life, he now enjoys the esteem, 
confidence and respect of all who know him, and it is 
with great pleasure that we include his portrait 
among those given in this ALBUM of many of the 
leading and most honorable and highly esteemed 
men of the county. 
4* 




;HOM AS H. AARON is one of the good citi- 
zens of Fayette Township, and is extensively 
engaged in farming and stock-raising. He 
is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born May 10, 
1826. He is the son of George and Margaret 
(Roofner) Aaron, who were natives of the same 
State. George Aaron, the father, followed the oc- 
cupation of farming in Pennsylvania, in which he 
was extensively engaged during his entire life. In 
addition to farming he was also a stock-raiser on a 
large scale. He took quite an active part in the 
political affairs of his day, in which he co-operated 
with the Democratic party. His death occurred on 
the 28th of October, 1878, leaving ten children, as 
follows: James, Thomas H., John, George, Mar- 
garet, Sylvester, Lucinda, Joseph, Saybilia W. and 
Francis. The latter was married, and died in Will 
County, 111., in 1871, leaving two children. 

Thomas H. Aaron began life for himself when 
about twenty-two years of age, and first learned the 
trade of a blacksmith in Pennsylvania, under the 
instructions of George Beer. He served as an ap- 
prentice for about eighteen months, after which he 
purchased the business of Mr. Beer, and continued 
it for two years. He then purchased a piece of 
timber land which he cleared and farmed for four- 
teen years. Finding a purchaser for this land he 
sold it and removed to Henry County, 111., in the 
year 1867, where he remained for three years .en- 
gaged in farming. He then sold his- Henry County 
farm and came to Livingston County, purchasing 
160 acres on section 4, Fayette Township, where he 
has since resided. This farm has been placed 
under an excellent state of cultivation and made 
very productive. The improvements in the way of 
bnildings and fences are very complete, and alto- 
gether the farm is as well conditioned as any in the 
township. Mr. Aaron raises from twenty-five to 
forty head of graded cattle per year, for which he 
finds a ready market. 

August 26, 1849, Mr. Aaron was married to 
Miss Mary Lilly, a native of Pennsylvania, who was 
born Oct. 14, 1830. She is the daughter of Luke 
and Rachel Lilly, natives of England and Pennsyl- 
vania respectively, and now both dead. There 
were two children, the other being named Jane 
Eliza. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron have eight children, 



t 



012 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



r 



named as follows : Vincent, Agnes, Margaret Jane, 
Elizabeth, Philomena, George, Helena and Alice. 
Philomena married George Eddy, a native of La- 
Salle County, 111., and a son of Stephen and Mary 
Eddy, who followed the vocation of a fanner. 
Elizabeth married Peter Hanaghan, who is located 
at Ottawa, and is a painter. Vincent married Mary 
Winslow, and is engaged at merchandising at 
Strawn. Mr. Aaron's two oldest daughters are 
members of the Order of the Holy Cross. Our 
subject is a stanch Democrat, and can always be de- 
pended upon in movements for the furtherance of 
the interests and success of that party. He has held 
the offices of School Director, School Trustee, Road 
Commissioner, Assessor and Township Supervisor. 
In all respects, politically and otherwise, he is a 
representative citizen of Fayette Township, and en- 
joys the confidence of all who know him. Mr. 
Aaron and family are all members of the Roman 
Catholic Church, and attend divine worship at 
Strawn. 



S7SAAC P. McDOWELL, President of the First 
National Bank of Fairbury, and one of the 
||), leading men of Livingston County, was born 
on the 17th of August, 1824, in Scioto County, 
Ohio, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Price) 
McDowell, the former a native of Woodford 
County, Ky., and the latter of Chillicothe, Ohio. 
The father was born on the 1st of January, 1792, 
and died on the 16th of January, 1843, in the State 
of Indiana, he having moved to Montgomerj- 
County in that State in 1828. He was a farmer 
by occupation, and for many years filled the office 
of Justice of the Peace, and other township offices. 
He and his wife were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he was a Steward, and 
his dwelling was a place of worship for some years 
before church buildings had been established in 
that section of country. 

The mother was born on the 30th of October. 
1798, and died on the 10th of October. 1880, in 
Fairbury, 111. There were nine children : Jackson 
died at the age of twenty-two; Sarah A.. Isaac P., 
Oliver P., Nelson S., Mary E., James M., John V. 
and William H. H. The latter was born in March, 



1840. during the Harrison campaign, which ac- 
counts doubtless for his name. 

I>:ific P. McDowell was married, June 10, 1855, 
to Miss Jane Russell, born in Piekaway County. 
Ohio, in 1834. She is the daughter of William 
and Elizabeth (McArthur) Russell. Her father 
came from Virginia in early times, and settled in 
Ohio, where the capital of the State, Columbus, 
now stands. Mr. McDowell came to Illinois in 
1850, and located four miles north of Fairbury, 
where he remained three years and then went to 
Pontiac, in which place he built the first business 
house of any consequence, which was occupied by 
the firm of Ladd, McDowell & McGregor, which 
they filled with goods to the amount of $20,000. 
Theirs were the first goods shipped on the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad to Pontiac, after it was finished 
through in June, 1854. Mr. McDowell remained 
in the firm two years, when he disposed of bis in- 
terest and returned to his farm, where he remained 
until the spring of 1 864, when he came to Fair- 
bury and joined his brother, Nelson S. McDowell, 
in the dry-goods business, continuing in this busi- 
ness for four years, and in the spring of 1872 es- 
tablished the First National Bank of Fairbury, with 
a capital of $50,000, of which bank he has continu- 
ously held the Presidency. 

Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have had six children, 
five of whom are living: Lillian died in infancy; 
Thomas S. O., Elmer E., John V., Eva and Lura. 
Thomas S. O. McDowell was elected Cashier of the 
First National Bank when in his nineteenth year, 
being the youngest National Bank Cashier in the 
United States; he has occupied that position ten 
years. Elmer E. was Assistant Cashier of this 
bank for three years, and on the 1st of May, 1886, 
became a Director and Cashier of the First Na- 
tional Bank at Fairbury, Neb., the county seat of 
Jefferson County, in which bank the McDowell 
family have an interest, his brother, John V., taking 
his place in the Illinois bank. Thomas S. O. mar- 
ried in 1882, Miss Rose Cook, born in Richmond, 
Ind., in 1 862, and has one child, Rose Lenore, now 
twenty months old. Thomas S. O. has been City 
Treasurer for a number of years, also one of the 
Aldermen for several years, and is now City Clerk. 
Mr>. McDowell is the daughter of an old-time resi- 



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LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



915 



dent and representative family of Richmond, Ind., 
and a woman of refinement and education. 

Isaac P. McDowell and his wife are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has 
l>een a Steward for many years. At the age of six- 
teen he engaged in teaching, and continued for thir- 
teen years, his brothers and sisters all going to 
school to him. He is an ardent Republican, and in 
1867-68 purchased the Fairbnry Journal to keep it 
from falling into the hands of the Democrats, and 
when the right man came along he sold it, to be 
published as a Republican paper in the future. 



I AMES H. FRY, the owner of 251 acres of 
land on section 3, Long Point Township, of 

d which 195 are under an excellent state of 
\) cultivation, is engaged in farming and also 
in stock-raising. He is a native of Illinois, being 
born in Warsaw, Dec. 19, 1849, and is the son of 
Solomon and Sarah (House) Fry, natives of Penn- 
sylvania and Connecticut respectively. The grand- 
father was Jacob Fry; the grandmother, Sarah Fry, 
was the daughter of George House, a native of En- 
gland. Solomon Fry, the father, now resides in 
Carthage, Mo., and is a brickmason by trade. He 
was a soldier in the late war, being a member of 
the 78th Illinois Infantry, in which he served three 
years. To Solomon and Sarah Fry were born four 
children J. H., Harriett, Mary and William. Mary 
was born on the 27th of September, 1853, and now 
resides in Nebraska; she is the wife of Samuel Cox, 
who is a farmer, and they have a family of seven 
children. William was born on the 13th of May, 

1856, and now resides in Streator; he married 
Georgia Buckley, and they have three children. 
Harriet was born on the 3d of November, 1861, 
and died on the 19th of January, 1863. After the 
death of the mother of our subject the father mar- 
ried Ellen Polite, of Ohio, on the 30th of April, 

1857. By this union there were three children: 
Richard, born March 15, 1)S58, died in infancy; 
Sarah Isabella, born March 19, 1860, married John 
Rankin, a farmer and stock-raiser, and lives in 
Missouri : she is the mother of three children, one of 
whom is deceased. Alva, born April 16. 1862, 



died when one week old. The mother died at the 
birth of this child. Afterward Solomon Fry mar- 
ried Nancy Polite, a sister of his second wife, and 
to them were born Orpha B., March 29, 1866; 
Charlotte, Nov. 15, 1868; Olive, born March 4, 
1872, died Dec. 22, 1875; Martin B., born Oct. 19, 
1875; Charlie and Carl. 

The subject of our sketch remained at home un- 
til the breaking out of the war, at which time his 
father entered the service and he went out to earn 
his own living. Mr. Fry was married, on the 23d 
of January, 1873, to Sarah Elizabeth Buckley, who 
was born on the 16th of May, 1852, in New Jersey. 
She is the daughter of Joel T. and Melinda (Wil- 
son) Buckley, who were natives of New Jersey, and 
were the parents of the follo'wing-natned children : 
Abner W., born May 6, 1845, was a member of 
Company F, 104th Illinois Infantry, in which he 
served for nearly three years; he was taken pris- 
oner at Hartsville, Ala., and died from overheat 
and typhoid fever, Jan. 27, 1863. Mary J., born 
Jan. 14, 1848, married James Paul, and is a physi- 
cian by profession, having been graduated at the 
Rush Medical College of Chicago; Margaret, born 
March 3, 1850, was educated in the schools at 
Galesburg, and has been engaged in school teach- 
ing; Sarah Elizabeth is the wife of our subject; 
George, born in 1854, died in 1855; Georgie was 
born March 7, 1856, and is now the wife of Will- 
iam Fry ; Elsie B., born Nov. 5, 1 858, is the wife 
of Fred Fnrguson, who is the Superintendent of the 
Streator Water- Works; Jessie, born June 29, 1860, 
is now attending Rush Medical College; Hattie, 
born May 14, 1863, is teaching school at Streator; 
Wendell Stouder is an adopted son in this family, 
who was born on the 4th of May, 1871, and adopted 
in 1872. He is living at home and attending the 
High School. 

To Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Fry have been born three 
children: Renelda T., Nov. 12, 1873; Ora L., Dec. 
6, 1875, and Adessa V., Sept. 11, 1877. Mr. Fry's 
farm is one of the finest in Long Point Township, 
and of the 251 acres of which it consists, 195 are 
under cultivation. The farm is enclosed by sub- 
stantial board fences, and the residence and barns 
are commodious and convenient. A view of the 
homestead is to be seen on an adjoining page. Mr. 



i 



916 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Fry is largely engaged in buying and selling, in 
addition to the raising of stock. He is considered 
one of the wide-nwake business men of Long Point 
Township, and as such enjoys the confidence of the 
people. Ho is a member of the Republican party, 
which he gives a liberal support at all times. His 
excellent wife is connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in which she evinces a lively 
interest. Both as citizens and neighbors Mr. and 
Mrs. Fry enjoy the respect and esteem of the en- 
tire community. 




f NTON GSCHWENDTNER. Few stop to 
iff*// 111 t, u i n k o f the dangers which beset, and the 
hardships which have to be encountered by 
the people who were born in foreign coun- 
tries, and emigrated to the United States before the 
transportation lines were provided with the im- 
mense and commodious ships which ply between the 
two continents to-day. In crossing the ocean from 
the home of his youth to the land where he was to 
dwell in his after life, the subject of this sketch was 
out of sight of land sixty-three days, and the dreari- 
ness, as well as the danger, of over two months on 
the ocean, can be imagined. But he was willing to 
endure all these privations that he might obtain a 
home for himself in this country. 

The subject of this sketch is a prominent farmer 
and stock-raiser on section 17, Owego Township. 
and is a native of Bavaria, (iermany. He was born 
on the 1st of July, 1833, and remained in his na- 
tive country until he was twenty-five years of age, 
and secured a good education in his native language. 
In 18,")8 he took passage for America in a sailing- 
vessel at Bremen, and after a rough voyage of 
sixty-three days, landed at the city of Baltimore, 
and vei'3' soon afterward journeyed to the West, 
where he spent most of the time up to 18C5 in La- 
Salle County. In that year he located in Living- 
ston County, and settled on section 9 of Owego 
Township, where he lived until 1885, in which year 
he removed to liis present farm, which consists of 
303 acres of good land on section 17. When he 
landed in the United Slates he had about $75 in 
money, but by closely husbanding that amount un- 



til he procured employment, he managed to escape 
without ever being bankrupt. His accumulations 
have been slow but sure. 

In 1859 Mr. G. was married to Magdalena 
Brulck, who was also a native of Germany, and 
they have had eight children: Josephine, wife of 
Frederick Wright, of Chicago; George. Joseph, 
Frank, Anton, Lndwig, Emma and Lena. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gschwendtner are members of the 
Catholic Church, but in his sentiments he is liberally 
inclined to both church and State. For the past 
twelve years he has served as School Director, and 
is at present serving as one of the School Trustees 
of Owego Township, and in these capacities has had 
an opportunity, which he has improved, of demon- 
strating how genuine a friend he is to educational 
interests, for he has liberally devoted his time and 
his money to that cause. In I860 he gratified a 
long entertained desire to revisit Germany, and 
spent several months in Europe, during which. time 
he visited England, France, and nearly all of the 
more important Gorman States, returning in the 
spring of 1870. well satisfied that he had received 
full value for the money expended on the trip. In 
making his tour through that portion of Europe 
visited, he traveled deliberately, and visited all the 
points of interest to the intelligent tourist. He sus- 
tains very pleasant relations with the people by 
whom he is surrounded, and on account of his lib- 
erality and fairness in all matters is highly es- 
teemed. 

It is with pleasure we present on an accompany- 
ing page a view of the handsome home of Mr. 
Gschwendtner. 



JEREMIAH CLAY, who enjoys a fine reputn. 
tion for enterprise and popularity, is a farmer 
and stock-raiser on section < s . Odell Town- 
ship. He was born in Mifflin County. Pa., 
on the 10th of January, 1840, and was tln> eldest 
cliiM in a family of twelve born to Christopher and 
Rebecca (Lyter) Clay, who were also natives of 
Pennsylvania, where thc^y were engaged in farming. 
The parents are both dead, the mother dying on 
the 10th of September, l81,and the father on the 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



917 



i- 



21st of September, 1883, in Madison Township, 
Branch Co., Mich., where they settled in 1850. 
The father was a stanch Republican and during his 
whole life was active in politics. They were both 
members of the German Reformed Church, and 
were earnest Christian people during their entire 
lives. Their first church connections were as mem- 
bers of the Lutheran denomination. 

Mr. Clay was reared to farm life and educated in 
the common schools. At an early age he worked 
away from home but made his home with his par- 
ents until twenty-four years of age, when he went 
to learn the trade of a carpenter, giving special at- 
tention to the details of house and barn building, 
and remained at this occupation three years. On 
the 10th of June, 1869, he was married to Miss 
Sarah A. Harris, who was born in Burr Oak Town- 
ship, St. Joseph Co.. Mich., on the 3d of Mav, 
1850, and was the second child in a family of 
five born to Harvey and Sarah (Stark) Harris, who 
were natives of New York, but early settlers of 
Michigan, locating there several years prior to 1840, 
at a time when the State was almost uninhabited 
by whites, and was a wilderness of forests. Mr. 
and Mrs. Clay first settled on a rented farm in St. 
Joseph County, where they remained one 3 r ear, and 
then removed with Mrs. Clay's parents to Liv- 
ingston County, III., where they arrived on the 
18th of March, 1 870. Her parents bought the farm 
Mr. and Mrs. Clay now reside upon, consisting of 
eighty acres, and they all joined in cultivating it 
for the first two years. Mr. Clay tlren moved a 
short distance west and remained one year, and then 
north, where he remained on rented farms for two 
years. He then returned to his present residence' 
and upon the death of Mr. Harris purchaser! the 
farm from the widow, upon which he has since re- 
sided, lie has materially added to the capacity of 
the house, and during the past year has erected a 
very commodious barn. He has improved the land 
and is engaged in stock-raising, his products includ- 
ing Durham cattle, Norman and Golddust horses 
and Poland hogs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clay became ttie parents of three 
children, namely : Frank, who was born on the 16th 
of May, 1871; Flora Belle, who was born on the 
30th of May, 1875, and died on the 2th of July, 



1 876 ; and George, who was born on the 31st of Au- 
gust, 1879. In January, 1887, they adopted Addie 
Belle (Parker) Clay, born on the 9th of August, 1 878, 
in Branch County, Mich., whose mother's maiden 
name was Helen Shaw. Mr. Clay has served as Com- 
missioner of Highways and Road Overseer. In poli- 
tics he is a member of the Republican party, and 
takes quite an active interest, being a member of the 
County Central Committee and nearly always a dele- 
gate to the nominating conventions. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., in which he occupies an 
exalted position, having risen to the highest ranks 
in the lodge at Pontiac; he is also a member of 
Odell Lodge No. 464; and a member of the Masonic 
Lodge at Odell as well as of the Independent Order 
of Mutual Aid, and from these bodies frequently 
goes as a delegate to the Grand Lodges. He is a 
very ardent secret society man, and to whatever 
order he belongs he contributes liberally of his time 
and means. 



A. HECKELMAN, the manager of the lum- 
ber and building material business for The 
J. T. Bullard's Lumber Company at Cullom, 
resides on section 23, Sullivan Township, 
and is a young man of good business qualities, full 
of energy and enterprise, and performs .with thor- 
oughness whatever he may undertake. He was born 
in Sullivan Township on the 29th of October, 1862, 
and is the only child of his parents, John and Susan 
(Harshbarger) Hcckelman. His father is a native 
of Germany, and possesses all the sterling traits of 
that nationality. His mother was born in Virginia. 
The paternal grandparents were George and Eve 
Catherine Heckelman, and the maternal grandparents 
were Joseph and Anna Harsbarger. The father of 
our subject was a cooper by trade, which he learned 
when in the old country, and came to the United 
States at about the age of twenty-three. After 
arriving in this country he followed his trade, first 
in the city of Joliet and afterward in Wilmington. 
He first began farming in Grundy County, and in 
1857 purchased eighty acres of wild prairie land in 
Livingston County, and moved upon this farm in 
1858. Here he began in earnest the work of im- 



I 



t 



918 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



provement, and in the course of a few years had 
made a most excellent farm. Afterward he added 
eighty acres near Cullom, which he improved and 
upon which he erected a good house and barn. He 
continued farming with considerable success until 
his death, which occurred on the 28th of Novem- 
ber, 1875. The mother of our subject survived her 
husband, and lives on the farm near Cullom. 

Mr. Heckelman was reared to farm life, and in 
his early days learned the details in all its depart- 
ments. His education was obtained in the district 
schools, and since he has grown to man's estate he 
has been a constant reader. He engaged in the 
lumber business for J. T. Bullard in January, 1885, 
and has conducted it successfully ever since. He 
is peculiarly adapted to this business, and mani- 
fests considerable enthusiasm in it. 

Mr. Heckelman was married in Augusta County, 
Va., on the 13th of May, 1886, to Nellie Lee 
Baker, who was born on the 13th of July, 1864, in 
that State. She is the second child in a family of 
three born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Crawn) Baker, 
both of whom are natives of Virginia. Almost im- 
mediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Heckel- 
man came to Illinois and settled where they now 
reside. Mrs. Heckelman is a member of the Ger- 
man Reformed Church, and takes an active interest 
in the affairs of the congregation to which she be- 
longs. Mr. and Mrs. Heckelman have gathered 
around them a large circle of friends, who manifest 
upon every occasion the love and esteem they bear 
them. 



J~jOHN SMITH, one of the leading and pro- 
gressive Germans of this part of Livingston 
I County, engaged in farming and stock- rais- 
' ing on section 32, Long Point Township, 
was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 21st of Jan- 
uary, 1848. He is the son of John P. and Marga- 
ret (Graump) Schmidt, who were natives of <!cr- 
many, the former born on the 1st of May, 1805, 
and the latter on the 6th of August, 1812. The 
mother was the daughter of Erhanlt and Elizabeth 
(Hohu) Graump; the father nas the son of John 



and Barbara (Reupdecker) Schmidt, who came to 
America in the spring of 1 856. 

To John P. and Margaret Schmidt were born ;i 
large family of children, as follows: Charlie wa.- 
born Sept. 16, 1829, married Miss Hess, and has 
eight children : Ann was born Feb. 13, 1833, mar- 
ried Henry Schmidt, and they have a family of 
three children; Kiatt was born Dec. 11, 1836, mar- 
ried Margaret VVisenmiller, and the}' have a family 
of six children: John M. was born July 25, 1839, 
married Rachel Hengway, and they had a family 
of six children; Barbara was born July 28, 1842, 
married John Smith, and they have a family of 
nine children; Henry was born Jan. 3, 1845, mar- 
ried Kate Weisenmiller, and they have a family of 
thirteen children; John, the subject of this sketch; 
George was born Oct. 15, 1851, and married Carrie 
Smith; Margaret was born May 12, 1855, and died 
on the 14th of March, 1882, Minnie was born May 
10, 1858, and died Dec. 30, 1882. She was the 
wife of William Sours, and left one child, who was 
one week old when its mother died. 

On the 14th of September, 1876, the subject of 
this sketch married Miss Annie, daughter of Will- 
iam and Winifred Roach. She and her parents are 
natives of Ireland. Her brothers and sisters are 
named as follows: Bridget, Mary, Winifred, John 
and Peter. Bridget was first married to M. Pheney, 
and after his death she married P. Garaherty, and 
died in 1883, leaving three children; Mary was 
married to G. Matherson, and they have three chil- 
dren ; Winifred married J. Pheney, and lives in 
New Orleans; John is married, and lias a family of 
eight children; Peter married Kate Catharay, and 
has seven children. To Mr. and Mrs. John Smith 
there have been born three boys and one girl, as 
follows: Mary Margaret was born March 4, 1*7*; 
Willie, March 27, 1881; George, April 3, 1886, 
and Arthur, Nov. 5, 18*7. 

The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are mem In -i - 
of the Lutheran and Catholic Churches respectively. 
In political matter?. Mr. simith acts with the Re- 
publican party, of which he is a faithful and enthu- 
siastic member. He now owns :>'2() acres of land, 
which is in a good state of cultivation, and con- 
tains first-class improvements, which have been made 
at an expense of $2,000. He now owns Miioid," 




RESIDENCE OF LARS LEWIS, SEC. 7. BROUGHTONTOWNSHIP. 




FARM RESIDENCE orJoHN SMITH ,SEC. 32. LONG POINT TOWNSH 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



921 



a full-blooded Norman horse, which was imported 
at a considerable expense. In his farming and 
stock-raising operations, the latter including hogs 
and cattle as well as Worses, he has been successful, 
and in both lines of business sets his standard of 
excellence high. He is one of the progressive Ger- 
man citizens of Long Point Township, and talks 
both his native and his adopted language fluently. 
He has endeared himself to the people of the sur- 
rounding country, among whom he numbers many 
warm and steadfast friends. 

On an adjoining page of this volume will be found 
a view of Mr. Smith's residence. 




ARS LEWIS, a representative farmer and 
stock-raiser, residing on section 7, Brough- 
ton Township, is a native of Norway, where 
he was born Sept. 22, 1835. He is the son of O. 
K. and Ann M. Lewis, also natives of Norway, the 
former of whom is deceased. In 1841 he immi- 
grated with his parents to America, landing at New 
York, and going direct to Wisconsin, where the 
family resided four years, and then came to La- 
Salle County, 111., where our subject was reared to 
manhood. His parents had nine children, of whom 
three survive, namely : O. H., Jacob S. and Lars. 

The subject of this sketch received but a limited 
education, which he gained in the common schools 
of the county, and has been a life-long farmer. 
On the 5th of March, 1857, lie was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Ann Olson, a native of Norway, 
where she was born June 14, 1835. She is the 
daughter of Austin and Carrie Olson, and immi- 
grated to America with her parents in 1842, first 
locating in Wisconsin, where they remained two 
years, and where her father died. The widow and 
her children then removed to LaSalle County, 111., 
where the mother died Feb. 5, 1855. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been born ten chil- 
dren, as follows; Jesse E. was born Jan. 6, 1858; 
Benjamin C., April 5, 1859; Charles A., Oct. 27, 
18G2; Carrie M., Aug. 11, 1864; Andrew S., Sept. 
3, 1800; Mary A.. March 11, 1809; Alyda L., 
April 1C, 1871; Emma E., Oct. 21, 1873; William 
A., Oct. 12, 1870, and Zeuus J., June 22, 1880. 



In 1875 Mr. Lewis with his family, came to Liv- 
ingston County and settled on his present farm, 
which consists of 320 acres of good land, which 
has been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and 
is one of the best farms in Broughton Township. 
It is well supplied with modern farm buildings, of 
which a view is shown elsewhere in this ALBUM. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Latter- 
Day Saints Church, while in politics Mr. Lewis is 
independent, having, however, prohibition tenden- 
cies. Although in no sense a politician, he keeps 
himself well informed on current events of the day, 
and the high regard and esteem in which he is held 
in the community where he lives, are evidenced by 
the fact that he has been called upon several times 
to fill local offices. He has served as Road Com- 
missioner several years, and has also filled the office 
of School Director. He is an active promoter of 
all social and political movements which have for 
their object the improvement of society. 




THOMAS LIGG ITT, a pioneer of Nevada 
Township, came to this section of country 
when only a small area had been turned by 
the plowshare, .and, with a few adventurous spirits 
scattered here and there, set about the establishment 
of a home in the wilderness. He had little to en- 
courage him at the start, being comparatively with- 
out means and obliged to operate under the disad- 
vantages of crude implements, a distant market, and 
all the other difficulties of life in a new country. In 
looking upon his snug homestead to-day, it would 
seem that he might lie entirely satisfied with the 
result of his labors. He has a quarter section of 
finely cultivated land, with neat and substantial 
buildings, fruit and shade trees, modern farm 
machinery and a choice assortment of live stock. 
Aside from this he has also invested a snug sum of 
money in property across the Father of Waters in 
the State of Nebraska, where he owns 240 acres in 
Valley County, managed by his son Thomas. 

Our subject was born in Washington County, 
Pa., July 23, 1824, and is the scion of a family 
widely and favorably known throughout that 
region. His paternal great-grandfather, Abraham 





922 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






Liggitt, is believed to have been a native of Mary- 
land and born not far from the roar of the Atlantic. 
He located in Washington County, Pa., at an early 
period in its history and opened up a farm in the 
wilderness, where he spent the last years of his life. 
His grandson, Joshua, the father of our subject, 
was also probably a native of Maryland, whence he 
removed when a lad witli his parents to Pennsyl- 
vania, He there married Miss Rebecca Dempster, 
and they became the parents of six children, and 
spent the remainder of their lives in Washington 
County, where the father died in 1835; the mother 
survived until about 1845. 

Our subject pursued his studies in the district 
school of his native township, and early in life be- 
came familiar with the various employments of the 
farm. After the death of his parents he worked 
by the month until twenty-one, when he removed 
to Ohio, taking with him his sister and brother; he 
afterward made a journey to New Orleans. His 
father several years previously had purchased a 
tract of land in Belmont County, Ohio, and thither 
the family removed in 1845, where Thomas re- 
mained until 1853. He had in the meantime be- 
come possessor of a snug sum of money, and this he 
invested in the patent right to a corn-planter, one 
of the first inventions of the kind in the United 
States, He selected Illinois as his field of opera- 
tions but as is too often the result of the sanguine 
hopes of youth, the venture proved a failure; the 
people did not appreciate the advantage sought to 
be bestowed upon them, and he returned to Ohio. 
In the meantime he had not by any means lost 
sight of the picture which the rich prairie lands of 
Illinois had presented to his vision, and in 1854 
he located on a farm which he rented near Bloom- 
ington. He operated upon this two years, and in 
the spring of 185G came to this county, and in- 
vested his surplus capital in the laud which consti- 
tutes his present farm. It then bore a wide con- 
trast to its present condition, being a wide stretch 
of unbroken prairie, over which the foot of man 
had scarscly traveled. He rented an improved 
tract adjacent to this for two years, and in the 
meantime employed his spare hours in breaking 
prairie on hU own purchase. In 1 858 lie put up a 
il welling into which he removed his family, and the 



farm has since that time remained in his possession. 

The marriage of Thomas Liggitt and Miss Mar- 
garet A. Thompson took place at the home of the 
bride in Ohio, Dec. 22, 1853. Mrs. Liggitt was 
born in Ohio, April 1 1, 1835, and is the daughter of 
Robert and Leathy Thompson. The ten children 
born of this union were named respectively : Klsie, 
Thomas, Robert, Lillian, Martha, Frederick, Charles, 
Richard, Flemming and Mertie. Lillian is the wife 
of John L. Hall, of Fernwood, 111.; Charles died 
Jan. 14, 1884, when fifteen years of age, and Martha. 
April 22, 1875, at the age of eleven years. 

Mr. Liggitt is connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and Mrs. L. with the Presbyterian. 
Our subject is Democratic in politics and has served 
as School Director and Trustee in his district, and 
as Trustee and Steward in his church. He is of 
that kindly, genial and hospitable disposition which 
has won for him friends wherever he has made his 
home, and in the township where he has lived so 
long and acquitted himself so creditably, no man is 
held in higher esteem. 




ETKR SOMERS, of Forest Township, is 

successfully operating on 400 acres of land, 
pleasantly located on section 32. He has 
passed his threescore and ten years, has seen 
much of life, and made the most of his opportuni- 
ties for observing men and things. He is a fine rep- 
resentative of the Celtic element which has assisted 
so materially in the development of this county, to 
which he came when a young man. in the spring of 
18C7. He is widely and favorably known, and 
held in the highest respect, not only for the reso- 
lute industry which he has displayed as a tiller 
of the soil, but for his excellent personal traits and 
straightforward manner of doing business. His 
property, which is very valuable, is the result of 
his own labors and good judgment. 

Our subject was born in County \Vcstmeath. 
Ireland. June 23, 1815, and is the son of Peter and 
Alarcella (Moore) Somers. The father was a far- 
mer of modest means, and dying before the birth 
of our subject, left his widow with a small property. 
They became the parents of three children 






t. 

it 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



923 



Michael. Ann and Peter. Michael died in Ireland 
when a youth of nineteen years, at the home of his 
grandparents, where he had lived most of the time 
after the death of his father. After immigrating 
te America Ann became the wife of John Keating, 
to whom she was married in New York State, where 
they lived three or four years, and then removed 
to Pennsylvania, where the death of Mr. K. took 
place about 1849 :. Mrs. Keating remains a widow, 
and is the mother of seven children. Mrs. Somers 
was a second time married, to John O'Condell, and 
spent her last years in Pennsylvania. 

Young Peter in early childhood was taken to the 
home of his grandparents, who were living upon a 
farm in his native county, and attended school 
quite regularly during his younger days. He 
started out early in life for himself, first working 
upon a farm for the munificent salary of $15 per 
year. He struggled along in that manner nearly 
four years, dissatisfied with his condition, but 
scarcely knowing how to better it with his limited 
means and comparatively little knowledge of the 
world. Finally, however, he came to a point which 
demanded a radical change, and one fine morning, 
making his way to Liverpool he stepped on board 
a ship hound for America. After a tedious voyage 
of eight weeks he found himself in New York City, 
where he staid only two nights and tjien proceeded 
to Philadelphia. He there secured employment for 
a few months, and then migrated to Cambria Coun- 
ty, Pa., where he remained three years engaged in 
farming. He lived economically and saved what 
he could of his earnings, and in 1867 started for 
the West MS being ;i field more suitable to his ca- 
pacities and desires. Coming to Forest Township, 
this county, he purchased 320 acres of wild, uncul- 
tivated land, and rented a tract adjacent until lie 
could effect sufficient improvements to give his 
time to his own property. A year later he took 
possession of the latter, and subsequently added to 
it eighty acres, so that he is now the possessor of 
400 acres, comprising some of the finest fanning 
laud in the county. Of late years he has largely 
devoted his attention to the raising of grain, and 
keeps a fine assortment of live stock, making a 
specialty of Poland-China swine, lie has good 
buildings and the most approved machinery, and is 



in possession of one of the most desirable home- 
steads in Forest Township. 

Mr. Somers in early manhood was married to 
Miss Mary Ann McAteer, the wedding taking place 
in Cambria County, Pa., in the spring of 1842. Of 
this union there were born seven children Cather- 
ine, Michael, Hugh John, Peter, Marcclla, Mary 
and Ann. The eldest daughter, Catherine, died 
when eight years of age; Michael is married, and 
farming in Forest Township; Hugh John died in 
1852, when three years of age; Peter is an agricult- 
urist of Forest Township; Marcella died when about 
seven years of age, in 1862; Mary is the wife of Jo- 
seph Mangan, a farmer of Forest Township; Ann 
died in 1862, within a few days of the death of 
Marcella. The mother of these children died at her 
home in Pennsylvania, Aug. 7, 1859. 

Mr. Somers was married to his present wife. Miss 
Elizabeth Kearns, a few years later. This lady was 
born in Cambria Count}', Pa., Nov. 9. 1820, and is 
the daughter of John and Margaret (Skally) Kearns, 
natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively, 
and occupied in farming pursuits. The parental 
family included ten children, namely: Elizabeth, 
Philip, Catherine. William, Francis, Anastasia, 
Michael. Cecelia, Abraham and Isaac; the latter two 
are twins. The parents both died in 1848. Of this 
marriage of our subject were born two children: 
William A., now married and farming not far from 
liis father's homestead, and Francis Patrick, who re- 
mains at home. Mr. Somers, politically, is an uncom- 
promising Democrat, and a loyal adherent, relig- 
iously, to the Catholic faith of his forefathers. His 
wife and family are also members of the Catholic 
Church. He has long been among the leading men 
of his township, holding its various offices and 
identified with its most woithy enterprises. In 
connection with this sketch we present on another 
page a view of Mr. Somers' residence. 



D. COUBLL, an enterprising fanner of 
D wight Township, located on section 3o, 
is a man who is awarded great credit for 
the success he has attained in life under 
disadvantageous circumstances. He comes from 
an old American family famous for its industry and 







i 924 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



energy. His father, Henry O. Courll, was born on 
a farm near Charleston, S. C. He learned farming 
in early life, and followed that occupation until he 
retired from active work. When quite a young 
man he moved to Wabash County, Ind., where he 
engaged at work on a farm. While living in that 
county he married Diana Drollinger, of Wabash 
Count}', and they became the parents of the follow- 
ing children: M. D., our subject; Anna M., Marthy 
M., Emma J. and Henry John. In 1853 the father 
with his family moved to Marshall County, Iowa 
where he farmed until 1 862, and then returned to 
Indiana. In 1868 he moved to Illinois and settled 
on a farm in Bureau County. In 1876 he moved 
to Dwight, where he has since resided. In politi- 
cal opinions he has been a life-long Democrat, but 
has never aspired to office seeking or holding. He 
is now sixty-nine years of age, and has always been 
an industrious and hard-working man. 

M. D. Courll, our subject, was born in Fulton 
County, Ind., on the 26th of September, 1848. 
He obtained a common-school education during his 
youth, and learned the details of farming. At ten 
years of age he began work, driving team, and 
when but fifteen years of age began to follow 
threshing, at which business he worked every fall 
for fifteen years. He remained with his father until 
twenty-five years of age, during which time he as- 
sisted in conducting his father's farm, and keeping 
up such other work as there was to do. 

On the 4th of March, 1874, Mr. Courll was mar- 
ried to Miss Eliza E. Munch, daughter of X. and 
Mary Ann (Pflager) Munch, who were natives of 
France. Mr. Munch came with his father to Joliet, 
when he was but fifteen years of age, and was one 
of the first settlers of that place. He was a soldier 
in the Mexican War in 1846-47. The father 
bought a farm near Joliet. upon which the family 
lived for many years. Mr. Munch still resides 
there at the age of sixty-four .years. When a 
young man he assisted in the construction of the 
Illinois Canal. In religion he is a devout member 
of the Catholic Church, and is a citizen universally 
esteemed and respected. After marriage, Mr. 
Courll and his ynung bride began farming in Will 
County, and there remained engaged in that occu- 
pation for three years. In February, 1870, Mr. 



Courll removed his family to Livingston County, 
and located on the farm in Dwight Township where 
they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Courll are the par- 
ents of five children, named Edwin, Ement G., 
Ferdinand, William and Pearl; of these, Ement G. 
died in infancy. Mr. Condi's political connections 
have always been with the Democratic party, al- 
though he does not assume an active place in polit- 
ical matters. He is an upright and industrious 
man, a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, and has 
attained his position in the business world through 
his own exertions. 




sHOMAS CAVANAGH is a man who has 
found prosperity in Livingston County, after 
many trials and tribulations elsewhere. He 
is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 25, in Rook's 
Creek Township, and is the son of Patrick and Ho- 
nora (Hannifin) Cavanaugh. He was born in St. 
Louis, Mo., on the 8th of July, 1853, and was the 
eldest of eight children, one of whom died in in- 
fancy. The father of our subject was born on the 
25th of December, 1826, in the county of Kerry, 
Ireland, and came to this country in 1845, just be- 
fore the great famine. He worked on a steamer on 
the Mississippi River from St. Louis to St. Paul, 
and from St. Louis to New Orleans. He was mar- 
ried in 1852 to Miss Hannifin, with whom he had 
been acquainted in Ireland. At this time he was 
working in a quarry in St. Louis, but about a year 
after his marriage he quit work there and became 
a sub-boss on a railroad contract just north of La- 
Salle, where he remained about one year, and then 
bought a squatter's right of eighty acres of land, on 
which he remained about two years, when another 
man came and claimed it. Upon surrendering this 
claim, he bought eighty acres of a school section, 
which he owned until he came to Livingston County. 
About the time he lost his squatter's claim, a span 
of horses for which lie had been offered $400 was 
stolen from him, and while he was looking for his 
hor.-es. thirteen of his cattle became swamped, and 
several of them were lost, while the same year he 
lost several hundred dollars' worth of potatoes. In 
1G7 he came to Livingston County, where he was 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



92") 



compelled to rent a farm on account of his misfort- 
unes in LaSalle County. Through careful manage- 
ment and prudent economy, he has been enabled to 
purchase a comfortable home, where he now lives. 

Thomas Cavanagh was married, on the 23d of 
February, 1879, to Miss Elizabeth J. O'Brien, by 
whom he has four children, as follows: Patrick W. 
born March 23, 1880; Mary, Aug. 9, 1882; Eliza 
E., Nov. 30, 1884, and Timothy, May 23, 1887. 
Mr. Cavanagh's grandfather, Daniel Cavanagh, was 
born in Ireland about 1766, and came to this 
country about 1840, where he lived to the good old 
age of ninety-eight, dying in the year 1864. At 
the age of ninety-four, he took great pride in walk- 
ing to the polls, a distance of two miles, and voting 
for Stephen A. Douglas. He was twice married, 
and the father of the subject of this sketch was the 
youngest of thirteen children, all of whom came to 
this country, except the eldest, Jeremiah, who in- 
herited the old homestead in Ireland. Our subject 
had two uncles in the war of the Rebellion, one the 
brother of his father, and the other the brother of 
his mother. The former never was heard of after 
the war, and it is supposed he died in Libby Prison ; 
the latter lives near Olathe, Kan. 

Mr. Cavanagh received a fair common-school 
education, which he has supplemented by an exten- 
sive course of reading, and is a man of more than 
ordinary information. He was twice elected Col- 
lector of Waldo Township, and has held the offices 
of School Director and Clerk of the School Board. 
He comes from Democratic antecedents, but is very 
independent in the exercise of his own political 
rights. 



horn in Allegheny County, Pa., Aug. 7, 1851, and 
reared to farm pursuits, in the meantime acquiring 
a common-school education. His father, William 
Orr, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, where he 
spent his entire life, and his remains were laid to 
' rest not far from the place of his birth. The 
mother was also horn in the Keystone State and 
still resides there near Pittsburgh. 

Mr. Orr left his native county when a lad six 
years of age and came to DeKalb County, this 
State, to live with his uncle, James Orr, who died 
in Round Grove Township in June, 1886. The 
latter had removed here from DeKalb, in 1865. 
William J., in 1882, formed the present partnership 
with an uncle, Gorge Orr, and they have now built 
up a good business and handle most of the grain in 
the vicinity of Wilson. The fact that Mr. Orr, al- 
though Republican in politics, still holds the po- 
sition of Deputy Postmaster, speaks well for his 
standing in the community. He has been connected 
with the office since its establishment, and in all re- 
spects is considered a valuable member of the com- 
munity. 



yiLLIAM J. ORR, Deputy Postmaster of 
Wilson, and one of the rising young busi- 
WW ness men of Round Grove Township, is 
perhaps best known as junior member of the firm 
of George Orr & Co., grain buyers, who have been 
established in their profitable business since the 
spring of 1882. He has been a resident of this 
township for over twenty years and is on the sunny 
side of forty. 

Our subject, the only child of his parents, was 




YMAN D. KNOX, one of the leading farmers 
and stock-raisers of Broughton Township, 
residing on section 28, is a native of Ken- 
dall County, 111., where he was born July 17, 1840. 
He is a son of Lyman S. and Lena (Stockslager) 
Knox. His father was a native of Vermont, and 
his mother of the State of New York. His paternal 
ancestors were of English origin, and the maternal 
ancestors are supposed to have been Germans. 
His paternal grandfather, Lyman Knox, was a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812. His parents emigrated 
from Vermont to Kendall County, 111., about 1835, 
settling near Blackberry Creek, not far from the 
town of Bristol, where the father reared his family, 
being one of the earliest pioneers of Kendall 
County, and where he remained until his death, 
which occurred July 17, 1887, his wife having 
died many years previous. June 15, 1872. Dur- 
ing his life he filled several of the minor offices in 
his township, and was widely and favorably known 
as an honest man and a good citizen, possessing the 
sturdy qualities which were so essential to success 






926 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in the life of a pioneer. He was the father of five 
children, of whom three survive, namely : Lyman 
D. ; Julia E., wife of I. K. Young, of Kendall 
County, 111., nnd Mary L., wife of E. Holbrook, re- 
siding in the same county. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native 
county, his only education being gained in the 
common schools, supplemented by the practical ex- 
periences of life and the knowledge gained from 
general reading. He has from his early youth 
been constantly engaged in agricultural pursuits. 
On the oth of February, 1868, he was united in 
marriage to Esther E. Brown, who was born Feb. 
9, 184-2, in Erie County, Pa., and is a daughter 
of Stephen W. and Adeline (Sloan) Brown. Her 
parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, the 
father being of English and the mother of Irish de- 
scent. Her parents were among the early settlers of 
Kendall County, 111., having come hereabout 1845. 
Both are now deceased, the father dying in Octo- 
ber, 1 876, and the mother Sept. 28, 1 886. They 
had nine children, of whom eight are living: George 
\V. resides in Texas; Nathan W. and Sloan W. live 
in Iowa; Jacob F., in Broughton Township, this 
county; Eliza M., wife of William Ferris, of Ken- 
dall County, 111. : Polly M., wife of L. F. Smith, re- 
sides in the same county; Sarah I., wife of Charles 
Orr, of Sandwich, 111. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born five chil- 
dren, as follows: Willis S., Feb. 21, 1869; Net- 
tie M., Jan. 10, 1871 ; Florence E., June 30, 1873; 
Frank, April 10, 1875; Clara E., Oct. 26, 1877. In 
the spring (if 1868 our subject brought his young 
wife to Livingston County, and settled on his present 
farm, where lie has made his home ever since. He 
first purchased a tract consisting of 160 acres 
of raw prairie land, which he has brought to a fine 
state of cultivation. He has added forty acres to 
it, making '200 acres of fertile and valuable land 
which is well supplied with live stock and commo- 
dious farm buildings. Mr. Knox lias been em- 
phatically the architect of his own fortune, having 
beirun with nothing but liis own hands, and made 
all that he has by industry, economy and hard 
labor. His handsome roidence, surrounded by 
beautiful ornamental trees, is one of the most taste- 
ful and tine appearing of any in that vicinity. 



Mr. and Mrs. Knox are both members of the 
Congregational Church at Emington, to the sup- 
port of which Mr. Knox has been a cheerful and 
liberal contributor. He has served as Township 
Collector for two years, and is now filling the office 
of School Trustee, having served elliciently in that 
capacity for several years. He also filled the office 
of Road Commissioner for a considerable time. 
He is an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and 
interests himself in every movement for the eleva- 
tion of societ}' and the upbuilding of the commu- 
nity in which he Mves. Mr. Knox is one of the 
leading agriculturists of Livingston County, and 
his present valuable possessions and pleasant sur- 
roundings are substantial evidences of the success 
which he has attained. In politics he is an out- 
spoken Republican. 



ARTI1N SEABERT has lived twenty-one 
years of his life in Livingston County, and 
during that time has kept pace with the prog- 
ress of the county and the township in which 
he resides. He is now located on section 18, Round 
Grove Township, where he is engaged in tilling the 
soil, on a farm of 155 acres, and has met with grati- 
fying success. In 1867 he removed from LaSalle 
County to Livingston, where he has continued to 
reside, with the exception of about three years. 

Mr. Seabert was born in Germany, on the 9th of 
October, 1844. He accompanied his parents when 
they emigrated to America, when he was about five 
year.- of age. After living a few months in New 
York Slate, his parents migrated to the West, local- 
ing in LaSalle Count}', 111., where our subject lived 
until he became a citizen of Livingston County. 
With the patriotism that is inborn with the German 
people, he felt it his duty to assist his adopted Gov- 
ernment in the suppression of the Rebellion inau- 
gurated in 1861. He, therefore, enlisted on the 
15th of August of thai year, in Company H, llth 
Illinois Infantry, and immediately went to the front. 
At the memorable battle of Ft. Donelson. he was 
wounded in the left side and right hand by a minie 
ball, which disabled him from active service for 
six mouths. After he recovered sufficiently to re- 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



927 



join his regiment, he participated in several engage- 
ments and numerous skirmishes, in which he acted ,-i 
gallant part. He was on many of the long and tedi- 
ous marches which his regiment made, and during 
the time he was in the service, suffered all the pri- 
vations and the hardships incident to 'army life, 
during the earlier stages of the war. After his dis- 
charge from the army he returned to LaSalle County, 
and remained there until the fall of 18fi7, when he 
came to Livingston County and purchased eighty 
acres of land on section 29, Round Grove Town- 
ship. Afterward he sold this land, and in 1881 
bought loo acres on section 18, where he now re- 
sides. Upon this farm he has made many and val- 
uable improvements, and has brought it under an 
excellent state of cultivation. 

On the loth of December, 1867, Mr. Seabert was 
married in Livingston County, to Susan E. Morris, 
who was born in Canada, May 14, 1845, and is a 
daughter of James and Charlotte Morris, of whom 
a sketch appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. The re- 
sult of this marriage has been five children, whose 
names are. Charlotte, James E., Eslie J., Lydia and 
Elmer. These children are all at home with their 
parents, who are giving them every advantage in 
their power to obtain a good education, in order 
that they may become good and useful citizens. 

When he grew to the age of maturity, Mr. Sea- 
bert cast his political lot with the Republican party, 
of which he has since continued to be a member. 
He has held the offices of Road Commissioner and 
School Director, and in the latter position has ma- 
terially improved the schools of his district. He is 
an enthusiastic member of Post No. 126, G. A. R.. 
at D wight, 111. He and his wife are active mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take 
much interest in the affairs of the congregation to 
which they belong. Mr. Seabert is an unostenta- 
tious and valuable citizen. 



^ILLIAM FLANIG AN, a veteran of the late 
Civil War. and one of the most highly es- 
teemed Irish-American citizens of this coun- 
ty, is one of the solid property owners of Sunbury 
Township, having 240 acres of valuable land on 
section 13. He is noted for his straightforward 




methods and integrity, and for the manner in which 
he has contributed toward the embellishment of thfe 
northern part of Livingston Comity, by erecting 
within its precincts one of the finest homesteads 
among the many for which it has become so gener- 
ally noted, and a view of which is presented in this 
connection. He commenced in life with modest 
moans, but nature bountifully supplied him with 
those most valuable resources which can be given to 
a man. viz: industry and perseverance. He 'has 
never been afraid of hard work, and always made 
it a point to live within his income, and his present 
position socially and financially is but the natural 
result of a career commenced and followed under 
such circumstances. 

Our subject, the son of Edward and Margaret 
(McGee) Flanigan, is a native of the same locality 
as his parents, County Queens, in the southern part 
of Ireland, and was born in 1838. While he was 
still an infant, his parents crossed the Atlantic, de- 
termined to avail themselves of the inducements 
held out by the New World to the enterprising 
emigrant. They remained residents of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., until 1845, then started for Illinois, via the 
Hudson River, the Erie Canal and the Lakes to 
Chicago, and thence by canal to Ottawa in LaSalle 
| County. Edward Flanigan rented a tract of land 
| near the site of the present city, and subsequently 
I removed to a point near the presentsite of Streator. 
j In the latter locality he rented a large farm, upon 
which he operated until the close of his earthly 
labors. He was stricken down in his prime, his 
death occurring about 1 859. After the death of 
her husband, Mrs. Flanigan, who was a lady of 
more than ordinary business capacity, purchased a 
farm, the cultivation of which she superintended 
many years, and which she now owns. It is located 
four miles west of Streator. and since 1882 has 
been conducted by a tenant, <vhile Mrs. F. is a resi- 
dent of Chicago. 

Of the children of Edward and Margaret Flani- 
gan, nine in number, seven lived to mature years. 
William, being but an infant when his parents came 
to America, knows no other than his adopted home. 
He remained under the parental roof until the out- 
break of the late Rebellion, and then in August, 1862, 
enlisted in Company F, 104th Illinois Infantry, which 



1 



f 



928 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



to the 1st Hrigade, 1 4t,h Army Corps. 
.During his three years' service he participated in 
many of the important battles of the war, and 
finally joined the army of Gen. Sherman, being pres- 
ent at the battle of Chattanooga, and the siege and 
capture of Atlanta. He joined in the famous march 
to the sea, meeting the rebels at various points in 
the southeast, and then up through the Carolinas, 
and via Richmond to Washington, after the sur- 
render of Gen. Lee at Appomattox. He was pres- 
ent in the grand review at the capital, and there re- 
ceived his honorable discharge, and was mustered 
out. His experience in the army was like that of 
many of the brave boys who fought heroically, suf- 
fered uncomplainingly, and esteemed it nothing 
less than the duty they owed to their country, that 
they should sacrifice for a time their liberty, and it 
might be their lives. 

Upon becoming once more a civilian, Mr. Flanigan 
returned to LaSalle County, and resumed the occu- 
pation which was most in harmony with his tastes and 
capacities, namely, the independent career of a far- 
mer. It is true he had yet to assert his independence, 
but he had witnessed too often the results of per- 
severence and industry not to be assured of success. 
He remained as an employe for a couple of years per- 
haps, and then purchased eighty acres of wild land 
in Richmond Township, LaSalle County, at $22 per 
acre. This he broke and fenced as rapidly as possi- 
ble, and the following year sold it at $40 per acre, 
thus realizing a handsome profit. In 1869 he came 
to this county, and purchased a quarter section in 
Snnbury Township, which is now a part of his pres- 
ent homestead. This was wild prairie, the sod of 
which had never been broken by the ploughshare, 
and for which he paid $18 per acre. He operated 
upon this as upon the other, and the locality suiting 
him much better, he decided to remain here perma- 
nently. He put up good buildings, and in due 
time became owner of eighty acres adjoining. He 
has availed himself of modern methods and im- 
proved machinery, and takes the lead among the 
progressive agriculturists of his section. 

After he had laid the foundations of a future 
home, Mr. Flanigan took unto himself a wife and 
helpmeet in the person of Miss Maggie Moore, to 
whom he was married at the home of the bride in 



Rirhland Township, Fob. 21. 1*71. Mrs. F. was 
born in County Armagh, Ireland, in the year 1847, 
and is the daughter of Thomas and Maggie (Mor- 
gan) Moore, also of Irish birth and ancestry. The 
family came to America in 1852, and located south 
of the present city of LaSalle. The father engaged 
in farming, and died there two years later, aged 
about fifty -eight years. Mrs. Moore survived her 
husband for a period of nearly twenty-four years, 
her death taking place at the home of her son in 
Richland Township, March 1 2, 1 878. 

Mr. Flanigan takes considerable interest in local 
politics, and usually votes the Republican ticket, 
although asserting his right of independence, and 
aiming to support the men whom he considers best 
qualified to serve the interests of the people. He 
was reared in the faith of the Catholic Church, and 
still clings to the religion of his forefathers. There 
is no more reliable man within the precincts of Sun- 
bury Township, or one who is held in higher respect. 
The home which he has built up indicates his in- 
telligence and thrift, and forms one of the most at- 
tractive spots in the landscape of that localit}'. 




fILLIAM HACK, proprietor of eighty acres 
of good land on section 6, in Saunemin 
Township, took possesion of his present 
farm in the spring of 1884. He is known as a law- 
abiding and peaceable citizen, marked for his hon- 
esty and industry, and possessing the steady 
persistence and resolution which invariably bring 
success. He is in the prime of life, in the midst of 
his strength and activity, and is the head of a fam- 
ily, comprising an estimable and capable wife and 
four children. They are regular attendants of the 
Lutheran Church, to which they contribute cheer- 
fully as their means justify, and Mr. Hack, politi- 
cally, votes with the Democratic party. 

Our subject was born in the Province of Meck- 
lenburg, Germany, March 1, 1841, of parents who 
descended from pure German ancestry. He was 
reared to manhood near the place of his birth, and 
early in life was made acquainted with its labors 
and duties. When twenty-nine years of age he 
was married, Aug. 3, 1870, to Miss Dora Pflughaupt. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



931 



\ 



He embarked for America, taking passage at Ham- 
burg, and two weeks later landed in New York 
City. Thence he came directly to G randy County, 
this State, and secured employment, first as a farm 
laborer, after which he rented a tract of land upon 
which lie operated until coming to this county. 
Fortunately he vvas blessed with good health, and 
by the aid of his sensible helpmeet ere long was 
enabled to save a snug sum of money which he in- 
vested in his present property. He has been con- 
tinually adding improvements, and keeps pace 
with his neighbors in the modern methods of farm- 
ing. 

The names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Hack 
arc John, Ida, William and Louis. John was born 
Jan. 30, 1872; Ida, June 14, 1873; William, April 
18, 1875, and Louis, Feb. 19, 1881. 



TEPHEN F. BARNES, the subject of this 
sketch, is a gentleman who has been so in- 
tently engaged in prosecuting his business 
of farming and stock-raising in Sunbury 
Township, that he has reached his forty-sixth year 
without tendering his heart and hand to any of the 
fair sex. and is fast verging on to bachelorhood, 
which stage of life he will reach within a very few 
years if he does not conclude to take under his pro- 
tecting care one of Mother Eve's fair daughters. 
Mr. Barnes was born in Fairfield County, Conn., 
Nov. 20, 1841. He is the elder of two children 
born to John L. and Hannah (Cooper) Barnes, both 
of whom are natives of Connecticut. The pater- 
nal grandparents, William and Susannah (Finney) 
Barnes, were natives of Whitehall, N. Y. The 
maternal grandparents, Prezarva and Phila Cooper, 
were natives of New York. John L. Barnes, the 
father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, 
and died when the latter was two years of age. 
In 1857 the widow sold out in Connecticut, and 
with her family of two children, our subject and 
Mark C., migrated to the West, settling first in La- 
Salle County, III., where they remained for six 
years. In 18fi'{ the family came to Livingston 
County, and purchased a farm of K!() acres of par- 
tially improved land, upon which they immediately 




settled, and began the work of developing and im- 
proving it. In this they have been quite success- 
ful, and have erected upon the place good and sub- 
stantial buildings of all descriptions. Our subject 
has remained upon this fai'm since first settling 
upon it, and resides with 'his mother, who has 
! charge of the household duties. Mr. Barnes raises 
considerable numbers of fine grade horses, cattle 
and hogs, and in these specialties exhibits consid- 
erable tact. Mark C. Barnes settled in Dawson 
County, Neb., where he is a successful farmer and 
stock-raiser. 

Mr. Barnes has always been an industrious and 
painstaking man, and whatever he finds to do he 
does well. He was reared a farmer, which occupa- 
tion he has always followed. His education was 
obtained in the common schools of Illinois. In his 
political affiliations he goes with the Republican 
party, but does not take an active interest in politi- 
cal matters. He has served in .some of the minor 
offices of the township, but has neither the taste 
nor the time for office. He has frequently visited 
Nebraska for the purpose of making investments, 
which have always proved fortunate ones for him. 
He devotes his entire time to his farm and stock, 
and goes about his work with much enthusiasm. 

In presenting the portrait of the mother of Mr. 
Barnes, which we do in this connection, our patrons 
have the picture of a most estimable lady, and one 
who deserves the highest commendation for the ex- 
cellent manner in which she has managed her affairs 
since the death of her husband, and the way in 
which she has reared her sons. 




ILLIAM ROOK, who is not only a leading 



ii farmer, but a representative citizen in For- 
' est Township, located on section 26 since 
1SS2, was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 
20, 1822. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Siit- 
ton) Rook, who were natives of England. The 
father was a laborer by occupation, and both the 
parents died in England. There were eleven chil- 
dren, whose names are as follows: William, Ann, 
Charles, Mary, Eliza, Thomas, John, Sarah and 
I Hannah, and one pair of twins. Ann became the 



t 



1 



t 






!)32 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



wife of John Tipler, who was a native of England; 
she died in 1853, and the husband died two years 
later. Charles is still living in England, where he 
is a laborer; John is married, and is engaged in 
fanning in Kansas; Mary married Matthew Bell- 
more, who is deceased ; Eliza married William 
Lambler, who is a laborer, and they live in Peoria 
County; Hannah married John Bugg, and they 
reside in England; Thomas, Sarah and the twins 
are dead. 

William Rook began for himself when about fif- 
teen years of age, and for fourteen years before 
marriage worked by the day and mouth. On May 
5, 1851, he was married to Miss Mary Biekett, 
a daughter of very highly respected parents in 
England. Thej r had but one child, who was the 
wife of our subject. About four weeks after their 
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rook embarked for the 
United States, and landed at Philadelphia, where 
they remained for a short time. They then re- 
moved to the State of Delaware, where he worked 
as a laborer for about two years, and then returned 
to New York and located in Ausville, Steuben 
County, where they remained from March until 
October; in the latter month they came West and 
located in Peoria County, 111., and remained for 
fourteen years. For two years after locating in 
that county Mr. Rook worked by the month, and 
then tended a rented farm for about eleven years, 
and then rented one year of another man. In the 
year 1868 they came to Livingston County, and 
first stopped in Forest Township, and bought 
eighty acres of land on section 27. On this farm 
he constructed a good house and began other im- 
provements. The family remained upon this farm 
until 1882, in which year Mr. Rook purchased 
160 acres on section 26, where he now lives with 
his daughter. 

Mrs. Rook died Sept. 2, 1875, and was buried 
in Forest Cemetery. She was a consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a 
woman of many excellent qualities. Mr. and Mrs. 
Rook had born to them four children, two girls 
and two boys. Mary married George fSwart*, a 
farmer, and they located in Nebraska; William 
married Mary Gouldsburry, and is residing on his 
father's place on section 27, Forest Township; 



Eliza married Ephraim Spray, a farmer, who died 
in October, 1881, leaving a wife and three chil- 
dren. named Mary, John and Charlie; Thomas is 
unmarried and lives at home. Mr. Rook, who is 
among the older settlers of Livingston County, is 
in all respects a representative citizen. His political 
affiliations are with the Democratic party, of which 
he has been a faithful adherent for very man} 7 years. 



S=p>REDERICK CARLTON, one 'of the first 

r(gj'. English residents of Livingston County, 
~~ came to Central Illinois when a young man, 
without other means than his strong hands and res- 
olute heart, lie had not long before made an ocean 
voyage in the hopes of bettering his condition in 
life, having been born in Kent County, England, 
Jan. 18, 1814. He had been trained to habits of 
industry and economy by his parents, and was 
fairly well fitted for the further struggle of life. 

Our subject is the son of Edward and Judith 
(Breble) Carlton, who were also of English birth 
and parentage, and spent their entire lives on their 
native soil. The parental family included sixteen 
children, who are recorded as follows: William, liv- 
ing in England; Ann was married and became the 
mother of fourteen children ; she died in June, 1882. 
Louisa is married and a resident of the city of 
London; she has no children. Henry died in De- 
cember, 1886, in England, leaving a wife and six 
children; Charles, Elizabeth and Joseph are also 
deceased; Benjamin is farming in Long Point 
Township, this county, and Josiah died unmarried 
many years ago; Miriam is living in England, and 
has a husband and several children : Sarah, John 
and Edward are deceased; Jane is living with her 
second husband in the city of London. The young- 
est son, also named Edward, came to America and 
is farming in Long Point Township. 

In Kent, England, Dec. 20, 1840, Mr. Carlton 
was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Winser, 
whose parents were also natives of England. Mrs. 
Carlton died Oct. 16, 1879. Our subject and his 
wife became the parents of eight children, as fol- 
lows: Charles was born April 17, 1842, and died 
August 14 following; Caroline was born July 21, 



*--* 





t 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 


933 . > 



T 



1844, and died Sept. 20, 1845; Frances was bom 
April 28, 1847, and died on the 3d of May follow- 
ing; Jennie was born Aug. 22, 1850, and died Aug. 
20, 1852; Betsey was born Sept. 20, 1852, and died 
November 6 following; Charlotte Eva was born 
March 3, 1855, and is living with her parents; Al- 
fred was born Nov. 13, 1859, and died January 13 
following; Frederick was born Oct. 30, 1862, and 
died Aug. 10, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Carlton being 
greatly afflicted in Jthe loss of so many of their 
little ones, adopted a boy, Alfred York, who was 
born Nov. 6, I860. He was also taken from them, 
Aug. 10, 1868. 

Entering 160 acres of land in 1842, Mr. Carlton 
at once began its cultivation and improvement, and 
in due time found himself upon a solid footing and 
on the road to a competency. He is now the owner 
of eighty acres, having sold 100 of his original 
farm ; this has been thoroughly drained with tile, 
enclosed with good fences and supplied with excel- 
lent farm buildings. Notwithstanding the labor 
it luis required to bring the homestead to its pres- 
ent condition, he has always been willing to devote 
time and means to the encouragement of those en- 
terprises calculated for the good of the people 
around him. He has contributed hundreds of dol- 
lars in various directions to worthy enterprises, his 
generosity being one of the distinguishing traits of 
his character. He is known as a kind man in his 
family and one of the most obliging and pleasant 
of neighbors. 

On another page of this ALBUM is shown a view 
of Mr. Carlton's residence with its surroundings. 



!RA COOK, one of the prominent citizens of 
Livingston County, who have established them- 
selves in the esteem and confidence of their 
neighbors, is the subject of this sketch, who is a 
farmer and stock-raiser on section 16, Amity Town- 
ship, lie was born in Ohio, April 1, 1829, and is 
the son of Eli and Mary (Crary) Cook, and the 
third child in a family of nine, five of whom are 
yet living. 

Mr. Cook was married to Miss Harietta Ann, 
daughter of Michael and Jane (Taylor) DeVelbis, 



natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively. She 
was the third in a large family of children who were 
born in the following order: Kate, James, Taylor, 
Harietta, Eliza, Mary, Andrew, Alfred and Albert. 
Kate married Jonathan Hawk, who died on the 21st 
of March, 1881, leaving a wife and three children; 
she now resides in Loveland, Ohio. James T. died 
in childhood; Eliza married Lewis Summerrell, who 
died in 1872, and she now lives in Minneapolis, 
caring for her three children ; Mary died at the age 
of fourteen ; and Andrew, when twenty -one ; Alfred, 
who is now a resident of Cincinnati, married Susan 
Crosson, and Albert died in childhood. 

The parents of Ira Cook had a large family of 
children, as follows: William was born near New- 
port, Ky., June 25, 1821, and was married to Sarah 
Cobb, who died in 1850; he died in October, 1867. 
Eli was born Nov. 25, 1825, and was married to 
Almeda Davis; he died in 1885, leaving four chil- 
dren William F., Charles F., George F. and Frank; 
the widow lives in Cupola, Col., with Frank, the 
youngest child. Ira is the subject of this sketch ; 
Wesley was born in 1832, and lives in Cornell; 
Emily was born April 12, 1834, and was married 
to Henry Kane of Mainville, Warren County; she 
died in October, 1868, leaving two children. John, 
born on the 7th of September, 1836, married Relia 
Beaver, of Hamilton, Ohio, and with their famiry of 
four children lives in Nebraska; Amanda was born 
in 1840, and died in December, 1841 ; Adeline was 
born in 1842, and married Henry Kane of Main- 
ville; Joseph, now a resident of Philadelphia, was 
born in 1847, in Cincinnati, and was married to 
Emma Tufts, of Mainville, who has borne him two 
children, a boy and girl ; he served for a time in 
the southern division of the pension department, 
but stepped down and out with the incoming of 
Cleveland's administration. Willis Edward was 
born on the 28th of July, 1853. and was married to 
Kate Antrim in Iowa; they live in Platte County, 
Neb., and have five children, named : Archie, Al- 
fred, Charlie, Elizabeth and Hattie. Ireatta K. 
was born June 5, 1855, and married Charles E. Gill, 
of Peoria, 111., and they have three children, named 
Emery, Earle and Ira. Mary Jane was born Oct. 
20, 1857, and was married to Archie Dickeu, Dec. 
6, 1879; they have three children, named Harriet, 



t 



934 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Grace and Harry: Alfred N. was horn Feb. '2.1, 
186C, and is now, after attending school in Ohio, 
teaching in Illinois. 

Mr. Cook's father was horn Nov. 2, 17'.)."). and 
died in October. 1881, and his mother died on the 
(Jth of January, 1873; both were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Cook's mother 
died in 1844, and her father died in 1855. Ira 
Cook migrated to LaStille County, 111., from Ohio, 
in 1854, thence to Livingston Comity in the spring 
of 1862, and to his present location in March, 
1883, where he owns a farm of 141 acres of good 
land, a large proportion of which is under cultiva- 
tion, and wherever necessary is drained with tile. 
His home is convenient to school and church, the 
former being but a half mile and the latter two and 
one-half miles away. Mr. Cook devotes his time 
principally to fanning and stock-raising, although 
he fills the position of Supervisor of his township, 
and holds the office of Justice of the Peace, in which 
he has served for the past six years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Cook are both members of the Methodist Protestant 
Church. <>f which he is a Trustee and Secretary of 
the Quarterly Conference. 

As illustrative of the progress made in this sec- 
tion of country, since the days of the old log cabin, 
we present on another page of this AI.IU >i ;i view 
of Mr. Cook's residence. 



ACOB J. FOLTS, the subject of this sketch, 
has had much to do with the material inter^ 
csts of various sections of Livingston County, 
and occupies a prominent position in her 
commercial interest of to-day. He has also occu- 
pied a notable position in a judicial sense, hav- 
ing for many years been the legal arbitrator be- 
tween the people who have invoked the law in the 
settlement of their differences and the establish- 
ment of their rights. He is the Justice of the 
1'eaee at the village of Campus, and also senior 
member of the firm of J. J. Folts AT Son. hardware 
dealers. 

Mr. Folts is a native of the State of New York, 
where he wa> born in Boonville. Oneida County, 



Dec. 25, 1826. He resided in that place until he 
was sixteen years of age, during which time he 
availed himself of the advantages afforded by the 
village school for obtaining an education. From 
Boonville he went to the town of Alexander. Jef- 
ferson Co., N. Y., where he engaged in farming 
until the fall of 1852, when he came West and lo- 
cated in Kendall Count}-, 111., where he purchased a 
farm and continued to live until the winter of 1867, 
at which time he came to Livingston County and 
settled in Broughton Township, where he purchased 
a farm. Hero he resided until the establishment of 
the village of Campus, of which he was one of the 
founders and first settlers. The growth of the vil- 
lage has been largely the result of his untiring en- 

! ergy in securing for it both people and business. 
He erected the store building which he now occu- 
pies, and has been engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness since the village was established. In addition 
to hardware, his firm also deals largely in lumber, 
furniture and agricultural implements. Besides 
this establishment in Campus, the firm of J. J. 
Folts & Son operates a similar store at Emington, 
in Broughton Township, and is also interested] in 
the manufacture and sale of furniture at Keddick, 
Kankakee County. Mr. Folts owns farms aggre- 
gating 320 acres of land in Livingston County, 
which are occupied and farmed by intelligent and 
enterprising tenants, and are quite remunerative. 
Since the spring of 1880 Mr. Folts has held the 
office of Justice of the Peace, in which position he 
has displayed most excellent judgment and un- 
doubted fairness. His decisions have invariably 
been based upon the law, and the evidence and ap- 
peals from them are indeed very rare. He was 
Supervisor of Broughton Township at the time of 

! the erection of the new court-house in Pontiac. 

In Jefferson County, N. Y., on the 13th of Jan- 
uary, 1848, Mr. Folts was married to Miss Silvia 
A. Lewis, who was born in Jefferson County. To 
them two children have been born ( lari>sa J. and 
Frank E. Clarissa J. was the wife of Clark W. 
Beecher. and died in Broughton Township, Living- 
ston County, on the 5th of August, 18*3; she left 
three children, whose names are, Arthur J., Frank 
and Delia. Frank E. married Mis? Emma Moms, 
and they have >ix children Lela. Lewis. Arthur, 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Clara, Vera and a babe unnamed; lie is engaged, in 
company with his father, in the prosecution of the 
business at Campus. 

The Folts homestead in Campus is one of the 
finest in that section of Livingston County; it is 
imposing in appearance and comfortable in interior. 
Its owner is a gentleman who appreciates comforts 
and conveniences, and in the construction of this 
house he seems to have made special provision for 
both. It is a hospitable home, and the neighbors 
and friends of the surrounding community are 
made welcome at all times 03- the gejieiwis-liearted 
host and hostess. Mr. and Mrs. Folts belong to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 




I 



fclLLIAM CHAPPLE, the subject of this 
sketch, has been a resident of Round 
Grove Township, located on section 1, for 
ten years, and has within that time made himself 
and family a most pleasant and comfortable home. 
During the year 1887 he completed a new residence 
that is a credit to the township, and one over which 
Mr. Chappie exhibits pardonable pride. Such far- 
mers as our subject are the kind who beautify and 
advance the country in which they live, and not 
only add to their own comfort, but to the general 
welfare of the community which surrounds them. 
We are pleased to present on an adjoining page a 
view of Mr. Chappie's handsome homestead. 

Mr. Chappie was born in England, Dec. 12, 1830, 
and is the son of Edward and Fannie Chappie, both 
of whom died in that country. His early life was 
spent on the farm in England, and he was after- 
ward, during a period of about eight years, em- 
ployed in extensive iron works in Wales, where he 
obtained a practical knowledge of the manufacture 
of iron. In June, 180;"). Mr. Chappie immigrated 
to this country, and coming direct from New York 
to LaSalle County, 111., he concluded to adopt 
farming as his occupation. The first year of his 
residence in LaSalle County he worked upon a 
farm by the month, and then farmed rented land 
until July, 1877, when he came to Livingston 
County, and purchasing eighty acres of land on 
section 1, upon which he has since resided, lie has 



brought his farm to an almost perfect state of eul 
ti vatiun, and made all classes of improvements. 

On the 10th af April, 1854, Mr. Chappie was 
married to Miss Elizabeth Cockram, who was born 
in England on the 17Ui of January, 1828, and is 
the daughter of John and Betsey (Mooreman) 
Cockram, who were also natives of England. Mr. 
and Mrs. Chappie have three children .living, 
namely: Mary, Thomas W. and Emma E. Mary is 
the wife of Austin Ellsworth, and they reside in 
Colorado; Thomas and Emma are at home with 
their parents. They have buried six children, 
three of whom died in infancy, unnamed. Those 
who died after being named were Jane, Rhoda ajid 
Lucy. 

Upon coming to this country Mr. Chappie inves- 
tigated the political status of affairs with the inten- 
tion of intelligently identifying himself with one or 
the other of the great political parties, and the re- 
sult of this investigation was that he allied himself 
with the Republican party, of which he has since 
been a zealous member. Me has been in no sense 
a seeker after political preferment, but has been 
chosen by his neighbors to discharge the duties of 
the offices of Road Commissioner and School Di- 
rector, which he did to the entire satisfaction of 
the people. Mr. Chappie and bis family have es- 
tablished themselves in the good wishes of the peo- 
ple among whom they live. 



J '"JAMES KWING. This gentleman, located 
i on section 24, Pontiac Township, has fairly 
commenced his career as an independent 
' farmer, and is acquitting himself with great 
credit, displaying a thorough understanding of his 
calling, tilling the soil to good advantage, and con- 
siderably interesting himself in stock-raising. His 
property includes ICO acres of finely cultivated 
land, with a good residence, barn and out-buildings, 
the accumulation of his own industry, as he began 
life with modest means and dependent only upon 
his own resources. 

Mr. Ewing, like man}' others forming a large pro- 
portion <>f the substantial residents of Livingston 
County, is a native of Huntingdon County, 1'a., 



I 



938 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



where he was born Nov. 17, 1852. He is the son 
of William and Mary Ann (Henry) Ewing, also na- 
tives of the Keystone State, and of German and 
Irish ancestry respectively, 'with enough comming- 
ling of the Scotch-Irish to make up a very worthy 
and substantial whole. William Ewing was born 
and reared in Hunting-don County, Pa., and was 
prominent in the local affairs of his oouuty., holding 
its various offices as one of the stanchest supporters 
of the Democratic party. The parental household 
included nine children, seven now living, namely : 
James, Mary, Fanny, Carrie, Lizzie, Idol and Hen- 
rietta. 

James Ewing was reared to manhood in Hunting- 
don County, receiving a good English education, 
and after completing his studies engaged for n time 
in teaching. He came to the West in 1 875, locat- 
ing in Pontiac Township, this county, where he has 
since resided. He was married, in the twenty- 
fourth year of his age, Feb. 17, 187G, to Miss Nannie 
McCord, who was born in his own county, Jan. 24, 
1 852, and is the daughter of Samuel and Martha 
(Barr) McCord. They became the parents of five 
children, namely: Grace, who was born Nov. 4, 
1876; Fanny, Aug. 20, 1878; William, Oct. 29, 
1879; Carrie, Aug. 27, 1881, and James, March 20, 
1883. Mr. E wing's farm is neatly laid out and en- 
closed with substantial fences, while the stock is 
well cared for and the machinery is of the best de- 
scription. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, with their in- 
teresting family, form no unimportant portion of 
the intelligent community where they dwell, ar.d are 
held in universal respect. 

We are pleased to present on an adjoining page 
a view of Mr. Ewing's residence, as representative 
of the buildings of this section of country. 



JEREMIAH SULLIVAN, a farmer of intel- 
| ligence and education, and one who while 
tilling the soil has carefully kept in mind the 
training of his intellectual capacities, has 
been a resident of Sunbury Township since the 
spring of 1870. He is one of the finest representa- 
tives of the warm-hearted Irish nationality who 
lime contributed so essentially to the progress and 



development of the resources of the great West. 
He was a youth of fifteen years when he first set 
foot on American soil, and has become thoroughly 
identified with the interests of his adopted country. 
Some of our best educated men, our poets and our 
scholars, besides those who have engaged in the 
various industries of the United States, are emana- 
tions of Erin's Green Isle. Our subject is one of 
the worthiest representatives of a long line of hon- 
ored ancestry, and the main points of his history, 
necessarily brief in a work of this kind, we give as 
follows: 

Mr. Sullivan was born in County Kerry, Ireland, 
in 1837, and is the son of Michael Sullivan, a native 
of the same locality, who was there reared to man- 
hood, and married a maiden of his own count}'. In 
1847, after the birth of his second son, he immi- 
grated to America with one son, locating in 
Michigan, where he was employed for a time in the 
copper mines. He was joined by his wife and their 
remaining children in 1851, at Milwaukee, and the 
following year came into LaSalle Count}', this 
State, and went into the employ of the Rock Island 
Railroad Company and afterward the Illinois Cen- 
tral. He remained a rcsidcrt of LaSalle County 
until his death, which took place in 1857. 

The mother of our subject was, before her mar- 
riage, Miss Johanna Harrington, a native of the 
same county in Ireland as her husband and son. 
Her father, Thomas Harrington, was also a native 
of County Kerry, where he spent his entire life en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Johanna Sul- 
livan is still living, and makes her home with her 
daughter in the State of Nebraska. Although 
eighty -live years of age she is quite active and in 
good health. 

Mr. Sullivan, our subject, first employed himself 
on American soil as a fisher on Lake Michigan. He 
\\as thus occupied one season, but afterward took 
up farming, working by the month at Watertown. 
\Vi-., at less than $1 per week. The season follow- 
ing he repaired to Milwaukee and engaged as lust- 
ier at the stables of the Fanners' Hotel. He sub- 
sequently joined his father on the Rock Island Rail- 
road, and on account, of his intelligence and hon- 
esty was a'iven a berth in the contractors' depart- 
ment. Upon the completion of this section of 







LIVINOSTON COUNTY. 



1)39 



road he engaged as deck-band on a boat on the 
Illinois River, one summer, and the winter follow- 
ing drove a team for the grading of the Illinois 
Central. He was connected with this road until its 
completion to Dunleith, its northwestern terminus. 
The trains here cross the river by a grand iron 
bridge, which is said to have cost at least $2.000,- 
000. He was now for some time employed at 
whatever he could find to do. and then resumed 
boating on the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. This, 
however, was only an alternative, as he much pre- 
ferred farming and was employed in the rural dis- 
tricts whenever he could secure anything to do. 

Mr. Sullivan had been bred to habits of industry 
and economy, aud as soon as he had laid by a. suf- 
ficient sum to gather together the necessary farm 
implements, he rented a tract of land in LaSalle 
County, upon which he operated successfully until 
the spring of 1870. His course was still prosperous, 
and ho now purchased 160 acres on section 13, Sun- 
bury Township. He did not, however, have enough 
to pay the whole purchase money, and as it was 
unimproved he rented a tract adjacent, upon which 
he could raise crops at once. He managed in this 
manner until 1875, when, paying the last dollar 
and securing his warranty deed, he took possession, 
and has since remained upon it. He has trans- 
formed the wilderness into a highly cultivated farm, 
upon which he has erected good buildings, while he 
has a choice assortment of live stock. We present 
on another page of this volume a view of Mr Sulli- 
van's residence with its surroundings. Although it 
has required the outlay of considerable money to 
effect the improvements which the traveler now 
observes with admiration, it has by no means em- 
ployed all his 'capital, but lie has invested in addi- 
tional land on section 1 3, and is now the proprietor 
of 320 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. 

The marriage of Jeremiah Sullivan and Miss Ann 
Manley was celebrated at the home of the bride in 
Dimmock Township, LaSalle County, in I860. Mrs. 
S. is of the same nationality as her husband, and 
was born in County Mayo, in 1S37. She is the 
daughter of Thomas and Ellen Manley, also of Irish 
birth and ancestry. Her mother is now deceased ; 
her father lives in LaSalle. 111. Of her marriage 
with our subject there have been born seven chil- 



dren, viz.: Ella, Michael, Annie, Mary, Maggie, 
Jeremiah and Martin. The eldest is twenty-six 
years of age, and the youngest fourteen. They 
comprise an interesting family and their -father is 
giving them good educational advantages. Mr. 
Sullivan is quite an extensive reader, and his chil- 
dren have inherited in a marked degree his own in- 
telligence and love of learning. Three of them are 
engaged in teaching. Mr. Sullivan adheres closely 
to the Catholic faith of his forefathers, and in po- 
litical matters exercises the privilege of an inde- 
pendent voter. 




;ILLIAM BRUNSKILL has been promi- 
nently identified with the agricultural in- 
terests of Esmeu Township since 1 855, and 
is the owner of a good property on section 14, where 
he is. engaged in the breeding of fine stock, includ- 
ing' Norman horses and Durham cattle. His land is 

O 

chiefly devoted to the raising of grain and hay. He 
is quite prominent in local affairs, and has served as 
Road Commissioner and School Director, but is by 
no means an office-seeker or active politician, pre- 
ferring to give his time and attention to his private 
affair's. He performs his duty, however, annually 
at the polls, where he uniformly casts an unadulter- 
ated Democratic ballot. 

Mr. Brunskill is a native of Westmoreland Coun- 
ty, England, where he was born Jan. 15, 1826. He 
is the fifth in a family of eight children included in 
the household of William and Martha (Todd) Bruns- 
kill, also of English ancestry. The father of our 
subject was the son of John and Elizabeth Bruns- 
kill, whose ancestors occupied the same estate from 
the reign of King John down to the paternal grand- 
father of our subject. It then passed into the hands 
of strangers by the emigration of most of the mem- 
bers of the family to the United States. Grand- 
father Brunskill spent his last years in Martinsdale, 
Westmoreland, and lived to the ripe old age of 
ninety-five years. He was remarkably strong and 
active, and during his early manhood a devotee of 
athletic sports. 

The maternal grandparents of our subject, David 
and lillei) (Cameron) Todd, were natives of Scot- 




940 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



land, of the Lowlands and Highlands respectively. 
They spent their entire lives in their native land, 
Imt one of their sons emigrated to America more 
than a century ago, settling in Pennsylvania, and 
their descendants are now scattered throughout that 
State. An uncle of our subject became famous for 
his extreme strength and endurance, having inher- 
ited the muscle and frame of his' father. During 
Napoleon's time he was caught on the northern 
coast of England, and with a number of others im- 
pressed into the naval service. While being con- 
ducted to the vessel he forced the sides out of the 
small boat with his feet and shoulders, and all were 
precipitated into the water. This representative of 
the Brnnskill family escaped as he deserved, and 
lived to tell the tele to his grandchildren. 

The subject of our sketch was reared to farm life, 
and educated in the common schools. In August, 
1848, he enlisted in the Queen's Household Guards, 
a body of troops which are seldom called into active 
service, and with which he remained five years, be- 
ing quartered in and around London and Windsor 
Castle, the rule being to change barracks once in 
six months. The Duke of Wellington was their 
Colonel until the time of his death, and the place 
which was thus made vacant was subsequently 
filled by Prince Albert. At the expiration of 
his term of enlistment our subject continued in 
London about six months, and then decided to 
cross the Atlantic. lie embarked Aug. II, 1854. 
on the sailing-vessel "Patrick Henry," and after a 
voyage attended by high winds and much danger, 
including the scourge of cholera, of which eleven of 
the passengers died, landed finally in New York 
City. Mr. Brunskill made his way first to New 
Jersey, where he was employed on a farm in Clin- 
ton County six months. In the meantime he re- 
ceived a serious injury while hauling ice, and was 
laid up several weeks, which enforced idleness ex- 
hausted his scanty means. He found himself pen- 
niless on an alien soil, and without friends to whom 
he could apply for assistance. He, however, man- 
aged to keep soul ar.d body together, and turning 
his steps westward, landed in Kendall County, this 
State, where lie secured employment on a farm. 
Here he again met with the misfortune of sicUnt. 
and upon his recovery found himself *2.J in debt. 



There was no time, however, to spend in bewailing 
hi* misfortunes, and as soon as able he resumed his 
lalmrs at fanning, and in tin- fall of 1855 removed 
to this county. 

At length Mr. l$urnskill's prospects began to im- 
prove, and he took unto himself a wife and help- 
meet in the person of Miss Susan Ross, to whom he 
was manied on the 1st of April, 1800. To the 
household tlm* established there came in due time 
a family of nine children, who are all living, and 
whom they named respectively, Elizabeth, Robert, 
George, William, Martha, Ellen, Byron, Annette 
and Arthur. The eldest daughter became the wife 
of John Wray, who is farming in Dallas County, 
Iowa, and has one child, a daughter, Edith Elida. 
George Brunskill was graduated from the business 
college at Dixon, and is preparing to enter upon 
mercantile life. 

Mrs. Brunskill was the fourth in a family of ten 
children born to her parents, Moses and Elizabeth 
(Westbrook) Ross, natives respectively of Vir- 
ginia and Penns3 r lvania. They located in Ohio dur- 
ing its early settlement, and were residents of Ross 
County a number of years. Here their daughter 
Susan was born, May 19, 1833, and was reared on 
the home farm, receiving a fair education in the 
district schools. Mr. Ross in connection with gen- 
eral agriculture also followed blacksmithing. In 
1852, he started overland^with his family and house- 
hold goods for Illinois, driving his stock, and camp- 
ing out at night after the fashion of the travelers of 
those days. They first located at Ottawa, and 
thence, in 1853, removed to Livingston County, 
where the parents spent their declining years. 
Aaron Ross, the brother of Mrs. Brunskill, served 
as a Union soldier iu the late war with the 12Uth 
Illinois Infantry, and during the passage of his regi- 
ment over a bridge in Kentuck\". was injured bv 
falling through with a number of their horses and 
accoutrements. He. however, recovered from this 
after a time and continued until the regiment was 
mustered out at the close of the war. He met the 
enemy in many important engagements, but escaped 
without a wound further than we have mentioned. 
Subsequently he took up his residence in Kansas. 
where his death occurred about I s,x;;. 

Mr. Brunskiil after his marriage, rented a tract of 



T 



k 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



943 



land in Ksmen Township, which he occupied four 
years, and then purchased forty acres on section 14. 
A small portion of this was under cultivation, and 
upon it stood a small house. This structure con- 
stituted the dwelling of the family until in 1 869, 
when he put up the more modern and substantial 
building which now, with its surroundings, forms a 
comfortable and handsome home, a view of which 
may be found in this work. 



ENRY NORKIS, who is engaged in grain 
\i buying at Risk. Fayette Township, is a na- 
tive of Somersetshire, England, where he 
was born on the 1st of December, 1831. 
He is the son of Robert and Maiy (Andrews) Nor- 
ris, who came to the United States in 1843, and 
located at Racine, Wis., where they have since re- 
mained, engaged in fanning. 

The parental family of our subject included eight 
children, five boys and three girls, who were named : 
Henry, George, Mary Ann, Thomas, Oliver, Jane, 
Helen and Willard. In the spring of 1861 Oliver 
enlisted in the 64th Illinois Infantry, and after 
serving about six months returned home, and died 
in the spring of 1862. Willard enlisted in the three 
months' service, and at the end of that term re- 
enlisted, and after remaining in the army three 
months longer returned home and began farming. 
The other children are all living, two of whom are 
in Kansas, and the others, excepting our subject, 
are residents of Texas. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
until thft age of twenty years, during which time 
lie assisted in the work upon the farm and attended 
the district schools of his township. After leaving 
home he engaged in the lumber business, west of 
Detroit, in Wayne County, where he remained 
about two years. After this he went to the Missis- 
sippi River, where he engaged in building flatboats, 
and continued this business for four or five years, 
lie then went to Michigan and resumed the lumber 
business, in which he was engaged for one year. 
From Michigan he went to LaSallo County, 111., 
where- he engaged in farming for five years, and in 

iiG sold out his property in LaSalle County, and 



came to Livingston County, where he bought 200 
acres of land on section 25, Forest Township. He 
remained on this farm, doing quite an extensive 
business in grain and stock raising until 1885, when 
he put the management of the farm in the hands of 
his son Oliver, and purchased a few acres of ground 
on section 3, Fayette Township, where he now re- 
sides. On this land is a splendid house, good barns 
and other buildings. Since 1883 Mr. Norris has 
been buying grain at the village of Risk. 

On Aug. 15. 1861, our subject was married to 
Miss Annie Moore, daughter of Samuel and Jane 
(McGaughy) Moore, who were natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and came West in 1855, first locating in 
Ottawa, where they remained until the father died, 
in 1863, when the mother and children came to 
Livingston County, and located in Chatsworth 
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Norris have two children 
Oliver and David M. Oliver was married on the 10th 
of February, 1885. to Miss Emma Wallace, a daugh- 
ter of John Wallace, a farmer and well-known citi- 
zen of Forest Township; David is unmarried and 
resides at home with his parents. 

Mr. Norris' acquaintance throughout this section 
of {Livingston County is very extensive, and the 
business in which he is engaged brings him much 
in contact with the people. They have learned to 
know him well, and he has firmly established him- 
self in their confidence by fair and prompt deal- 
ings. Politically Mr. Norris is a Republican, and 
gives the men and measures of his part}' a cordial 
and hearty support. For ten j-ears he held the of- 
fice of School Director of District No. 7, Forest 
Township, and during his administration these 
schools were in admirable condition. Mr. Norris 
takes great interest in educational mateers, and 
whenever opportunity presents does what he can 
to elevate the standard of the public schools. 




K HART, the subject of the following 
sketch, is a substantial citizen and general 
farmer, occupying a comfortable homestead 
on section 29, Dwight Township. lie is a native 
of England, being born in Norfolk on the 20th of 
August. 184:!. His father's name was George Hart, 
who married Miss Mary Lock, and they became the 



f 



A 94 i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



parents of five children, whose names are, James, 
Walter. Dennis, Mahala and George. Mr. Hart 
migrated to Kane County, 111., in 1855, where he 
purchased a farm, and lived until he retired from 
active work and moved to Pontiac. He died in 
1882, at the age of seventy-five years. 

Our subject was but twelve years of age when he 
came to this country, and can well remember the 
events of the six weeks' voyage across the Atlantic, 
in a sailing-vessel, which he enjoyed very much, 
although there were several severe storms, during 
which the passengers were kept under hatches. 
Arriving safely in New York, the family came 
direct to Kane County, 111., where they settled in 
Sugar Grove Township. Young George received a 
common-school education, and in early life learned 
farming. 

On the 18th of August, 1864, at the age of twen- 
ty-one years, Mr. Hart was married to Miss Balinda 
Evans, daughter of Francis and Mary (Pyatt) 
Evans, of Kendall County, 111., who were Ameri- 
cans b}' birth, but of Welsh descent. Mr. Evans 
lived to the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. 
His father participated in the war of the Revolution. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hart became the parents of seven 
children: Mary, who died in infancy ; Olive, Frank, 
Jessie, Horace, Joseph and James ; the latter also 
died in infancy. The others reside at home with 
their parents. After their marriage the young 
couple went to her father's home and managed the 
affairs of the farm for two years, and then went to 
LaSalle County, where they lived upon ;i rented 
farm one year. After spending the same length of 
time in a similar manner in Grundy County, Mr. 
Hart came to Livingston County, in 1870, with his 
family, and rented a farm now occupied by Thomas 
Glass, and here lived for three years. He then pur- 
chased a farm in Grundy County, on which he 
lived for eight 3 r ears, and then returned to this 
county, and rented a farm of Mr. Iletzel, in Dwight 
Township, where he now resides. In 1885 he 
bought a farm of 100 acres of land, of Orrin Gal- 
lup, which he farmed in connection with the Hetzel 
place. In 18$G his devoted wife died, and the care 
of the family fell to Mr. Hart and the oldest daugh- 
ter. 

Mr. Hart is a member of the Methodist Church, 



and his political affiliations are with the Republican 
party. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lin- 
coln, at the time he was elected for a second term. 
Mr. Hart has been Township Clerk and Township 
Trustee, which positions he held for six year- in 
Grundy County. He is a careful and successful 
farmer, and a very reliable man in ail his transac- 
tions. The entire family are of good moral char- 
acter, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all who 
know them. 



ffiOHN M. FINLEY. A large proportion of 
the farmers of Pontiac Township, besides the 
generous cultivation of the soil, are giving 
much of their attention to the raising of fine 
stock, in which department oursubject ranks among 
the leading men, and has been uniformly success- 
ful. He possesses good business capacities, and has 
never been afraid of hard work, taking pride in puU 
ting forth his best efforts at whatever he saw fit to 
engage in. He began life at the foot of the lad- 
der, and his present possessions are the result of his 
own industry. His ancestors were a substantial and 
reliable race of people, noted for their thrifty hab- 
its, and believed that each individual should be of 
some use in the world. This principle, transmitted 
from one generation to another, has resulted in a 
race of sturdy men of whom their descendants may 
well be proud. 

Mr. Finley was bom in Delaware County, Ohio. 
Nov. 25, 1831, and is the son of Robert and Eliza- 
beth (Riley) Finley, the former a native of Virginia, 
and the latter of Pennsylvania. The Finleys were 
of Irish descent, but the. mother was of German 
blood. John Finley, the paternal grandfather of 
our subject, served as a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary War. and afterward settled in Virginia, whence 
he subsequently removed to Delaware County, 
Ohio, in the pioneer days. From this branch of 
the family .-prang the descendants now scattered 
throughout Pennsylvania and Illinois, and who pos- 
sess in a marked degree the characteristics of their 
grandsire. Robert Finley. the father of our sub- 
ject, was married early in life, and became the head 
of a family of nine children, seven of whom still 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



945 



survive, namely: Joseph 8., John M., David R., 
Ezra, Mary J.. Isaac and George. The parents, in 
1838, left Ohio and located in Kane County, this 
State, proceeding again to build up a home in the 
wilderness. Here their children were reared, and 
at the old homestead in Kane County the parents 
(pent the remainder of their lives. They were 
members of the Congregational Church, and trained 
their offspring in the strict principles of moralit_y 
which was a distinguishing feature of the family. 

Our subject received a fair English education and 
early in life began to lay his plans for the future. 
When nearly thirty years of age, he led to the altar 
the maiden of his choice, Miss Frances E. McDugal, 
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride 
in Pontiac Township. Mrs. Finley is the daugh- 
ter of Robert and Christiana McDugal, of New 
York, and by her union with our subject became 
the mother of two children : Marian E., who was 
born Oct. 29, 1863, and Orella E., May 7, 1865. 

Mr. and Mrs. F. after their marriage located upon 
the farm which they now occupy, and which con- 
sists of 160 acres of land under a good state of cul- 
tivation. The residence and other buildings are 
substantial and comfortable. The stock is well 
cared for, and the premises kept in good shape gen- 
erally. 

Mr. Finley, politically, uniformly votes the Re- 
publican ticket, and has served in his township as 
Road Commissioner and School Director. Nothing 
pleases him better than to note the progress and 
welfare of his adopted county, and he has been the 
warm supporter of those measures tending to this 
end. 




LFRED G. POTTER is a prominent farmer 
and land-holder of Dwight Township, who 
has passed a busy life and reaped the success 
which generally results from perseverance 
and good management. He is of German and En- 
glish ancestry, and a tradition of the family is that 
seven brothers came to this country at an early day, 
and settled in Plattsburg. William Potter, who 
was born March 4, 1809, was the father of our sub- 
ject. He was a shoemaker by trade, and lived in 
I Blair County, Pa., where he married Miss Susan Ni- 
^- 



kirk. To them were born three children Julia Ann, 
Alfred D. and John. The father of these children 
died of typhoid fever when he was but twenty-five 
years of age. 

Alfred G. Potter was born in Henderson County, 
Pa., April 3, 1833. When his father died he was 
but two years of age, and was left to the care of his 
mother, who afterward married Daniel Goodman. 
When Alfred was about twelve years of age, he be- 
gan work on his stepfather's farm, where he re- 
mained until he was twenty-one; at that time he 
had received a very limited education, but has 
since added to it by reading, observation and ex- 
perience. In those days it was difficult to obtain an 
education in the rural districts, and young Potter 
went to school a month or so for a few winters, 
which constituted all the advantages he enjoyed; 
but like many of the American pioneers, having an 
active mind, he has been able to attend to his busi- 
ness in an intelligent manner. After quitting the 
employment of Mr. Goodman, Mr. Potter engaged 
as a teamster for three years. 

When twenty-three years of age, June 3,1856, 
', Mr. Potter married Miss Mary J. Numer, daughter 
: of John and Elizabeth (Rupert) Numer, near Ship- 
: pensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa. Mr. Numer was of 
high German ancestry, and came to this country 
when he was but eighteen years of age. Mrs. Nu- 
mer was of an old Pennsylvania familv, who had 
settled in the beautiful Cumberland Valley many 
generations ago. Mrs. Potter was born on the 21st 
of November, 1 833, on her father's farm near Ship- 
pensburg. 

On coming to Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Potter rented 
a farm in Grundy County, which was owned by 
; David Me Williams, and upon which they remained 
for nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Potter arc the par- 
ents of nine children Adie V., William L., Julia F., 
Leander, Allen W., Rose A., Elsie M.. Bertha 
.Maud and Nellie E. William L. and Rose A. died 
in childhood, and Allen W. died when nearly seven- 
teen years of age; a bright, intelligent youth, cut 
down before he had entered the portals of manhood. 
II is death was severely felt by his parents, and he is 
still fresh in their memories. Adie V. married 
Daniel Schott, a farmer of Union Hill, Kankakee 
, Co., 111., and they have one child living, named Al- 



946 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



frecl P. ; Julia F. married David Duncan, a farmer 
uf Round Grove Township, this county; they have 
throe children, named Leslie, Kthel and Leander. 
The other members of the family are at home with 
their parents. At the time of the writing of this 
sketch, Leander is on a visit to his friends in Penn- 
sylvania. He is an industrious young man of twen- 
ty-four years of age, and universally respected. 
The children were educated at the High School in 
I) wight. 

In political matters Mr. Potter is in harmony with 
the doctrines of the Republican party. He has been 
School Director, Road Commissioner, and has held 
other township offices. Both Mr. and Mrs. Potter 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and have both been faithful to their trusts, and by 
honest labor and patient industry, have succeeded 
in the contest of life, and have brought up their 
children to good moral principles and given them a 
good education. Descended from sterling ances- 
tors, the children may well be proud of their fore- 
fathers. When Mr. Potter came as a 'pioneer to 
this county, the fertile prairie was wild, and covered 
with high grass. He was obliged to haul his coal 
from Streator, twenty-two miles distant, across an 
uninhabited prairie. In crossing the "Slews," as 
the low places are called, the prairie grass was so 
high, that when standing on the seat of a common 
farm wagon, a tall man could not reach the top. 
The farm on which Mr. Potter now resides, con- 
sisting of K>() acres, was purchased in 1866, and 
since that time he has expended his best efforts in 
improving and cultivating it. A view of the home 
place is given in this ALBUM. 




\ 



ELSON A. BEMIS. who is engaged in farm- 
ing and stock-raising on section 2, in Ksmen 
Township, was born in Oxford, Chenango 
County, N. V., on the 'Jth of September, 1S40. and 
is the eldest child of Amariah X. and Lucinda 
(Bachus) Bemi>, sketehe* of whose lives appear in 
another part of this work. The subject of this 
sketch passed his younger days in town, and was 
first put to regular work in a sawmill with \\\> father. 
where he remained until eighteen years of aye. with 



the exception of a few years spent in school at Ox- 
ford Academy. On leaving the mill he went to 
Canterbury, Windhr.m Co., Conn., where he en- 
gaged to learn the trade of a molder, at which he 
served two years. 

On the 20th of August, 1861, Mr. B. enlisted in 
Company F, 8th Connecticut Infantry, at Canter- 
bury, and was mustered in at Hartford, under ('apt. 
Elijah Y. Smith, Col. Edwin Harlan commanding 
the regiment. They were sworn into the service 
on the 23d of September, 1861, and sent to Jamaica, 
L. I., where they remained in drill camp until No- 
vember, and then went to Annapolis, Md., to join 
Burnside's expedition to North Carolina. They 
went by water to Hatteras Inlet in Pamlico Sound, 
and passed up to Roanoke Island, where on the 7th 
and 8th of February, 1802, the battle of Roanoke 
Island was fought. Thence they went by water to 
Newborn, where on the 14th of March, the battle 
of Newborn was fought. They then went by rail 
to Ft. Macon, which they placed under siege on the 
14th of April, and by the 25th of that month had 
so completely riddled the fort that the garrison 
surrendered unconditionally. After remaining 
practically idle for a week, they em barked for 
Fortress Monroe, where they landed and met Me- 
CleJIan, who had retreated down the Peninsula. 
After this they returned to their vessels and went 
to Yorktowu, but soon reshipped and went up the 
Pamnnky River, to within thirteen miles of Rich- 
mond, when- they destroyed the railroad to the 
north to head off Lee's first raid into Pennsylvania. 
They then crossed the country to Point Comfort 
and sailed to Aqua Creek, and thence to Freder- 
icksburg, where the}' were on picket duty until Au- 
gust 31, and then marched to Brook's Station, 
guarding that portion of the country until the mid- 
dle of September. They then reporter! at Wash- 
ington City, and went on through to attack Lee by 
the way of Frederiekstown and Sharp.-burg. They 
overtook the enemy and had a sharp >kirmish at 
Frederiekstown, and on the 14th of September 
fought the battle of South Mountain, driving the 
enemy for a day and a night. They again en- 
countered the enemy at Antictani Creek and Sharps- 
liurg. Here the company had but thirty-six men 
at the beginning, and when night came on but live 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



947 



able-bodied men remained. Gen. Rodman, their 
brigade commander, and the subject of this sketch 
received three gunshot wounds, in the right side 
and in both legs. The wounded lay for forty-eight 
hours before medical aid or any assistance could 
reach them. Mr. Bemis was carried to a farm 
house and remained in field hospital two weeks, 
when he was taken to the hospital at Baltimore, 
and two weeks later, on the 28th of September. 
1862, was granted a furlough and went home. 

Four months later Mr. Bemis returned to Wash- 
ington and reported to the medical director for serv- 
ice, when he was put into convalescent camp, 
where he remained sixty-eight days. He then 
joined his regiment at Portsmouth, which was still 
under Burnside, but under the immediate com- 
mand of Gen Butler. From there they went to 
Suffolk and laid siege to that city, while Longstreet 
was trying to hem in the Union forces and recap- 
ture Norfolk. This began April 11, 1863, and 
the AVest Branch Battery was captured April 19. 
On the 4th of May the enemy retreated toward 
Richmond and the siege was raised. The company 
then returned to Portsmouth and were sent to 
North Carolina, by way of the Dismal Swamp 
Canal, when they guarded the railroads in that 
State for a time. On their return they served on 
picket duty in Virginia until December, and then 
the veteran army re-enlistment occurred. Mr. 
Bemis re-enlisted for three years more, but was 
rejected on account of his wounds and discharged 
Jan. 15, 1864. 

Upon leaving the army our subject returned to 
his home, where he farmed two years and then 
came West, in 1^68, locating at Brimfield, Peoria 
County, where he engaged as a farmer. While 
thus engaged he made several trips further west, 
looking for a location, and in the fall of 1869 he 
came to Livingston County, where with his father, 
he bought 160 acres of wild land on section 2, Es- 
men Township. He now has 160 acres more on 
the same section and devotes his time to farming 
and stock-raising. 

On the 16th of February, 1869, Mr. B. married 
Sarah L. Sheldon, eighth child in a family of nine, 
born to Benjamin and Lorinda (Thompson) Shel- 
don, who were respectively natives of Rhode Island 



and Massachusetts. The daughter, Sarah, was born 
in Guilford, Chenango Co., N. Y., on the 29th of 
June, 1844, and came to Illinois first with her hus- 
band. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, 
remained in the East; the mother is still living in 
the State of New York. The paternal grandparents 
were Benjamin and Anna Sheldon; the maternal 
grandparents were John and Lydia (Stone) Thomp- 
son. Of the great-grandparents the Thompsons 
were of Irish and the Sheldons of English descent. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bemis are the parents of four chil- 
dren Virgil S., John I?., Frank L. and Hattie L. 
Mr. Bemis has served as Town Clerk for twelve 
3'ears and School Director ever since his district 
was organized. While not active in politics he is 
a warm supporter of the Republican party. Mrs. 
Bemis is a member of the Congregational Church. 

We present on another page of this work a view 
of Mr. Bemis' residence. 



~! AMES BROWN is one of the largest stock- 
raisers and most extensive land-owners of 
Livingston County, and resides in Nevada 
Township. He was born in the city of Deer- 
field, Oneida Co., N. Y., on the 14th of September. 
1829. His grandfather, David Brown, was a native 
of Scotland, and was born in Ayrshire, where he re- 
sided until about 1802, when, accompanied by his 
wife and three children, he came to America, and 
settled in Schuyler Township, Herkimer Co., N. Y., 
where he was an early settler. He purchased a 
tract of timber land and cleared a farm in the midst 
of the wilderness. His settlement was made there 
very many years before railroads or canals were 
operated in New York State, and the market for 
grain and stock was many miles distant. His tastes 
ran to horticulture, and soon after settling upon the 
farm he planted a large orchard and sold the apple 
product at six cents per bushel, and in that way 
secured the money with which to pay for his farm. 
He and his wife spent the last years of their lives 
upon this farm. 

The father of Mr. Brown was ten years of age 
when his parents came to America. He was reared 
to manhood in Herkimer Count}', N. Y., and re- 



f 



!I4H 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



; 



sided there until after his marriage; he then bought 
a farm in Deerfield Township, Oneida County, and 
lived there several years. He then moved to Cam- 
den, where he bought a home and where his death 
took place. The maiden name of his wife, the 
mother of our subject, was Sophia Mumford, who 
was born in Connecticut in 1799. Her father was 
William Mumford, a native of Connecticut, and an 
early settler of Deerfield Township, Oneida County. 
The mother died on the homestead in Deerfield at 
forty-four years of age. 

To the parents of our subject were born nine 
children, and in the order of their birth he was the 
seventh. His education was begun in a district 
school, continued in the city schools of Oswego, N. 
Y., and completed by attending two terms at 
Whitestown Seminary. After quitting school he 
engaged in teaching six terms of winter school, and 
when not so occupied devoted his time to farming. 
In 1854 he engaged in the butchering business in 
Oswego, N. Y., and in connection with that dealt 
in new milch cows, buying the cattle in Canada 
and Pennsylvania and selling them to the dairymen 
in Herkimer County. He continued in this business 
successfully for nearly fifteen years. In 1865 he 
purchased two farms containing 320 acres, in 
Phoenix Township, Oswego Co., N. Y.,and engaged 
in dairy farming for one year. In 18C6 he sold 
that farm, and accompanied by his father-in-law, 
came west on a visit of inspection of the country. 
He purchased 180 acres of land in Nevada Town- 
ship, Livingston County, in 1867, and soon after 
came here and located on this land. He immedi- 
ately commenced stocking his farm with good cat- 
tle, and in a little while had a considerable herd. 
From time to time he has added to his real estate 
until he now has 800 acres of fine land in Nevada 
and Dwight Townships. He is largely engaged in 
raising, feeding and shipping stock. For the last 
few years lie has paid ^particular attention to raising 
horses, his favorite breed being Norman, of which 
he constant!}' keeps on hand a large number of fine 
animals. 

On the '27th of July, 1863, Mr. Brown was mar- 
ried to Endora Wood, who was born in Oswego 
County, N. Y. Her father was Moses Wood, also 
a native of that county, where he was engaged in 



farming, and lived all his life. The maiden name 
of the mother of Mrs. Brown was Pattie Bostrick, 
a native of Oswego County. To Mr. and Mrs, 
Brown have been born eight children, four living, 
whose names are: Eva, Addie. George and Eudora 
Blanche. Those deceased were James, Mabel, Daniel 
and one unnamed. 

Mr. Brown was, in the earlier years of his man- 
hood, an old-line Whig, and was a radical Aboli- 
tionist during the slavery agitation in this country, 
and naturally joined the Republican party under 
the banner of Fremont and Lincoln, and he is to- 
day as strong in the Republican faith as ever. But 
few men have attained the success which has 
crowned Mr. Brown's efforts, who started under 
the same disadvantages that he did. His first 
earnings as a teacher when a young man clothed 
him, and the money which he made in the work of 
farming he saved until it accumulated to a sum 
large enough to constitute a capital upon which to 
begin business. All his life lie has been careful and 
prudent, as well as economical in all his affairs. 
Since his residence in Livingston County he has 
been considered by his neighbors as an enterpris- 
ing, solid and thrifty business man, possessing all 
those manly qualities that are characteristic of the 
hardy race of men from which he springs. Honor- 
able in business, pleasant in manner, cautious in 
action, he has the high regard of all who know 
him. 

It affords us pleasure to present a view of Mr. 
Brown's handsome residence in this ALBUM. 




ANIEL GALLUP, a highly respected and 
well-to-do farmer of Dwight Township, 
was born in Windham County, Conn., May 
11, 1822. His family is of Puritan ances- 
try, and tradition has it that three brothers of this 
name came from England in 1630 or 1632, and 
landed in Boston. One of the brothers returned to 
England and was drowned. John and Isaac, the 
other two, remained in this country. From John 
descended this branch of the Gallup family. 

The historian, John S. C. Abbott, mentions John 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1140 



Gallup as the Captain of a vessel in -1635. The 
following account is copied from Abbott's History 
of King Phillip : ' A man by the name of John 
Gallup was in a small vessel of about twenty tons 
on his passage from Connecticut to Massachusetts 
Bay. A strong northerly wind drove him near 
Marieus or Block Island. This island isabout four- 
teen miles from Point Judith. To his surprise he 
found near the shore an English vessel, which he 
immediately recognized as Capt. Oldham's, filled 
with Indians, and evidently in their possession. 
Sixteen savages, well armed with their own weap- 
ons and with guns and swords which they had taken 
from the English, crowded the boat. Capt. Gallup 
was a man of iron heart, inspirited by that Puritan 
chivalry which ever displayed itself in the most 
amazing deeds of daring without the slightest ap- 
parent consciousness that there was any thing extra- 
ordinary in the exploit. His little vessel was con- 
siderably larger than the boat which the Indians 
had captured. His crew, however, consisted of 
only one man and two boys, and yet without the 
slightest hesitancy, he immediately decided upon a 
naval fight with the Indians. Loading his muskets 
and spreading all sail, he bore down upon his foe. 
The wind was fair and strong, and standing firmly 
at the helm, while his crew were protected by the 
bulwarks from the arrows and bullets of the Indi- 
ans, and were ready with their muskets to shoot 
anyone who attempted to board, he guided his ves- 
sel so skillfully as to strike the smaller boat of the 
foe fairly upon the quarter. The shock was so se- 
vere that the boat was nearly capsized, and six of 
the Indians were knocked into the sea and drowned. 
Capt. Gallup immediately stood off and prepared 
for a similar broadside. In the meantime he lashed 
the anchor to the bows of the vessel in such a wav 
that the flukes would pierce the sides of the boat, 
and serve as a grappling iron. As there were now 
only ten Indians to be attacked, they decided to 
board the boat in case it should be grappled by the 
fluke of his anchor. 

" Having made these arrangements, Capt. Gallup 
again came running down before a brisk gale, and 
striking the boat, again tore open her sides with his 
anchor, while at the same moment he poured in a 
heavy discharge of buckshot upon the terrified sav- 



ages; most of them, however, had plunged into the 
hold of the little pinnace, and the shot effected but 
little execution. A third time he ran down upon 
the pinnace, and struck her with such force that five 
men in their turn leaped overboard and were 
drowned. There were but five savages left, and the 
intrepid Gallup immediately boarded the enemy. 
The savages retreated into the small cabin, and with 
swords they defended themselves. Two were taken 
captives and bound. Having no place where he 
could keep these two Indians apart, and fearing 
that they might get loose, and in co-operation with 
the three savages who had fortified themselves in 
the cabin, rise successfully upon him, Capt. Gallup 
threw one of the Indians overboard, and he was 
drowned. This was rough usage, but the savages, 
who had apparently rendered it neeessaiy by their 
previous acts of robbery and murder, could not 
complain. The pinnace was stripped of her rigging, 
and all the goods which remained. The body of 
Capt. Oldham was found awfully mutilated beneath 
the sail. The rest of the crew, but two or three in 
number, had been carried off captives by the sav- 
ages on shore. Capt. Gallup buried the corpse as 
reverentlj' as possible in the sea, and then took the 
pinnace in tow, with the savages barricaded in the 
cabin. Night came on, dark and stormy; the wind 
increased to a tempest, and it was necessarj' to cut 
the pinnace adrift, and she was never heard of 
more." 

Capt. John Gallup, son of the above, was killed 
by the Indians in King Phillip's War of 1675, iu 
the famous swamp fight, while he was leading his 
men across the trunk of a tree, the only entrance to 
the fort. He was one of the six Captains killed in 
this assault. John Gallup, son of the above, was 
born in 1675, about the time of his father's death. 
His son, Isaac Gallup, was the great-grandfather of 
the subject of our sketch, and he settled in the town 
of Sterling, Windham Co., Conn. He was a. very 
large land-holder, and possessed over 10,000 acres. 
He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Ben 
Adams, the grandfather of our subject, was a far- 
mer who inherited lands from his father. He mar- 
ried Miss Margaret Dorrence, of Connecticut, and 
they were the parents of seven children George, 
James, Margaret, Elizabeth, John A., Nathaniel 









050 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



;ind Chester. Like liis father, he was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary War. In religious doctrines he 
was an Old-School Presbyterian, and was a man 
temperate in his habits and of upright character. 
He lived to the patriarchial age of ninety-two years. 
John Adam, the father of the subject of our sketch, 
was born on the old homestead, which had been in 
the family for generations. He was educated in 
the common schools of that day, and learned the 
trade of a carpenter. He married Miss Polly Bar- 
ber, of Rhode Island, and they were the parents of 
nine children Ben, Adam, Daniel, Orrin, Sabra, 
Leonard H., Ralph \V.. Miranda and Diana. Mi- 
randa died at the age of seventeen years. In 1X50 
he moved to Illinois and settled on a farm in La- 
Salle County, near Mendota, where he lived for 
twenty years, He died at the home of his son Dan- 
iel, at the age of eighty years. He had been a sol- 
dier in the War of 1812. 

Daniel Gallup, the subject of this sketch, received 
his education in the common schools, and when not 
so engaged his boyhood was spent in learning the 
practical features of farming. At the age of twen- 
ty-three he went to New York and engaged in the 
market business. When twenty-seven years of age 
Mr. Gallup married Miss Helen M. Beach.daughter of 
William and Sallie (Remington) Beach, of Weeds- 
port, Is'. Y., and to them were born two children, 
John L. and Nellie L., the latter dying at the age 
of twenty-four years. Mr. Gallup engaged in the 
grain business at New York, where he remained for 
two years. In 18(i4he moved with his family to 
Dwight, where he lived for five years, and then 
moved to his present residence on a farm near 
Dwight, a view of which is given in this volume. 
Mr. Gallup's political affiliations are with the Re- 
publican party, and the principles of that party find 
in him at all times and under all circumstances a 
fearless advocate. The entire family are members 
of the Baptist Church, in the affairs of which they 
take a deep interest. Mr. Gallup is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity in high standing. 

John L., the only surviving child, is in connec- 
tion with his father engaged in farming. He re- 
ceived his education in the New York City school-., 
and in the High School at Dwight, in which he 
titled himself for the profession of teaching, in 



which calling he has been successfully engaged at 
various times. The Gallup family is one of the 
pioneer families of the country, and they have al- 
ways made their impress in whatever section they 
may have resided. 



i- 




ASHINGTON STAFFORD. This gentle- 

man fo:- the past thirty-Hve years has been 
the interested observer of the many and 
great changes which have taken place in Central 
Illinois since his first arrival here, in 1852. He was 
then a young man thirty-two yeai-s of age and had 
come to the West to build up for himself a perma- 
nent home. He possessed very little means, and 
being dependent upon his own resources at once 
began to exercise those habits of industry and econ- 
omy to which he had been trained, and which had 
become his second nature. These were qualities 
quite common among the early pioneers, and were 
the only basis upon which they could hope to build 
successfully in their efforts to secure their own 
comfort and well-being and that of their children. 

Our subject is pleasantly located on section 21, 
Eppard's Point Township.where he owns eighty acres 
of valuable land which he has brought to a good 
state of cultivation and provided with substantial 
buildings. He has carried on general farming. 
and of late years has made a specialty of stock-rais- 
ing, in which he has been successful. He has just 
passed the sixty-seventh year of his age, and with 
his estimable wife, is still in good health, which is 
the usual result of correct and temperate lives. 

Mr. Stafford was born in Hampshire County, 
Va., Sept. 5, 1820, which was also the birthplace of 
his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Meyer) Stafford. 
His paternal grandfather, John Stafford, was a na- 
tive of Belfast, Ireland, whence he was brought to 
this country as a soldier by the British during the 
Revolutionary War. He was taken prisoner by the 
soldiers under Gen. Washington. He afterward 
married, and located in Hampshire County, Ya., 
where he reared a family of eight children, all of 
whom have since passed away. Joseph, the father 
of our subject, spent his entire life in the Old Do- 
minion, and served as a soldier in the War of 1X12. 




1 





LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



953 






The parentMl household included eight children 
Lizzie Jane, Washington, John, Sarah, Susan, Mary, 
William and James. Lizzie Jane married B. Wiley, 
and died in her native State, in 1851 ; John died in 
the army, in 1862, leaving a wife and two children; 
Sarah is the wife of John Long, and the mother of 
a large family ; Susan, Mrs. William Brace, is now 
a widow, her husband having died in September, 
1876, in Maryland; Mary, Mrs. William Ridgeley, 
lives in West Virginia, and has six children; Will- 
iam is a resident of Richland County, Ohio, and 
has a family including four daughters and one son ; 
James is married and lives in West Virginia; he is 
the father of seven children. 

Our subject remained under the parental roof 
until 1844, then migrated to Ohio and engaged in 
farming about twenty miles from the town of 
Janesville. Eight years later he came to this 
count}', settling first a short distance north of Pon- 
tiac, and in the spring of 1 854 removed to his 
present place, where he has since resided. During 
his various removals he has been accompanied by 
his wife, who is now the mother of eight children. 
She was formerly Miss Elizabeth Lickliter, and was 
born in Virginia, Feb. 5, 1823. Their marriage 
took place in their native county, in 1842. Mrs. 
Stafford is the daughter of George and Rosa (Cook) 
Lickliter, natives respectively of Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. Of her seven brothers and sisters, 
two of the boys died in the Union arm}', and the 
names of the survivors are: John, a resident of 
Nebraska; Mary, the wife of Willis Stafford; Ara- 
belle, the wife of Elias Heyser; Matilda, Mrs. 
Lewis Stull, and Martha, Mrs. Nathan Jones, all of 
whom live in Ohio. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Stafford were named 
as follows: James, John, Joseph, George, Louisa, 
Matilda, Lyda and Mazy. James is a prosperous 
farmer of Wilbarger County, Tex., is married and 
the father of seven children; John is farming in 
Iowa, is married and has two children; Joseph went 
to Arizona in 1881, since which time he has never 
been heard from; he left a wife and five children 
in Iowa; one of these children, Onary, is in Living- 
ston County, another, Lafflin L., is with his grand- 
father, our subject, and the other children are in 
Iowa with their mother. George is married, and 



farming in Eppard's Point Township; Louisa is the 
wife of George Florer, and has three children; 
Matilda, Mrs. Charles Fultz, has four children and 
lives in Kansas; Lyda, Mrs. John Shubkagle, also 
lives in Kansas; Mazy is at home with her parents. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stafford are highly respected in the 
community where they have lived so long, and 
young and old find their home a pleasant resort. 
Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Evangelical 
Church. In politics Mr. Stafford affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 

The portrait of Mr. Stafford may be found in 
this ALBUM, he being one of the representative 
citizens of this county. 




>,RONSON SMITH, who was widely and fav- 
orably known throughout Forest Township 
as one of its most highly esteemed citizens, 
and whose portrait is given in connection 
with this sketch, located upon the land which- com- 
prises his present homestead in February, 1865. 
It then bore little resemblance to its present appear- 
ance, being not far removed from its primitive con- 
dition, and, looking upon it now, it is hardly neces- 
sary to say that years of labor and hundreds of 
dollars have been employed in transforming the 
almost wild waste into the present valuable farm. 
Mr. Smith has not only distinguished himself as a 
thorough and skillful agriculturist, but has been in 
all respects a capable and useful citizen, generously 
interesting himself in the welfare of his neighbors, 
and always willing to contribute of his time and 
means to that which should build up his township 
and insure its settlement by an intelligent and enter- 
prising class of people. In his life labors he has 
enjoyed the society and encouragement of one of 
the best of women, who has brightened his home, 
strengthened his best purposes, and in all respects 
been his wise counselor and disinterested friend. 
His children have grown up around him under the 
best home training, and are fitted to take their 
stations in life as valued members of the community. 
Mr. Smith is of excellent New England ancestry, 
and was born in Washington, Litchtield Co., Conn., 
March 15, 1826. His forefathers were of English 
descent, and the first representatives of the family in 



I 



f 



1 954 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I 



this country settled at Milford with the New Haven 
Colony, and with their descendants were mostly en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. The parents of our 
subject, William and Julia (Stone) Smith, spent the 
greater part of their lives in Washington, Conn., 
although the mother was a native of Middlebury, 
Conn. She lived to be eighty years of age, pass- 
ing away about 1878. William Smith departed this 
life some years previous to the decease of his wife, 
when seventy-seven years old. Their three chil- 
dren were: Bronson of our sketch; Ell. S., a manu- 
facturer of silver-plated ware at Birmingham, Conn., 
and Burke, who resides on the old homestead at 
Washington. 

Mr. Smith spent his childhood and youth amid 
the quiet scenes of farm life, attending the district 
school and making himself useful around the home 
when not employed with his studies. Upon reach- 
ing his majority, he entered a woolen-mill at Win- 
sted, Conn., where he remained two years, and then 
made his way to Augusta County, Va. On his way 
there he witnessed the inauguration of Gen. Zacharv 
Taylor as President of the United States. He 
taught school in Augusta County three years, and 
then engaged in farming, in the meantime mak- 
ing the acquaintance of Miss Mary E. Coyner, who 
became his wife in 1851. Mrs. Smith was born in 
Bridge water, Rockingham Co., Va., April 13, 1834, 
and is the daughter of Addison H. and Elizabeth 
(Brown) Coyner, also natives of the Old Dominion. 

The young people continued in Virginia until 
September, 1855, then started out with teams for 
the West. After a journey of seven weeks they 
arrived in McLean County, this State, and Mr. 
Smith purchased a tract of land in Dry Grove 
Township, where he followed farming until Febru- 
ary, 1865, when he sold out and secured possession 
of the land which he now occupies. Upon this not 
a furrow had been turned, but he worked persist- 
ently year after year, and in due time began to reap 
the reward of his industry. He has now 180 acres 
in a fine state of cultivation, and is largely engaged 
in dairying, keeping eighteen cows and disposing of 
the milk at Forest, a very convenient point, as his 
farm adjoins the city limits. He at one time owned 
200 acres, but has laid off a portion of this into 
town lots. 



Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of twelve 
children, eleven of whom are living and named as 
follows: Julia, William A., Lucy May, Fannie Bell, 
Howard P., Ethel Bronson, Coyner C., Frank E. B., 
Gertrude L., Mabel L. and Burke. Julia is the wife 
of Charles Shirrell. a wealthy farmer, owning prop- 
erty near Morris, 111.; William A. islivingat Forest; 
Fannie Bell married William Dixon, and is residing 
in Pleasant Ridge Township; Howard P. is married 
and resides in Forest. The deceased was a daugh- 
ter, Mary Ella, who died at the interesting age of 
fourteen years. 

Our subject and his wife were two of the' original 
six who organized the Congregational Church at 
Forest, the other four members being W. W. Payne, 
his wife and son, and Jerusha Chapman. Of this 
Mr. Smith has been a Trustee for twenty-two years. 
He has supported Republican principles since the 
organization of the party, and has represented his 
township in the County Board of Supervisors seven 
years. He has also officiated as Treasurer and oc- 
cupied the various other local offices. While a res- 
ident of Dry Grove Township he was Assessor six 
terms and also Supervisor one term. 

Socially, Mr. Smith belongs to the I. O. O. F., 
with which he has been connected since twenty-one 
years of age. He has always been a strict advocate 
of temperance, and has the proud satisfaction of see- 
ing his sons grow up around him with steady habits, 
and every prospect of bearing worthily the mantle 
of their honored father when he shall have departed 
hence. 



M/ N. BARR, who is located on section 17, 
Esmen Township, is one of the most active 
and progressive farmers and stock-raisers in 
Livingston County. He comes of Pennsyl- 
vania parentage, and was born in Lancaster County, 
July 6, 1833. He was the fourth in a family of 
eleven children born to Jacob and Susannah (Barr) 
Barr, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. The 
father was a fanner by occupation and moved to 
Ohio in 1836, settling in Clarke County, whore he 
farmed until his death, which occurred in 1848; his 
excellent wife died two years earlier. They were 
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



955 






The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Fannie 
Bnrr, of whom nothing further is definitely known. 

Mr. Barr, the subject of this sketch, was educated 
in the common schools, with the additional advan- 
tage of the High School in the city. When his 
parents moved to Ohio he was only three years 
old, and his father died when he was fifteen years 
of age, leaving him dependent entirely upon his 
own resources. At that age he engaged at farm 
work, and continued it until 1855, although his 
ambition was to obtain an education and secure for 
himself a comfortable home. Not liking the op- 
portunities which were afforded in Ohio he con- 
cluded to come to the West, and stopped first in 
Kane County, 111., where he engaged in farm work 
one season. He then returned to Ohio, and spent 
the winter, after which he came to Livingston 
County, landing here on the 3d of April, 1856. At 
this time he purchased 160 acres of wild land upon 
which his home is now located, and immediately 
set about improving it, working energetically until 
1862. In the winter of 1858-59 he had taught 
the district school near his farm. 

In 1862, on the 7th of August, Mr. Barr enlisted 
for the war in Company M, 1st Light Artillery, or- 
ganized by Capt. James B. Miller, who was shortly- 
after succeeded by George W. Spencer. The com- 
pany was mustered in at Camp Douglas, and was 
soon afterward sent to the Army of the Cumber- 
land, which was then under the command of Gen. 
Rosecrans. After leaving Illinois the company 
went first to Louisville, Ky., where it engaged in 
opposition to Gen. Bragg. The first winter was 
spent there in watching the maneuvers of Morgan. 
In the spring the company was attached to the gun- 
boat fleet, and went by water to Nashville, Term., 
whence they proceeded to the extreme right of the 
army, which rested at Franklin. The whole army 
then moved forward across Lookout Mountain, 
taking part in the battle of Chickamauga from the 
18th to the 20th of September, and thence to Look- 
out Mountain and Mission Ridge, where they par- 
ticipated in part of those engagements. Then Sher- 
man took them to Kuoxville to relieve Gen. Burn- 
side, and the)' spent the winter at Strawberry Plains 
and Drawbridge. The)' returned to Charleston in 
March, and entered the Atlanta campaign on the 2d 



of Ma}% and went all through this campaign with 
the Army of the Cumberland. The engagements in 
which Mr. Barr participated were Resaca, Kennesaw 
Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Buzzard's 
Roost, and other minor engagements. They were 
under continuous fire for ninety-six days, when the 
campaign wound up at Atlanta, about the 1st of 
October, 1884, and they passed the winter at Chat- 
tanooga. In the spring of 1865 they went to Cleve- 
land, Tenn., where they remained until July, when 
they were sent home to Camp Douglas, and mus- 
tered out on the 27th of July, 1 865, he having served 
within nine days of three years without injury, ex- 
cepting a slight wound received at Chickamauga. 
When Mr. Barr was discharged from the army he 
at once returned to his farm and began to pick up 
the threads of the old life. He farmed and raised 
stock, living by himself until the days of bachelor- 
hood were beginning to gain on him. 

On the 25th of December, 1872, Mr. Barr was 
married to Mrs. Laura (Chalmers) Barr, who was 
born in London, England, on the 10th of February, 
1852, and was the only child born to her parents, 
both of whom died and left her an orphan at a very 
early age. She was adopted at the age of six 
months by William A. and Sophia Esterbrook, na- 
tives of this country, wealthy people who were re- 
siding in England for the benefit of their health at 
that time, and brought by them when they returned 
to America, when she was eighteen months old. 
For the first five years she was with them they re- 
sided at Chelsea, Vt., after which they moved to 
Fremont, Dodge Co., Neb., where they remained 
for five years, and then returned to New York and 
lived in the city for three years. They then re- 
turned to the same place in Nebraska, where they 
remained until the adopted daughter was married 
in 1869, to Elias A. Barr, a brother of our subject. 
The netvly married couple settled in Omaha and 
lived there for nearly two years, where the husband 
was engaged as telegraph operator at Gilmore. 
While in the discharge of his duty as an employe 
of the railroad company he was accidentally killed 
by the cars on the 5th of November, 1870. 

Immediately after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Barr they occupied the farm where they have since 
resided. They became the parents of four children, 



956 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




r 



two of whom are living, Lutie A. and Lorenzo N.; 
the other two died in infancy. When Esmen Town- ' 
ship was first organized Mr. Barr was made Col- 
lector and served two years. He has been Trustee for 
three terms, and Constable for several years. He 
is not particular!} 7 active in political matters, but 
supports the measures and candidates of the Re- 
publican party. He and his wife take a prominent 
part in all the social affairs of the neighborhood, 
and with the people among whom they live stand 
deservedly high. Their home is one of the most 
pleasant in the township, and is well provided with 
all things necessary to make it comfortable. 

As indicative of the prosperity enjoyed in this 
section of the country we present on an adjoining 
page a view of Mr. Barr's residence with its sur- 
roundings. 



RNOLD THORNTON, who after a long 
life of active business, which included 
> farming, merchandising and discharging 
official duties, has retired to private life at 
Pontiac, where he proposes to spend the remainder 
of his days in rest and quiet, was born on the 
4th of November, 1819, and is the son of Anthony 
and Ann L. (Barrett) Thornton, who were natives 
of Virginia. The grandfather was Dr. Henry, and 
the grandmother, Mrs. (Buckner) Thornton, who 
were of English ancestry, and were among the early 
settlers of Virginia. The mother's father was Fran- 
cis Barrett, a native of Virginia, who was for seven 
years a soldier in the Revolutionary War. An- 
thony Thornton, after marriage, was engaged in 
hotel-keeping for a time, and the last tweiitj'-five 
years of his life was Sheriff of Green County, Ky. 
Their family consisted of eight children, only three 
of whom are now living Arnold, John F. and 
James T. Anthony Thornton died in 1828 or 1829 
in Oldham County, fifteen miles above Louisville, 
while on the way to visit his father, who resided in 
Virginia. 

Arnold Thornton was reared in the village of 
Greensburg, Green Co., Ky., where he attended 
school until 1833. With his mother's family, then 
comprising four sons and two daughters, he came 



to Illinois and settled on Man vision Creek, Mor- 
gan County, where they engaged in farming for two 
years. They then went to Snngamon County, 
where they bought a farm and remained about eight- 
een years. The part where they settled was after- 
ward formed into Menard County. The subject of 
this sketch then went to Putnam County with his 
brother, James T., where they engaged in merchan- 
dising at Magnolia for ten years, when Arnold 
moved to Henry, Marshall County, where he en- 
gaged in merchandising and grain-buying and con- 
ducting a private bank for a short time. In the 
fall of 1871 Mr. Thornton removed to Pontiac, and 
for two years engaged in buying grain. Previous 
to his coming to Livingston County, he had pur- 
chased 160 acres of land in Pike Township, and 
about 1872 purchased 170 acres in Eppard's Point 
Township, and in 1875 moved onto this farm where 
he resided for four years. In 1879 he was elected 
Treasurer of Livingston County, and again moved 
into Pontiac. He held this position until 1883. 
His previous office-holding was that of Justice of 
the Peace in Menard and Putnam Counties. At 
the expiration of his term as Treasurer, ^he pur- 
chased a stock of hardware, to which he added 
groceries, and conducted the mercantile business 
tor three years, when he sold his store and retired 
from active business life. 

Mr. Thornton was married to Miss Mary J. Fyffe, 
March 18, 1856. She is a native of Putnam 
County, 111., where she was born Nov. 14, 1836, and 
daughter of Dr. E. P. and Sarah (Robinson) Fyffe, 
who were natives of Ohio. Dr. Fyffe was born in 
1810, and moved to Urbana, Ohio, in 1837. He 
was a cndet at West Point, studied medicine, and 
was admitted to practice at Oxford, Ohio, at the 
age of twenty-one. He took a very prominent 
part in the late war, serving in a high official posi- 
tion under Gen. Rosecrans. He was promoted to 
the rank of Brigadier General, and for a consider- 
able time was in command at the barracks at Wash- 
ington City. He was the father of six children, 
one son and three daughters of whom nre now liv- 
ing: Joseph, who is a commander at the navy yard 
at Boston, and was in the expedition sent in search 
of Dr. Kane, the Arctic explorer; <.Jueen Victoria , 
presented each officer of this expedition with a sil- 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



959 



ver medal. He was in the Mexican War when lie 
was but fifteen years old. Maximilla, now the wife 
of F. J. Crawford, a well-known attorney of Chi- 
cago; Mary J., Mrs. A. Thornton; Sarah, Mrs. M. 
H. Weaver, of Urbana, Ohio. Gen. E. P. Fyffe's 
father was William II. Fyffe, a native of Virginia, 
who removed to Kcntuck}' and then to Champaign 
Count}', Ohio, where the General was born, at Ur- 
bana, being the first white child born in that place. 
Gen. Fyffe died in his native town in 1866, and his 
wife died at the same place in 1872. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thornton have had a family of ten 
children, of whom eight are living, namely: Ed- 
ward M., who married Ella Hudson, and they have 
three children, named Wilbur, Harry and Edna; 
the other children are, Joseph, Nell, Sarah F., Max 
F., James R.. Robert A. and Alice L. Mr. Thorn- 
ton is an enthusiastic member of the Republican 
party, is a Mason of long standing, and in all re- 
spects is one of the solid men of the county, and 
has been prominent in all her affairs since his resi- 
dence here. During this time he lias built three 
good houses in Marshall County. His present 
dwelling is a handsome one. Mrs. Thornton is a 
member of the Presbyterian Church. 

The portrait accompanying this sketch of its 
well-known subject will be greatly appreciated by 
Mr. Thornton's many friends. 

HOMAS SPAFFORD, who is a representa- 
\ live and reputable farmer and stock-raiser 
of Saunemin Township, is a native of Lin- 
colnshire, England, and was born Jan. 28, 1827. 
He is the son of John and Sarah (Sibsey) Spafford, 
both natives of England. Of a family of ten chil- 
dren born to his parents the following survive: 
Robert, of Saunemin Township; Thomas, our sub- 
ject; Betsy, wife of David Johnson, who resides 
near London. Ontario ; Sarah, wife of William Beed- 
hani, and William, the latter two in England. Our 
subject was reared to man's estate in his native 
country, and received a good common-school edu- 
cation. He has been a constant reader all his life, 
and is well versed in general business matters and 
informed upon all public questions. 




In the fall of 1850, Mr. Spafford emigrated to 
America, taking passage at Liverpool, and after an 
ocean voyage of five weeks in the sailing-vessel 
'New World," landed in New York City, and pro- 
ceeded immediately to Buffalo, N. Y. He remained 
in that city nearly one year, during which time he 
ran a meat-market stand. He then left New York 
and went to Fountain County, Ind., where he began 
farming on rented land. He remained in that 
county until the spring of 1 806, in which year he 
came to Livingston County, and settled on section 
21, in Saunemin Township, in 1858. The quarter 
section of land on which he resides he originally 
entered from the Government in 1853, having been 
on a prospecting tour in this county during that 
year. There had not been a furrow turned on this 
land when he came here, and there were not more 
than half a dozen settlers in Saunemin Towship. 
He has seen the land of his township developed from 
its primitive condition and converted into smiling 
fields and splendid farms. Mr. Spafford has become 
an extensive land-owner, and his 900 acres located 
in Livingston and Kankakee Counties, are evidences 
of his business accjmplishments. When he first 
landed in Buffalo, N. Y., he had about $100 in 
money with which to begin the struggle of life in 
the New -World. He has succeeded beyond his 
most sanguine expectations. 

On the 20th of May, 1853, Mr. Spafford was 
married in Fountain County, Ind., to Mar}' A. Jor- 
don, a native of Wales, who was born Oct. 15, 1831. 
She was the daughter of David Edwards, a Welsh- 
man by birth. At the time of her marriage to Mr. 
Spafford she was the widow of John Jordon, of 
Fountain County, Ind. The union of Mr. and Mrs. 
Spafford was blest with six children, four of 
whom are living: Sarah, born July 3, 1854, is the 
wife of Zadoc Hudgin, of Kankakee, 111.; Betsy, 
born June 11. I860; Minnie, born Oct. 19, 1863, 
is the wife of John Watts, of Saunemin Township; 
Anna was born Aug. 19, 1866. Two sons, both 
named John, died in infancy. The wife who was 
his helpmate and companion for more than twenty- 
eight years, departed this life on the 9th of No- 
vember, 1881, leaving many friends to mourn her 
demise. 

Mr. Spafford is a Republican in politics and has 



I 



^ 960 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



served as Township School Trustee and Assessor 
for a number of years. For". fifteen years he 
served as Justice of the Peace, and was first elected 
as Supervisor of his township in 1868, and wrth the 
exception of one 3 r ear has officiated in that capacity 
continuously since. He is now serving his seventh 
year as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, in 
which capacity he has proved himself of much value 
to the county. He takes an active interest in every- 
thing that will develop the resources of and improve 
the county. He is a member of the Congregational 
Church, and contributes to its support and also 
assists other churches as well. In early life he was 
an Episcopalian. He is public spirited and liberal 
minded, and commands the esteem and confidence 
of all who know him, and now in his declining years 
is enjo3 r ing the fruits of a life spent in usefulness 
and well doing. As a man of this lygh character 
we place in this connection the portrait of Mr. 
Spafford. 



eORNELIUSW. STICKNEY, cditofand pro- 
1 
prietor of the Forest Rambler, was the first 
male child born in what was then the village 
of East Bradford, Mass., but is now Groveland. 
He first opened his eyes to the light March 9, 1850, 
and is a direct descendant through six generations 
of Samuel Stickney, who emigrated from England, 
and located in Massachusetts in the Colonial days. 
The father of our subject, Leonard W. Stickney, 
was also born in East Bradford, Mass., in 1821. 
He learned the trade of shoemaking in early man- 
hood, and was married to Miss Susan J. Streeter, a 
native of Portland, Me. Five years after the birth 
of their son, Cornelius W., they migrated to Illinois 
and located in Free port, where the father engaged 
in the shoe business, carry ing on both wholesale and 
retail trade. ]|_In 1860 he transported his merchan- 
dise to Denver, Col., and continued the same busi- 
ness there about four years. Then selling out, he 
went to Virginia City, thence to Helena. Mont., 
and purchasing a stock of books and stationery, 
carried on a very lucrative trade, and accumulated 
a fine property. He was quite prominent as a citi- 
zen, and identified with many important enterprises 



of the young and rapidly growing town. As is 
often the case, however, misfortune finalh' sought 
him out, and his stock of goods, together with the 
building, were one night totally destroyed by fire. 
All of his assets were employed to pay the 100 cents 
on the dollar, which he persisted in doing, and set- 
tled satisfactorily with every creditor. He had 
been carrying an insurance of $26,000, but the great 
Chicago fire occurred eight days later, and before 
he could prove his loss to the companies of that 
city, in which he held policies, they were broken up 
and he only received $1,600. Upon the complete 
settlement of his business a year later, he returned 
with his family to Illinois, and located near Normal. 
Soon afterward he was stricken with paralysis, 
which, however, only disabled him for a short time, 
and had no effect whatever upon his bright and 
vigorous mind. Thereafter he kept himself em- 
ployed some of the time in keeping hotel, and in 
speculating in a small way. He finally died of 
apoplexy at Bloomington on the 1st of December, 
1874. 

The father of our subject is remembered as a 
well-educated and well-bred gentleman, one who was 
strictly honest and upright in his dealings with his 
fellowrnen, and who looked with contempt upon a 
mean action. He was but fifty-three years of age 
at the time of his death, which was hastened by 
mental labor. He possessed those genial qualities 
of heart and mind which drew around him a large 
circle of friends, by whom his name is held in kindly 
remembrance. Mrs. Stickney is still living and a 
resident of Forest, where she carries on a milliner}' 
business, and is in good health. Of the three chil- 
dren comprising the parental family. Elias V. died 
when an interesting young man of twent3*-one years 
of age; Susie C. resides with her mother. 

Mr. Stickney was fairly educated in his youth, 
and when sixteen years old joined his father in 
Montana, and assisted in carrying on the business 
there. He had always been fond of hooks, and was 
an extensive reader, and earl}' in life gave evidence 
of literary talent. His first editorial experience was 
a.- a member of the local staff of the Helena Daily 
Herald, in which he acquitted himself creditably, and 
evinced his adaptation to newspaper work. In 
1871 he returned to Illinois and employed himself 



K-JB-* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



9fil 



at whatever he could find to do to assist the family 
and himself also. He was connected with the hotel 
which his father carried on in Bloomington, and 
there made the acquaintance of Miss Juliet F. Win- 
sor, who became his wife Oct. 28, 1875. 

Mrs. Stickney was born near Atlanta, this State, 
June 9, 1853, and is the daughter of Daniel and 
Anna R. (Brown) Winsor. They were natives of 
Rhode Island respectively, and the maternal grand- 
father of our subject was at one time a custom house 
officer at Providence, R. I. The young people made 
their home first in Bloomington, 111., where they 
continued a year, then removed to Olney, 111., 
where Mr. S. was employed in the office of the Olney 
Daily Ledger. The year following he returned to 
Bloomington and assisted his mother in the manage- 
ment of the St. Nicholas Hotel, which she conducted 
several years after her husband's death. 

Our subject, however, felt at home in no place 
so much as in a newspaper office. He accordingly, 
in 1878, purchased the Chenoa Gazette, the publica- 
tion of which he conducted until the fall of 1883, 
then coming to this county, established the Forest 
Rambler, which has now become one of the indis- 
pensable institutions of the town and vicinity. The 
Rambler is a six-column, eight-page quarto, Re- 
publican in politics, and eminently successful. As 
a news journal little more could be required, and its 
editorial columns are presided over in a wise and 
sensible manner. Mr. Stickney expresses his opin- 
ions fearlessly, and is one of the most loyal adher- 
ents of the Republican party. He became identified 
with the Masonic fraternity in 1871, in which he 
has made considerable advance, being in the Royal 
Arch degree. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stickney's family now includes but 
two little ones, May C. and Lillie &., their only 
son, Merl, having died at the age of eleven months. 



4 



\w] AMES LOVELOCK, who owns 200 acres of 
j land on section 31, Smmemin Township, 
where he is engaged in general farming and 
stock-raising, has been a resident of Illinois 
for twenty-five years. He is a native of llanning- 
tou, Hampshire, England, where he was born on 



the 15th of May, 1829. At the age of fifty-nine 
years he finds himself comfortably situated and 
surrounded, the possessor of a competency to secure 
ease and comfort during the balance of his life. 
The parents of our subject were George and Mary 
(Palmer) Lovelock, both natives of England. 

Mr. Lovelock remained in England until he 
reached the years of manhood, and received but a 
meager education, the advantages offered in that 
country in those days being very much limited. In 
1 85 1 he emigrated to America, taking passage on the 
9th of May, at London, on the sailing-vessel "Vic- 
toria," which brought him safely across the At- 
lantic, and he landed at New York on the 10th of 
June. Immediately upon arriving on our shores 
he went directly to Michigan, where he secured em- 
ployment on a farm for about two years, and then 
went to LaPorte County, Ind., where he remained 
until 1863, when he came to Livingston County, 
and has here since continuously resided. 

On the 18th of June, 1855, Mr. Lovelock vyas 
married, in Indiana, to Mcna Thomas, who was 
born in Germany, June 8, 1830, and is the daugh- 
ter of Lewis and Carrie (Brownberger) Thomas. 
In 1854 she accompanied her parents when they 
immigrated to America, and settled in Michigan 
City, Ind., where they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Lovelock have been born eleven children, who arc 
recorded as follows: Amelia was born in 1855; 
Scott, June 23, 1857; Charles, Dec. 10, 1859; 
Frank, Aug. 17, 1861; James T., Sept. 14, 1863; 
Nancy, Sept. 9, 1865; Julia, Aug. 27, 1867; 
George, April 6, 1869; Albert P., Jan. 12, 1874, 
and two who are dead. Lorenzo D. and one who 
died in infancy. 

Although Mr. Lovelock's first residence in Liv- 
ingston County was begun under discouraging cir- 
cumstances lie has, through hard work, economy and 
good management, succeeded in securing a good 
farm of 200 acres, which has been for many years 
under excellent cultivation. He has also erected'a 
good class of farm buildings and made other suita- 
able improvements. Mr. Lovelock is a Democrat 
in politics, but has never allowed his political en- 
thusiasm to carry him in the direction of office- 
seeking. For a number of years he has served as 
School Director, and in that capacity has given sat- 



962 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 




isfaction to the people. He is a representative citi- 
zen of the township and county, and he and his 
family are reputable members of society. 

As representative of the buildings in this section ; 
of country we present on another page a view of 
Mr. Lovelock's residence. 

HOLAS ZEPH. The name of this gen- 
III tleman is held iir kindly remembrance by 
the people of Owego Township as having 
been one of its most worthy citizens. He was born 
in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 6, 
1 807, and was the son of John and Monita Zeph, 
also of German birth and parentage. He was reared 
to manhood in his native Province, where he re- 
mained until over forty years of age, and then, in 
the spring of 1848, set sail for America, landing 
first in the city of New York, whence he afterward 
went to Kentucky, where he spent two years, then 
migrated to Warren County, Ohio. After a resi- 
dence of three years in the Buckeye State he started 
for the farther West, locating first in Tazewell 
County, this State, and coming thence to Living- 
ston Count}' in 1858. He took up a tract of un- 
cultivated prairie land on section 18, in Owego 
Township, and at once commenced its improve- 
ment and cultivation, establishing a permanent 
homestead, upon which he remained until his death, 
which occurred Sept. 22, 1871. 

Mr. Zeph was married, in his native Province, 
Dec. 31, 1832, to Miss Franciska Zimmerer, and 
they became the parents of twelve children, seven 
now living and located as follows: Mathias is en- 
gaged as a car inspector at Indianapolis, Ind. ; The- 
resa is the wife of John Schneider, of Pontiac ; 
Elizabeth is the widow of F. X. Schneider, of Jay 
County, Ind.; Gertrude married Theodore Shaffer, 
and is a resident of Iowa: Emma is the wife of An- 
ton ZimiiHTi'r, a resident of Nebraska City, Neb.: 
Eva, Mrs. Frederick Ficnhold, resides in Crawford 
County, Iowa; Randolph occupies the home farm 
in Owego Township. 

Mr. Zeph and his family were in nowise exempt 
from the difficulties and hardships of pioneer life. 
The father strugifli'd bravely with the hardships of 
a new country and a strange land, but in due time 



received his reward in a home and a competency, 
together with the highest respect and esteem of his 
neighbors. The first dwelling was a log cabin of 
rude construction, which the family occupied un- 
til enabled to put up a more convenient, and com- 
modious structure. Each year added something to 
the appearance and value of the farm, until it was 
finally enclosed with good fences, and besides the 
dwelling a good barn and other suitable out-build- 
ings had been erected. Mr. Zeph was noted for his 
piety, and sought at every opportunity, by word 
and deed, to exert a good influence upon those 
around him, and let fall those little seeds of truth 
and goodness which should in the course of time 
bear their fruit. He was decidedly in favor of 
every enterprise tending to improve and elevate 
the condition of the people. After becoming a 
naturalized citizen he identified himself with the 
Republican part}', and was bitterly opposed to the 
"peculiar institution" which involved human 
slavery and the setting aside of those rights which 
are now becoming recognized by every nation upon 
the face of the earth. In his demise, not only 
Owego Township, but Livingston County, lost one 
of its best citizens, and his family their truest friend 
and counselor. 

Mrs. Franciska Zeph, now a lady seventy -nine 
years of age, still resides on the homestead estab- 
lished by her husband when they were in the prime 
of life and watching with interest their children 
growing up around them. She proved in every re- 
spect a suitable helpmeet of her husband, and en- 
joys the respect and esteem of all who know her. 
Her husband, at his death, left her an estate includ- 
ing 160 acres of land in Owego Township, the ac- 
cumulation of a life of toil and self-denial, and 
which proves a fine illustration of that which may 
be accomplished by persevering industry. He had 
commenced in life a poor man, and pursued his 
straightforward course unaided by other means 
than his strong hands and resolute will. 

Randolph Zeph was born in Germany, April 14, 
1848, and came to America with his mother and 
other members of the family and joined his father 
in 1851. He was reared to farm life, pursued his 
studies in the district school and became proficient 
as a teacher, being thus employed several terms 






RESIDENCE OF RANDOLPH ZEPH, SEC. IO.OWEGO TOWNSHIP. 






STOCK FARM OFJHON MINARO.SEC 10. LONG POINT TOWNSHIP. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



965 



after completing his studies. He was married 
on the 4tli of October, 1877, to Miss Alpha, the 
daughter of David G. and Clara E. Watts, who 
were residents of McLean County but are now de- 
ceased. Her father served as a soldier in the late 
war. and was killed at Kennesaw Mountain. The 
mother survived until 1884. Of this union there 
were born two children Walter P., Aug. 31, IST'J, 
and Olive, Sept. 12, 1883. Mr. Z. and his wife are 
members of the Baptist Church, and the former has 
filled various important positions in that society. 
Upon becoming a voter he identified himself with 
the Republican party, and has been quite promi- 
nent in local affairs, serving as Township Clerk, 
with the exception of one year, continuously since 
1878. Like his father before him, he takes a warm 
interest in the progress of the people around him, 
supporting and encouraging those enterprises cal- 
culated to advance the interests of the community 
morally and educationally. 

Pleasant Zeph, an elder son, served as a Union 
soldier during the late war, suffering all the hard- 
ships and privations incident to army life, and 
thereby contracted an incurable disease which re- 
sulted in his death after his return home on fur- 
lough, his decease occurring March 4, 1862. 

A view of the old home is given in this ALBUM. 



1 



OHN MINARD, who is largely engaged in 
farming and stock-raising on section 10, 
Long Point Township, was born near Lon- 
don, Upper Canada. Nov. 20, 1828. He is 
the son of George and Elizabeth (Dingham) Minard, 
who were natives of New York and Vermont re- 
spectively. The father was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, and during that time the necessities of 
life cost so much as to be almost beyond the reach 
of people of ordinary means, his wife paying as 
high as S3 a pound for tea. On returning from 
the war he cradled wheat when the ice would fly 
from the heads of the grain, and the excessive cold 
weather of that year destroyed the potato crop. 
To the parents of Mr. Minard were born eleven 
children, whose names are as follows: Mary, Polly, 
Solomon, William, David, John, Julia, Wealthy, 



George, Rosit and Abigail. Mary married Daniel 
Boogner, and died in 1886; Polly married David 
Dingman, had eight children, and is deceased ; her 
husband died in Canada in 1884. Solomon mar- 
ried Betsy Burr, and is a retired farmer living in 
Anwan; William died in La Porte Count}', Ind., 
at the age of eighteen years; David married Miss 
Susie Hodge, and died in Kansas in 1885; John, 
the subject of this sketch; Julia married David 
Dingman, who was the husband of her deceased 
sister Polly: Wealthy was married to Archie Mc- 
Fedron; they are both dead, leaving one child liv- 
ing. George, now a resident of Nebraska, was mar- 
ried to Miss Dingman, who died leaving six chil- 
dren; Abigail married John Smyth; they are both 
deceased, leaving two children. Rosit died in La- 
Salle County, 111. 

John Minard, our subject, came to Illinois in 
1835, and received his education in the log-cabin 
school-houses of that day. At that time the com- 
pensation of a teacher was $3 per scholar for a term, 
of four months, which was paid by the parents. 
Mr. Minard's first arrival in Livingston County was 
on the 17th of September, 1856. 

February 14, 1849, Mr. Minard was married to 
Elizabeth Ann (Dingman) Hall, widow of Joel 
Hall. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Min- 
ard, she had four children. To Mr. and Mrs. Min- 
ard were born five children, as follows: Sophrouia, 
who married Herman Warner, and has a family of 
five girls and three boys; George, whodied in 1853, 
at eighteen months old; Ira, who married Ida 
Bush; they have a family of four children, and re- 
side in this county. Charlie, who married Alice 
Tullis ; they have two bo3's and reside in this county. 
Elizabeth, who married Charlie Walston; they have 
a family of four children, and reside on a farm in 
Dawson County, Neb. 

Mr. Minard, or as he is more familiarly known, 
" Uncle Tommy," was employed on a canal from 
Chicago to Michigan in 1836, and was engaged in 
carrying liquor, which was issued to the men to the 
amount of sixteen ''jiggers" a day, and when one 
would become so intoxicated that he could not 
walk the plank, he was discharged, After this he 
went to Beloit, and staid there about three years, 
and returned home in 1842. In 1852 he crossed 



Jr- 



966 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the plains, and returned on the llth of March, 
1 854, having been gone two years and nineteen 
days. On the journey out, the train consisted of 
twenty-seven wagons, and when they had reached 
the south fork of the Loup River, they were at- 
tacked by the Indians. The men composing the 
expedition soon formed in line of battle, which 
caused the Indians to retreat. In crossing the 
mountains, Mr. Minard on August 4 passed over 
snow which was seventeen feet deep. Upon arriv- 
ing at Sail Francisco, he conclnded to make the re- 
turn trip by water, which he did in twenty-one 
days to New York. 

Mr. Minard now owns 540 acres of well-im- ! 
proved land, fifty of which are well timbered. 
There are four dwelling-houses on the land, which i 
are occupied by those engaged in cultivating it. 
There are on this farm 5,000 rods of tile ditch. 
Mr. Minard also owns forty acres of land in Cal- 
houn County, Iowa. In the way of stock he raises 
and deals in some of the finest in the county; one 
French Norman horse now on his farm weighs 
1,800 pounds. He engages largety in raising 
Short-horn and Polled-Angus cattle of the purest 
strains, and also hogs and sheep of the best blood. 

Mr. Minard is a member of the Christian Church, 
in which he is an active worker, as also was his wife 
who is now deceased. In politics, he is a Repub- 
lican of strong Prohibition proclivities. In all re- 
spects he is a highly influential and respected citi- 
zen, broad-minded and liberal in his views, and an 
advocate of all matters relating to the betterment 
of the people. 

A view of Mr. Minard's homestead is given in 
this volume. 



JOHN W. RUDD. a ns.tive of Peoria, this 
State, came to Livingston County in 1879, 
and is now numbered among the leading 
I farmers and stock-raisers of Forest Town- 
ship, where he is finely located on section 8. He 
deals mostly in Short-horn cattle, having some full- 
bloods and keeping a herd of about forty-five head. 
His horses are mostly Normans, and the farm where 
he carries on this department of agriculture is one 



of the most desirable in Central Illinois. Although 
not particularly extensive, embracing but 120 arn-, 
the whole is in a fine state of cultivation and sup- 
plied with modern and substantial buildings. 

Our subject was born Nov. 29, 18");"). :uid when 
a child removed with his parents to Wood ford 
County, where he was reared and remained until 
twenty-three years of age. His parents, John and 
Mary (Haudford) Rudd, were natives of England, 
and came to the United States about 1847. They 
at once sought the Prairie State and located in 
Peoria County, where the father carried on farm- 
ing several years and then took up his residence in 
Woodford County, where lie now lives. He also 
is largely engaged in stock-raising, and is quite 
prominent in local politics, voting the straight 
Republican ticket, and earnest!}' supporting the 
principles of the party with which he identified 
himself soon after becoming a citizen of the United 
States. The parental family included four chil- 
dren: James married Miss Mary Ililsebeck, and is 
farming in Forest Township; the}' have six children, 
three boys and three girls. William II. married 
Miss Hannah Townsend, and they have two chil- 
dren, a son and daughter; Mary E. is the wife of 
William Channing, who is farming in Belle Prairie 
Township. 

Mr. Rudd remained with his parents until twen- 
ty-one years old, in the meantime becoming fa- 
miliar with farm pursuits and acquiring a fail- 
education. He then, with money given him by his 
father, purchased forty acres of land in Green 
Township, Woodford County, which he sold two 
years later to purchase his present farm. He was 
married, Nov. 3, 1874, to Miss Mattie Sunilie, of 
Fulton County, and the daughter of Weddon and 
Hannah (Bocock) Smilie, who were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and engaged in fanning there until 
1874. Upon coining to Illinois Mr. S. purchased 
hotel property in Benson, where he still lives, en- 
gaged as "mine host." The mother died in 1882. 
Their family included five daughters and three sons, 
who are now mostly residents of Woodford County. 
One (laughter resides in Kansas, one in Nebraska, 
and Mrs. Rudd is the wife of our subject. 

Tlie children of Mr. :ind .Mrs. Rudd, three boys 
and two girls, were named respectively: Lilly Dell, 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



967 



Hattie May, Jesse LaMoine, John Oscar and 
Claude Howard, all at home with their parents. Mr. 
Rudd is Republican in politics, and has served as 
Director in his school district seven years, and is 
still holding the office. 






fif/OHN McGEE is the owner of 400 acres of 
land in Sunbuiy and Nevada Townships, 
the most of which is under a splendid state 

of cultivation. Mr. McGee was born in 
x~s^ 

County Armagh, Ireland, on the 17th of August, 
1811, and is the son of John McGee, who was born 
in the town of Corcullentramere, where the grand- 
father of our subject, also John Mt-Gee, was born 
and spent his entire life engaged in fanning, 

The father of our subject was reared upon a farm, 
and learning the trade of weaver and draper, he 
divided his time between farming and following his 
trade, and spent his entire life in his native ,town. 
The maiden name of his wife was Mary Mulholland, 
who was born in County Armagh, and there spent 
her life. They were the parents of nine children, 
seven of whom grew to maturity, while the subject 
of our sketch was the only one who came to Amer- 
ica. He was reared to manhood in his native town, 
where he was engaged principally in farming until 
1841, when he went to Scotland and engaged at 
work on a railroad. He had been there but a few 
days when a call from his brother required his re- 
turn home, where he remained six months, and re- 
turning to Scotland, he was variously engaged for 
one year. After a shcrt visit to England he re- 
turned to his home in Ireland, where he lived one 
year, and then returning to Scotland, he remained 
until 1849, when, after visiting England, Ireland 
and the Isle of Man, he embarked for America in 
1850. 

Mr. McGee landed at Quebec, Canada, and went 
from there direct to Montreal, and thence to La- 
chine, where he engaged in railroad work, and re- 
ceived a compensation of four shillings per day. 
After a short time, however, he went to Ogdens- 
burg, N. Y., where he secured work on the railroad 
til ninety cents per day, and saving $13 of his 



wages, he returned to Canada and engaged work on 
a steamer on Lake Ontario at $16 per mouth. Af- 
ter making three trips he joined an uncle in Os- 
wego, N. Y., with whom he staid a few months, 
when he went to Pittsburgh and engaged at rail- 
road work at eighty-seven and one-half cents per 
day. After a few weeks he went on a coal boat to 
Memphis, Tenn, receiving $65 for the trip, and 
found employment in that city at wheeling coal, 
for which he received $1.50 per day. After work- 
ing one and one-half days he contracted with 
another man at $2, and was in his emplo3 7 for over 
three years. After this he went to Kentucky, and 
engaged in mining for a short time at Milford's 
mine, after which, until 1863, he was engaged in 
coal mines at various places. 

In 1863 Mr. McGee bought a house and a half 
block of ground in the city of LaSalle, and lived 
there until 1869, when he bought eighty acres of 
land on section 14, in Sunbury Township, this 
county, to which his family moved during the year, 
although Mr. McGee still continued in LaSalle, 
where he had charge of three shafts. In 1870 he 
purchased a farm of 160 acres, where he now re- 
sides, and owns altogether 400 acres of land. He 
has devoted very little of his own time to farming, 
for, after quitting active work in the mines, his 
services as an overseer were constantly sought for 
by mine owners in times of emergency, and he lias 
thus been employed at various places. 

In 1863 Mr. McGee was married to Mrs. Teresa 
Clancy, who is a native of Kings County, Ire- 
land, and the daughter of Michael and Teresa (Ea- 
gan) Kelley, and widow of William Clancy. Her 
parents were both natives of Kings Count}', where 
they passed their entire lives. By her first mar- 
riage Mrs. McGee was the mother of two children, 
Michael and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. McGee both 
belong to the Catholic Church, in which they take 
a leading part. Mr. McGee takes an independent 
stand in political matters, putting his ballot where 
it will do the most good, regardless of the political 
party to which the man for whom he votes belongs. 
As the reader will observe, he has been an extensive 
traveler and is a man of varied experience. Wher- 
ever he has gone he has been a close observer, and 
acquainted himself with the ways and manners of 






968 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the people among whom he lived. He is an ex- 
tensive reader, and from that cause and personal 
experience, is a man of very wide information. 

On another page of this volume may be found a 
view of Mr. McGee's residence with its surround- 
ings. 



J~~]AMES TREDENICK brought with him 
I from the other side of the Atlantic those sub- 
stantial and reliable qualities which have 
' constituted him one of the most highly re- 
spected citizens of Sullivan Township, the owner of 
a good property, and closely identified with its 
business and agricultural interests. His valuable 
and highly cultivated farm of 110 acres is pleas- 
antly located on section 9, and forms one of the 
most attractive spots in the landscape of that sec- 
tion. Here, for the last sixteen years, he has la- 
bored as a successful tiller of the soil, and has in 
all respects distinguished himself as an honest man 
and a good citizen. 

Mr. Tredenick is a native of Devonshire, En- 
gland, where his birth took place in March, 1831. 
The household of his parents, Thomas and Susan 
(James) Tredenick, included ten children, of whom 
James was the fifth in order of birth. The family 
is of English ancestry for generations back, and the 
father of our subject, like those before him, lived 
iu his native county, engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits until his death, which occurred in 1861. The 
faithful wife and devoted mother had passed away 
some years before. 

James Tredenick was reared to farm life in his 
native county, and received a fair education in the 
common schools. He continued in that locality 
until twentj'-six years of ngc, when, dissatisfied 
with his condition and prospects, <>n the 22d of 
April, 1857, he set sail at Plymouth on the vessel 
' Persella, " and af ter a fair voyage of MX weeks, 
landed in the city of Quebec. Canada. He had ac- 
quaintance.- at Hamilton, Ontario, among whom lu> 
spent two weeks pleasantly, and then came into the 
I'nited States, migrating west into ( irundy County. 
111. Here he secured employment as a farm la- 



borer, and after four years thus employed, cm- 
barked in agriculture on his own account in the 
same county. 

Before leaving his native land our subject was 
united in marriage with a maiden of Devonshire, 
Miss Jane Stadden, who was born in Cornwall in 
1837, and became his wife in the spring of 18fj6. 
She cheerfully followed her husband in his various 
wanderings, and proved to him at all times a faith- 
ful friend and counselor. He was deprived of the 
companionship of this excellent woman, her death 
taking place in Mona Township, Ford County, Dee. 
16, 1879. Of this union there were born four chil- 
dren, namely: John James, who is married and 
living in Iowa; Mary, now Mrs. Kewly, of Ford 
County, and residing with her husband on the farm 
of her father, consisting of 160 acres; Charles 
Henry and Willie, at home. Our subject, previous 
to the death of his wife, had purchased 160 acres of 
raw prairie in Mona Township, Ford County, of 
which he had taken possession with his family in 
1870, and whence he removed to his present pur- 
chase in 1873. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Dec. 12, 1883, was formerly Mrs. Susan 
(Ridd) Kingdom, widow of W. H. Kingdon and 
the eldest child of George and Susannah (Thorn) 
Ridd, natives of Devonshire, England, where their 
daughter Susan was also born. She remained there 
with her parents until reaching womanhood and 
was married to Mr. Kingdon, after which they 
came to Illinois and located on a farm in Sullivan 
Township, which Mr. Kingdon had purchased in 
company with his brother. He afterward sold his 
interest in this property, and in 1872 purchased 
ninety-one acres of improved land, where he began 
building up a homestead. He was cut down in his 
prime, his death occurring July 16, 1882, in Cow- 
ley County, Kan., whither he had gone hoping to 
benefit his health. Mr. Kingdon was a native of 
Devonshire, England, and was born in 1838. Dur- 
ing the late war he enlisted as a I'niou soldier in 
Company M, llth Illinois Cavalry, serving three 
years, and receiving his honorable discharge on the 
!>th of June, l6."i. lie acquitted himself credit- 
ably, both as a soldier and cit.i/rn, and while in the 
army was one of the aide; of Gen. Grant. Before, 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



96<l 



his regular enlistment he had served with thethrce- 
months men. 

Mrs. Tredenick by her first marriage became the 
mother of one child, Frederick William Kingdon, 
born in 1870, and who now continues at home with 
his mother. He is a bright and intelligent youth, 
and is pursuing his studies in theOnarga Seminary. 

Mr. Tredenick bears the reputation of a man 
thoroughly interested in the welfare of his adopted 
county, and active in those enterprises set on foot 
for the general welfare of the people. He is no 
politician, but at the general elections casts his vote 
with the Republican party. Mrs. T. is a lady 
highly respected, and prominently connected with 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in this township. 

We present on another page of this ALBC.M a 
view of Mr. Tredenick's residence. 




OL. JAMES B. PARSONS. In the making 
up of communities, some wise influence 
usually intervenes to give to it specimens of 
men from, not only different parts of the United 
States, but frequently different portions of the 
world. We find in the large and prosperous county 
of Livingston, a widely diversified race of people, 
who have mingled harmoniously together and form 
a delightful community. What one man perhaps 
has lacked, has been fully supplied by another, and 
the result is a successful and intelligent combina- 
tion made up of the industrial and agricultural ele- 
ments so essential in developing" the various re- 
sources of a new section of country. 

The subject of this biography was born in the 
town of Glenburn, Penobscot Co.. Me., Dec. 17, 
1842, and is the youngest in a family of four chil- 
dren, the descendants of a long line of honorable 
New England ancestry, dating their residence in 
this country back to the landing of the Pilgrim 
Fathers. They located principally in the Pine Tree 
State. Americans can claim no better ancestry 
than those noble men and women who first repre- 
sented the Parsons family on the wild and rugged 
coast of Maine. Capt. Isaac Parsons, the grand- 
father of our subject, was one of its most worth}' 
scions, and began life in New Gloucester, .Me. 



Hi.- parents were natives of the same place, and 
gave to their children an excellent education 
for that time, instilling into their minds those re- 
ligious convictions which formed so large a part of 
the character of the old New Knglanders. Isaac 
married Miss Martha Chandler, a. relative of the 
eminent Boston lawyer, Peleg Chandler. They 
were both devout members of the Congregational 
Church, and reared a family of sons and daughters, 
who grew up imbued with their own ideas, and the 
principles which constituted them upright and 
blameless citizens. 

Nathan Parsons, son of Capt. Isaac Parsons, the 
father of our subject, born in New Gloucester, 
Me., Dec. 28, 1804, went to Glenburn in 1832. He 
was a farmer, and became prominent in his locality 
as having been one of the pioneers of the town, and 
as a soldier in the Black Hawk War of 1831-32. 

On the 17th of April, 1834, Nathan Parsons mar- 
ried Nancy Doe, daughter of Samuel and Abigail 
Doe, of Glenburn, and the household circle was 
completed by the birth of four children, namely:' 
Martha C., John P., Esther C., and James B., out- 
subject. They are all living, with the exception of 
Esther, who died in Chicago, 111., March 4, 18(56. 
Martha C. is the wife of Henry Eldredge, now of 
Chicago; John P. married Miss Lizzie Fitch, of 
Bristol, Me., and migrating to the West, is now also 
living in Dwight. 

The father of our subject inherited in a marked 
degree the integrity of character and the religious 
instincts of his ancestors. In those days to hold a 
town office was considered as great an honor as it 
is now to be a State official, and Nathan Parsons, 
in his modest official life discharged his duties with 
conscientious fidelity. He was Postmaster of Glen- 
burn many years, a member of the school commit- 
tee, and a selectman of the town. Like his father, 
he was a strict Congregationalist. His death took 
place at Glenburn, Me., in March, 1873, when 
he was sixty-nine years of age. The wife and 
mother had died April <>, 184 ( J,at the age of thirty- 
nine years, having spent a busy and exemplary 
Christian life. 

The boyhood of our subject was spent on the 
farm, and after receiving a common-school educa- 
tion, he left home when fourteen years of age to 



t 



t 



' 970 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



seek his fortune. He was remarkably self-reliant, 
and proceeded alone to the city of Lowell, Mass., 
where lie engaged in farming, and remained until 
the spring of 1862. He was then a youth of nine- 
teen years, lie returned home about the time of the 
outbreak of the late Civil War, and gaining the re- 
luctant consent of his father, he enlisted in Com- 
pany A. isth Maine Infantry. He was mustered 
into the service at Bangor, Aug. 21, 1862, and 
three days later left with his regiment for Washing- 
ton, where he joined the forces in defense of the 
city. .Ian. 1. 1803, his regiment was re-orgauized, 
and was afterward known as the 1st Maine Heavy 
Artillery, and garrisoned Ft. Simmer, Md., until the 
15th of May, 1864. 

In the meantime young Parsons had been pro- 
moted Corporal, and his regiment was assigned for 
active duty at the front, and was a part of the 1st 
Brigade, 3d Division, 2d Army Corps. Its first im- 
portant engagement was at Spottsylvania, Va., and 
the day following received a baptism of fire at the 
Bloody Angle, losing in killed and wounded, 476 
men. They repulsed the rebels, however, and a 
congratulatory letter was issued by Gen. Meade, 
praising the regiment for its bravery. It was now 
engaged in a series of battles, in nearly all of which 
young Parsons was present, and June 18 found 
them before Petersburg, where occurred one of the 
most disastrous undertakings of the war. It is thus 
described by an eye witness, Gen. Robert McAllis- 
ter, in "The Charge of the First Heavy Artillery." 
He says: "In all of my arm}' experience no scene 
of carnage and suffering is so impressed on my mind 
as that fatal charge made by this regiment on the 
18th of June, 1864 On the morning of this day 
we moved forward on the enemy's works, and car- 
ried the first line with little difficulty, as the enemy 
was retreating to the stronger line in the rear. Ar- 
riving in front of the latter we found it manned 
by a strong force of artillery and infantry, and 
after a little delay I was ordered to advance on the 
enemy's works. Upon going forward the rebels 
poured upon the brigade a terrific storm of shot, 
shell and musketry, and my men fell like forest 
leaves under a hailstorm. Seeing the utter impos- 
sibility of advancing farther we dropped down, 
planted our standard along the line and kept up the 



fire. I sent a messenger to division headquarters 
and asked for instructions. The orders were to 
retire from the position. In doing this I lost heav- 
ily. Upon reporting to Gen. Mott for orders I was 
instructed to place my brigade on the reserve for 
action. I asked, 'Where is my old brigade?' Gen. 
Mott replied, 'Just going in where you came out.' 
I exclaimed, 'God help them !' He asked, 'Why ?' I 
answered, 'They cannot advance on those works; 
they cannot live; the enfilade fire will cut them 
down.' As I said this an aide from headquarters 
rode up and said to the General, 'Order the ad- 
vance at once,' and it was done. 

"The brigade moved off, your fine regiment 
handsomely in the front. You went gallantly not 
to meet success, that was impossible. In a few min- 
utes, out of your regiment, which had advanced 900 
strong, 632 were laid low on the battle-field, there 
being left but 268 men out of the number who went 
into the fight, 115 being killed outright. Darkness 
soon overspread the field, but the vigilance of the 
enemy prevented the removal of the wounded. All 
that night we could distinctly hear their groans and 
cries for help, but no succor could be given them 
on account of the incessant fire. My brigade 
worked the whole night long to push our works for- 
ward so that we might rescue them. 

"That terrible night at last broke into another, 
day, when the battle continued with renewed vigor. 
The sun poured down on the dying and wounded, 
and amid the rattling of musketry and roaring of 
cannon, we heard our comrades crj'ing 'Water! 
Water!' No language can be too strong in its 
praise of this gallant regiment in that noble and 
heroic charge, when about three- fourths of your 
number fell, fighting for their country." 

It is claimed by well-informed men that this regi- 
ment lost in that fearful onset more men in killed 
and wounded than any other regiment in any 
charge during the entire Civil War. On July 30, 
1 864, occurred the famous mine explosion at Peters- 
burg. Col. Daniel Chaplin, commanding the regi- 
ment, was wounded August 17. and expired in Phil- 
adelphia three days later. His dying message was, 
"Tell the boys to obey orders and never flinch." 
The regiment was under constant fire at Ft. Hell, 
the hottest place on the lines, for forty da3's, and 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



971 



\v,-is present at the surrender of Lee's army at Ap- 
pomattox. While at Ft. Hell Corporal Parsons was 
promoted Sergeant, and for a time acted as Or- 
derly Sergeant. 

According to Col. C. W. Tilden the State of 
Maine is said to have furnished more troops for the 
war than any other State in proportion to its pop- 
ulation. The 1st Maine Cavalry was in more battles 
than any other cavalry regiment, and no flag be- 
longing to a Maine regiment was captured by the 
enemy during the war. The record shows that this 
regiment lost more men in battle, in killed and 
wounded, than any other regiment during the war. 
but the proud distinction was purchased by the life- 
blood of hundreds of Maine's bravest men in the 
flower of their youth. The historian stands appalled 
at the loss of life in two engagements alone, those 
at Spottsylvania and before Petersburg, which 
numbered alone more than a full regiment, 1,108 
brave soldiers. In the face of facts like these all fair- 
minded soldiers will readily admit the 1st Heav}- 
Artillery of Maine as among the bravest and most 
gallant regiments in the war. 

Sergt. Parsons was with his regiment at the fall of 
Petersburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomat- 
tox Court House, and returned with it to the State 
of Maine, where he was mustered out at Bangor, 
June 6, 1865. He received his honorable dis- 
charge, and in August following sought the West 
for his future field of operations. He located at 
once at Dwight, this county, and first engaged in 
teaming, afterward embarking in the coal and ice 
trade, and later included building material. Finally 
he added agricultural implements, and then drifted 
into general hardware. He has sold out his coal 
and ice business and gives his entire attention to 
the large and well-selected stock of articles included 
in general hardware, stoves and machinery, embrac- 
ing also firearms, cutlery and sporting goods. His 
courteous manner and correct methods of doing 
business have secured for him a large patronage 
among the best people of Livingston County. 

Our subject, in 1874, organized a company of 
militia at Dwight, of which he was elected Cap- 
tain, and which was designated by his comrades as 
Parsons' Guards. In 1876 he received a commis- 
sion in the State Militia as Lieutenant Colonel, 



commanding the 10th Battalion, Illinois National 
Guards. The battalion was composed of companies 
from Pontiac, Wenona, Fairbury, Odell, Joliet, 
Marseilles, Streator, Bloomington and Dwight. Col. 
Parsons resigned his commission a few years since, 
but still retains an interest in military tactics. 

Our subject has been quite prominent in the affairs 
of Dwight and vicinity, representing the township 
in the County Board of Supervisors, and serving 
as Village Trustee and Treasurer. Socially he be- 
longs to Livingston Lodge No. 371, A. F. & A. M., 
at Dwight; Odell Royal Arch Chapter, Fairbury 
Commandery, K. T., and is Commander of Dwight 
Post No. 626, G. A. R, 

The marriage of Col. J. B. Parsons and Miss Sarah 
Isabel Haskell was celebrated at the home of the 
bride's parents, Dr. L. P. and Sarah E. Haskell, in 
Chicago, Dec. 28, 1880, Rev. B. F. Leavitt, pastor 
of Lincoln Park Congregational Church, officiating. 
Of this union there has been born one child, a 
daughter, Florence H., Nov. 17, 1885. The pleas- 
ant family residence is located on Mazon avenue. 
The Colonel and his wife are active members of 
the Congregational Church, of which our subject 
has been a Trustee. Politically he is a Republican, 
and is esteemed by all as the genial companion and 
kind-hearted neighbor, who is always ready to aid 
in worthy enterprises and assist the unfortunate. 
Whether in military or civil life, he has performed 
his part well, and his success is the result of his own 
unaided efforts. 




C. ROGERS, who has been a 
citizen of Illinois since 1857, and a resi- 
dent of Livingston County since the year 
1870, where he is engaged in farming 
and stock-breeding on section 25, Pleasant Ridge 
Township, was born in Harwich, Mass., on the 
4th of December, 1826. He is the son of Mayo 
and Mercy (Clark) Rogers, who were natives of 
Massachusetts. The father was born in 1788, and 
died July 2, 1872. The father was a seafaring 
man, and was engaged in the fishery business 
around Cape Cod, nearly all his life. The mother 
was born in 1792, and died in February, 1873; they 



I 



972 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



were lioth members <.f the Congregational Church, 
and the last years of their lives were spent in devo- 
tion to the church. To them wore born .-even chil- 
dren, who.-e names are as follows: Andrew. Sallie, 
Mayo, /ipporah, Moses. Mercy and Sidney. 

March 12, 18.11. Mr. Rogers was married to Miss 
Mercy R. Nicker-on, who was born on the 22d of 
September. 18:i2, in South Harwich, Mass. She is 
the daughter of Abner and Alvira (Nickerson) Nick- 
cixin. Tlioy were natives of the same State, and 
the father was born on the 21st of January, 1806, 
and died on the 26th of September, 1860. The 
mother was born on the 7th of December, 1810, and 
diod on the 1 8th of May, 1 878. They were married 
on the 26th of January, 1830. They were both 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
for many years he served in the capacity of Steward. 
To them were born five children Albert, Mercy, 
Abner S., Jonathan O. and Artemus H. Albert, 
the oldest, was drowned at sea, and the others are 
still living. The father was a sailor until he was 
twenty-six years of age and later in life a merchant. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have had eight children, 
three of whom are living Sidnej' C., Jr., Albert 
\\ . and Mary. There are five deceased Sidney 
C., Mercy E., Flora, Arthur H. and Elvira N. Mr. 
Rogers came to Illinois in the spring of 1857 and 
located in LaSalle County, where he resided for 
thirteen years, during which time he engaged at car- 
pentering for six years and funning for seven years. 
lie then located in this county and has followed 
farming since that time. He is the owner of 160 
acres of land, twenty-five of which were broken 
when he became the possessor of it. In the im- 
provement and cultivation of the farm Mr. Rogers 
li:i> accomplished veiy much. 

From the time he was thirteen years of age until 
he was twenty, Mr. Rogers was engaged in fishing 
and coasting on the sea coast. At the latter age he 
abandoned the water and learned the trade of a 
carpenter. When a boy he received a faircommon- 
school education, to which he materially added by 
an attendance of four terms at an academy. 
Earlier in life he engaged in school teaching and 
altogether taught seven winter terms. Mrs. Rogers 
received a good education in the common schools. 
Mr. and Mrs. Roger- are members of the Congre- 




gational Church and he has served the congregation 
in the capacity of a Deacon. In politics Mr. Rogers' 
Republicanism dates back to the organization of 
the party in 18,56. He has been a faithful and con- 
sistent adherent of that party ever since, but at 
present has strong Prohibition proclvities. He has 
hold several offices of trust, including that of Town- 
ship Collector for one year and School Trustee for 
nine years. He and his family stand well in the 
estimation of the people of Pleasant Ridge Town- 
ship, and are active and popular participants in all 
society matters. 



HARLES A. McGREGOR. Among the busi- 
ness men of Pontiac no one is more worthy 
of representation in this ALBUM than he 
whose name appears above. Charles A. McGregor, 
as the name indicates, is of good old Scotch stock. 
He was born in Clermont County, Ohio, March 14, 
1844, and is the son of John H. and Alary J. (Bux- 
ton) McGregor, natives of South Carolina and 
Ohio respectively. The McGregors came originally 
from Scotland, settling in South Carolina many 
years ago. To John H. and wii'e were born six 
children, four sons and two daughters: Elizabeth 
Laws, deceased; Emma J., of Pontiac; Charles A.; 
Alonzo H., of Stanberry, Mo., where he is engaged 
as train dispatcher; Harry B., of Lovington, 111., 
druggist, and Alexander H., who died in infancy. 

In the year 1850 the McGregors moved from 
Ohio to Ottawa, 111., where the elder McGregor en- 
gaged in the practice of law, in which profes- 
sion he was eminently successful. Prior to his com- 
ing to Illinois he was an associate editor of the 
Louisville Courier-Journal. From Ottawa they 
came to Pontiac in 1852. For five years Mr. Mc- 
Gregor continued in practice, taking a leading 
position among attorneys in this part of the State. 
He is well remembered by old settlers as being 
a man of sterling qualities and fine abilities. He 
died in 1856. His widow still lives in the old 
homestead in Pontiac. 

Charles A. McGregor, after securing a fair com- 
mon-school education, spent two years in Carlisle, 
Pa., Dickinson College. This was in 1861-62, 



\ 



.WOODRUFF, PONTIAC. 




GRAIN OFFI CE A NO EL VA TOR . 




RESIDENCE OF]. H.TAGGART, LONG POINT, LIVINGSTON Co 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



975 



when the war was raging fiercely. This decided Mr. 
McGregor in entering the army, which he did by en- 
listing in the 39th Illinois Infantry. 'He was made 
a member of the regimental band, and subsequently 
that of the brigade. His service was with the 
Annies of the Potomac and James. After the war 
Mr. McGregor engaged his services to J. P. Turner, 
of Pontiac, in general merchandising. In 1867 he 
opened a book and notion store in Pontiac, and in 
1868, in company with Dr. Caldwell, engaged in 
the drug business, which he has since successfully 
prosecuted. 

In 1869-70 our subject was Postmaster of Pon- 
tiac, of which city he has been Alderman. Of the 
Township he has been Treasurer two or three terms. 
Nov. 23, 1871, Mr. McGregor was united in mar- 
riage to Eunice J. Johnson, daughter of Morris and 
Minerva E. (Ellis) Johnson. Mrs. McGregor was a 
native of Virginia, having been born at Johnson's 
Cross Roads, that State, Oct. 1 8, 1 848. The record 
of their family is as follows: Bernice E., born May 
29, 1875; Ellis J., Sept. 12, 1878; Lewis C., Jan. 
19,1883; Mary E. died in infancy; Janette died 
June5, 1886, at the age of two years. Mrs. Mc- 
Gregor died Dec. 7, 1886, mourned by a large cir- 
cle of friends. 

Socially, Mr. McGregor is a member of the A. 
F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. He is connected with 
the Presbyterian Church, and his wife was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active 
in the cause. 



H. TAGGART, a large dealer in grain, lum- 
ber and live stock at Long Point, has been 
a resident there 'six years, and in every re- 
spect has proved himself a valued factor in 
the community. By the exercise of his own sound 
common sense, coupled with industry and energy, 
he has acquired a fine property, including the build- 
ings employed for the transaction of his business, 
and thirty-one lots within the town limits, besides 
his handsome residence situated on Fourth street. 
He has taken a just pride in dealing honestly and 
uprightly, and enjoys in a marked degree the con- 
fidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Although 
deprived of a thorough education himself, there is 



nowhere a stronger advocate for the establishment 
of schools, and the giving of those advantages to 
the young which are their inalienable rights, and 
which are so conducive to their success as worthy 
and reliable citizens. 

Mr. Taggart was born in Behnont County, Ohio, 
which was also the birthplace of his father, John 
Taggart. His mother was formerly Miss Nancy 
Roberts, a native of Canada, who when four years 
of age, came to the State of Ohio with her parents, 
who were also natives of Canada. The paternal 
grandfather of our subject was James Taggart, and 
the family is of Pennsylvania!! ancestry. The chil- 
dren of John and Nancy (Roberts) Taggart, seven 
in number, were named respectively, John, Will- 
iam, Margaret, Mary, Grace, Sarah and Jane. Of 
these, John and Margaret are living in Belmont 
County, Ohio, where John is carrying on farming 
and stock-raising. 

Our subject came to Illinois in December, 1863, 
landing in Lacon, Marshall County, on the 28th of 
the month. In 1862 he was married to Miss Jose-' 
phine L., daughter of Isaac and Telitha (Strong) 
Murdaugh, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but 
subsequently removed to Ohio, where they are now 
living. The paternal grandmother of Mrs. T. died 
on the 8th of September, 1887, at the advanced 
age of ninety-three years. Our subject was a resi- 
dent of Lacon five years, and thence removed to a 
point two miles west of Wenona, He subsequently 
took up his residence in Putnam County, where he 
farmed for eleven years, and thence coming to Liv- 
ingston in 1881, located at Long Point, where he 
established his present trade, and is contributing 
his full quota toward the business interests of the 
town. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Taggart there have been born 
four children, all living, namely: Luella, Maude, 
Harry and Frederick. Harry is attending the Nor- 
mal School at Dixon, and Maude has attended three 
terms at Eureka. Their father takes an active in- 
terest in their education, determined that they shall 
enjoy those privileges of which he himself was to so 
great an extent deprived. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country, there is shown elsewhere in this work a 
view of Mr. Taggart' s homestead. 









97 6 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




ON. CEORGE A. WOODRUFF, one of the 
prominent men in political and business af- 
fairs of Livingston County, is a native of 

__ Watcrtown, Litehfield Co., Conn., where he 
was born on the 3d of November, 1 839. He is the 
son of Hon. George P. and Belinda M. (Warren) 
Woodruff, both of whom were natives of Water- 
town, where also they began the journey of life to- 
gether. 

George P. Woodruff remained in Watertown dur- 
ing his life, and was engaged in manufacturing. 
His father, Eleazer, died Aug. 30, 1873, at the age 
of eighty-one, and his mother, Hannah (Prindle) 
Woodruff, died March 8, 1 855. She was the daugh- 
ter of Samuel Prindle, who was a native of Con- 
necticut, and engaged in farming. Samuel's father, 
John Prindle, was born in 1729, and died in 1799; 
he held the rank of Captain in the Revolutionary 
War. The parents of Belinda M. Warren were 
Alanson and Sarah M. (Hickox) Warren, natives of 
Connecticut, and of English ancestry; the father 
was engaged in manufacturing and merchandising. 
George P. Woodruff was a representative of Water- 
town in the State Legislature for two years, and 
held various county and township offices. He was 
one of the wealth}- men of that part of the country 
in that day, and died in 1857, his wife following 
him to the silent land in 1880. They had a family 
of two sons, George A., and Charles T., who retired 
from business at Watertown, Conn., and died Aug. 
17, 1887. 

George A. Woodruff received his early training 
in a store, and obtained an academical education at 
Watertown, Conn. After some time devoted to 
manufacturing enterprises, he engaged in general 
farming for a few years, and then for six years kept 
the Warren House, a summer resort at Watertown. 
It was built by the Woodruff and Warren families, 
and would accommodate 200 guests. He came to 
Illinois in 1880, settling in Pontiac, and in 1881 
purchased the farm of 164 acres adjoining the citv 
limits of Pontiac. where he now resides. His home- 
stead, of which a view is shown elsewhere in this 
ALBUM, is one of the most elegant in the county. 

On the 14th of June, 1860, our subject was mar- 
ried to Miss Emily A. Humiston, a native of 
Thomaston, Conn., and a daughter of Benuet and 




Emily (Warner) Humiston, who were natives of 
Plymouth, Conn., where Mr. H. was largely en- 
gaged in farming and stock-raising. Bennet's father, 
Jesse, was a native of Thomaston, Litehfield Co., 
Conn., and was a farmer by occupation. Emily 
Warner's parents were Aaron and Mary (Camp) 
Warner, who were farmers and of English descent. 
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet Humiston 
were named as follows: Bennet, Morris, Emily A. 
and Caleb. In 1852 Bennet came with Mr. Camp 
to this county, and settled in Esmen. He subse- 
quently married Mr. Camp's daughter, Harriet, and 
died on the 14th of November, 1883. Morris and 
Caleb are living in Thomaston, Conn. Bennet 
Humiston, Sr., died about ten years ago, while Mrs. 
Humiston is still living, in her eighty -third year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff have only two children, 
Martha E. and George P., both single. Mr. W. is 
an active Republican, and was a member of the Con- 
necticut Legislature, which assembled in New 
Haven in 1873, and was also a delegate to the Hart- 
ford Convention of 1874. He and his wife are 
members of the Episcopal Church, as are also their 
two children. 



IEWIS POST. The neat homestead belong- 
(() ing to this gentleman is pleasantly located 
^i on section 19, in Saunemin Township, and 
fs noticeable for its substantial buildings, good fences 
and farm stock and general air of thrift. The farm 
comprises 154 acres of land, the accumulation of an 
industrious and enterprising man, and one who has 
ever been ready to illustrate the results of honest 
labor, and follow the strictest rules of uprightness 
and propriety. He is one of the most reputable 
German citizens of the township, to which he came 
in the spring of 1883, and from the humblest be- 
ginning in life has become the possessor of a com- 
fortable property. 

Livingston County is indebted to the enterpris- 
ing natives of the Fatherland, who have largely 
assisted in the cultivation of her soil, and the de- 
velopment of her resources. Our subject occupies 
a good position among this class. He was born in 
Ochtelbar, Germany, June 25, 1836, and is the 



t 

1 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



son of John and Mary (Walschcn) Post, who were 
also natives of Germany, where the father died, and 
the mother still lives there. The father was prin- 
cipally engaged in farming, and was noted as a quiet 
and law-abiding citizen, who fulfilled his duties in 
life in a worthy manner. 

Mr. Post received a good education in his native 
tongue, and soon after his twenty-eighth birthday 
\v:is married to Miss Stien Rev us, and the following 
year, 1865, they set out for America. They em- 
barked from the port of Bremen on a sailing-vessel, 
and after a tedious ocean voyage of six weeks, 
landed in New York City, and thence came directly 
to Livingston County. Mr. Post first employed 
himself as a farm laborer, which he followed with 
true German persistence for some time, meanwhile 
saving what he could of his earnings, and by the 
aid of his excellent wife was enabled to live eco- 
nomically, and thus acquired a sum sufficient to 
purchase the land which he now occupies. Of this 
they took possession in the spring of 1883, and en- 
tered with courage upon the work before them. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Post there were born seven chil- 
dren, of whom but five are living, namely : John, 
Annie, Mary, Denie and Albert. Lena and an in- 
fant unnamed are deceased. Mr. Post -is a member 
of the German Lutheran Church, and in political 
matters votes independently. 




.-jl'LEXANDER EASTON is a farmer by call- 
(Q8/LII! ing, but is at present engaged in the livery 
business as a member of the firm of Easton 
& Westervelt, of Fairbury. He comes of 
genuine old Scotch parentage, both his father and 
mother having been born in ''Bonnie Scotland." 
The parents were Robert and Mary (Spcnce) Easton. 
the former of whom was born in 1812, and the lat- 
ter in 1815. 

Robert Easton was a miner by trade and followed 
the same occupation after coming to the United 
States. Upon his arrival in this country he took up 
his residence in Maryland ami after an active and 
busy life of some years in that State, he moved to 
Pennsylvania, where he lived and labored at his 
trade, respected for his uprightness and honorable 



dealings with his fellowmen, until his death in 1881. 
He was a consistent Christian, and held fellowship 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His good 
wife survived him, and is living in Fairbury. The 
union of Robert Easton and Mary Spence was 
blessed by the birth of ten children, six of whom 
are with their father in "that home not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens." The children were 
named as follows : Robert, Sarah, Margaret, Sarah 
(2d), Margaret (2d), Adam, Alexander, Ellen, Agues 
and Archibald. Those living are Alexander, Ellen, 
Agnes and Robert. 

The subject of this sketch was born near Lona- 
coning, Alleghany Co., Md., Sept. 2, 1844, and lived 
with his parents in that State until their removal to 
Allegheny County, Pa., when he accompanied them 
there. There he continued to reside until rebel 
shot and shell were thundered against Sumter, and 
President Lincoln called for brave hearts and strong 
arms to defend our country's flag. Although but 

' seventeen years old, young Easton resolved to give 
his life, if necessary, for the preservation of the 

1 Union. Accordingly in 1861 he enlisted in Com- 
pany D, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry, as a private, 
and was mustered into the service at Pittsburgh. 
He participated in the second and third battles of 
Winchester, the battles of Rocky Gap, Va., Fisher's 
Hill, Gettysburg, Martinsburg, Bunker Hill, Cedar 
Creek, Cross Keys, Lewisburg, Va., and many minor 
engagements. He also participated in the Salem 
raid, which was one of the most destructive of the 
war. 

In 1 863, after the battle of Winchester, Private 
Easton was promoted Corporal, and a year later 
was promoted Orderly, and served on Gen. Ave- 

! rill's staff. Mr. Easton received two wounds at 
the battle of Cedar Creek, one of which was in the 

' hand, and the other on the leg, between the knee 
and ankle. lie was also taken prisoner during that 

i engagement, and for five months suffered all the 
horrors of rebel prisons. He was first confined in 
that most foul of Southern dens, Libby, of Rich- 
mond, and later sent to Salisbury, N. C., where he 
remained until the spring. Mr. Easton, after receiv- 
ing his honorable discharge from the army, went to 
Virginia, where his parents were then living, and 
remained about three years, during the time being 



t 



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!>78 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



variously engaged, and in 18C9 he came to this 
county. In 1.S8:J ,<ur subject purchased a fine farm 
of eighty acres, located on section 18, Indian Grove 
Township. The place has a good residence and 
orchard upon it, and every acre is under an ad- 
vanced state of cultivation. Mr. Easton lived on 
this farm until November, 1886, when he rented it 
and moved into Fairbury, engaging in the livery 
business with J. L. Westervelt, which business re- 
lation still exists. 

On the 5th of June, 1879, Mr. Kaston was united 
in marriage with Miss Jennie T., daughter of Dr. 
Amos M. and Melissa (Kinney) Johnson. The re- 
sult of this union has been three children, whose 
record is as follows : Oscar A. was born March 23, 
1880; Harvey L., May 4. 1884; Percy D., Jan. 27, 
1887. Since his advent into Illinois Mr. Kaston 
has been successful in his business ventures, and 
has been able to surround himself and family with 
many of the comforts of life. In his political affilia- 
tions Mr. Kaston is in harmony with the Repub- 
lican party, and he gives to the men and measures 
of that party a hearty and cordial support. 



ETEll P. OWENS, having charge of the 
Catholic parishes at Kairbury ami Strawn, 
has been located in the former place since 

_ 1882. Under his supervision the member, 
ship has sensibly increased and the church property 
wonderfully improved. The building at Fail-bury 
is a neat little edifice, accommodating a congrega- 
tion of about sixty-five families. Services are held at 
each place alternately. A view of the two churches 
is shown in this connection. 

Father Owens was born in the city of Brooklyn, 
N. Y., Jan. 21, 1860, and is the son of Edward and 
Margaret (Farrell) Owens, natives of Ireland, who 
immigrated to this country in their youth and are 
still residing in Brooklyn. He was educated pri- 
marily in the Brooklyn city schools, graduated 
fn.ni St. John's College in that city in 1*77, then 
went to Canada to perfect himself in the higher 
branches. After a four years' course at the Sulpi- 
cian Seminary at .Montreal he returned to New 
York, and continued his studies at Troy one and 





one-half years, and was ordained Dec. 23, lss-_>. 
He soon afterward set his face westward and was 
appointed assistant pastor at Chatsworth, where he 
remained until he was assigned to his present 
charge. 

The church at Fair bury was formerly under the 
charge of Rev. John A. Fanning, who presided 
over the various churches of Livingston, Ford and 
Iroquois Counties from 1806 to 1880. and who it- 
remembered as having been a man of more than 
ordinary talent and executive ability. He is now 
in Bureau County. lie was succeeded by Rev. P. 
Lyons, who was subsequently assigned to Campus. 



AMUEL M. GREENBAUM. Among the 
citizens of Livingston County now resident 
are many who have witnessed a marvelous 
change from its wild primitive condition 
of unsubdued prairie to its present high state of cul- 
tivation. Among them is the subject of this sketch, 
although yet a young man. Mr. Greenbanm has 
ridden over the unobstructed prairies, with his com- 
pass on his saddle-horn for a guide, gathering up 
cattle which roamed at will. 

Mr. Greenbanm was born in Frankfort-on-the- 
Maiu, Germany, Sept. 18, 1842. His parents 
were Moses and Sarah (Neumann) Greenbanm, 
The father was a drover, and with his family, save 
the subject of this sketch, who came in 1 .">('>, came 
to this county in 1801, locating in Pontiae. His 
death took place in Chicago, in June, two years 
thereafter. There were in all six children in the 
family, one of whom, Jacob, died during infancy 
in German}'. The others are J. M., engaged in the 
cattle business in Chicago; Henry, a banker at 
Pontiae; Jeanctte, wife of Isaac Freeman, of Chi- 
cago; Rebecca, wifeof Louis Levy, alsoof Chicago, 
and Samuel M., our subject. 

In 1K;" ( Samuel M. (rcenhaum came to this 
country, landing at Baltimore; thence to Chicago, 
thence to Lexington, and t" Pontiae in 1857, 
where he remained until the breaking out of the 
Rebellion, when, full of patriotism and love of his 
adopted country, he enlisted in Company C, 39th 
Illinois Infantry, Sept. 14, 1*61, and was mustered 



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LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



981 



in October 12 of the same year at Benton Barracks, 
Mo. Thence his regiment was sent to Baltimore, 
where its members served under old Jimmy Shields. 
In 1862 they participated in McClellan's memor- 
able peninsular campaign. Following the route of 
this regiment, we find it doing patrol duty along 
the B. & O. R. R. The regiment divided Compan- 
ies A. B, C and F at Alpine Station, Va,, Com- 
pany K, at Sir John's Run, Company G at Great 
Cacapon, and Companies I), K and I at Bath, Va. 
Jan. 2, 1862, Stonewall Jackson attacked the forces 
at Bath, were held in check until Jan. 4, when they 
were forced to cross the Potomac (wading it.) Jan. 
1 1, 1862, they marched to Cumberland, Md., forty 
miles; January 17 were ordered to New Creek, 
guarding railroads; March 23 participated in the 
battle of Winchester, and pursued the enemy to 
Strasburg. To them was given the responsible task 
of holding the White House and Columbian bridges 
spanning the Shenandoah River. In May they were 
sent to reinforce Gen. Banks, and in June to Mc- 
Clellan's army. We find them at Harrison's Land- 
ing June 8, and Malvern Hill July 3, participating 
in skirmishes at Black Water, Zenii and Franklin, 
then sailing with the Foster expedition against 
Charleston, reaching Hilton Head February 1 ; on 
Aprils witnessing the bombardment of Ft. Sumter, 
and engaged in the siege and capture of Morris Isl- 
and July 11. TO them belongs the honor of being 
the first regiment to enter Ft. Wagner. In January, 
1864, the 39th Illinois re-enlisted as veterans, and in 
the summer following engaged in Butler's Bermuda 
Hundreds campaign. At Drnry's Bluff, May 16, 
they sustained a loss of 15 killed, 72 wounded, 52 
missing; at Wire Bottom Church, May 20, 23 killed, 
130 wounded, and 13 missing; at Deep Run, Au- 
gust 16, 26 killed. 77 wounded, 8 missing. The 
24th Army Corps, to which the 39th was attached, 
broke camp on the north side of James River and 
went to Hatches' Run, on the extreme of the 
Army of the Potomac, broke the rebel lines there, 
and the following day stormed the works, or rather 
the key to Petersburg, and took the same. The 
39th Illinois was in the advance in this bloody work. 
It was in the advance upon Richmond at Chapin's 
Farm, and at Darbytown. where they sustained a 
loss of 15 killed, 57 wounded and <S missing. It I 



followed up Lee to his surrender at Appomattox 
Court House. Mr. Greenbaum was not at all 
times with his regiment, having been detailed as a 
musician. When orders were issued disbanding 
regimental bands, his was constituted a brigade band, 
continuing him in this service. 

As a trophy of the war we find Mr. Greenbaum 
carrying back from Richmond to Yankeedom a 
bride, Miss Henrietta Kay ton, daughter of Henry 
and Caroline Kayton, residents of Baltimore, for- 
merly of Norfolk. The marriage was celebrated in 
Richmond. To them have been born six children: 
Moses, Oct. 18, 1867; Belle, June 14, 1869; Sadie, 
July 14, 1871; Carrie, Sept. 25, 1873: Walter, Nov. 
25, 1875; Jessie, March 1, 1882. 

Samuel Greenbaum commenced business in Fair- 
bury Aug. 1, 1866, and after five years removed to 
Pana, 111., remaining five years, whence he returned 
to Fairbnry, where he has since continued, success- 
full}" pursuing his vocation. He is a most con- 
genial gentleman, and his wife well fitted to adorn 
the circle in which she moves, and of which she is 
quite a leader. 

Socially Mr. Qreenbaum is an enthusiastic mem- 
ber of the K. of P., G. A. R., A. O. U. W. and M. 
W. Politically he is a pronounced Republican. 




/ILLIAM CHAM1NGS, an enterprising far- 
mer and stock-breeder residing on section 
2, Belle Prairie Township, was born on the 
28th of April, 1855, in Devonshire, England. The 
county of Mr. Cliatnings' nativity is one of the 
best known of all England ; the surface is greatly 
broken and diversified, but except the wild sterile 
tracts, Dartmoor and Exmoor, is generally remark- 
able for fertility. The vale of Exeter, and the dis- 
trict bordering on the English Channel, called the 
Southams, are especially beautiful and rich. The 
county is famed for its cider, and the red Devon 
breed of cattle is highly esteemed, and Dartmoor 
produces large numbers of small ponies. It is rich 
in mineral, producing copper, arsenic, manganese, 
tin, lead, kaolin and granite. It was in this county 
where Nicholas W. and Elizabeth (Hill) Chamings 
resided when the subject of this sketch was bom, 






OS-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



and they were of pure English blood. The father 
wns born in 1830 and married in 18,02, and rents a 
farm of 227 acres. He is a Wesleyan Methodist, 
and his father was a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. The mother was born in 182U. 
and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Of the famil}- there are ten children yet living: 
Sarah .1. married Judge Henry Lee, of Colorado; 
William married Miss Mary Emma Rudd ; Mary A. 
married John Nott, and lives at West Land, En- 
gland ; John married Theresa Quick, and lives at How- 
ley Farm near Biddeford, England; Fannie resides 
in Colorado; Thomas lives at home; Nicholas W. 
lives at Hunitun, England ; Elizabeth, Priscilla and 
Richard live at home in England. 

Mr. Cham ings left home at the age of fifteen and 
emigrated to America. Arriving at New York he 
at once proceeded to Livingston County, stopping 
one week in Pontiac. and then went to work for his 
uncle, F. Skinner, of Belle Prairie Township, re- 
maining with him one year, and then engaged in 
work for his uncle, Edwin Chamings, one year, and 
then one year for Mr. Kirby. He then went to 
Colorado, where he worked for eighteen months at 
various kinds of labor, and then concluded to visit 
his native land and crossed the ocean to spend 
three months with his father and mother. Upon 
his return he accepted employment from Mr. Kirby 
and remained with him for two years. 

On the 1st of January, 1878, our subject was 
married to Miss Mar}- E. Rudd, who was born in 
Green Township, Woodford Co., 111., on the 14th 
of March, 18.59. She is the daughter of John and 
Mary (Ilandford) Rudd, also natives of Devonshire. 
England, who came to America in 1853, and located 
in Peoria County, where they remained until the date 
of their removal to Woodford County. Mr Rudd 
is a farmer by occupation, nnd he and his wife are 
both members of tin- Christian Church, in which he 
was a Deacon for many years. They are the par- 
ent* of four children James, John W., William H., 
and Mary E.. now Mrs. Chamings. All three of 
the brothers live in this county about three or four 
miles east of Fairburv. 

Mr. and Mrs. Chamings have never been blessed i 
with any children. They own a farm of eighty 
acres of excellent land, upon which they have i 



erected a splendid dwelling and a commodious barn, 
a view of which we present in this volume. One 
of the valuable features of Mr. Chamings' farm is 
a spring, or rather an artesian well, which discharges 
its water through the cellar and milk house into his 
cattle trough. This well is valued at $1,000. It cer- 
tainly is a splendid acquisition to the snug farm he 
owns. Mr. Chamings acts with the Republican 
party. He and his wife are members in good 
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 
1885 they both made a visit to England, remaining 
with their parents about nine months. Mr. Cham- 
ings himself has crossed the Atlantic five times. 



-*- 




HARLES PERRINE, a native of Brown 
County, Ohio, is now one of the most highly 
respected residents of Saiinemin Township, 
to which he came in the spring of 1 870 with his 
parents, who located on section 15J, on land adjoin- 
ing the present farm of our subject. There the 
parents resided until the death of the father, which 
took place on the 8th of March, 1877. The mother 
is still living and resides with her son Thomas H., 
at the old home. 

The! father of our subject was a man of good 
business capacities, and possessed the qualities 
which rendered him a valued member of the com- 
munity. He served as School Director of his dis- 
trict, and took a genuine interest in matters affect- 
ing the welfare of the people around him. Politi- 
cally, he was a stanch Republican, and in all re- 
.spects acquitted himself as an honest man and a 
good citizen. 

Our subject was born on the ' 28th of February, 
1 859, and is the son of Ralph and Eveline (Hol- 
man) Perrine, who were natives of Ohio. Their 
household included three children, namely: Charles 
L., Thomas H.. and William W., now a resident of 
Kansas. In the fall of 1865, the family left Ohio 
for the Prairie State, and located in LaSallcC'ounly. 
where the father carried on farming until about 
1870, and then removed to Livingston County. 

Charles was reared to manhood and received the 
education common to most farmers' boys, studying 
mostly during the winter season, and in summer 



I 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



98.> 



employing himself upon the farm. After the death 
of his father, he remained with his mother until 
twenty-five years of age, and was then married, 
Sept. 2, 1884, to Miss Sarah E. Cotrell, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride in Avoca 
Township. 

Mrs. Perrine was born in Avoca Township, this 
county, Sept. 3, 1862, and is the daughter of An- 
drew and Adeline Cotrell, natives of Ohio, of whom 
the latter is deceased; the father is now a resident 
of Avoca Township. Mr. Perrine's property in- 
cludes eight}' acres of good land with fair improve- 
ments, and under the enterprising hand of its pres- 
ent proprietor, will doubtless develop into one of 
the most desirable 'homesteads in the township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Perrine number their friends by the 
score, and are pleasant and genial both to friends 
and strangers. 



I 




GE W. BOYER, a gentleman of good 
education and more than ordinary intelli- 
gonco, has been a resident of Livingston 
County since 1867, and is located on a good farm 
on section 20, Dwight Township. This farm is em- 
bellished with first-class improvements, and in all 
respects indicates the supervision of a proprietor 
skilled in his calling, and one who has taken advan- 
tage of the most approved methods of modern ag- 
riculture. We take pleasure in presenting on an- 
other page a view of Mr. Boyer's homestead. Mr. 
Boyer is an extensive reader and devotes his leis- 
ure moments to the perusal of subjects treated by 
the best authors, and has kept himself well informed 
upon current events, as well as the history of times 
gone by. 

Mr. Boyer comes from an old American family 
of English ancestry on his fathei - 's side, and on the 
maternal side from the Rupp family, who came 
from Germany shortly after the landing of William 
Penn, and settled in Cumberland County, Pa. 
John Boyer, the grandfather of the subject of our 
sketch, was born in this country, and was a farmer 
in Lancaster Count}', Pa., where George Boyer, his 
son, and the father of our subject, was born in the 
year i tfOO. He was a farmer also in that county, 



and married Lydia Rnpp, the daughter of Jacob 
Rupp, both of the same county, who lived near 
Reading. To them were born six children Jacob, 
John, George W., William, Samuel and Sarah. The 
father, whose death occurred in Pennsylvania, at 
the age of sixty-eight years, was a devout member 
of the Lutheran Church, and in politics was a Re- 
publican. 

George W. Boyer, our subject, was born in Lan- 
caster County, Pa., on the 20th of February, 1827, 
and received a common-school education while a 
boy, to which he has very materially added by con- 
stant reading and observation since manhood. He 
was reared to farm life, and at the age of sixteen 
years accompanied the family of his father to Blair 
Count}', Pa., where for several years he engaged in 
farming. 

At the age of twenty-two years, on the 24th of 
May, 1849, Mr. Boyer was married to Miss Mary 
Ann, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Cherry) 
Turnbaugh, who were of German ancestry, and 
who lived near Altoona, Blair "Co., Pa. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Boyer have been born seven children, viz. : 
Henry, Annetta, Samuel H., Sarah, Climenia E., 
Alfred A. and George W. : the last-named died 
when a lad of twelve years. Henry married Miss 
Nellie Morris; Annetta, James B. Austin; Samuel 
H., Jennie Lower, and Sarah C., Dwight P. Mills, 
all of Dwight. 

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boyer they 
remained on his father's farm for the first year, and 
he engaged in different occupations, finally, how- 
ever, settling down to farming. In 1865 Mr. 
Rover enlisted in Company E, 104th Pennsylvania 
Infantry, and during his term of service was in the 
battle of Petersburg, and on guard duty at Norfolk, 
Va. He received an honorable discharge at Phila- 
delphia at the close of the war, and returned to 
Blair County, Pa., where he remained until 1867, 
when he came to Livingston County, and purchased 
the farm on which he resides on section 20. 

In political matters Mr. Boyer has always acted 
with the Republican party, and has held the offices 
of School Director and Road Commissioner, be- 
sides several other township offices. Mr. and Mrs. 
Boyer both belong to the Lutheran Church, and 
warmly espouse the doctrines of that denomination. 



f 



084 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




They have, by their own efforts, not only reared a 
large family, but have accumulated considerable 
property and placed themselves in comfortable cir- 
cuinstances. Mi'. Boyer is n person of excellent 
character, and the same compliment can be paid 
truth fully to every member of the family. 



ARIEL A. MULFORD, widely and favor- 
ably known throughout Round Grove 
Township, came with his J'oung wife to 
this county thirty years ago, and estab- 
lishing himself among the other adventurous spirits 
of that day, proceeded to build up the homestead 
and the fortune that he now enjoys. He was 
equipped with all the elements essential to the suc- 
cess of the early settler, being stout of heart and 
strong of muscle, and has made for himself a good 
record among people who have watched his career 
with kindly interest, and before whom he has ac- 
quitted himself as an honest man and a good citi- 
zen. 

Our subject is the second child of John M. and 
Jane (Alsdorf) Mulford, natives of Ulster County. 
N. V.. where they spent their lives and where their 
remains now lie at rest. lie also was born in Ulster 
County, Aug. 28,182"), and with his six brothers 
and one sister, spent the early years of his life in 
his native county. As soon as old enough he com- 
menced attending the district school in winter, while 
in summer he assisted in the various employments 
connected with farm life. He remained a member 
of his father's household until twenty-four years of 
age :ind then immigrated to Pennsylvania, where 
he remained three years, after which he came to 
DuPage County, this State, in 1852. There he en- 
gaged in fanning four years and in June, 18f>7, 
came to this county and purchased a quarter section 
of land on section 13, Round Grove Township, 
which is comprised in his promt homestead. There 
were no improvements upon the land, not even a 
shelter for his family, and making it his first busi- 
ness to provide a place for them, he put up aboard 
-h:mty, in the building of which he was occupied 
ju>t about twelve hours. 

Mr. Mulford experienced all the vicissitudes to 



which the early settlers were subjected. Where the 
peaceful herds now graze, the deer and the wolf 
roamed unmolested by man. Instead of the domes- 
tic fowl was the prairie chicken almost as tame, 
while the venomous rattlesnake might be found 
coiled on the door-sill. They frequently witnessed 
the grand sight of a prairie on fire so vividly de- 
scribed by Cooper, and also the more beautiful 
mirage that deludes the traveler on the plains. It 
is hardly necesary to say that the shanty long ago 
gave place to a more modern and substantial resi- 
dence, and in due time there grew up around it all 
the other necessary and convenient farm buildings. 
On an adjoining page is shown a view of Mr. Mul- 
ford's residence and its surroundings. The land is 
enclosed with good fences, and the live stock is in 
keeping with all the other appurtenances of the 
place. 

Beginning life for himself with nothing except 
$10 which he had borrowed, Mr. Mulford is now 
one of the largest land-owners in Central Illinois, 
having 880 acres in Livingston and Knnkakee 
Counties and 330 acres in Missouri. This, with the 
exception of $5,000 inherited a short time ago, has 
been accumulated by his own industry, but the 
economy which he practiced and the hard labor to 
which he was subjected year after year did not tend 
to warp his disposition or make him selfish. On the 
contrary he bears the reputation of being a large- 
hearted and liberal man, and has always encouraged 
b}' his substantial aid those enterprises calculated 
for the general good of the people and the devel- 
opment of his township. 

One of the most important events in the life of 
our subject was his marriage with Mi>s Sarah S. 
llerrick, which was celebrated at the home of the 
bride in I) u Page County, Nov. 20, U->.">."i. Mr>. 
Mulford was born in that county, Aug. 6, 1834, 
and resided there with her parents, Ira and Mabel 
E. (Gallusha) Herrick, until her marriage. Mr. 
and Mrs. Herrick were natives of Vermont, whence 
they removed to the West after their marriage. 
Their household included two sons and six daugh- 
ters, of whom Sarah S. was the fifth in order of 
birth and the first of their children born in Illinois. 
Thej" were among the early settlers of Unl'age 
County, and there spent the remainder of their 



f 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



987 ' 



f 



lives, the mother passing away Jan. 28, 1873, and 
the father Aug. 30. 1878. 

To our subject and his wife there were born six 
children, of whom there are only three living, 
namely: Fred II., who was born Dec. 5, 1803, and 
is a resident of this township; Oscar .]., who was 
born Sept. 11, 1870, and Mabel S. J., Feb. 1, 1876. 
Kllen, Frank and Johnnie died in infancy. Mr. 
Mulford has been identified with the Republican 
party since its organization, and still upholds the 
principles which he then most cheerfully endorsed. 
He has held the various offices of bis township, 
f .rving as Highway Commissioner and Township 
Trustee, and has often been called upon as a leader 
in the matters which naturally come up in a grow- 
ing community and are of interest to all good citi- 
zens. He has lived through the period of hard 
work and anxiety and now, in a home surrounded 
by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, 
has abundant reason to feel that his labors have 
not been in vain. 



BRAM LOWER. The name of this gen- 
tleman has for the last twenty-five years 
been prominent among the liberal-minded 
and public-spirited citizens of Broughton 
Township, of which he was one of the pioneer set- 
tlers, and is now among the oldest living residents. 
He has all his life been engaged in farming pursuits, 
and for several years past has given much of his at- 
tention to stock-raising. His property consists of 
160 acres located on section 10, where he has a 
comfortable farm residence and all the out-build- 
ings necessary for carrying on successfully the la- 
bors of a modern agriculturist. 

The State of Pennsylvania has contributed largely 
to the development of Central Illinois, sending in 
their youth and strength many of her most enter- 
prising sons to subdue the primitive soil and open 
up a rich section of country, which has now become 
familiarly known, not only to the great Northwest, 
but all over the Union. Our subject was born in 
Blair County, Pa., Oct. 10, 1835, and is the son of 
David and Susan (Rhodes) Lower, the former now 
deceased and the latter a resident of Lanark, 111. 




His ancestors, on both sides, were of German de- 
scent, and the parents were natives of Pennsylva- 
nia. Their household consisted of a large family 
of children, of whom the following survive: Levi, 
of Washington County, Kan.; Samuel, of Dwight, 
111.; A bra in, our subject; Catherine, the wife of 
Samuel McCoy, of Carroll Count}-; Annie, Mrs. 
John Chestnut, of Adair County, Iowa, and Han- 
nah, the wife of George Weed, of Carroll County, 
111. The members of the Lower family for gener- 
ations have been noted for their longevity, and the 
father of our subject had reached his fourscore 
years at the time of his death, which took place at 
his home in Lanark April 7, 1880; the mother is 
now in the seventy-ninth year of her age. The 
maternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel 
Rhodes, was at least one hundred years old at the 
time of his death. 

A brain Lower remained a resident of his native 
county until reaching manhood, and enjoyed only 
the advantages of a limited education. He was 
trained in his youth to habits of industry, becom- 
ing thoroughly acquainted with the manner of con- 
ducting farm labor, and was thus well fitted for his 
chosen calling in life. In 1 858, upon leaving the 
home roof, he came to Carroll County, this State, 
where he remained until the spring of 1860, and 
then took possession of his present farm, which he 
purchased from his father, who had accompanied 
him to the West. This land was then but slightly 
removed from its primitive condition, young Abram 
turning the first furrow upon it. There were no 
buildings of an}' kind, but the prospect which 
opened up before him, presenting, without question, 
very much hard labor and small returns for years, 
did not in the least dismay him. He saw about 
him other men laboring under the same disadvan- 
tages, and resolved to be fully equal to the emer- 
gency. In the course of time he began to realize 
the reward of his labors, and was enabled to slowly 
effect the improvements of which he had dreamed 
for years. The farm is now one of the most at- 
tractive spots in Livingston County. The land has 
been brought to a high state of cultivation, and the 
buildings, neat and substantial in their character, 
will bear fair comparison with those of the enter- 
prising farmers adjacent. We present on an ad- 



Jr. 



988 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



\ 



joining page a view of Mr. Lower's homestead. 
This property Mr. Lower has accumulated through 
his own industry and perseverance, he having had 
very little assistance in the beginning, and is essen- 
tially a self-made man. His experiences have 
proved a most salutary lesson, developing in him 
the best qualities that a man can possess. 

Mr. Lower, soon after passing his twenty-fifth 
year, and about the time of purchasing his land, 
was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Miller, 
the wedding taking place in Dixon, Lee County, 
Oct. 16, 1860. They commenced their housekeep- 
ing in a small board cabin on the new farm, and the 
wife has labored equally with her husband in build- 
ing up a homestead which is a credit to them, and 
a comfortable abiding-place for their children. The 
latter, twelve in number, are recorded as follows: 
Maggie is the wife of Walter Morrison, of Jackson 
County, Mo. ; Augusta, Mrs. Percy Glover, lives 
in Custer County, Neb.; Albert, Leroy, Frank, 
Marietta, Lillie, Grace and Gertrude are at home 
with their parents; Kenneth died when one year, 
one month and eleven days old ; Arthur, when one 
year, four months and three days, and Mabel, at the 
age of two years and eleven days. 

Mr. Lower identified himself with the Demo- 
cratic party in 1 856, and since that time has usually 
adhered closely to its principles, although claiming 
the rights of a free American citizen, and voting 
independently when he has chosen so to do, his ob- 
ject being to support the man best qualified for 
office. He has been quite prominent in the affairs 
of his township, serving ten years in succession as 
Highway Commissioner, and still holds the office. 
He officiated as School Director several terms, and 
was Collector two years. He has uniformly been 
the encourager of the enterprises calculated to pro- 
mote the welfare of the people, and to this end has 
contributed in a cheerful and liberal spirit accord- 
ing to his meap.s. 

Mrs. Lower was born in Franklin County, Pa., 
Aug. 7. 1K42. and is the daughter of George and 
Margaret (Davis) .Miller, natives respectively of 
Germany and Pennsylvania. The father died in 
Carroll County, June 20, 1878; the mother survives, 
and makes her home mostly in Carroll County, 
this State. They were the parents of thirteen chil- 



dren, of whom the following survive: Mary, the 
\vifeofCharles E. Cross, of Stephenson County: 
Catherine, the wife of our subject; S. E., of Che- 
noa; Albert, who is living in Muscatine, In\va; 
Emma, Mrs. Philip Gelwicks, of Butler County. 
Neb.; Luther, of Carroll County, III; Scott and 
Upton, of Nebraska; Gertrude, the wife of Edward 
Sullivan, of Rochelle, 111. : Lincoln and Maggie, 
of Carroll County. 



| LRICM EGGENBERGER, who is pleasantly 
located on section 30, Union Township, is 



looked upon as one of its most worthy citi- 




zens and enterprising farmers. He came from a 
far land to establish his permanent home, having 
been born in Switzerland, April 7, 183!t. His na- 
tive country, as we all know, has for centuries fur- 
nished a theme for the poet and the historian, and 
is a point to which the American traveler in Europe 
looks forward with the greatest of pleasure. The 
people of Switzerland speak various languages in 
different parts of the Republic, the native tongue 
of our subject being German. 

Mr. Eggenberger is the fifth child of John and 
Afra (Strieker) Eggenberger, who were natives of 
the same country, and the parents of nine children. 
John Eggenberger followed farming on his native 
soil during his early manhood, and until after the 
death of the wife and mother. Then, in 186;"). ac- 
companied by his family, he crossed the Atlantic, 
and coming directly westward, located in Union 
Township, this county, where he took up his old 
employment as an agriculturist and still resides. He 
is now, however, retired from active labor, and 
makes his home with his son John, on section 34. 

Our subject established domestic ties of his own 
liy his marriage with Miss Annie Luceger, a native 
of his own country, where she was born May 12, 
1846. The family of her parents, Ulrich and Anna 
Luceger. consi.-lcd of two children only. Mr. Eg- 
geulieryer and his wife remained one year with the 
lather of the latter, and in the fall of 1865 em- 
liarked on a sailing-vessel from Liverpool, England, 
for America, where alter a voyage of fourteen days, 
they landed in New York City. A few days later 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



989 t , 



they started for the West, and made their first halt 
in Peoria. 111., but not finding a desirable location, 
they came to this county, where our subject, pro- 
viding a shelter for his family in Odell Township, 
engaged as a farm laborer, at which he continued for 
three years following. In the meantime he lived eco- 
nomically, and saved what lie could of his earnings, 
so that in 1874 he was enabled to secure an 80-acre 
tract of improved land. Upon this there were some 
buildings, and after establishing his family com- 
fortably, he entered in earnest upon the improve- 
ment and cultivation of his purchase. This laud 
now constitutes his present homestead, but so great 
is the change which he has effected upon it that it 
would scarcely be recognized. His career, how- 
ever, has not been without adversity and affliction, 
for on the 16th of November, 1875, the year follow- 
ing his purchase of this land, and when he was in the 
midst of his plans for a future home, the wife and 
mother was called from earth. He was thus left 
bereaved with two little children Ulrich and John. 
These are now promising .young men. and continue 
at home with their father. Mrs. Annie Eggen- 
berger.had been carefully reared in the doctrines of 
the Reformed Church, in her daily life furnishing a 
bright example of piety and truth, and adhered 
closely to the religious faith of her parents. 

Our subject, on the 18th -of September, 1876, was 
a seeond time united in marriage, with Mrs. Katie 
Eggenberger, who was also born in Switzerland, in 
1842. Her parents, Andrew and Agatha Eggen- 
berger, were also of Swiss birth and parentage, and 
spent their entire lives in their native land. Their 
family included nine children, Katie being the sixth 
in order of birth. By her first marriage Mrs. E. 
had become the mother of two children, John and 
Andrew, both of whom make their home with our 
subject. Mr. E. has distinguished himself as a skill- 
ful and thorough farmer, and has been rewarded for 
his industiy and frugality. He has wisely invested 
his surplus capital in additional land, and is now 
the owner of 230 acres which he has brought to a 
high state of cultivation, and which is amply stocked 
with graded animals, including Norman horses, 
Short-horn cattle, Cotswold sheep and Poland-China 
swine. His dwelling and farm buildings compare 
favorably with those of the enterprising farmers 



around him, among whom he is held in universal 
respect. 

Upon becoming a naturalized citizen, our sub- 
ject identified himself with the Republican party, al- 
though taking no active interest in politics. He lias 
served as Road Commissioner two years, and gives 
his support to those enterprises calculated for the 
general good of the community. Both our subject 
and his wife are devoted members of the Reformed 
Church, and are numbered among its most cheer- 
ful supporters. 

As representative of the buildings in this section 
of country, we present on another page a view of 
Mr. Eggenberger's homestead. 




S G. RILEY. No man in the stock 
growing sections of Central Illinois perhaps 
has been more fortunate in this department 
of farming than the subject of this sketch. He 
came to Forest Township in 1864, and located on 
section 5, where he now has a beautiful farm of 520 
acres, stocked with fine grades of cattle and horses, 
and has also been very successful witli Poland-China 
swine. He first purchased a quarter section at $25 
per acre, to which he added gradualty as time pro- 
gressed and his means accumulated. His enter- 
prise and ambition seem almost unlimited, and he 
is credited with having done his full share toward 
advancing the agricultural interests of Livingston 
County. 

Mr. Riley, like many of the earlier settlers of the 
county, is an emanation of Erin's Green Isle, where 
he was born Nov. 5, 1820. His parents, Charles 
and Ann (Gordon) Riley, were also of Irish birth 
and parentage, and their household included ten 
children, six sons and four daughters, of whom one 
is deceased. The parents spent their entire lives on 
their native soil, but their children all emigrated to 
America. Our subject was reared on the small 
farm which his father cultivated, and in the mean- 
time gave very much thought to the future. He 
saw little in his native Ireland to aid in developing 
the natural enterprise of his character, and deter- 
mined to seek his fortunes on another continent. 



i 



990 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Accordingly in the spring of 1847, after passing his 
twenty-third year, he set sail from Liverpool, and 
after a somewhat tedious voyage arrived safely in 
New York Harbor. He remained in the Empire 
State a few years thereafter occupied in farming 
pursuits, then going to Indiana took up his resi- 
dence in Tippecanoe County, and remained there 
seven years. While a resident of New York he 
was married, in the spring of 1855, to Miss Jane 
McGovern,a native of Ireland. The young couple 
began life together in a modest dwelling in Indiana, 
where they remained until the removal to Forest 
Township. Of this union there were born six chil- 
dren, only one living, a daughter, Letitia, who is 
now the wife of Jefferson Trumbo, a prosperous 
farmer of LaSalle County, residing near Ottawa. 
Four of the five children deceased were buried in- 
side of four months. 

Mr. Riley keeps a herd of about 140 Short-horn 
cattle, and thirty to thirty-six head of full-blooded 
Norman horses, five of which were imported di- 
rectly from France. He is without question one of 
the leading stockmen of the county and exhibits 
some of the finest animals within its borders. One 
of his most valuable horses weighs 2,000 pounds, 
and another 2,100 pounds. The latter, "Gen. For- 
rest," valued at &1,850, and a beautiful dapple- 
gray, sixteen and one-half hands high, with white 
mane and tail, was imported in 1883 by Degen 
Bros., of Ottawa. ''Marquis," numbered 1635, a 
bright bay, seven years old, seventeen hands high, 
and weighing 2,000 pounds, was imported in 1 882, 
by Virgin <fe Co., of Fairbury. The former was 
purchased by Mr. Riley when three years of age, 
and the latter when two. One of his colts when 
six months old weighed 960 pounds, and is owned 
by James Bergen, of Charlotte Township. He is 
considered one of the finest colts in the State. 

The farm is located about one and one-half miles 
from the town limits of Forest, and besides the 
handsome residence and out-buildings there is a fine 
orchard live acres in extent, and all the other ap- 
purtenances of a first-class country estate. Mr. 
Riley, with his family, belongs to the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, and is a gentleman who has 
always taken an active interest in the public affairs 
of his township, contributing liberally to the main- 




tenance and support of its educational and religious 
institutions. In politics Mr. Riley has always been 
a stanch Republican, but has never been an office- 
seeker. 



ILLIAM SELLMYER is a young man who 
has always followed the vocation of a far- 
mer, and considering the circumstances 
which have surrounded him, has succeeded better 
than most men of his age. He has closely identi- 
fied himself with the interests of Saunemin Town- 
ship, and is one of its most promising citizens. 

Mr. Sellmyer is a native of Illinois, and has re- 
sided in the State all his life. He was born in La- 
Salle County on the 10th of March, 1858. and is 
the son of Joseph and Frances Sellmyer. both of 
whom were born in Germany, but early in life 
came to America. In 1874 our subject accom- 
panied his parents when they came and settled in 
Livingston County, locating in Odell Township, 
where the father died on the 22(1 of November, 
1885. The mother is still living, and resides in 
Odell Township. To his parents were born twelve 
children, of whom five are deceased. The living 
! are named as follows: Emma, William M., Eliza- 
beth, Mary, Annie, Eva and John. In his youth 
! pur subject had few opportunities of attending 
school, and as a consequence received but a limited 
education. His entire life has been spent upon a 
farm, and he has always entered upon that work 
with zeal and earnestness. 

On the 4th of April, 1883, Mr. Sellmyer un- 
married to Mary Fisher, of LaSalle County, 111., 
who was born on the 1st of April, 18G3. She is 
the daughter of John and Gertrude Fisher, both of 
whom were born in Germany, and at present are 
residents of LaSalle County, this State. Her par- 
ents are members of the Catholic Church, to which 
they are much devoted. Mr. and Mrs. Sellmyer 
have one child, born on the 3d of November, !**.">. 
upon whom they have conferred the name of Jo- 
seph. 

Mr. Sellmyer owns 138 acres of land lying in 
Owcgo Township, and to the improvement and cul- 
tivation of this farm he devotes his entire atten- 
tion, and has already made considerable improve- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



991 




incut of a substantial nature. In politics. Mr. 
Sellmyer is Democratic, and votes and works with 
that party without the hope or expectation of re- 
ward in the nature of office. He and his wife are 
consistent members of the Catholic Church, and de- 
vote of their time and means liberally to its susten- 
ance. Mr. Sellmyer is _yet a young man. but has 
already well established himself in the confidence of 
his fellow-citizens. 



' BRAHAM FUNK. After a long and active 
life the subject of this sketch is now a re- 
tired farmer residing in the city of Odell. 
He was born in Augusta County, Va., near 
Staunton, on the 23d of October, 181 9, and was the 
eldest in a family of nine children born to Chris- 
tian and Susanna (Roadifer) Funk, who were na- 
tives of Rockingham County, Va., where they were 
born, reared and married. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject were 
Henry and Susanna (Fry) Funk, natives of Penn- 
sylvania. The great-grandfather on this side vvas 
also named Henry, the original spelling of his sur- 
name being Funck, which form of orthography pre- 
vailed down to the present generation. He was 
one of five brothers wlio came to America from 
Switzerland just before the Revolutionary War, 
and it is believed that the entire descent was from 
these five brothers. Two of them were soldiers in 
the war of the Revolution, after which they scat- 
tered, and from them sprung the branch to which 
the subject of this sketch belongs. The one from 
whom he descends was a Mennonite preacher, and 
the inclinations are all in that direction. The ma- 
ternal grandparents, William and Catherine (Sho- 
walter) Roadifer, were natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of German descent, the name being originally 
spelled Rodehafer, but Americanized to its present 
orthograplry. Catherine Showalter's father came 
from Switzerland about the time the Funks emi- 
grated, and lived on the Susquehanna River during 
the Revolutionary War. 

The father of Abraham Funk was a farmer by 
occupation, although a blacksmith by trade, and 
followed the latter in his younger days. In 1820 



he moved to Fail-field County, Ohio, and in 1849 to 
LiiSalle County, 111., where he spent his declining 
3'ears engaged in farming. He died on the 29th of 
August, 1850, and his widow survived him until 
Jan. 28, 1887. The subject of this sketch was 
reared to farm life, and also learned the trade of a 
carpenter. He was fairly educated in the common 
schools of those days, and at the age of twenty- 
years, while his parents were residing in Fail-field 
County, Ohio, he left home to do for himself. For 
three years following he followed his trade and then 
engaged in farming, which has been his occupation 
ever since. 

April 29, 1841, Mr. F. married Miss Margaret 
Hutchinson, who was born in Fail-field County. 
Ohio, on the 10th of May, 1822, and was the 
youngest in a family of eleven children born to 
James and Margaret (Logan) Hutchinson, natives 
of Huntingdon County, Pa. James Hutchinson 
was a soldier in the War of 1812, and one of the 
very earliest settlers of Ohio. In 1850 Mr. Funk 
and his wife left Ohio, and coming to LaSalle 
County, 111., bought a farm near Streator, upon 
which they lived until 1866, when he sold out and 
bought a farm six miles east of Odell, where he re- 
mained for fifteen years. In 1883 he bought a 
home in the city, and retired from active life. Mr. 
and Mrs. Funk are the parents of ten children, six 
boys and four girls, whose record is as follows: 
James H. was born Feb. 15, 1842; Nancy was born 
April 3, 1843, and died Aug. 29, 1852; David A. 
was born March 28, 1'846; Christian, Dec. 29, 1848; 
Mary E., March 2, 1851 ; William Albert, Feb. '25, 
1854; Rhoda A., Oct. 26, 1856; Warren L., Oct. 
-15,1858, Sarah Alice, Jan. 18, 1862, and Arthur 
A., Nov. 28, 1864. Nine of them are living, and 
all married but Warren and Arthur, who are in 
Minnesota engaged in professional life. 

Mr. Funk has always been a prominent man in 
the community in which he lives. In LaSalle 
County he served as Road Commissioner, Assessor, 
Justice of the Peace, School Director and Trustee. 
Since residing in this county he has kept out of 
ollice as much as possible. He has not been an act- 
ive man in politics, but his votes have been cast 
for the Whig and Republican tickets for forty- 
seven years. His first vote was cast for Gen. Will- 



f 







<I92 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



inin Henry Harrison for President, and he has 
voted for every Whig and Republican candidate 
for that hiiih office since. He is a member of the 
Congregational Church, in which he h:is served as 
Trustee, and has for years been an active Christian 
worker. 



J~ OHN CHRISTMANN. In the subject of 
this sketch is illustrated one of the great ad- 
vantages of this country. He came from 
Germany a few years ago without means and 
without friends to help him in making a start, ami 
to-day, he owns a most excellent farm which is 
equipped with all the necessary buildings for the 
comfort of his family, and the protection of his 
domestic animals and farm products. On another 
page of this work is shown a view of Mr. Christ- 
niann's homestead. This is perhaps the only coun- 
try in which such ends could be accomplished in so 
short a time, even with the same energy and enter- 
prise displayed by Mr. Christmann ; the only coun- 
try in which the adopted citizen has an equal chance 
in all the affairs of life with the native citizen, for 
he takes his place without discrimination or preju- 
dice. and has equal privileges with those to the 
manor born. Mr. Christmann has acted well his 
part in the land of his adoption, and has his reward 
in a comfortable home among an intelligent and 
Christian people. It is of such citizens that Illinois 
is largely composed. 

Mr. Christniann's farm is located in Dwight 
Township, which is noted for its good farms and 
progressive farmeis. The father of Mr. Christmann 
was Peter Christmaiin, of Ilochstetten, Germany. 
who was a cooper by trade. He was the father of 
seven children Jacob, Peter, Henry, Conrad, 
Jacobina. Margaret and John, of whom four of the 
brothers Henry, John, Jacob and Peter came to 
this country. Henry went to California and no in- 
telligence has been received from him for twenty 
vc.-irs. 

John Christmann was born in l4o, in Hoch- 
stetten, Germany, where he received a good com- 
mon-school education, and learned the rudiments 
of farming, remaining till twenty-one years of age, 



when, in the year 18C6, he came to this country and 
began farming. In 1879 he married Miss Barbara, 
daughter of-George S. Burger, of Grundy County, 
IH., formerly a resident of Germany. To them 
have been born four bright and intelligent children: 
Louie J., George M., Margaret E. and Fred L. In 
1878 Mr. Christmann bought the farm on which he 
is now located, consisting of 160 acres of land, 
located near Dwight, and on which he is pleasantly 
situated and comfortably surrounded. 

Through his own efforts, cordially seconded by 
those of his wife, Mr. Christmann has accumulated 
a handsome property, which is not only valuable 
but affords him the means of making an excellent 
livelihood for himself and those dependent upon 
him. In political matters Mr. Christmann acts 
with the Democratic party, but not from selfish 
motives, as he has never been a seeker after office. 
On account of his ability and interest in educational 
matters he has been chosen a member of the School 
Board of Dwight Township. He and his wife are 
both members of the Lutheran Church, and are 
active participants in the affairs of the congrega- 
tion to which they belong. He is a sturdy, good 
citizen, meriting and receiving the esteem and re- 
spect of his neighbors. 





AMU EL S. ROGERS, proprietor and offi- 
ciating as mine host of the Fairbury House, 
located at the corner of Walnut and Fourth 
streets, purchased this property in 1868, 
and after his location here was at once recognized 
as a valuable accession to the community. He is 
a gentleman of good family, possesses the quality 
of sound common sense, and seems finely adapted 
to his chosen calling. 

Our subject was born in the town of Peru, Clin- 
ton Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1821, and is the son of 
James and Sarah (Keese) Rogers, who were among 
the most worthy members of the Society of Friends. 
James Rogers first saw light in the town made illus- 
trious by the birth, in 1790, of the great States- 
man, Daniel Webster, Marshfield, Mass., and in 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



993 



curly manhood followed farming for a number of 
3'ears. Later he interested himself in mercantile 
pursuits, and traveled in the interests of a Boston 
iron foundry, selling plows. He first introduced 
into the States of Maine, Vermont and New Hamp- 
shire the cast-iron plow, which was the first inno- 
vation over the old wooden implement with which 
the agriculturists of New England laboriously 
turned the sod. He subsequently came to the 
West, and spent his last years at Fairbury, 111., his 
death taking place about 1868. While in Massa- 
chusetts and upon retiring from his position as a 
traveling salesman, he purchased hotel property, 
and at a cost of $100 put up a sign which was 
simply lettered " The Boston Hotel. J. Rogers." 
Upon going to Augusta, Me., he was first identi- 
fied with the Attean Land Association, and super- 
intended the manufacture of lumber which, with 
logs, he rafted down the River Kennebec to market 
at Bath. He then engaged in merchandising in 
Augusta and invested a considerable sum of money 
in 600 acres of land in Kennebec County. He re- 
mained in that region until the spring of 1862, and 
then came to this county, after which he lived 
mostly retired from active labor. 

Samuel S. Rogers completed his education in the 
schools of Boston, Mass., and remained in the city, 
employed at clerking for several years. He then 
located in Augusta, Me., and entering into partner- 
ship with his brother-in-law, John J. Fuller, under 
the firm name of Fuller & Rogers, carried on for 
ten years following a prosperous trade in groceries. 
They sold out in 1860, and our subject came to 
Fairbury, where he was engaged as salesman and 
accountant for about ten years. He then engaged 
in the hardware business with Henry King-man, un- 
der the firm name of Kingman & Rogers, until 1876, 
when he sold out to take possession of (lis hotel, the 
Fairbury House, which is considered the best hotel 
in this part of the country, and those who put up 
there once invariably return to it if they can by 
any means make it convenient to do so. Mine 
host gives the utmost attention to the comfort of 
his guests, and the house is kept up in a first-class 
manner. 

Mr. Rogers, while a resident of Augusta, was 
united in marriage with Miss Louisa Norris, July 



14, 1854, and the3 r became the parents of two chil- 
dren Henry H. and Mabel. Henry H., a studious 
and intelligent youth, was graduated from the Na- 
val Academy at Annapolis, Md., but, on account 
of the attacks of sea-sickness which he invariably 
experienced on the water, was obliged to abandon 
the profession which he had hoped to follow in life. 
He then entered the Medical School at Ann Arbor, 
Mich., where he remained two years, after which 
he spent two years in teaching, and then entered 
the Medical School at Louisville, Ky., where he was 
graduated. He commenced the practice of medi- 
cine near Bloom ington, 111., but finding it uncon- 
genial to his tastes, he resumed teaching, and is now 
Principal of the school at Highland Park, Cook 
County. Mabel, a bright and intelligent young 
lady, was graduated from the Fairbury High School 
and completed her studies at the Wesleyan College 
at Bloonringtou. The mother of these children de- 
parted this life at her home in Fairbury, Nov. 17, 
1870, and her remains were laid to rest in the cem- 
etery at that place. 

Mr. Rogers was a second time married, March 
26, 1872, to Mrs. Caroline A. (Straight) Mattoon, 
who was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., Feb. 
18, 1836, and is the daughter of Arby P. and Phi- 
lena (Simmons) Straight, natives of Washington 
County, N. Y. Both parents were born in 1803, 
and are still living, the father a hale and intelligent 
old gentleman, and the mother possessing much of 
the activity of her early life. Mr. Straight fol- 
lowed the occupation of a farmer, and the parental 
household included twelve children, namely: Em- 
ily A., now Mrs. N. C. Johnson; Mary, Mrs. James 
H. Odell; Alonzo A., Lev! F., David E., Rufus C., 
Caroline A., William J., Hiram J., Milton H., Le- 
ander L., and one who died in infancy unnamed. 

Mrs. Rogers received her earh 1 education in the 
little log school-house near her home in Chautau- 
qua County, N. Y., and was first married in 1857, 
her husband being Franklin A. Mattoon, who died 
in 1861. Her two children 03' this marriage were 
Mary and F. Glenn. Mary is now Mrs. William 
M. Butler, of Cairo, 111., and the mother of one 
child, a son, Comfort. Mr. Butler was graduated 
from the Law School of Albany, N. Y., and is now 
State's Attorney of Alexander County, 111. F. 






I 



994 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



4 



(ill-mi is located at Hancock, Dak., where he lias 
been employed in fanning and teaching during the 
last seven years. 

Mrs. Caroline A. Rogers was a teacher in the 
High School of Fairbury for a period of ten years, 
and a lady greatly beloved fi>r her rare virtues and 
amiability. Her daughter Mary possesses the lov- 
able traits of her mother, and like her, became a 
teacher, in which profession she was engaged six 
years before her marriage. 

Our subject, politically, is a Republican of the 
first water, and although not connected with any 
church organization, is one of the stanchest friends 
of morality and education. Mrs. Rogers is a Meth- 
odist, and an active member of the church at Fair- 
bury, 111. 



, OSEPH PROESEL. Of the natives of the 
German Empire the Bavarians stand as an 
industrious, frugal and intelligent people. 
Their country is situated favorably for the 
production of hardy men and women, such as only 
mountainous countries can produce. The climate 
of Ha varia, notwithstanding the mountainous typog- 
raphy of the country, is temperate and exceed- 
ingly salubrious, and has a tendency to produce 
robustness. The people of the country districts are 
agriculturists and cattle raisers, and are very thor- 
ough in the cultivation of the soil. Public instruc- 
tion is somewhat more limited in Bavaria than in 
some of the other German States, but upon the 
whole the people are intelligent and fairly well edu- 
cated. 

The subject of this sketch, who is a farmer on sec- 
tion 30 of Pontiac Township, is a native of Bavaria, 
where he was born on the loth of June, 1K27, and 
is the son of George and Magdalene Vroesel, both 
of German nativit}-. He received all the advan- 
tages of a common-school education possible in his 
native land, and in his eighteenth year accompanied 
his parents "lien they emigrated to America. Pas- 
sage was taken at Bremen on a sailing-vessel, and 
alter a tempestuous voyage of sixt3'-two days they 
landed in New York City. Thence they secured 



pa age on a boat up the Hudson River to Albany, 
and from there took an Krie Canal boat to Buffalo, 
requiring two weeks to make the trip from New 
York to that place. From the latter city they took 
pa->age by way of the Great Lakes to Chicago, 
which they reached in ten days, and settled in Niles 
Township. C'ook County, where the father died in 
August. 1884; the mother still resides in Cook 
County, 111. 

The 'subject of this sketch remained in C'ook 
County until 1864, in which year he came to Liv- 
ingston County, where he located in Owego Town- 
ship, and remained there until the fall of 1869, 
when he removed to his present farm on section 30, 
Pontiac Township. He was married, on the 1st of 
May, 1849, to Miss Margaret Alles. a native of 
Germany, and at that time a resident of C'ook 
County. Her parents were Wendell and Margaret 
(Wagner) Alles, both natives of Germany, who 
emigrated to America about the year 1834, and a 
few years later settled in Cook County. With their 
family of seven children they landed in New York 
and remained two years in that city, where the 
father was employed at his trade of blacksmithing. 
In 1836 the3 r started for Chicago, going by the 
Hudson River and the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and 
thence by the Lakes in a vessel to Chicago, where 
they arrived in four weeks. Mr. Alles with his 
family settled seventeen miles north of the city on 
what was then known as Gross Point, but at a later 
day was named New Drear, and was the first Ger- 
man settler in that part of Cook County. He built 
the first log Catholic Church, and is buried with 
hi- wife on the grounds where the Church stood. 
He was an industrious, enterprising man, and ac- 
cumulated a good property. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Proesel have been born five chil- 
dren, recorded as follows: .George J. lives at Gales- 
burg, 111.; Mary is the wife of Henry Graber, of 
Pontiac: Catherine is the wife of E. F. Schultz, of 
Pontiac; .lolm W. lives in Champaign, and William 
J. at home. Mr. Proesel owns 153 acres of good 
land, which is under a high state of cultivation. In 
political matters he is very Independent and has not 
lately affiliated with either of the old party organ- 
izations. He has held several responsible official 
positions, including three terms or nine years as 



1 




f! 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



997 



School Director in Pontiac Township, and Assessor 
one term and School Director one term in Owego 
Township. He is a devoted member of the Roman 
Catholic Church, while lie and his wife occupy an 
enviable position in society by which they are sur- 
rounded. A view of the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Proesel is shown elsewhere in this work. 




ON. CHRISTOPHER C. STRAWN, of the 

firm of Strawn & Patton, attorneys-at-law, 
Pontiac, is one of the notable men of Illi- 
nois. His legal experience embraces a pe- 
riod of nearly twenty-five years, during which time 
he has, been the conservator of important interests 
and has had an opportunity of developing his nat- 
ural talent in the field to which he seems remarka- 
bly adapted. He is a man of general culture, and 
has a fine and discriminating taste in literature, and 
this, together with his marked legal talent, places 
him in the front rank, not only of his profession, 
but in the refined social circles, where he is a gen- 
eral favorite. He presents a finely developed man- 
hood, being in the prime of life and of fine per- 
sonal appearance. In political circles, although un- 
restrained by party lines and nearly gaining the 
appellation of an Independent, his leanings are 
strongly toward Republican principles. 

Mr. Stravvu is a native of LaSalle County, this 
State, and was born in Ottawa, Aug. 22, 1841. The 
Strawn family for nearly a century has been noted 
throughout the West, where its members have been 
largely engaged as farmers and stock-breeders, and 
have possessed robust health, fine constitutions and 
great integrity in their business transactions. The 
parents of Christopher C., Eli and Eleanor ( Broad - 
dus) Strawn, were natives respectively of Ohio and 
Virginia. His paternal grandparents, Jeremiah and 
Hannah (Boucher) Strawn. were natives of Penn- 
sylvania, as was also the great-grandfather, Isaiah, 
who was of Scotch ancestry. Almost without ex- 
ception the members of the family were agricult- 
urists and stock-raisers for several generations. 
The mother of our subject was the daughter of 
Lunsford Broaddus, who for many years conducted 
a tobacco plantation in Virginia, which was worked 
by slaves. He was a man of much philanthrophy, 



and being convinced that the "peculiar institution" 
was radically wrong, liberated his slaves and re- 
moved to the free North, taking up his location in 
Lacon, Marshall County, this State. Here he car- 
ried on general farming extensively, and spent the 
remainder of his life, his death taking place in 
1865. 

Jeremiah Strawn removed from his native State 
to Illinois in 1830, settling in Putnam County, and 
engaged largely in farming. During the Black 
Hawk War he officiated as Quartermaster, and about 
1857 removed to Ottawa, where he lived retired 
from active labor until his death in 1883. He had 
three brothers who also settled in Illinois. These 
were, Jacob, who went to Morgan County; John, 
who settled in Marshall County, and Joel, in LaSalle 
County. All were extensive stockmen and far- 
mers, and all reared large families and became 
prominent in the counties where they lived. 

Eli, the father of our subject, settled in Ottawa 
when comparatively young in years, and like the 
other men of his family, also engaged in farming 
and stock-raising until resting from his earthly la- 
bors, his death taking place in 1 887. The wife and 
mother had preceded her husband to the silent land 
about thirty-six years before, her death taking place 
in 1861. Of their six children, Louisa died in in- 
fancy ; Christopher C., our subject, was next in or- 
der of birth; Franklin settled on the other side of 
the Mississippi, and is one of the prominent stock- 
men of Kansas; Martha, Mrs. Barry, is residing in 
Chicago; Nancy, Mrs. Thompson, is the wife of a 
prominent business man of Lacon, Marshall County: 
Henry is engaged extensively as a horse dealer in 
Kansas, and Douglas, who died when a youth. Eli 
Strawn, like his brothel's, secured wealth and prom- 
inence, and held the various local offices, represent- 
ing his township in the Board of Supervisors, and 
was frequently called to positions of trust and re- 
sponsibility. He was Republican in politics, and 
with his estimable wife, a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Christopher C. Strawn spent his boyhood upon 
his father's farm, near the city of Ottawa, pursuing 
his studies in the common schools until a youth of 
eighteen years. He then entered the Northwestern 
University at Evanston. In 1860 he left this in- 



f 



t 



r 

stitutiou to attend the Law School, at Albany, N. 
Y., but in February following was called home on 
account of the serious illness of his mother, and 
which illness resulted in her death. After the du- 
ties attendant upon this sad interval, he commenced 
reading law in the office of Wallace & Dickey, 
where he continued until the outbreak of the Re- 
bellion. In April, under the first call for troops, 
he enlisted in the three-months service, from La- 
Salle County, in Company I, llth Illinois Infantry, 
with which he served his time, and then, anxious 
to pursue his chosen profession, returned home and 
resumed his studies in the office of Arrington & Dent, 
of Chicago. 

Young Strawn was admitted to the bar in Janu- 
ary, 1863, not long after reaching his majority. He 
entered upon the practice of his profession in Chi- 
cago, continued there until 1864, and the year fol- 
lowing practiced in Ottawa, He then removed to 
Omaha. Neb., and was there also a year. In 1867 
he located in Pontiac, and soon afterward was ap- 
pointed by Gov. Palmer to the office of State's At- 
torney for the old Twentieth Judicial Circuit, to 
fill a vacancy. The duties of this office he dis- 
charged with great energy and ability. He has 
since that time been steadily rising in the profes- 
sion, and now ranks among the foremost lawyers of 
Illinois. Of late years he has won much credit and 
a fine income in the management of large real es- 
tate interests in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County 
and in the Supreme Court of the State. In the pur- 
suance of difficult and intricate litigation he has 
been successful where the majority would have 
failed, on account of his peculiar faculty for ferret- 
ing out every fact and circumstance attending each 
transaction which would benefit his side of the case. 
It is this persistence, together with his general 
knowledge of common law and his remarkable mem- 
ory, thsit have given him such signal success. The 
extent of his business transactions necessitated the 
opening by Mr. Strawn of an office in the city of 
Chicago, and in connection with his partner. Mr. 
G. W. Patton, a very promising and rapidly rising 
lawyer of Pontiac, he attends to a constantly in- 
creasing amount of professional business at both 
cities. At rare intervals Mr. Strawn has turned 
aside for a till in politics, but has seldom worked 



998 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



well in party harness, being too independent to 
please the machine politicians. 

In 1878 Mr. S. was a candidate for Congress on the 
Greenback ticket, against Col. Greenbury L. Fort 
(Republican) and Thomas M. Shaw (Democrat). 
The Republican majority in this district heretofore 
had been about 3,500. Mr. Strawn made a very 
strong canvass, having reduced the Republican ma- 
joritj' to a minority in this district. Col. Fort, 
however, received a plurality of the votes cast, and 
was therefore elected. This ripple upon the cur- 
rent of his life had comparatively little effect upon 
Mr. Strawn, and he pursued the even tenor of his 
way with his law practice, successfully and thor- 
oughly as before. He has been City Attorney of 
Pontiac many times, and was attorney for the 
Board of Supervisors for a period of fourteen years. 
The firm lists now the law business of the Chicago 
& Alton, the Illinois Central and the Atchison, To- 
peka & Santa Fe Railroad Companies. 

The lady who for the last twenty-five years has 
presided with grace and dignity over the home of 
our subject, and to whom he was married in Chi- 
cago in 1863, was formerly Miss Clara F., daughter 
of Maj. John B. Bourvain, late of that city. He 
served in the army of the First Napoleon as one of 
his bodyguard, and was with him during the re- 
treat from Moscow and in the last fatal battle, that 
of Waterloo. To Mr. and Mrs. Strawn there have 
been born four children, of whom only two are liv- 
ing Louis F. and Roscoe B. 

Hon. C. C. Strawn stands high in the legal pro- 
fession of Illinois, but better than all, he is regarded 
as an honest man, conscientious in his labors, and 
as a citizen, a man generally interested in the wel- 
fare of his community, and it is with pleasure that 
we present his portrait in this volume. 



OHN HARRIS. Livingston County con. 
tains among her citizens quite a number who 
were born in England, and chose to avail 
themselves of the opportunities this country 
affords for becoming ample land-holders. Of these 
we give with pleasure a biographical sketch of Mr. 
Harris, who is a representative fanner and stock- 



f 

i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



999, 



1 



raisi-r of Sauneinin Township. Our subject was 
born in Devonshire, England, in the spring of 1849, 
and is the son of William and Mary Harris, both 
natives of England. 

In the spring of 1851 William and Mary Harris 
emigrated to America, and immediately coming to 
Illinois, settled in LaSalle County. There they re- 
mained five years,* and then came to Livingston 
County where they settled in Owego Township, 
and established for themselves a comfortable home, 
where they resided for several years. They then 
removed to Saunemin Township, where they pur- 
chased and lived on the farm now owned by Joshua 
Chesebro, and subsequently the father moved to 
Normal, 111., where he now resides. The parents 
had a family of eight children, of whom six are 
now living William T., Thomas Y., John, Mary, 
James and Wesley. The mother of these children 
died in February, 1869, and the father was married 
a second time, to Miss Mary Miller, who bore him 
one child, whom they named Nettie. 

Our subject having come to Illinois when but 
two or three years of age, has virtually been a resi- 
dent of this State since lie was old enough to re- 
member. While a bo}' he attended the common 
schools of this county, at which he received a very 
fair education. He early began to learn the de- 
tails of farm work, and has followed the occupation 
of a farmer all his life. On the 8th of January, 
1870, Mr. Harris was married to Miss Mary Boyd, 
a native of Pennsylvania, who was born in Decem- 
ber, 1851. She is the daughter of Benjamin and 
Annie Boyd, who are both natives of Ireland, and 
now reside in Buffalo County, Neb. They have 
nine children living Benjamin, Mary, Alexander, 
Elizabeth, James, William, Thomas, Anna and John. 
Sadie is deceased, having died Aug. 9, 1887, aged 
nineteen years and six months. Six children have 
been the result of the marriage of Mr. Harris and 
Miss Boyd, and their names and dates of birth are 
as follows: John W. was born Dec. 18. 1870; Ben- 
jamin B., Dec. 21, 1872; Harry M., April 17, 1875; 
Annie J., Jan. 27, 1878; Arthur L., April 3, 1881, 
and Clarence L., Aug. 13. 1887. 

Mr. Harris' farm consists of eighty acres of land 
which is very productive and easy of cultivation. 
He has constructed a good class of improvements 



and been successful in all his undertakings. He and 
his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, of which he has officiated as Steward and 
Trustee. Politically Mr. Harris is a Republican, 
regularly voting the ticket, and approves of the 
platforms adopted by that party. He has served 
the people of his school district to their satisfaction 
as a Director of Schools. He and his wife are 
both highly esteemed members of society, and en- 
joy the respect of a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. 




?ILLIAM REED, an ex-soldier of the Union 
army, and now one of the most prosperous 
farmers of Pleasant Ridge Township, lo- 
cated on the land which he now occupies soon after 
the close of the late war. He has a farm of 157 
acres under a fine state of cultivation, and supplied 
with good buildings, while in addition to general 
agriculture, he has given considerable attention to 
the breeding of fine stock. He bears the reputation 
of being a useful and reliable' citizen, straightfor- 
ward and enterprising, and has contributed his full 
share toward the building up of the township, em- 
bellishing it with one of the finest homesteads in the 
landscape. 

Some of the finest people in the Mississippi 
Valley emigrated from the State of Ohio. Of this 
State our subject is a native, and born in Madi- 
son Township, Fail-field Count}', May 12, 1829. 
He is the son of Noah and Elizabeth (Stahl) Reed, 
who were born in Delaware, the father in 1 803, and 
the mother a few years later. Noah Reed ini- 
grated to Ohio during the early settlement of Fair- 
field County, where he opened up a farm and was en- 
gaged in tilling the soil until called from his earthly 
labors, his death taking place in 1857. The mother 
had crossed over the river several years before, 
while a young woman. She was a lady greatly be- 
loved by her family and friends, and a devoted 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
Their children were named respectively : Samuel, 
Maria, Silas, Catherine, Josiah, John, Nehemiah, 
William, Eliza and Keziah. 

William Reed came to Illinois in the spring of 



' 



loon 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1855, when a young man twenty-six years of age, 
and purchased forty acres of land in Pleasant Ridge 
Township, this county. He followed farming until 
after the outbreak of the late war, and although just 
beginning operations, which, if interrupted, would 
entail upon him great inconvenience and probable 
loss, he could not stifle the voice of conscience and 
duty, and offered himself to the Union service, 
enlisting in Company E, 129th Illinois Infantry. 
He was mustered in at Pontiac, Aug. 28, 1862, and 
served for three years, participating in all the prin- 
cipal battles of the southwest, and many of those in 
the southeast. They were first detailed to the latter 
section of country, where the regiment met the 
enemy at Resaca, Ga. They afterward went into 
camp at Nashville, and in October they were sent 
in pursuit of Bragg's retreating army. After the 
engagements at Burnt Hickory and Buzzard's Roost, 
the company of which Mr. Reed was a member 
was detailed as a part of the guard for the Chatta- 
nooga Railroad. Although suffering the ordinary 
trials and hardships of army life, Mr. Reed fortu- 
nately escaped serious illness, wounds and capture, 
and at the close of the war received his honorable 
discharge in the city of Washington, D. C., on the 
8th of June, 1865. 

Mr. Reed, upon entering the army, had not only 
left his property, but a wife and family, he having 
been married, Feb. 10, 1852, to Miss Catherine 
Veatch. Mrs. Reed, like her husband, was born in 
Ohio, in 1837, and of their union were born six 
children, namely: Amos W., Melissa; John, who 
died in infancy; Sarah, Robert W. and Inis Ida. 
The wife and mother departed this life at her home, 
Feb. 22, 1866. She was a lady of great personal 
worth, and a devoted member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Reed was again married, 
Aug. 4, 1867, to Mrs. Mary L. Moorhead, who be- 
came the mother of three children: Albert ,1., who 
was born May 2, 1868; Minnie C., May 12. 1871, 
and George W., Aug. 15, 1873. This lady died on 
the 10th of February, 1876, aged thirty-two years 
and thirteen days. 

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was 
married Oct. 14, 1876, was formerly Miss Dora A. 
Ortman, a lady of German ancestry, who was born 
in Germany, in February, 185G. Her parents, Jo- 



seph ami Dora (Hartman) Ortinan, emigrated to 
America in 1802. locating in Rook's Creek Town- 
ship, where the father engager! in farming, but only 
lived two years after crossing the Atlantic: the 
mother is living near C'hatsworth. By this mar- 
riage Mr. Reed became the father of three children : 
Joseph G., who was born Feb. 10, 1879; Maude. 
Feb. 28, 1881, and Laura E., Jan. 24, 1887. 



"'' L- 

3 e 



of St. Pat- 
rick's Church, Chatsworth, was born in Hol- 
land, Oct. 27, 1834, and was educated 
for the priesthood at the University of Lou vain in 
Belgium, one of the most noted institutions of 
learning in the world, and was in a class of !I75 
students. He was ordained as a priest in July, 
1868, at Malines, Belgium, and three months after 
graduating emigrated to the United States, where 
he was first stationed at the cathedral at Louisville, 
Ivy., subsequently becoming pastor of St. Joseph's 
German Church, Louisville. 

In 1874 the subject of this sketch took charge of 
St. Louis' Church at Henderson, Ky., and from there 
he came to Bishop Spaulding's diocese, in Illinois, 
when in March, 1881, he was appointed to the 
charge at Chatsworth and also officiated through 
his assistant at Piper City, Forest and Cullom. The 
church at Chatsworth was built in 18G4, and was 
dedicated on the 17th of March, 1865, to St. Pat- 
rick, by Rev. Thomas Roy, President of St. Vistenr's 
College, Kankakee. The church is a frame building 
costing about 14.000, and was erected under the 
pastor, Rev. John A. Fanning, of Fairbury. It was 
made an independent mission July 22, 1867, when 
Rev. Roy was succeeded by Rev. L. Moyihan. 

In 188-') Father 1 lagan built St. Patrick's Acad- 
emy at C'hatsworth, at which six sisters are em- 
ployed in teaching. The building cost over $10,000, 
and the average attendance is ninety students. 
Under Father Hagan's administration all the prop- 
erty connected with the church has been materially 
improved. He has reserved grounds adjoining the 
academy on which to erect a brick church building. 
the construction of which will soon be begun. 
When he came to Chatsworth the church was badly 



tl 
1 



f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1008 




in debt, but by advancing $5,000 himself the debt 
was liquidated and the academy and parsonage 
were built, and now Father Hagau offers $5,000 
toward the erection of a new brick church. The 
church at Chatsworth receives as much service as 
any in the larger cities, there being on each Sunday 
Mass trt'ice, two sermons, vespers, benediction and 
special instruction. Under his immediate charge 
and whose spiritual welfare he guards, there are 150 
families at Chatsworth, 75 at Piper City, 95 at 
Cullom and 15 at Forest. 

Father Hagan is much beloved by all the mem- 
bers of his various congregations, over whom he 
wields a most beneficent influence. He is a man of 
broad and progressive ideas, and his life is wrapt up 
in the prosperity and progress of his church. 

A view of St. Patrick's Church, Academy and 
the Pastor's residence, is presented in this work. 






B. GRAY, one of the prominent 
men in political and church matters and 
public affairs of Livingston County, is a 
fanner, stock raiser and dealer on section 18, Rook's 
Creek Township. He is the son of Walter and 
Kliza (Calvert) Gray, and was born on the 3d of 
October, 1834, in Genesee County, N. Y. He was 
married, on the 19th of November, 1 857, to Martha 
A. Boy n ton, who was born in Gaines, Orleans 
Co., N. Y., on the 16th of June, 1835, and is the 
daughter of John and Mary R. (Baker) Boynton. 

Mr. Gray came to Rook's Creek Township on the 
22d of March, 1858, and first purchased a half sec- 
tion of land to which he afterward added another 
half section, on a portion of which Graymont, which 
was named in his honor, now stands: he also owns 
an interest in a stock ranch in Montana. Mr. Gray 
and his wife were in the railroad wreck at Chats- 
worth, on the 10th of August, 1887, the details of 
which shocked the world, but with the exception of 
a great nervous shock to Mrs. Gray, neither re- 
ceived serious injury. 

Mr. Gray's father was a native of Scotland, where 
he was born in November. 177!), and came to this 
country with his parents, George and Agnus Cray. 



when about two and one-half years old. They 
located in Livingston County, N. Y., where the 
father followed the occupation of a farmer. The 
grandfather had six sons and three daughters, who 
were named as follows: William, John, Andrew, 
Walter, Michael, George, Margaret, Ann and Bet- 
sey. William married, and dying, left three sons 
and four daughters; John married, and died leav- 
ing a son and daughter; Andrew married, and 
at his death left two sons Abraham and George ; 
Walter was the father of the subject of this sketch ; 
Michael married and is deceased, leaving four sons 
and two daughters; George was born in 1810, mar- 
ried Jane Charlton, a native of New York, and they 
now live in Lyndoch, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada, 
where they have seven children Thomas, Adam, 
George, Agnes, Ellen, Jennie and Margaret. Mar- 
garet married Daniel Christie, and dying left two 
children George and Margaret; Ann married 
Adam Charlton, to whom she bore a famity of four 
sons and four daughters John, Ellen, George, 
Annie, Thomas, Margaret, William and Agnes; she 
is now deceased. Betsey married Lewis Tnttle, and 
at her death left six children Henry, Agnes, Mar- 
garet, Charlotte, Elizabeth and George. 

The parental family of our subject included eight 
children, who were named as follows: William, 
Louisa, Margaret. George B., Robert, Margaret (2d), 
Agnes and Euphemia. William was born Nov. 22, 
1827, and was married three times, his first wife be- 
ing Delia Fuller, who became the mother of two 
children Clarence and Scott. The second wife. 
Hannah Clark, had also two children, William and 
Clara, and the third wife, Mary Sinclair, had two 
children, Clara and John; William now lives in 
Orleans County, N. Y., and is the proprietor of a 
foundry and machine shop. Louisa, Mrs. Owen D. 
Phelps, has no children, and lives in Orleans County, 
N. Y. ; Margaret died in infancy; George B., the 
subject of this sketch, has one daughter, Nellie A. 
Gray, who was born on the 9th of September, 1862, 
married Clark E. Legg, and now lives in Pontiac; 
Robert married Hattie E. Coleman, has two chil- 
dren, Walter and Libbie, and lives in Orleans Coun- 
ty, N. Y. ; Margaret married John Mallett, has one 
child. Watson ('., and lives in Orleans County, N. 
Y.; Agnes married Rowley Gay, and died June 4, 



1004 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 856, leaving no children ; Euphemia married Lewis 
Swift, has five children, and lives in Orleans County. 
N. Y. 

While living in New York, Mr. Gray obtained a 
common-school education, working nine months 
in the year on the farm, and attending school three 
months during the winter, providing he could be 
spared from work on the farm. Before coining to 
Illinois, he engaged in a limited way in buying and 
shipping stock, and in that manner succeeded in ac- 
cumulating about $1,500, which -enabled him to 
make a fair start in life for himself. Mr. Gray is a 
believer in the doctrines- advocated by the Repub- 
lican party, and at different times has been re- 
warded by that party with various offices, including 
one tenn as Commissioner of Highways, two terms 
as Supervisor, and two terms in the State Legisla- 
ture. In 1876 he was nominated as the Republican 
candidate in the Eighteenth Senatorial District, and 
was elected by an overwhelming majority. Hav- 
ing served his constituents so faithfully and intelli- 
gently, he was re-elected in 1878 by a majority, 
which attested the appreciation the people had for 
his work in the Senate. He was the author of the 
Senate Bill, 583, known as the Cockle Burr Bill, 
which became a law, and has been of incalculable 
benefit to the entire population of the .State. He 
was also the author of several other important bills, 
which became laws. He was Chairman of Commit 
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and was also 
a member of other committees. Mr. Gray was 
reared in the Presbyterian faith of the good old 
Scotch belief, of which he is a living representa- 
tive. 

Mrs. Gray's maternal grandparents were Ira 
Baker and Polly Burbank, the former born in Con- 
necticut, and the latter in Williamstown, Mass., 
about 1775. Her father, John Boynton, was born 
on the 8th of October, 17!)7, in Vermont, and was 
at first a farmer, but afterward engaged in the mer- 
cantile business. Her mother was born on the 20th 
of September, 17 ( J7, at Williamstown, Mass.. and is 
still living at her daughter's house, at the Gray 
homestead in Livingston Count}'; she is in her 
ninety-first year. When a child, Mrs. Gray's mother 
moved with her parents to Vermont, and afterward 
to New York, where she was married in 1828 to 



John Boynton, and they resided there until 1858, 
when they removed to Illinois, where they made 
their home with Mrs. Gray, and the old gentleman 
died in 1860. Mrs. Boynton's brothers. Ezra. Dan- 
iel and Elisha Baker, served in the War of 1812. 
Daniel was taken prisoner near Kingston by the 
British, kept nearly a year, and was starved nearly 
to death, but was finally exchanged; Ezra was in 
the battle of Plattsburg, and commanded a gun 
manned by eight men, the first shot from which cut 
down the British colors, and killed Commodore 
Downing. He was on Commodore McDonald's 
vessel, and relates that when entering the battle the 
Commodore knelt, and with uncovered head prayed 
for success, which, as all the world knows, was 
granted them. Mrs. Boynton's sisters, all of whom 
are dead, were recorded as follows: Elvira married 
Elihu Thomas, and had five children ; Mary mar- 
ried John Boynton, and had three children; Maria 
married Elizer Goodrich, and had six children; 
Emily and Loraine died when about reaching wo- 
manhood: Marcia married Lorenzo Thayer, and 
left four or five children; Sarah died unmarried, 
and Asenith married Levi Hale, and left four or 
five children. 

Mrs. Gray's paternal grandfather, John Boynton, 
Sr., was born in Vermont, and marrying Mary 
Smedley, in Cornwell, became the father of nine 
sons and two daughters, as follows: Daniel married, 
and left two or more children ; William married 
Hannah Gunn, and left eight children; David mar- 
ried, and left six children; Henry married Abigail 
Barton, left seven children, two of whom fought on 
the Confederate side in the war of the Rebellion, 
one losing his life; Jeremiah married Mary Loavitt, 
and left six children, two of whom were in the 
I'nion army: Olive married Simeon Clark, and left 
three children; Joel married Fannie Rockwell, and 
left three children; Smedley died at the age of 
twenty-two years; John, who was the father of 
Mrs. Gray ; Poll}' married Albert Rogers : Zerah mar- 
ried Parmelia Buss, and left five children: Wallace 
J. married Genett Stephenson; H. K. married Sarah 
Petrie: Parmelia died in 1*70; Daniel married Mary 
Burkhart, they have three children; Arethusa wa> 
born in 1845, and lived in Livingston County. 

John H. Boynton, Mrs. Gray's brother, was born 






+-*-*+ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1005 



on the loth of June, 1830, married Mrs. Naomi 
Childs, and they have two children, George A. and 
Myra A., and reside in Jackson, Mich.; Julia L., 
her sister, was born on the 7th of May, 1 832, and 
died on the 16th of January, 1858. 




f 



SHOMAS E.SHAW, a pioneer of 1857, set- 
tled with his parents in Avoca Township a 
short time before attaining his majority. 
His early life had been spent in Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., where he was born Dec. 29, 1837. 
He is the son of Aaron and Sarah Shaw, natives of 
New Jersey, the former born Oct. 12, 1800, and 
the latter March 3, 1799. After the birth of five 
children, they came to the West, where their house- 
hold was enlarged until they had a family of eight 
children. Of these, there are now surviving, Ra- 
chel, the wife of John Bennett: Priscilla, the widow 
of James H. Burdick, who died in the Union serv- 
ice during the late war; James W., of Champaign 
County, 111. ; Elsie, the wife of Daniel McClain, of 
Streator, 111., and Thomas E. 

The parents of our subject were among the ear- 
liest settlers of Tippecanoe County, and were resi- 
dents of Fairfield, in that county, for a period of 
over twenty years. The father was engaged in 
farming during his entire life, and both parents 
spent their last years in Avoca Township, this 
county, the mother passing away on the 23d of 
May, 1870, and the father Jan. 21, 1887. They 
were members of the Society of Friends, and car- 
ried out in their lives and characters the peculiar 
and excellent doctrines of that unobtrusive sect. 
Mr. Shaw was widely and favorably known through- 
out this section, and was noted for his sterling in- 
tegrity, being above a mean or dishonest action. 

Our subject spent his childhood and youth under 
the parental roof, receiving a limited education, 
but being carefully trained to habits of industry 
and principles of honor. When the late Civil Wat- 
called for the enlistment of volunteers, our subject 
cheerfully responded, and Aug. 8, 1802, became a 
member of Company E, 129th Illinois Infantry, in 
which he was promoted Corporal, and with which 



lie continued until the close of the struggle. His 
regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumber- 
land, and he participated in many of its important 
battles, being in the engagements at Resaca, New 
Hope Church, Peachtree Creek, and the siege of 
Atlanta. He joined Sherman's march to the sea, 
and fought at Bentonville, besides meeting the 
enemy in various minor engagements and skir- 
mishes. He endured with patience the hardships 
and privations of life in the army., and fortunately 
escaped sickness, wounds and imprisonment. After 
the surrender of Johnson's army, he received his 
honorable discharge, and was mustered out on the 
8th of June, 1865, at Washington, D. C. The pri- 
vate soldiers comprised a vast proportion of those 
who made great sacrifices and whose sufferings will 
never be fully known. Those who have returned 

i to private life, and now pursue the even tenor of 
their way as quiet and law-abiding citizens, are de- 
serving of equal honor with those who perhaps 
suffered more, and whose remains repose in un- 
marked graves. 

Mr. Shaw after returning from the army, re- 
sumed the agricultural pursuits to which he had 
been accustomed from boyhood, mainly in Avoca 
Township. He returned, however, to Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., for a wife and helpmeet, this lady 
being Miss Ruth Cresse, to whom he was married 
Nov. 28, 1869. Mrs. Shaw was a native of the same 
county as her husband, and after becoming the 
mother of six children, departed this life at her 
home in Avoca Township, Feb. 11, 1887. She had 
suffered much from a lingering illness, which she 
bore with womanly fortitude and patience, and is 
held in tender remembrance by her affectionate 
family and scores of friends, as one who fulfilled 
her duties faithfully in life, and in whose death they 
sustained a great loss. Of their family there are 
now living. Fanny, Sarah, Mary and Aaron. Jay 
died when ten months old, and Bert at the age of 
three years. 

The farm property of Mr. Shaw comprises 124 
acres of good land, which has been brought to its 
present excellent state of cultivation principally by 

i his own hand. He has neat and substantial build- 
ings. ;i good assortment of farm stock, and all the 
machinery required by the progressive agricultur- 



1006 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1st. He is a citizen generally interested in the wel- 
fare of his community, votes the straight Repub- 
lican ticket, and for several years has served as 
School Director, besides being Township Trustee 
two terms. He is identified with the G. A. R., be- 
inga member of Fairbury Post No. 75, at Fairbury. 




OBERT KAIN, a rising young farmer of 
Broughton Township, well-known and pop- 



il ular among its people, owns 1 20 acres of 
i> good land on section 33. He is enterpris- 
ing and industrious, and has already a good start 
in life, the result of his own perseverance and in- 
dustry. He was born in Count}- Antrim, Ireland, 
in August, 1852, and is the son of Archibald and 
Martha (Eaton) Kain, who were also of Irish birth 
and parentage. The parental household included 
five children, all of whom, with one exception, are 
residents of the United States, namely: Rebecca, 
the wife of John Scott, of Jasper County, Ind. : 
Catherine, Mrs. James McAffery, of Barton County, 
Kan. ; James, also of that county, and Robert. Arch- 
ibald remains a resident of Ireland. The mother 
died at her home in Round Grove in January, 
1874, while the father is still living, and a res- 
ident of this county. 

Our subject remained with his parents in Ireland 
until a youth of seventeen years, and seeing little 
prospect of the advancement which he desired, so- 
cially and financially, decided upon seeking his fort- 
une upon this side of the Atlantic. He accord- 
ingly repaired to Liverpool, and taking passage on 
the steamer " Manhattan," bound for New York 
City, arrived after a pleasant voyage of fourteen 
days. The reputation of the State of Illinois had 
years before extended to Ireland, many of whose 
sons had here found ample reward for their labors. 
Young Kain accordingly proceeded directly west- 
ward, and secured employment as a farm laborer 
near Joliet, where he remained two years. In 1 87 1 
he migrated to this county and rented a tract of 
land near the town of Cornell, which he operated 
about three years, and thence removed to the vi- 




cinity of Odell, where he spent about the same 
length of time, and then came to Broughton Town- 
ship, of which he has since been a resident. He 
operated for a few years as a renter, and in 1875 
purchased the land which he has now brought to a 
good state of cultivation, and which he has trans- 
formed ink) a comfortable homestead. 

Mr. Kain had parted with his parents with many 
regrets, and after a year's sojourn in this country, 
sent them and a sister the means wherewith to make 
the journey. They took up their location in Will 
County, where they lived several years, and thence 
came to Livingston, where the death of the mother 
occurred a few years later. Mr. Kain deserves 
great credit for the manner in which he performed 
his filial duties and the sacrifices which he made for 
the comfort of those connected with him by the 
closest ties of nature. He received a fair educa- 
tion in his native country, and being naturally 
bright and observing, is a gentleman of more than 
ordinary intelligence. He keeps himself well posted 
on matters of general interest, and in his farming 
operations avails himself of the most approved 
methods and common-sense machinery. For the 
last seven years, in connection with the ordinary 
operations of the farm, he has dealt largely in 
horses, buying and shipping to the Eastern markets. 
His transactions have been carried on with excel- 
lent judgment, and yield annually a handsome 
profit. 

The marriage of Robert Kain and Miss Martha 
Young was celebrated in Cornell, this county, on 
the 21st of September, 1871. Mrs. Kain was born 
in County Antrim, Ireland, Aug. 24, 1848, and is 
I the daughter of James and Jane (Jamieson) Young, 
| both now deceased. Mrs. K. emigrated to the 
United States in 1 87(1, and lias proved, both by 
natural capacities and disposition, a suitable com- 
panion of her husband, being a lady greatly re- 
spected for her man}- estimable qualities. Both 
are members in good standing of the Presbyterian 
Church, and Mr. Kain, politically, is a solid Repub- 
lican. The seven children who have been added 
to the household circle were born as follows: James 
Y., June 13. 1873; Robert, April 18, 1874; Jennie, 
Nov. 3, 1876; Mary, Nov. 3, 1878; Archibald, 
Oct. 18, 1881; Martha, Sept. 1, 1883, and Annie, 



f 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1009 



Oct. 2, 1887. Mr. Kaiu has served as School Di- 
rector, and is always willing to lend a helping hand 
in every project tending to the general welfare of 
his adopted township. 

OHN ODELL, one of the wealth}' farmers 
and prominent citizens of Indian Grove 
Township, whose farm is located on section 
7, is a native of the city of New York, where 
he was born on the 20th of November, 1831, and is 
the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Kilgoiir) Odell, 
natives respectively of New York and Virginia. 
The father died in 18GG, and the mother in 1862; 
the latter was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. The father was a farmer and shoemaker 
by occupation, and in 1889 removed to Chautau- 
qua, N. Y., where he purchased land and remained 
until his death. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren, who bore the following names : James H., 
Elizabeth, Harriet; John, the subject of this sketch; 
Peter, Mary J., Sarah, Maria, George and Was. 
ington. 

John Odell was married to Laura A. Rice, in 
New York, in 1857, the Rev. William Husted, of 
the Baptist Church, officiating. This lady was born 
in Chautauqua County, N. Y., on the 15th of Au- 
gust, 1 833, and is the daughter of Irvin and Dia- 
dama (Bishop) Rice. Her father was born in the 
same county, in 1804, and died on the 26th of 
June, I860; the mother died on the 16th of Sep- 
tember, 1847, at the age of forty-six years. They 
were members of the Baptist Church. After the 
death of the mother the father married his second 
wife, Miss Jane Crawford, and they connected 
themselves with the Seceders' Church. He was a 
shoemaker by trade, but at various periods of his 
life was engaged in the occupation of a farmer. He 
was the father of ten children, all of whom were 
born to the first wife. Of this family Moses mar- 
ried Esther Bliss: Eliza E., uow Mrs. Perrine; Hor- 
ace married Fannie Nicholan; Sarah B. married 
Nimrod Perrine; Lucy M. married Aquilla Alben; 
Joshua married Polly Montgomery ; Laura A. mar- 
ried John Odell ; Esther A. married James A. Smith. 
Mr. Odell became a citizen of the Slate of Illi- 



nois in the fall of 1865, when he located in Indian 
Grove Township, and became the possessor of 160 
acres of excellent land, which is under an advanced 
state of cultivation, and is worth $75 per acre. 
Some years ago he planted a magnificent grove of 
forest trees and a good orchard, and the latter 
has yielded bounteous crops of choice fruit. His 
dwelling is a model farm house, and his barns and 
out-buildings are constructed with an eye to the 
economical storing of grain and the comfort of 
stock. He is an enthusiast in the matter of raising 
Short-horn cattle, and produces some of the finest 
herds of cattle in Livingston County. 

In illustrating man}' of the farm homesteads of 
Livingston County, which is done in this volume, 
none present a more pleasing aspect than that of 
Mr. Odell, which is given in connection with this 
sketch. Comfort, even luxury, is evidenced on 
every hand. Some fine specimens from his stable 
of horses are also given as well as from his splendid 
herd of choice cattle. 

In Mr. Odell are finely illustrated the advantages 
of a persevering and courageous nature. He be- 
gan life without a dollar, and through his own ef- 
forts has secured a comfortable home and a compe- 
tency which will stand him well in his old age, and 
make him independent. He is a true Democrat in 
every sense of the word, and shows his loyalty to 
his party by serving it upon any and all occasions. 

In bis domestic circle Mr. Odell is happily sit- 
uated. He and his wife are the parents of four in- 
teresting children, their names being Ella E., who 
married Jacob Pate; Mary E., Elmer H. and Nora 
L. The entire family are popular in the neighbor- 
hood in which they reside, and Air. Odell is 
known throughout the county as a gentleman of 
fine impulses and integrity of character. 



^INFIELD S. RUSTON, a prominent young 

\f\J// f al ' nler f Saunemin Township, owns 160 

Ww acres of good land on section 17. He is a 

native of Indiana, where he was born in Vanderburgh 

Count}', Dec. 1, 1846. His parents, Richard and 

Mary (Westvvood) Ruston, were of English birth 

and parentage, and immigrated to this country in 



f 






1010 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



their early youth, probably fifty years ago. The 
parents of each were among the early pioneers 
of Indiana, where Mr. and Mrs. Ruston remained 
until 1865. 

The parents of our subject removed from Indi- 
ana to Marshal! County, this State, in the year 
above mentioned, and in 1866 took up their abode 
in Saunemin Township, where the father carried on 
farming, to which he had been accustomed all his 
life. The wife and mother died six years after this 
removal, and not long afterward the father disposed 
of his property, and now makes his home with his 
son, Winfield S. The parental household included 
ten children, of whom seven survive, and are re- 
corded as follows: James is in Dakota; George in 
Nebraska Township, this county ; Sarah is the wife 
of C. P. Guyes, of Evansville, Ind. ; Mary, Mrs. 
G. W. Langford, is a resident of Eylar; Anna is 
the wife of George Moles, of Saunemin Township; 
Isabella married George Paulmer, and they are resi- 
dents of California; Winfield S. is the youngest of 
the family living. Richard Ruston has been quite 
prominent in public affairs, serving as Road Super- 
visor and otherwise lending his aid to the enter- 
prises calculated to build up the township and de- 
velop its resources. The land upon which he had 
first located had received but little cultivation, but 
by the exercise of industry and perseverance he 
succeeded in transforming it into a valuable farm. 
He is now in the eightieth year of his age. and may 
comfort himself with the reflection that his course 
has been such as to gain him the esteem of all who 
know him. 

Our subject came to this county with his father 
in 1 866, and was then a young man twenty 3'ears 
of age. He had been fairly educated in the dis- 
trict schools, and was naturally bright, industrious 
and enterprising. Like his father before him he 
took kindly to the employments of farm life, and at 
this age was well fitted to begin business for him- 
self. He had already begun to lay his plans for the 
future, and his highest ambition was to secure for 
himself a comfortable home, and become a respected 
and useful member of soeiet} 7 . On the 9th of Janu- 
ary, 1869, he took one of the most important steps 
toward the accomplishment of his hopes, being 
united in marriage with Miss Emma Moulds. Mrs. 



Ruston was born in England, and crossed the At- 
lantic with her parents at an early ag<>. They lo- 
cated in Marshall County, 111., and it was there 
that our subject made the acquaintance of his 
future wife. Of this union there have been born 
four children, of whom but two survive, namely, 
Mary J., the wife of Samuel W. Headley, and Clara 
B., who remains at home with her parents. 

Since the purchase of his present homestead Mr. 
Ruston has effected good improvements, and the 
land is remarkably fertile, having been assisted i<> 
this condition by 1,300 rods of tiling, which has 
fitted it for the production of the choicest crops of 
Central Illinois. The homestead is pleasantly lo- 
cated, and together with its surroundings forms an 
extremely pleasant spot for the eye to linger upon. 
Mr. Ruston is usually entirely employed in looking 
after his farming interests, and has steadily declined 
becoming an office-holder. He keeps himself we!] 
posted, however, upon political matters, and gives 
his support to the Greenback party, lie believes 
in the establishment of religious and educational 
institutions, and no man gives more readily accord- 
ing to his means to encourage the enterprises in- 
augurated for the good of society and the elevation 
of the people. He has not seen fit to connect him- 
self with any religious organization, but Mrs. Rus- 
ton is an active member of the Christian Church. 



J~~l AMES H. NICHOLS is a man of varied ex- 
periences in many parts of the country, and 
different lines of business, and it would be 
' difficult to name any occupation in which he 
could not make himself useful. He is now giving 
his attention to farming, and is meeting- witli that 
remarkable success which he deserves. The space 
required to record the detailed events of his life is 
cheerfully given. He was born May 31, 1*36, in 
Columbia County. N. Y.. and is the son of George 
and Polly P. (Knickerbocker) Nichols. He lived at 
home until lie was ten years of age. at which time 
his mother died and his father became blind. 

In the spring of 1818 Mr. Nichols began work 
for a man named Holdernmn. at Holdcrman's 
Grove, Kendall Co., 111., receiving a coinpen- 
.*. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Hr 

1011 t . 



sation of $5 per month, while the highest wages 
paid to men at that time was but $8 per month. 
After herding cattle for one year he worked at odd 
jobs for two years for his board and clothing, and 
then through the influence of some stage drivers he 
secured the position of post boy for carrying the 
mail from Ottawa to Oswego, Peoria and Bloom- 
ington, by the way of Pontiae and Indian Grove, 
and continued in that work three years. Mean- 
while he was also employed as a driver on the 
canal, and as teamster on the railroad. He after- 
ward engaged in farm labor by the month, until 
1855, and in 1856 he went to Nebraska by stage, 
where he engaged in mail carrying, rafting logs on 
the Missouri River, and transferring between Coun- 
cil Bluffs and Omaha for a man named Douglas 
Hare. In the fall of 1856 he returned to LaSalle 
Count}', and during the following winter he had a 
severe attack of lung fever, which greatly pros- 
' trated him. In the spring of 1857 he went to 
Galesburg, and attended school three terms, at the 
close of which he secured a certificate and taught 
school in the winter, doing various kinds of work 
in the summer. In the summer of 1858 he attended 
Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Chicago^ 
and in the fall of that year he went to Iowa and en- 
gaged in stage driving for the winter between Des 
Moines and Iowa City. In the following spring he 
went to the southern part of the State, where he 
worked for the Burlington & Missouri Railroad, and 
in the fall of 1859 he went .to Memphis, Tenn., and 
worked upon the railroad between that city and 
Huntsville, Ala. In 1860 he went to Little Rock, 
Ark., for the purpose of driving a stage to Califor- 
nia, but was taken sick and had to return to Mem- 
phis, where he engaged in bus driving for Patterson 
Bros. In 1860, on account of the threatening 
political outlook, he returned to Illinois, where he 
taught school until in the spring of 1861. 

April 21, 1861, Mr. Nichols responded to the 
first call for troops, and enlisted in the United States 
service for three months, being assigned to Com- 
pany I, llth Illinois Infantry, under Capt. W. L. 
Gibson, a soldier of the Mexican War. The com- 
pany was mustered in at Springfield, and made its 
first regimental camp at Villa Ridge in Pulaski 
County ; it was mustered out at Bird's Point. Mo., 



on the 9th of August, 1861. During this term of 
service Mr. Nichols' health had become impaired, 
which prevented his re-enlistment at that time, and 
in 1862 he engaged in corn buying for Olmstead & 
Co., of Ottawa. In 1863 he followed boating on 
the Illinois & Michigan Canal, when in April, 
1864, he entered the Quartermaster's employ at St. 
Louis, and was sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., where 
he was discharged. At Nashville, Tenn., he had a 
similar experience, and returning to Illinois, he en- 
gaged in work upon the canal until 1865, teaching 
during the winter months until 1875. In January 
of that year he removed to McDowell, Livingston 
County, and on the 21st of May following he oc- 
cupied the house in which he now lives, having 
built it while residing at McDowell. 

George Nichols, father of the subject of this 
sketch, was born in Dutcliess County, N. Y.. on the 
18th of March, 1813. He was the son of David 
Nichols, who was born in 1760, and died in 1844, 
in Columbia County, N. Y. He had been married 
four times, and his family included seventeen chil- 
dren. Early in his youth George Nichols left 
Columbia Cmml}', and went to Slocum Hollow, 
Pa., where he lived for three years, and then to the 
old homestead in Columbia Count}'. In the settle- 
ment of their father's estate he and his brother ex- 
changed some angry words which caused their sep- 
aration, and he never heard from any of them after 
he came to Illinois. The journey to this State from 
Hudson, N. Y., was made by water to Chicago, and 
overland to LaSalle County. On the 27th of April, 
1846, his wife died and he was soon afterward mar- 
ried to Hannah Marsh, a widow. This marriage 
was very disastrous, for it caused dissensions in the 
family, which resulted in litigation to such an ex- 
tent that his property was sold at Sheriff's sale. He 
died on the 3d of January, 1856, and was buried 
by the side of his first wife, at Dan way, LaSalle 
Con ntj 1 . 

The first wife of George Nichols was Polly 
Knickerbocker, daughter of Benjamin and Lettie 
Knickerbocker, the former born in Dutcliess County, 
N. Y., of Dutch ancestry. While engaged in a 
scuffle he was killed at the age of forty-eight years, 
while his wife died in Afton, Wis., at the age of 
eighty-eight. They were the parents of eight chil- 



f 



l 



1012 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



dren Milton, Nelson, Jonas, James, Cornelia, 
Polly, Caroline and Helen. Caroline was the wife 
<>f .Marquis Piester, of Ottawa, and mother of twelve 
children. Helen was the wife of James Kilmer, who 
lives in Afton, Wis. Polly, the mother of our sub- 
ject, died on the 27th of April, 1846, of lung fever. 
She was the mother of two children, the other being 
Joseph T.. who was born on the 27th of April, 
1840, and was six years old when his mother died. 
He drifted around the world until fourteen years of 
age, when he went to live with A. D. Butterfield, 
one of the pioneers of LaSalle County, who now 
lives near Marseilles, 111., at the age of eighty -seven 
years, and is a hale old gentlemen. Joseph T. lived 
with him until of age, and in May, 1861, enlisted 
in Company K, 39th Illinois Infantry, which regi- 
ment was known as the Yates Phalanx, and served 
until January, 1864, when he re-enlisted for three 
years more, or during the war. He was in every 
engagement in which the regiment took part, and 
received a wound on the 2d of April, 1865, in the 
battle of Petersburg, in which the 39th Regiment 
was selected to storm the fort, which it did with tin- 
loss of three-fourths of the men in killed and 
wounded. After the battle he was taken to Fortress 
Monroe, where he died of gangrene on the 20th of 
May, 1865, and was buried in the Government 
cemetery at that place. 

James H. Nichols was married on the 15th of 
August, 1865, to Miss Emeline Howland, who was 
born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1841, and was 
the daughter of Joseph T. and Lydia (Harder) 
Howland. The parents came to Ottawa in October, 
1844, where they lived until 1855, when they 
moved to Grand Rapids, in the same county, now 
Fall River, and remained a short time, when they 
finally went to Marseilles, where they now reside. 
They had four children: Gilbert is married, 
has three children, and is a machinist living in Mar- 
seilles; Kmeline, the wife of the subject of this 
sketch: (Jcorge who is married, has one child, and 
lives on section 14, Eppard's Point Township, and 
Thorn Milburn. who also is married, lias three chil- 
dren, and lives on the old homestead in Fall River 
Township. LaSalle County. 

To Mi', and Mrs. Nichols there have been born 
three children, all of whom are at home Lydia A., 



Poll}' P. and Lena. Mr. Nichols is a Republican 
in politics, the principles of which party he earn- 
estly advocates. He isa member of Joseph Wood- 
ruff Post No. 281, G. A. R., at Marseilles, in which 
he takes a lively interest, though on account of the 
distance at which he lives he is necessarily irregular 
in his attendance. 




KE J. KEPPLINGER is one of the 
important factors in the business com- 
munity of Dwight. where he is carrying on 
a lucrative trade in hardware, and enjoys the pat- 
ronage of the best people of that locality. He is 
essentially a self-made man, having arisen from a 
humble position in life to a good standing socially 
and financially. He began at the foot of the ladder 
without means or influence, and his present posses- 
sions are the result solely of his own industry and 
resolution. 

The Kepplinger family is of German origin, and 
the father of our subject was born on the other side 
of the water, in 1818. He emigrated from the 
Fatherland in 1852, and coming directly to the West, 
located first in Racine, AVis., where, not being quite 
satisfied with his operations he staid but a month, 
and then started for Illinois with a yoke of oxen 
and a wagon, accompanied by his wife and four 
children. He had purchased, while in Chicago, a 
soldier's claim for $15D, and with this took up a 
quarter section of land in Grundy County, three 
miles from Dwight, this county, upon which he 
settled and still resides. There were (hen no houses 
upon the present site of Dwight, and the country 
around was a vast wilderness covered with high 
grass, over which deer and other wild game roamed 
unrestrained. The family were first made comfort- 
able in a rude shanty, and Mr. K.. when ready to 
build, hauled his lumber from Morris, eighteen 
miles distant, with an ox-team. He frequently 
made the journey to that point by night so as to be 
early enough to cross the river on the ferry in the 
morning ahead of the crowd that had always 
gathered there anxious to make the passage. In 
common with the other pioneers of that sec- 
tion he endured unnumbered hardships and priva- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1013 , 



1 ' 

1 



lions, but lived to see the country settled with an 
intelligent and industrious people, and the prairie 
slowly but surely transformed Into grain-producing 
fields and comfortable homesteads. He and his 
estimable wife are both living and have arrived at 
an advanced age. The father is a stanch Demo- 
crat, politically, and both parents are devoted 
members of the Lutheran Church. The maiden 
name of the mother was Eva Kruge, a native of 
Germany and of German descent, and was born 
in 1814. 

The subject of this biography is one of a family 
of four children, and was born in Germany in 
1844. He was a lad eight years of age when his 
parents emigrated to the United States, and going 
into a thinly settled country as they did, young 
George enjoyed but limited school advantages, 
though he was fond of reading and in this way 
picked up quite a fair education. He learned the 
carpenter's trade early in life, at which he worked 
as a journeyman four years, and in 1876 lookup 
his residence at Dwight, where witli a limited cap- 
ital he started a small machine-shop. He was a 
natural mechanic and manufactured his own tools, 
among them a good lathe, which with other pieces 
similarly obtained, he still has in his possession. 
He labored under great difficulties, but his persist- 
ent and resolute spirit at length gained the victory, 
and in due time he was compelled to enlarge his 
facilities in order to meet his increasing palronagc. 
He learned the business of a machinist without aid 
or instruction, and after erecting a shop for his iron 
work, put up next a structure within which to 
carry on his wood work, and afterward added a 
foundry. He was thus occupied until 1882, when 
he invested his surplus capital in a stock of general 
hardware, and now has one of the best appointed 
establishments of the kind in this county, carrying 
in addition a choice assortment of buggies, wagons 
and agricultural implements. 

The lady who has presided over the household of 
our subject for the last twenty years became his 
wife on the 6th of October, 1867, and in her girl- 
hood was Miss Kntie Klughard, of Grundy County. 
Of this union 'there is one child only, a daughter. 
Lizzie, born Aug. 27. 1869. The famity residence 
is a neat and substantial structure and pleasantly 



located. Mr. Kepplinger and his wife are members 
of the Lutheran Church, and enjoy the friendship 
and confidence of a host of friends. 



I. HOWELL. A snug farm of 120 
acres, pleasantly located on section 20, in 
Long Point Township, attracts the admira- 
fj tion of the passer-by on account of its finely 
cultivated fields, its neat and substantial buildings 
and its handsome array of fine stock, in which latter 
department of agriculture J. I. Howell. the pro- 
prietor, has been especially successful. As a pub- 
lic-spirited man he has filled the positions of Con- 
stable three years and School Director several 
terms. He has uniformly manifested his interest 
in those enterprises calculated to build up the com- 
munity, by putting his shoulder to the wheel of the 
car of progre and giving substantial aid and en- 
couragement to all good works and purposes. 

The earliest recollections of our subject are of 
his home anrong the hills of Coshocton County, 
Ohio, where his birth took place Dec. 25, 1841, 
and where he played as a boy. His parents, Will- 
iam and Catherine (Spicer) Howell, were natives 
respectively of Virginia and Ohio. The former 
was the son of John and Elizabeth (Bonham) How- 
ell, natives of Virginia, and was born in 1S06. He 
came to Illinois Oct. 26, 1856, landing in Marshall 
County, where he continued a year and four mouths 
and then came to this county, locating on section 
20 in Long Point Township, on the 8th of March. 
1858. He commenced operations on a tract of un- 
cultivated land, which in due time he converted 
into a good farm, and later successfully carried on 
stock-raising. He was married three times, the 
first to Miss Elizabeth Kinzie, the second to Mis.-. 
Catherine Spicer, and the third to Mrs. Jane Whaley, 
who survives him and resides on the home farm. 
Catherine, the mother of our subject, died April 
25, 1880, aged sixty-twoycars, nine months and nine 
days. The father departed this life Sept. 11, 1887, 
having, at the time of his death, reached the ad- 
vanced age of eighty years, eight months and eleven 
days. 

The children of William and Elizabeth Howell 



f. 



1014 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



arc recorded as follows: Ulysses was born Sept. 3, 
1828, and died May 29, 1882; Isaac C. was born 
M;iy 1, 1831, and died Feb. 9, 1880; John W. was 
born Aug. 7, 183G. Of his union with Catherine 
Spicer were born Jonas I., our subject, and Cather- 
ine, who was born in April, 1846, and is now Mrs. 
Harper. Most of the children are residents of this 
State. 

Our subject was a youth of seventeen years when 
he came with his father's family to this county, and 
he remained with them and assisted in the cultiva- 
tion of the soil and keeping up the homestead until 
his marriage, which took place Nov. 16, 1864. His 
bride, Miss Jane E. Elliott, was born in Cale- 
donia, Putnam Co., 111., and is the only child of 
Lynde and Jane (Dykes) Elliott, the former a na- 
tive of Norfolk, Vn., and the latter of Manchester, 
England. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howell are the parents of one 
child only, a daughter, Wilmina, who came into the 
household on the 31st of July, 1878, and is now a 
promising little girl of nine years. Both the fam- 
ilies of our subject and his wife are largely repre- 
sented in this county and vicinity, and are uni- 
formly people of good standing and means, the 
men honest and good citizens and the women care- 
ful wives and mothers. 

The other children of John and Elizabeth How- 
ell, the paternal grandparents of our subject, are 
recorded as follows: Gilmore, a resident of Law- 
rence County, this State, is married and has four 
children living; John, a resident of Coshocton 
County, Ohio, has a wife and eight children; Betsy, 
the wife of Arthur McBride, is the mother of eight 
children, and a resident of this State ; Eliza, Mrs. 
Harvey Doney, is a resident of Greene County, 
Ind., and the mother of eight children; Rebecca 
was married and is now deceased. 



ON. JAMES H. FUNK, ex-Prosecuting At- 
torney of Livingston County, and a promi- 
nent farmer of Union Township, was born 
in Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 15th of 
February, 1842. and i? the eldest in a family of 
nine children born to Abraham and Margaret 




(Hutchinson) Funk, natives of Virginia and Ohio 
respectively, of whom a sketch appears in this 
ALBUM. 

Our subject was reared to farm life and self-edu- 
cated, never having gone to school more than seven- 
teen days in any one year. His youth and early 
manhood were spent in hard farm labor, while his 
evenings were devoted to his books until 1862, 
when he began to teach school in the winter and 
farm in the summer, pushing his studies systematic- 
ally all the time. In 1862 lie risked the purchase 
of eighty acres of land, which he prepared to im- 
prove, and on the loth of August of that year he 
was married to Elizabeth J. Gibson, third child in a 
family of five born to Charles and Nancy (Shaw) 
Gibson, who were natives of Ireland, and afterward 
emigrated to America. Immediately after marriage 
they settled on their little farm in LaSalle County, 
where they lived together until July 3, 1865, when 
his excellent wife passed away, leaving him one 
child, a daughter, Lucinda Idella, who is now the 
wife of J. P. Gammon, a stock-dealer at Sundance, 
Wyo. Mrs. Funk was a member of the Congrega- 
tional Church, and a woman of sunny disposi- 
tion, and strong will power, connected with untiring 
energy. She was the joy of the household, and the 
social pride of society. Her death left her sorrow- 
ing husband without counsel or support, .and he 
soon afterward sold his farm and went to New York 
State. 

On the 7th of November, 1866, Mr. Funk was 
married the second time, his choice being Emily J. 
Gardner, the third child in a family of six born to 
Benjamin and Lean (Brownell) Gardner, who were 
natives of Vermont. She was born at Silver Creek, 
N. Y., on the 27th of May, 1 839. Her father was 
a fanner and lumber dealer, and was the son of 
Eleazcr and Thankful (Chamberlain) Gardner, na- 
tives of Connecticut. He was a soldier in the War 
of 1812. On the mother's side the Brownells were 
of the family noted in the history of the late war 
on account of one of them at Alexandria, Va., 
killing Jackson, the murderer of Col. Ellsworth, of 
the Chicago Zouaves. Mr. Gardner was prominent 
as a Whig, and later as a Republican. 

For the first year after his marriage Mr. Funk 
remained in the State of New York, and then 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1015 



1 



returned west, locating in Livingston County, 
where he bought 120 acres of wild land. Here he 
put up a small house for the shelter of his family, 
and with the blue sky the only covering for his 
horse, he began life for the second time as a farmer, 
engaging in school teaching during the winter. 
Mrs. Funk also engaged at teaching to aid in mak- 
ing their start. During this time he devoted all 
his spare moments to the study of the law, intending 
ultimately to fit himself for that profession. He 
pursued these studies with his usual energy and 
perseverance, and on the 20th of May, 1871, he 
was admitted to the bar at an examination held 
in Ottawa, and then returned to his farm and pre- 
pared to close his business and enter actively into 
the profession. On the 26th of December, 1871, 
he moved to Odell and formed a partnership with 
A. P. Wright, for the practice of law. This firm 
continued until 1873, and then Mr. Wright with- 
drew, and later on left Odell and located in the city 
of Streator. 

Mr. Funk continued the business in Odell, and in 
November, 1872, he was the successful candidate on 
the Republican ticket for tlie position of Prosecuting 
Attorney. Leaving his family at Odell he began 
the duties of the office, which he discharged for 
four years, and during the term he tried the Kearn's 
murder case, the Barrett and Shannon murder case, 
where he opposed the celebrated criminal lawyer, 
William O'Brien, and the celebrated Charlie Ross 
case that sprung up in Livingston County. This 
ease brought him in contact with the Pinkerton 
force, and between them they drove the case to the 
wall. Mr. Funk then defended successfully the 
parties who were prosecuted for damages by the 
party accused of the abductions. These cases, with 
many others, won him the esteem of the bar, and 
the approval of the people of the county. During 
his practice he drew the first indictment under the 
dram shop act of 1872. and tried the first case un- 
der that law in the State, and also drew the first bill 
of assignment under the Insolvent Debtors' Act of 
Illinois. During his term as Prosecuting Attorney 
he became the terror of all evil doers. In January, 
1883, he found his health failing rapidly, and at 
once moved to his farm in Union Township. Dur- 
ing his term of office he purchased laud and was at 



this time the possessor of 320 acres. He now owns 
630 acres of land with fine improvements, and well 
stocked. He has a number of fine imported Nor- 
man horses, and is breeding the finest of young 
Norman stock, with which he is supplying the sur- 
rounding country. His cattle are thoroughbred 
Short-horns, and no finer are found in this section of 
Livingston County, 

Mr. and Mrs. Funk are active members of society, 
and as they justly deserve, are looked upon as being 
identified with all that is progressive in the com- 
munity, and only with that which is good and pure. 
They became the parents of three children, two of 
whom are living. Cynthia A., who was born on the 
1st of October, 1867; Helen, who was born on the 
4th of February, 1872, and died on the 7th of 
November, 1878, and Edna E., who was born on 
tlie 27th of March, 1878. Helen was accidentally 
burned by the explosion of a kerosene lamp, from 
which her death resulted ; Cynthia is a book-keeper 
in St. Paul, Minn; Edna, the joy of the household, 
is with her parents at home. At the present time 
Mr. Funk is devoting his entire time to farming 
and stock-raising, and though not actively engaged 
in the political arena, is by no means retired from 
the field. His voice is frequently heard in the 
cause of Christianity, temperance and moral reform. 

In the illustration department of this ALBUM is 
shown a view of the residence of the Hon. James 
H. Funk. 



*? 



AMES B. AUSTIN, who occupies the posi- 
tion of Marshal of the town of Dwight, is 
of English and Welsh descent. The Austins 
were among the early settlers and pioneers 
of the State of Rhode Island, and James Austin, 
the great-grandfather of our subject, served on 
board a privateer during the Revolutionary War. 
The maternal great-grandfather, Samuel Mitchell, 
served all through the Revolutionary War, first as 
a soldier and then as a privateersman. 

During the war the seafaring people of the East- 
ern States fitted out a great many private vessels 
to harrass the British shipping. They were of the 
greatest service to the cause of the struggling col- 
onies, as their vessels constituted nearly their entire 



t : 



101 fi 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



naval force. Samuel Mitchell served on a vessel 
under C:i|>t. George Waite Babcock, and assisted 
in the ca])ture uf .111 English man-of-war, taking her 
as a prize to Newport, It. I. Samuel Austin, the 
grandfather of our subject, was born at North 
Kingston. K. I., and there was reared to farming, 
which occupation he followed in after life. He 
married Miss Mary, daughter of Samuel Mitchell 
of North Kingston, and to them were born eleven 
children Ruth, Emily G.. Julia A., Maria P., Isaac, 
James S., Margaret, Sarah, Harriet N., Hannah E. 
and Samuel \V., all of whom grew to maturity, and 
are still living, except Ruth and Harriet N'. Mr. 
Austin owned a farm upon which he lived during 
his entire life. In religions matters he was aClose- 
Communion or "Hard Shell" Baptist, and politically 
he was an old-line Whig. He was an industrious 
hard-working man, and brought up his family to 
habits of industry, instilling into them good moral 
principles. Although stern in his teachings, he 
possessed a mild disposition, and was a kind father. 
He was a man of strong constitution, and lived to 
the good old age of eighty-four years. 

lames S. Austin, the father of our subject, was 
born on Ins father's farm in Rhode Island, Nov. 30, 
1813. He passed his early life on his father's farm, 
and besides learning farming, he received a good 
common-school education. In 1839 he married 
Miss Lucy, daughter of Silas and Sarah (Card) 
Allen, of North Kingston, R. I., and to them were 
born eleven children, named as follows: Sarah. 
Isaac, Lucy, Ella, Henry F., Annie, Stephen A., 
Susan H., James B.. Susan H. (2d) and Maggie. 
Mr. Austin lived on a farm on Mt. Hope, in Rhode 
Island, ihe famous seat of King Phillip, the re- 
nowned Indian chieftain and warrior, who became 
celebrated in song and story. Here Mr. Austin 
lived five years, and then moved to the northern part 
of Prudence Island, in Narragansett Bay, whence 
in 1855 he came to Illinois, where he purchased a 
farm on which he lived, and made good improve- 
ments. He sold this property and moved to Uwight 
Township, whore he farmed until 1878, when he 
sold out nud went to Rush County, Kan., where he 
took up a homestead, of which he still has posses- 
sion. He returned to Livingston County in 1883, 
since which time he has been living in Dwight, 



where he is Tax Collector. In political opinion> 
Mr. Austin is a Republican, and besides the office 
he now holds, has been Supervisor and Road Com- 
missioner. 

James B. Austin, our subject, was born on Pru- 
dence Island, in Narragansett Ba.y, on the 5th of 
May, 1854, and was brought by his parents to Illi- 
nois when but one year old. He received a com- 
mon-school education at Dwight, and followed farm- 
ing until 1 882. In 1 879, on the 18th of March, Mr. 
Austin was married to Miss Nettie, daughter of 
George W. and Marj' (Tnrnbangh) Boyer, and they 
became the parents of four children : George S. ; 
Albert, who died in infancy; Effle M. and Blanche. 
The young couple went to live on a farm near 
Dwight, -where they remained five years, and then 
removed with their family to Dwight, where, in 
i company with H. F. Boyer, our subject went into 
the horse-breeding business. They have four im- 
ported stallions, English draft and Norman, which 
were purchased at a cost of from $1,500 to $2,000. 
In 1887 Mr. Austin was elected to the office of 
Marshal of Dwight, which position he still holds, 
and is discharging its duties with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to the people. In politics he is M 
Republican, and takes an active, interest in the 
affairs of his party. 



EVASSEUR MASON is a prominent young 
farmer and stock-raiser on section 12, Pon- 
^ tiac Township, whose birthplace was Pres- 
ton County, W. Y:i.. a county which borders on 
Pennsylvania, and has a diversified surface, con- 
sisting of a mountain region, fertile vallej's and ex- 
tensive forests, and the products of which are corn. 
hay, oats, and cattle. The people are similar in 
their habits and customs to those of Pennsylvania, 
and upon their migration to the West readily assimi- 
lated with the people there. Preston County is 
largely inhabited by an industrious, frugal and in- 
telligent class of people, and when the State of 
Virginia seceded from the Union and engaged with 
the other Southern States inaugurating the war of 
the Rebellion, the people of that x section, now con- 
stituting the State of West Virginia, were largely 
loyal to the Union. The family to which the sub- 




7 




RESIDENCE OF L. MASON .SEC.12. PONTI ACTOWNSHIP. 



.;.. .-,. 



>.**.> 




RESIDENCE OF ELI W. PEARSON , SEC.2G. ESMEN TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



\ 



ject of this sketch belonged resided there during 
the greater time the war was in progress, and nec- 
essarily suffered the consequences of the incursions 
of both armies. 

Mr. Mason was born on the 2d of Ma}', 1848, 
and is the son of William D. and Mary R. Mason, 
who were both Virginians by birth. In the year 
1 864, which was a year before the close of the war, 
his parents removed from Virginia and settled in 
Adams County, Ohio, where they remained until 
1872, when they concluded to go further West, and 
came to Livingston County, settling on the farm 
now occupied by the subject of this _sketch, on 
section 12, Pontiac Township. The family of his 
parents consisted of six children, three of whom 
are living: Albert S. ; Elizabeth L., the wife of T. 
E. G randy, and Levasseur. The father, William 
D. Mason, who died in 1884, was considered one of 
the representative and progressive farmers of Pon- 
tiac Township. He was purely a self-made man, 
as whatever he accomplished in life was through 
his own unaided efforts. He was a Democrat in 
politics, and always consistently acted with that 
party. He also took a lively interest in the moral 
and educational welfare of the people of his town- 
ship. His widow, who is a woman of many excel- 
lent qualities, survives him, and resides in the city 
of Pontiac. 

The subject of this sketch remained with his par- 
ents until he arrived at the age of maturity, and 
for a number of years was employed in his father's 
store in Winchester, Ohio, where he was a general 
merchant. In this capacity he learned many of the 
rudiments of business which have served him well 
in after life. He wa, fortunately situated so that 
he secured a good common-school education. In 
April, 1873, he was married to Maggie S. DeBruin, 
of Adams County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Rev. 
J. H. DeBruin, of that county, who is a minister in 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Mason have been born four children : Willie on the 
12th of June, 1875; Ella on. the 7th of March, 
1879; Frank on the 14th of July, 1881, and Edna 
on the 2<>th of June, 1884. 

In 1882 Mr. Mason removed to Nebraska, and 
in Pierce County was engaged in mercantile busi- 
ness, which included the sale of farm machinery 



and hardware. In 1886 he returned to his present 
farm, which consists of 266 acres in Pontiac Town- 
ship. This farm is composed of excellent land and 
has always been very productive. Under Mr. 
Mason's manipulations its physical condition will 
be much improved. It is with pleasure we present 
a view of Mr. Mason's residence, together with its 
environments, on an accompanying page. Like his 
father Mr. Mason is a Democrat in politics, but is 
in no sense an offensive partisan. He has already 
established himself in the esteem of his neighbors, 
and will no doubt find his residence in Pontiac 
Township both profitable and pleasant. 




LI W. PEARSON, farmer and Supervisor of 
Esmen Township, also a dealer in cattle and 
hogs, was born in Miami County, Ohio, on 
the llth of August, 1836, the third in a family of 
five children born to Aaron and Rachel (Moore) 
Pearson, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio re- 
spectively. His paternal grandparents were na- 
tives of England, and early emigrants to America. 
There were two brothers at that time, and the name 
they then bore was Preiser, which was afterward 
merged into Pearson. They were originally Quak- 
ers. The maternal grandparents were natives of 
Germany, and were very early emigrants to Amer- 
ica. The father of Mr. Pearson was born and 
reared in Ohio, where he resided all his life. The 
greater portion of his life was devoted to agricult- 
ural pursuits, but in his later years he was engaged 
in the milling business. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in the 
common schools, and his advantages were very 
limited, having been left an orphan at the age of 
six years, and growing to manhood amidst stran- 
gers, having been put out for a permanent home. 
He lived with a family named Swallow, in Mont- 
gomery County, Ohio, until fourteen years of age, 
and then began to look out for himself. He first 
worked for a Dnnkard named Blickerstaff, with 
whom he remained four years. After this he chose 
a guardian, one H. N. Kerr, instead of his uncle, 
and remained with him until nineteen years of age, 
when he rented land and began farming for him- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



t 



self, which lie engaged in for one season, and then 
followed his guardian, H. N. Kerr, West, the latter 
having gone on in the spring. He arrived at 
Bloomington, 111., on the 26th of October, 1 />:>. 
and thence went to Cuba, in Odell Township, Liv- 
ingston County, where Mr. Kerr then lived. In 
this township he farmed one year, and then bought 
eight}- acres of wild land, which he improved. 
While there he concluded to settle in life, and re- 
turned to Miami County, Ohio, for the purpose of 
marrying. 

On the 28th of October, 1 858, Mr. Pearson was 
married to Rachel Sheafer, the third child in a fam- 
ily of ten, of whom the parents were Eckert and 
Rachel (Smith) Sheafer, natives of Pennsylvania. 
They were of German descent, their parents being 
natives of Germany, and early emigrants to Amer- 
ica. After marriage Mr. Pearson settled upon his 
farm of eight}' acres in Livingston County, where 
he had made improvements adapted to his wants. 
But his enterprise soon made it necessary for him 
to have more land, and in 1866 he sold this farm 
and moved to Esmen Township, where he first 
bought 160 acres of wild land on section 26, to 
which he added eighty acres, making for the home 
place 340 acres. This land he has placed under a 
high state of cultivation, and made splendid im- 
provements in the way of houses and barns. His 
orchard and shrubbery are unsurpassed in the town- 
ship. A view of the premises is shown in this con- 
nection. He located upon this farm in 1866, and 
has lived there continuously ever since. During 
this time there have been born to him six children, 
who are all living: Rachel, Sept. 10, 18.59; Abra- 
ham Lincoln, March 4, 1861 ; Arthur N., March 22, 
1863; Sarah Emma, Feb. 11, I860; Anna M., Aug. 
22, 1868; Ida O., Feb. 2, 1875. Lincoln married 
Savannah Umpheuour, and now lives in Washing- 
ton County, Col., where he is engaged in farming; 
Arthur is there also, and both have taken up land 
claims; Emma married Royal E. Knapp, who lives 
on a farm two miles north of the homestead ; the 
other children reside at home with their parents. 
Anna is just entering upon the profession of school 
teaching. 

Mr. Pearson taught the third term of school in 
his own dwelling. He served as School Director in 



his district until his removal to Esmen Township. 
He then helped to organize District No. 7, and 
served as Director until 1870, when he resigned 
and accepted the position of School Treasurer, 
which he has held ever since. He was largely in- 
strumental in securing the construction of the pres- 
ent commodious school building. He is now serv- 
ing his tenth year as Supervisor of Esmen Town- 
ship, having been elected in 1878 on the Independ- 
ent ticket, which he voted at that time. He has 
always been independent in politics, and is quite 
active in township affairs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are both enthusiastic and 
active in their support of all educational progress, 
and none wield a stronger influence for good than 
1 they. 



ELON G. RAGAN, one of the honored pio- 
neers of Broughton Township, came to this 
section of country during its first settlement, 
and may be properly numbered among the self- 
made men. who not only have built up a comfort- 
able home for themselves, but have assisted in the 
development and progress of the township. He 
has been an interested witness of the remarkable 
changes which have occurred during the last thirty 
3'ears in this section of the Prairie State, and while 
laboring for himself and family, has also kept in 
mind the welfare of those around him, and the in- 
fluence which each member of a community ex- 
erts in determining the general result. Bronghton 
Township is fortunate in being settled up by intel- 
ligent people, among whom the subject of our sketch 
has borne no unimportant part. 

Mr. Ragan was born in Lewis County, N. Y., 
Jan. 22, 1832, and is the son of Charles and Mary 
(Reeves) Ragan, also natives of the Empire State. 
The first representative of the Ragau family who 
settled in New York State became a resident of 
Dutchess County, whence some of his descendants 
subsequently removed, and located in Lewis County. 
Among these was the father of our subject, who 
served, when a young man, in the War of 1812, 
and was subsequently engaged in farming pursuits. 
In 1844, when Elon G. was a lad twelve years of 
age, Charles Ragan with his motherless family, mi- 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1021 



I 



grated to Ohio, and located in Portage County, 
where they resided several years, and where the 
death of the father took place about 1853; his wife, 
Mary, had died in New York State about 1H41. 
Charles Ragan was a second time married, and his 
family included a large number of children, of 
whom Ralph now lives in Ohio; Emily is the wife 
of U'ells llurlbut, of Ohio, and Catherine' married 
Robert Close, of Broughton Township, this count} 1 . 

Mr. Ragan remained in the Buckeye State until 
reaching his majority, and coining to Illinois in the 
spring of 1853, spent the first twelve years of his 
residence in this State in Grundy County, whence 
he removed to Livingston County in the spring of 
1865. He first located in I) wight Township, and 
engaged in farming until the spring of 1871, when 
he took possession of his present home in Brough- 
ton Township. Here he has fifty-nine acres of land 
on section 31, which comprises the homestead, and 
he owns ninety-six acres in Sullivan Township. 
He has labored industriously all his life, and may 
reasonably look with satisfaction upon the results 
of his self-sacrifice and economy. The family resi- 
dence is a comfortable and substantial structure. 
Hanked by a good barn and other necessary out- 
buildings, and there is about the premises an air of 
c(jm fort which is pleasant to contemplate. Mr. 
Ragan arrived in Illinois with a capital of $3 in his 
pocket, and his present possessions indicate how 
well he has spent his time, and how judicious have 
been his investments. 

The lady who has for the last thirty years pre- 
sided over the domestic affairs of our subject, and 
been his best friend and close counselor, was in her 
girlhood Miss Maria West, and became his wife on 
the 6th of March, 1855. Mrs. Ragan was born in 
Snsqnehanna County, Pa., and came to this county 
with her husband, her early life having been spent 
with her parents in Pennsylvania. They became 
the parents of two children: Henry, now a resident 
of this township, and Efh'e, the wife of Orrin Hale, 
of Sannemin Township. 

Upon first coming to this farm, Mr. liagan was 
obliged to go fourteen miles, to mill, which was also 
the nearest trading point. There were then no 
railroads or stage lines, transportation being effected 
with horse and ox teams. Mr. Ragan, however, 



bore in mind the fact that he 1 was as well off as his 
neighbors, and had only one thought in his mind, 
that of pressing onward until the lapse of time and 
the advance of civilization should bring about a 
better state of things. He believed that his pa- 
tience would be rewarded, and he was not disap- 
pointed. He and his estimable lady are passing 
their declining years surrounded by the comforts 
of life, and the kindly care of many friends. 

Mr. Ragan when a young man identified him- 
self with the Republican party, to which he still 
adheres with the tenacity of his first convictions. 



E. HEPPERLY. This gentleman commenced 
farming in Pike Township in the spring of 
1876, taking possession of the land which he 
now occupies, and which comprises 120 acres. This 
he has brought to a fine state of cultivation, pro- 
vided it with- neat and substantial fencing, and 
drained the low portions with tile, so that he has a 
farm which produces abundantly the various crops 
of the Prairie State. The dwelling is a shapely and 
convenient structure, and the barn and out-build- 
ings meet all the requirements for the storing of 
grain and the shelter of stock. 

Mr. Hepperly is no unimportant factor in the af- 
fairs of his township, although comparatively a 
young man, while his industry and straightforward 
business methods long ago secured him the esteem 
and confidence of his neighbors, and there is ever}' 
indication that his future career will be one of 
steady progress and prosperity. He is one of the 
most valued members of the Republican party in 
this section. 

Our subject, a native of Tazewell County, was 
born Aug. 8, 1853, and is the second child of Will- 
iam P. and Margaret (O'Brien) Hepperly, the former 
a native of Gettysburg, Pa., and the latter of In- 
diana. They were married inGroveland Township, 
Tazewell County, and their union was blessed by 
the birth of six children, namely: John A., Orin E., 
Charles A., George H., Sarah E. and Mary E., all 
living, and the three eldest sons married. William 
P. Hepperly and his excellent wife are highly re- 
spected residents of Pike Township, and members 



f 



in-22 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

Mr. Hepperly was a little lad five years of age 
when his parents removed from Tazewell to Wood- 
ford County, where he was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and remained until selecting his future 
home in this county. This was land which his 
father had purchased several years before, and upon 
it our subject carried on farming three years before 
his marriage. This important event was celebrated 
at the home of the bride in Wood ford County, Feb. 
17, 1881, the lady of his choice being Miss Tarcy 
D. Foster. Mrs. H. was born in Wood ford County, 
Jan. 1, 1862. and is the daughter of Michael and 
Eliza (Myers) Foster, natives of Germany and 
Ohio respectively, and now residents of Tazewell 
County. The young people commenced house- 
keeping in a modest dwelling, and two years after- 
ward Mr. Hepperly increased his acreage by the 
purchase of a 40-acre tract adjoining the first. He 
now has 1 20 acres, the cultivation of which yields 
him a handsome income, and is enabled to provide 
himself and family with all the comforts of life. 






J" AMES M. WYLIE, whose portrait is pre- 
sented in connection with this brief sketch 
of his life, located in Saunemin Township in 
the spring of 1 870, and took possession of 
his present farm of 160 acres on section 5. He has 
since given much of his attention to stock-raising, 
although carrying on his general farming operations 
with enterprise and success. The residence and 
out-buildings bear fair comparison with those of 
his neighbors, and his land has been rendered re- 
markably fertile by being underlaid with 500 rods 
of tiling. He has pursued the even tenor of his 
way as an industrious and enterprising farmer, at 
the same time possessing those qualities which have 
rendered him a desirable member of the commu- 
nity. 

Mr. Wylie was born in Warren County, Ohio, 
Oct. 15, 1830, at the homestead of his parents, Da- 
vid and Frances (Ridinger) Wylie, who were also 
natives of the Buckeye State. His paternal grand- 



father, James Wylie, is believed to have been of 
English birth and parentage; he was a gentleman 
of good education and followed the profession of 
a teacher in his own countiy until, through the so- 
licitations of Benjamin Franklin, he crossed the At- 
lantic, and pursued his calling thereafter in Ohio. 

The maternal grandfather of our subject, An- 
drew Ridinger. served as a soldier- in the Revolu- 
tionary War, on account of which ho was afterward 
a pensioner. He finally took up his abode in Warren 
County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that 
State, and there spent his last years. There also he 
reared his family, and his daughter, Frances, the 
mother of our subject, was married. 

James M. Wylie is the only surviving child of his 
parents, with whom he removed when about seven 
years of age to Indiana, and they settled near Craw- 
fordsville. where the death of the mother took place. 
The father survived several years, and died in Liv- 
ingston County, 111., in 1865. James M., when 
about thirteen years of age, began learning the 
blacksmith's trade, which he followed eight or nine 
years. In 1850, when twenty years of age, he 
started on an overland trip to California, crossing 
the plains with a team in company with three other 
men. Their journey occupied 103 days after cross- 
ing the Missouri River. Young Wylie continued 
in California for a period of twenty years, engaging 
in mining, farming and stock-raising. He returned 
to Illinois in 1H70, and at once settled upon his 
present farm. 

Mr. Wylie, upon his return from California, was 
married to Miss Leah Jones, a native of Fountain 
County, Ind., and the daughter of Isaiah and Leah 
(Slaughter) Jones. The event occurred on the 1st 
of December, 1870. The parents of his wife were 
natives of New York, and are now deceased. Mr. 
and Mrs. Wylie at once settled down upon the 
farm, and in due time became the parents of seven 
children, namely: Addie B, Frederick, Jessie M., 
James B., Maude E., Claude C. and Mary E. The 
eldest is fifteen years of age, and the youngest 
three years. 

Mr. Wylie has always voted the Republican ticket ; 
he takes a genuine interest in the welfare of the 
people around him, and has served as School Di- 
rector in his district for some years. He is a man 



4 



? 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



102;) 



of fair education, mostly acquired through his own 
efforts, and keeps himself well posted upon matters 
of general interest. He commenced in life without 
means, and his property is the result of his own in- 
dustry and perseverance. 



J70HN F. MYERS, a prominent and wealthy 
farmer of Indian Grove Township, owns a 
j flue property on section 29, comprising 233 
' acres of valuable land, a fine residence with 
ample and substantial out-buildings and all the ap- 
pliances of a first-class modern homestead. His 
land is largely devoted to the raising of grain and 
hay, and of late years he has given his attention 
principally to the breeding of fine stock, making a 
specialty of standard trotting horses, mostly of the 
Hambletonian and Mambrino stock. 

Mr. Myers came to Illinois with his parents in 
1835, when scarcely a year old, his birth having 
taken place Dec. 13, 1834, in Christian County, 
Ky. We give the main points of an interesting 
family history as follows: The great-grandfather of 
our subject is remembered as having long been a 
resident of Lancaster County, Pa., where he was 
married three times, and reared a large family of 
children, comprising eighteen sons and one daugh- 
ter. These mostly grew to mature years, and it is 
supposed were scattered throughout Pennsylvania 
and the States adjoining. Henry, the grandfather 
of our subject, after reaching manhood was united 
in marriage with Miss Catharine Negley, a native 
of Pennsylvania, and a lady of a high order of in- 
tellect, who in her palmiest days could cany well 
her side of the question in regard to Scriptural 
matters with any of the divines of that period. She 
was endowed with a vigorous constitution, and her 
personal appearance attracted much admiration. 
She was of commanding height, with broad fore- 
head, dark curling hair, fair complexion and blue 
eyes. She lived to a ripe old age. 

After marriage Henry Myers and his wife mi- 
grated to Kentucky, which was then considered the 
far West. They located in the midst of the wilder- 
ness, in Mercer County, while savages still roamed 



the forest, together with wild animals. After re- 
maining in Mercer County a few years they secured 
possession of a tract of laud in Christian County, 
which they cultivated, and Grandfather Myers also 
carried on a wagon-shop. Their family consisted 
of five sons and four daughters, all of whom, with 
one exception, have passed away. The sole sur- 
vivor, Mrs. Cassandra Allen, is still a resident of 
Christian Count}'. Their son, John G., the father 
of our subject, was born in Christian County in 
1799, and during his youth worked in the wagon- 
shop of his father, obtaining a good knowledge of 
blacksmithing and working some at coopering. He 
was not blessed with a robust constitution, however, 
and early in life was threatened with lung disease. 
He was accordingly compelled to abandon manual 
labor for a number of years. In the meantime, 
having a talent for music and a fine voice for sing- 
ing, he studied this art and taught singing-school, 
becoming very popular among the people of his lo- 
cality. In personal appearance John G. Myers 
inherited in a large degree the beauty of his mother. 
He was also a lover of literature, and his ballads 
and poems, many of which are still preserved b} T his 
friends, indicate him to have been of rare genius. 
He was particularly given to the writing of patriotic 
songs. Socially, he was genial and companionable, 
and a man who never betrayed his friends. In his 
family he is remembered as kind and indulgent, and 
as a citizen, acquitted himself creditably. 

John G. Myers, when about twenty-five years of 
age, was married to the mother of our subject, Miss 
Mary Lindley, a lady of English and Irish descent, 
and who was one year his junior. She was of high 
moral character and possessed a keen business mind. 
The late ex-President of the Southern Confederacy 
was her first cousin, but Mrs. Myers was strongly 
Union. She proved in all respects the helpmate of 
her husband, holding up his hands during the time 
when they were struggling with the difficulties and 
hardships of pioneer life, and assisting, by her 
judgment and council, in keeping the domestic ship 
of finance afloat. She was in the habit of impart- 
ing serious family advice to her children, which 
they never forgot in after years, and remembered 
her name only to praise her, associating with her 
everything that was good. Mrs. Myers was of 



' 



102f, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



T Cll 

-r 



medium size, with black hair, fair complexion and 
blue eyes, neat hands aiid feet, and considered hand- 
some in her day. She departed this life at her home 
in McLean County, in September. 1857. 

The parents remained in Christian County some 
years after their marriage, and then came West and 
settled in Blooming Grove, McLean County, where 
they purchased the land now occupied as the 
County Poor Farm, and were the first to redeem it 
from its original condition. While residents of 
Kentnck}' there were born to them, Catharine, now 
Mrs. Rust, of Jackson County, Mo.; Jacob W., of 
Colfax, III. ; William H., of Lawndale Township. 
McLean County; Elizabeth, Mrs. Greenwood, who 
died in Missouri: Sarah J., Mrs. Welch, of Bloom- 
ing Grove Township, and John F., of our sketch. 
After becoming residents of McLean County, 111., 
there were added to the family circle, George W. ; 
David D., who died when twenty-three years of 
age, and a daughter, now Mrs. M. A. Bills, who, 
with the first-mentioned brother, is a resident of 
Bloomirgton. 

The father of our subject, after becoming a resi- 
dent of McLean County, carried on a wagon-shop 
while his boys operated the farm. By frugality 
and industry they managed to obtain over 1,0(1(1 
acres of land, which was afterward divided among 
the children. After the death of his wife and the 
marriage of nearly all his children, John G. Myers 
sold his farm and removed to Bloomington, where 
he married a widow lady, Mrs. White, who still 
survives him and is a resident of the latter city. 
The father of our subject departed this life about 
lsi;s, aged sixty-nine years and some months. He 
left behind him a record of which his descendants 
may well be proud. lie was honest and upright in 
all his transactions, kind and benevolent to those in 
distress, and presented both at home and abroad 
an example worthy of imitation. 

( )ur subject remained under the parental roof 
until reaching manhood, and nine days after his 
twenty-third birthday was united in marriage with 
Miss Sarah ('. Birdsell. Dec. 22, 18.'.7. Mrs. Myers 
was born in McLean County, 111., April 2(1, 1842 
and is the daughter of William W. and Lovina 
(Pas-water.-) Birdsell. She is possessed of fine tal- 
ent which is exhibited in numerous paintings and 



drawings gracing her home and which were her own 
handiwork. Of this union there were born five 
children: Birdsell F. married Miss Gladys Wiggins, 
and is a resident of this county; Cora B. is the wife 
of Marcus D. L. Spence, of Belle Prairie Township: 
Kstella E. died in April, 1882, aged seventeen years: 
George L. died in 1870, when eighteen months old ; 
John R. died in early childhood. 

Mr. Myers has been prominently connected with 
local affairs for the past twelve years, holding 
the variou.- township offices and serving as Justice 
of the Peace and Highway Commissioner. Socially 
he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has ad- 
vanced to the third degree. Religiously, with his 
estimable lady, he is connected with the Christian 
Church, of which he is Clerk and one of its most 
cheerful supporters. He has inherited in a large 
degree the musical and poetical talents of his father, 
and has given to the public some extremely fine 
poems. The lesidence is a shapely, modern struct- 
ure, and indicates on all sides the refined and culti- 
vated tastes of its proprietor. 

The portrait of Mr. Myers, which is given on 
an accompanying page, will be appreciated by 
his many friends, and forms a graceful adjunct to 
this Ai.itr.M. We also take pleasure in presenting 
the following poem, entitled "A Patriotic Ode," 
which was written by him: 

Ye sons of Columbia, the fairest of earth, 

Ye heirs of the land that gave Liberty birth; 

Your vigils of freedom, O never resign, 

Let watch fires of Liberty constantly shine. 

Oh! kindle your bosoms with patriot fires. 

And cherish the deeds of our patriot sires. 

Think ever how bravely they fought for our good, 

Our freedom and liberty bought with their blood. 

CHORUS. 

Then rise, and shout, hail to the patriotic band : 
Our glorious banner and free happy land. 
Sing anthems of praise to our Washington's name. 
Thrice hail to the hero of untarnished fame! 

Yes. Washington, Father! thy praise we will sing. 
From proud, thankful hearts oft thy glory will ring; 
Thy name by all nations respected will be. 
While tyrants will tremble 'neath liberty's tree; 
i And. forefathers, bright in our memories ve dwell. 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1027 



ir 



And thoughts of thy valor our bosoms doth swell; 

The legacy left us we'll ever retain, 

Though tyrants and traitors should rally again. 

CHORUS. 

O heaven blest country! I) free, happy land! 

The loyal, the faithful, they by thec will stand; 

The patriot's theme and the alien's home, 

A haven of safety for all who will come; 

Thy ships are now sailing in every port. 

Thy flag is respected by every court; 

The laurels that crown thy brave sons ever green, 

And thou among nations a recognized queen. 

C'HOKt'S. 

Oh ! glorious banner that heavens adorn, 

Forever thou'lt float on the breeze of the morn ; 

Thy triumph be glorious, thy destiny long, 

The pride of our Nation, the theme of her song. 

When the voice of thy eagle is heard in the sky, 

Invaders and rebels in terror will fly, 

For she soars high and proudly with white, blue 

and red, 
Since the palmetto flag with her serpent is dead. 

CIIOKUS. 

Yes, bright, bonny banner that waves in the air, 

No foe whatsoever thy beauty shall mar, 

For our motto shall be till our last vital breath, 

Our flag, our country, and victory or death. 

We will drive all thy foes from freedom's bright 

land. 

And ever Columbia a nation will stand : 
Whilst thou, bonny flag, shalt continue to wave 
O'er a land that is free, and her sons ever brave. 



J-~]OHN CHALMERS LEWIS, the only rcpre- 
j sentative of the jewelry business in Dwight, 
j has good reason to be proud of his birth and 
' parentage, being a descendant of German and 
Scotch ancestry, two of the best nationalities on the 
face of the earth. His paternal grandfather crossed 
the Atlantic at an early day and located in New 
York State, where he carried on farming and 
reared a fine family of sons and daughters. Among 
these was Sebastian, the father of our subject, who 
was born at the old homestead in the Empire State, 
and became familiar with the various departments 
of agriculture. 

Not far from the home of Sebastian Lewis was 



reared the lady whom he subsequently married, 
viz., Miss Maria Chalmers, whose ancestry distin- 
guished themselves both in the field of literature 
and that of theology. Of this union there were 
born eight children, viz.: Sarah, Mary F., William, 
Annie 8., John C., Sebastian G., Joseph W. and 
Henrietta F. Sebastian Lewis was an industrious, 
hard-working man, of temperate habits, robust 
health and strictly religious principles, being prom- 
inently identified with the Presbyterian Church. In 
addition to the cultivation of the soil he became a 
heavy dealer in live stock, and shipped large quan- 
tities of beef to Albany, Elmira and other im- 
portant cities. He gave careful attention to the 
training and education of his children, and set 
before them in his daily life an example worthy of 
their imitation. His last twenty years were clouded 
by a great affliction in the loss of his eyesight, 
which was occasioned by a severe cold, from the 
effects of which he was for a long time a sufferer. 
He spent thousands in the vain attempt to recover 
his sight, but flnally abandoning hope, he bore his 
misfortune with unexampled patience, and resigned 
himself to the will of Providence. He departed 
this life at his home in Prattsburg, Steuben Co., 
N. Y., at the age of seventy-five years, deeply 
mourned by his family, and regretted by a host of 
friends. The mother is still living and in her 
seventy-fifth year. 

John C. Lewis was born at the homestead of 
his parents, May 2, 1842, and spent his boyhood 
and youth amid the peaceful scenes of country life. 
He pursued his studies at the district schools 
and completed them in the academy. When about 
nineteen years of age he left home to learn the jew- 
eler's trade, at which he afterward worked as a 
journeyman in the States of Ohio and Indiana. In 
1862, soon after his twentieth birthday, and while 
a resident of New York State, he was united in mar- 
riage witli Miss Pamelia J., daughter of William 
and Maria (Berge) Chamberlain, of Syracuse, N. 
Y., and born Sept. 28, 1840. The young couple 
began life together in a modest dwelling in New 
York, but their anticipations of a quiet home life 
were rudely broken in upon by the call for young 
men to volunteer in defense of the Union. 

Mi 1 , Lewis watched the struggle for a time, and 



f 



1028 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



then felt that it was his dutj r to assist his country, 
and accordingly, in 1864, enlisted as a private in 
Company C, 188th New York Infantry. He 
marched with his comrades to the front, and met 
the rebels at Danville and Weldon, where in the 
brief engagement which ensued, his company lost, 
in killed alone, over fifty men. In the meantime 
the young wife remained at home for a time, tor- 
tured with anxiety and apprehension, and then 
resolved upon a bold and desperate step to effect 
the return of her husband to his family. After a 
hurried preparation she set out for Washington, 
and at length obtained an interview with President 
Lincoln, who gave to her a patient hearing and 
finally granted her request. This is probably the 
only case of the kind on record, and illustrates the 
devotion and heroism of a timid woman in her hour 
of need. Mrs. Lewis returned home in triumph, 
and it is hardly necessary to state that in no hearts 
is the name of the martyred President held more 
sacred than those of our subject and his devoted- 
wife. 

Mr. Lewis, after his return, took up his residence 
in Seymour, Ind., where he engaged in business, 
and built up a fine trade, but owing to poor health 
he removed to Dwight and opened his present estab- 
lishment. He carries a choice and well-selected 
stock of all the articles in his line, and has met with 
unqualified success, enjoying the patronage of the 
best people of Dwight and vicinity. He and his 
estimable lady are members in good standing of the 
Congregational Church, and their pleasant home is 
the frequent resort of the cultivated people of the 
city. Mr. Lewis, politically, is a strong Republican, 
and socially belongs to the G. A. R., the I. O. O. F., 
and the Masonic fraternity. 

William Chamberlain, the father of Mrs. Lewis, 
was a non-commissioned officer in a New York 
Regiment during the late war. The only living 
child of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Maria A., who was 
born July 2, 1866, became the wife of Richard F. 
Dougherty, Assistant Train Dispatcher on the C. & 
A. R. R. They make their home in Bloomington, 
111., and are the parents of two children. Lewis 
F. and Grace E. Sarah Lewis, a sister of our sub- 
ji-rt. was the wife of Dr. P. K. Stoddard, an emi- 
nent surgeon of Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y.; 



she is now deceased. Another sister, Mary Frances, 
married Dr. J. R. Selover, also a member of the 
medical profession in Steuben County, where he 
enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Sarah E. 
Lewis died Oct. 17, 1880. 



JHAMES W. MARKS. There is something 
comforting and gratifying to a man who is 
I able to spend his life among the scenes and 
/ witli the people of his childhood. There is 
a peculiar interest about one who was born a pion- 
eer, and grew up with the country. The life of 
such an one, and the events of his neighborhood, 
become so interwoven, that the history of one is al- 
most the narrative of the other. The subject of 
this sketch, who is a farmer and stock-raiser on sec- 
tion 30, Pontiac Township, was born in Livingston 
County, that important event in his life occurring 
on the 2d of August, 1857. He is the son of John 
D. and Sarah A. Marks, of Rook's Creek Township, 
who are both natives of Ohio, and were pioneer 
settlers of that township. The children born to 
these good people were eight in number, of whom 
the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Their 
names are as follows: Archibald A.; Nancy, de- 
ceased; George; Lucetta, wife of A. P. Pemberton; 
Estella, deceased; LillieT., wife of I. E. Thompson, 
of Republic County, Kan.; John A. and James \V. 
The mother is an active member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, taking great interest in the cause of 
her Master. The father is a member of the Repub- 
lican party, and has been honored with an election 
to several township offices. He is a public-spirited 
man, and takes great interest in all matters which 
have for their object the benefit of the community 
in which he lives. They are both widely known 
and respected throughout the neighborhood. The 
paternal ancestors are of Scotch Idescent. 

Mr. Marks had the advantage of the superior 
school system inaugurated in Illinois during the 
past quarter of a century, and received a most ex- 
cellent common-school education. On the 10th of 
January, 1883, he was married to Lillia Ilouder, 
daughter of Henry K. and Mary J. Homier, both 
of whom are deceased. Her father, accompanied 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1031 ' : 



by two brothers, came from Ohio at an early date, 
and located in Rook's Creek Township, where he 
remained until the breaking out of the late Civil 
War, soon after which he entered the army, and 
was killed at the battle of Dallas Woods, Ga., May 
28, 1864. His wife subsequently married, and 
moved to Woodbury County, Iowa, where she died 
in February, 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Marks have 
been born two children: Wilford, July 24, 1884, 
and Edith L, Dec. 31, 1886. 

Mr. Marks settled on his present farm, which 
consists of 289 acres, in 1884, which he cultivates 
with great success. The soil is fertile, and the sys- 
tem of underdrainage he has inaugurated has en- 
hanced its productive qualities very materially. 
Mr. Marks is a Republican, and makes it a point to 
support the men selected by that party for office. He 
has served in an official capacity as School Director 
three years, and discharged the duties of that office 
with ability. He is a progressive man, and his ad- 
vanced ideas he puts into practice in his daily life. 
Mrs. Marks is an active member of the Baptist 
Church, and both are influential members of society. 
A view of the home place is given in this volume. 



ENRY T. McLANE, agent at Dwight, 111., 

Mfor J. I. Case, manufacturer of threshers 
and engines, is numbered among the repre- 
sentative business men of Livingston Coun- 
ty, and although young in years, has already es- 
tablished himself on a firm basis. Like many of the 
residents of this section he is the son of a gentle- 
man who was born and reared in the Keystone 
State, his father, Simon McLane, having been born 
in Dauphin County, Pa., in 1819. 

The McLane family is of Scotch-Irish origin, 
with a goodly intermixture of the German. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject was born in 
Scotland, and immigrated to this country early in 
life, locating in Fennsyl.vania. He there reared a 
family, among his sons being Simon, who was born 
and reared on the homestead which his father had 
occupied many years, and married Miss Rachel 
Long, of Venango County. They became the 
parents of nine children, namely : Mary J., Henry T., 



Samuel, Sarah M., John M., Levia, Amanda, Daniel 
and David, the last two twins. 

The father of our subject, although a weaver by 
trade, was fond, of country life, and became quite an 
extensive farmer and land-holder. He had been 
early trained to Christian principles, and for many 
years labored as a minister of the Evangelical Church. 
In 1855 he parted with the old farm in Venango 
County, and coming to this State purchased a tract 
of land in Kane County, where he resided nine 
years. After a time oil was discovered on the farm 
which he had owned in Pennsylvania, and the prop- 
erty became very valuable. He finally sold the 
property in Kane County and purchased a quarter 
section in Kankakee County, where a part of his 
family now reside. Simon McLane departed this 
life in 1882, aged sixty-four years, and is remem- 
bered by a large number of the people of Dwight, 
where he became well known through his pious 
ministrations. In this field lay his best efforts, and 
he built up a good record as a self-sacrificing and 
conscientious minister of the Gospel. The mother 
is still living on the homestead. 

Henry T. McLane was born in Venango County, 
Pa., May 3, 1852, and passed his childhood and 
youth among the quiet scenes of country life. 
When twenty-two years of age he left home and 
repaired to Janesville, Wis., where he spent four 
months and learned telegraphy. Circumstances, 
however, induced him to return to his native State, 
and he spent the five years thereafter on the home 
' farm. His next remove was to Gardner, 111., where 
I he was employed as telegraph operator one year, 
and thence removed to Lemont, 111., where he was 
similarly occupied. His first experience in his pres- 
ent business was in 1882. when he became agent 
for Mr. Eator, of Dwight, with whom he continued 
until 1883. Then, crossing the Mississippi he en- 
tered 160 acres of land in Edmunds County, Dak., 
to which he has now a clear title, and which will in 
time repay him well for the capital invested. We 
next find him in Norfolk, Neb., where his affections 
were captured by Miss Edith Westervelt, who be- 
came his wife March 18, 1884. This lady is the 
daughter of Ira G. and Amelia (Grinnell) Wester- 
velt, who are now residents of Norfolk, Neb. 

Mr. McLaue returned to Illinois in 1884, and re- 



I: 
t 



1082 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



suming his relations with Mr. Eaton, continued with 
him for two years, and then established in business 
for himself. He possesses the energy and per- 
severance necessary to success, and by his obliging 
manner has found many friends, both in social and 
business circles. He is Republican, politically, and 
with his amiable and accomplished lady belongs to 
the Methodist Church. Mr. McLane is also iden- 
tified with the I. O. O. F. Like most of mankind 
he has met with his reverses. In 1881 he invested 
largely in the sheep business, in Kansas, but on ac- 
count of disease in his stock the venture proved a 
total failure, and he lost the earnings of several 
years. The first shock over, however, he buckled 
on his armor anew, and is rapidly getting on his 
feet again. He was elected Constable in 1885, to 
serve a term of four years, and is discharging the 
duties of his office with credit to himself and satis- 
faction to the community. 




jENJAMIN A. BUCK, one of the prominent 
business men of Dwight, who is engaged in 
the hardware business, was born near Balti- 
more, Md., on the 12th of November, 1844. 
He springs from a long line of honorable ancestry, 
who were among the pioneers of Maryland, emi- 
grating from Holland in the seventeenth century. 
In those days the settlers selected the best land they 
could obtain, which remained in possession of their 
family for generations, the title passing from father 
to son without interruption. The ancestors of our 
subject possessed these characteristics, and the old 
homestead remained in the family from early pro- 
vincial times up to this generation, when it recently 
has been disposed of. The family were originally 
Episcopalians, but early in the history of their resi- 
dence in this country, probably about the time of 
Wesley's visit, they embraced Methodism. 

The tradition of the family is that three brothers 
caiiie from Holland, and the first information on 
this (joint is furnished by the old family Bible 
which bears date of 1721!. and whose pages are 
brown with time, and soiled by the hands of several 
generations. In a plain, firm band in thi.- ! ..... k 
appears the name of John Buck, whose birth is re- 



corded as having occurred in the year 1693. He 
was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, and he was noted in his day as a 
large landed proprietor; he lived to be seventy- 
seven years of age. Very little is known of Ben- 
jamin Buck, the son of John, who was horn in 
Maryland. John Buck, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in 1767, and died in 184SI at the age 
of eighty-two years. He was a ver3" prosperous 
man in his business affairs, accumulating a large 
landed estate, which was divided among three sons 
and one daughter, and was sufflcientto render them 
independent for life. 

Benjamin M. Buck, the father of our subject, was 
born in 1794, and died in 1877. He lived and died 
on the old homestead, passing his life until the com- 
mencement of the great Civil War much in the 
same manner as his fathers before him, surrounded 
by his family and servants, and prosperous in his 
undertakings. In 1826 he married Miss Sarah H. 
Hobby, and the result of this union was six chil- 
dren: Catherine, John S., W. II., Arabella, Benja- 
min A. and Sarah, of whom all are living except 
Catherine and William. When the Civil War 
broke out, Mr. Buck lost a considerable portion of 
his property, which was never recovered. In politi- 
cal opinions he WM> :i Whig until the beginning of 
the war, after which he affiliated with the Demo- 
cratic party. In religious matters he was a devout 
Methodist. 

The subject of this sketch remained on the farm 
with his father, who had been disabled by an acci- 
dent, until he was twenty-five years of age. He 
availed himself of all the advantages of the com- 
mon schools, and then obtained a course in the 
High Schools at Baltimore. In 1870 he came to the 
West with his brother-in-law, H. M. Kennedy, who 
owned a large tract of land in McLean Count}', 
and remained with him four years. He clerked in 
a general store at Danvers for a time, and then in 
the same town engaged in business for himself for 
two years. 

In l7(i Mr. Buck was married to Miss Libby A. 
Kstes, daughter of William and Amanda (Good- 
rich) Kstes, of Dwight. 111., and to them have been 
born two children M. Kstes and Agnes. Soon 
after marriage Mr. Buck moved to Dwight, and in 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1033 



1882 engaged in the hardware bnsiness in that 
place, in which he has continued to the present, and 
has been very successful. He is not only one of 
the prominent citizens of Dwight, but one of its 
most reputable business men, displaying great en- 
ergy and enterprise in the conduct of his affairs. 
He heartily participates in all plans projected for 
the improvement and advancement of the county, 
and tu ;ill causes is a liberal contributor. He and 
his wife are attendants upon the Congregational 
Church, of which she is an active member. 




5. W. MATHLS, a well-known citizen of Read- 
ing Township, is engaged in general mer- 
chandising, and also in the publication of 
the Weekly Advocate, at Ancona, III. He was born 
on the 28th of March, 1851, in the township in 
which he resides, and is the son of Caleb and Sof- 
lena (Black) Mathis, natives of Ohio and Illinois 
respectively. The father was born Oct. 24, 1X22, 
and was the son of Caleb Mathis, a native of New 
Jersey, who died March 2(J, 1775, at the age of 
eighty-four years. The latter was the son of John 
Mathis, a native of New Jersey. The mother was 
born in Schuyler County, 111., March 12, 1827, and 
was the daughter of James P. and Mary (Paddit) 
Black, natives of Kentucky. 

The parents of our subject were married on the 
llth of July, 1847, and had the following-named 
children: Darius, George \V., James P., Elbert N., 
Eugene, Soflena K.. William <;. and Holland he- 
land. Darius was burn Dec. 16, 184!, and died 
Sept. 11, 1850: James P. was born Dec. 2, 1852, 
married Annie Coe, and resides at Rutland, where 
he is engaged in the stock and grain business ; they 
have had four children, two of whom are dead. 
Elbert N. was born Oct. 5, 1856, married Miss 
Blanche Howard, and is a practicing physician at 
Leavenworth, Kan.; Eugene was born June 2, 1858, 
and is a practicing physician in Kansis City, Mo.; 
he married Autie Spears, who died leaving one child. 
SohYna E. was born .March x. 1SC1. was educated 
at Eureka College, and is now a teacher of music, 
and resides with her parents; William (!. was born 
Nov. 5. 1X63, mid is a photographer in Ancona: 



Holland L. was born Sept. 19, 1867, and resides at 
home. 

Our subject was educated in the common schools 
of Livingston Count}', and afterward became a stu- 
dent of Eureka College, where he completed his 
education. He occupied his time by working on 
the farm until seventeen years of age, and at the 
age of nineteen he was employed in a store in Long 
Point, and afterward "in Ancona. Upon reaching 
his majority he began work for himself, and on the 
24th of October. 1872, he was married to Miss 
Sarah Coe, of Reading Township. She was born in 
Greene County, Pa., Nov. 2, 1850, and is the 
daughter of Silas and Ruth (Church) Coe. Her 
parents had the following-named children : Johanna, 
who was born March 26, 1839; John, June 12, 
1842; Joseph, Dec. 25, 1847; Sarah, Nov. 2, 1850; 
Cephas, Nov. 14, 1853; Annie L., Feb. 28, 1856, 
and Robert G., Feb. 4, 1859. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Mathis seven children have been 
born, five of whom are now living, as follows: May 
Belle, born March 12, 1875; Lena Ettie, Aug. 19, 
.1876; Carl E., Jan. 14, 1879; George R., Jan. 11, 
1883, and Freddie J., Jan. 29, 1886; the other two 
died in infancy unnamed. 

Mr. Mathis, as a merchant and newspaper pub- 
lisher, occupies a prominent position in the affairs 
of Reading Township. He is a very enterprising 
and industrious man, neat and methodical in the 
performance of his work, and has earned an envia- 
ble reputation for integrity and reliability. In po- 
litical matters he acts independently, and the tone 
of the paper which he publishes harmonizes with 
his political position. He and his wife are prom- 
inent and consistent members of the Christian 
Church, in which they manifest a deep interest. 




FREDERICK A. LAKIN, a retired farmer 
and a resident of Dwight, is a descendant 
of excellent Scotch ancestry and the son of 
Joseph Lakin, who was born in the Highlands of 
Scotland, and emigrated to America prior to the 
Revolutionary War. He settled in Groton, Mass., 
and there pursued for a time his trade of a shoe- 



I 

\ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



maker, subsequently embarking in the butchering 
business. He married a Massachusetts lady, Miss 
Huldah Simons, of Groton, and this union resulted 
in the birth of eight children Polly, Joshua, Joseph, 
Jonathan, Jerusha, and three who died young. 

After a residence of some years in the Bay State, 
Joseph Lakin migrated to Maine and located on a 
farm in the outskirts of the town of Sebago. There 
his first wife died, and he was subsequently married 
to Miss Dorcas, daughter of William Gammon, and 
they became the parents of the following children: 
Joseph, Louisa, Loamia, Sybil A., Parker, Eunice, 
George, Huldah, Frederick and Lydia. Of these 
but three are now living, namely : George, Fred- 
erick and Loamia. The father was one of the earli- 
est pioneers of Cumberland County, where he spent 
the remainder of his days occupied in farm pursuits. 
He was a man of iron constitution, living to the 
advanced age of eighty-seven years, and was gentle 
and kind, never turning from his door anyone who 
applied to him in time of trouble. He accumulated 
a flue property and was thus enabled to gratify his 
instincts of benevolence in assisting the poor and 
aiding the enterprises calculated for the good of the 
people. He was sixty years of age at the time of 
his second marriage, and presented the interesting 
spectacle of a patriarch with a blooming family 
around him. 

Frederick A. Lakin, our subject, was born at his 
father's homestead in Cumberland County, Me., 
May 30, 1824, and passed his boyhood after the 
manner of the sons of pioneers. There were few 
school facilities and his early education was exceed- 
ingly limited, but as he was a bright and intelligent 
boy, and had a natural love for reading, he acquired 
an extensive fund of information and was generally 
in advance of the youths of that period. He was but 
seven years of age at the time of his father's death, 
and his mother was left with only a third of the 
property, the children of the first wife claiming the 
remainder under the old Maine law. Young Lakin 
\\hcn but fifteen years old assumed charge of the 
farm of fifty-six acres, upon which but one payment 
had been made, and taking care of his mother, paid 
off the mortgage and built up a good home. Here 
he remained until twenty-eight years of age, and 
then established domestic ties of his own by his 



marriage with Miss Emeline H. Burnham, of Harri- 
son, Me. Two years later they removed from 
Sebago to Harrison, where they resided for a period 
of thirteen years, and in 1864, gathering together 
their personal effects, they disposed of their real 
estate interests and set out for the prairies of Illi- 
nois. 

Our subject upon reaching this State located for 
a year in Rutland Township, LaSalle County, 
whence he removed, in 1866, to Livingston, and. 
purchased a farm on section 35, in Dwight Town- 
ship. Here he cultivated the soil successfully, 
built up a fine homestead, accumulated a compe- 
tency, and retired from active labor in 1887. His 
career is a line illustration of the self-made man 
who struggled against difficulties and adversity in 
his youth and can now look back over the long road 
which he has traveled with a feeling that his life 
; has in nowise been a failure. He bears the reputa- 
i tion of being an honest and upright man of steady 
' habits and moral character. Politically lie is a. 
: stanch Republican, and has officiated as School Di- 
, rector and Road Commissioner for a number of 
! years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lakin were not blessed with children 
of their own, but while in Maine they adopted a 
little boy two and one- half years old, whom the}' 
named Edward II., and reared him as their own son 
giving him an excellent education. He has now a 
wife and two children, and -is farming on a tract of 
land belonging to our subject though intended for 
himself. Mr. and Mrs. L. are active members of 
the Baptist Church in Dwight and considered val- 
ued additions to the social circles of a town noted 
for the refinement and education of its people. 




THOMAS MILLS. For nearly forty years 
the subject of this sketch has resided on the 
farm where he now lives, on section 1, Long 
Point Township, and during this time he has 
thoroughly identified himself with all the enter- 
prises which have resulted in the development and 
improvement of that part of Livingston County. 
Mr. Mills was born in Clinton County, Ohio, on the 
- .+. 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1035 



1 



23d of March, 1816, the son of Daniel and Mary 
(Bennett) Mills, natives of Virginia and Ohio 
respectively. The father was reared to manhood 
in Kentucky, and went from that State to Ohio, 
where he met and became acquainted with Mary 
Bennett, whom he married in 1815. Thomas Mills, 
the subject of this sketch, remained in Ohio until 
past thirty years of age, and came to Illinois in 
October, 1850. 

Mr. Mills was married to Eliza C. Wier, of 
Fayette County, Ohio, on the 19th of October. 
1837. She was a daughter of James and Mary 
(Varner) Wier, and of her union with our subject 
there were born the following-named children: 
Daniel Clark, Mary Louisa, William H., Ann Eliza, 
James N., Jeanette Elizabeth, Margaret Ellen and 
Melsena. Daniel C. was born Sept. 5, 1 838, and died 
Oct. 0, 1 839 ; Mary L. was born April 28, 1 840, mar- 
ried Aaron Zeilman Feb. 26, 1860, and they have 
had seven children; William H. was born Jan. 27. 
1842, and married Miss Zilpha I. Isenhour Dec. 25, 
1867; they have three children, and live in Kansas. 
Ann E. was born Jan. 9, 1844, and married Daniel 
Flick, a physician; they have two children and live 
in Custer City. James N. was born Nov. 6, 1846, 
and died in November, 1860; Jeanette E. was born 
Aprils, 1848, married James Bradley, a farmer and 
stock-raiser in Dakota, and they have had three 
children, two of whom are living; Margaret E. was 
born Aug. 3, 1850, married Mason Kinzie, and 
died at Long Point at the age of thirty years, four 
months and one day; she was the mother of two 
children, one of whom is living. Melsena was born 
Feb. 17, 1855, married G. W. Bradley, by whom 
she had one child, and died at the age of twenty- 
two years, eleven months and twenty-four days; 
her husband and child had died previously. 

On the 6th of March, 1870, Mr. Mills' first wife 
died, and on the 4th of March, 1872, he was mar- 
ried to Mrs. Phoebe, widow of Charles McCarthy. 
She is the daughter of James E. and Rachel 
(Castor) Van Winkle, natives of Allen County, Ind., 
the former of whom died in September, 1866, and 
the latter April C, 1881, at Ransom, 111. Mr. and 
Mrs. Van Winkle were the parents of seven children, 
two of whom died in infancy. The names of 
the living are as follows: H. Amanda, James Ed- 



ward, William Henry, Peter T. and Phoebe. IT. 
Amanda was born Sept. 26, 1844. and in 1865 
married David Kelley ; they had two children, one 
of whom is living. James E. was born in 1846, and 
marrying Jennie Elliot, they became the parents of 
four children, two of whom are living; William H. 
was born in 1849, married Mary Growdie, and 
they live in Ottawa, 111. ; Peter T. was born Jan. 31, 
1 847, and married Miss Margie Fry, who died Aug. 
13, 1887, leaving a family of four children, one of 
whom has since died ; Phoebe, the wife of the sub- 
ject of our sketch, was born Jan. 8, 1850. To 
Thomas and Phoebe Mills have been bom four 
children, as follows: Louis Edward, Jan. 24, 1874; 
Elma May, July 10. 1876: Franklin Coral, Feb. 26, 
1878, and Thomas Boyd, Nov. 8, 1881. By her 
former husband Mrs. Mills has one son, William H. 
McCarthy, who was born April 13, 1868. 

Mr. Mills is the owner of 160 "acres of land, 120 
of which is under a high state of cultivation, the 
remainder being reserved for timber and pasture 
land. This farip is well watered and the improve- 
ments are of a first-class character. Here Mr. Mills 
settled when he came from Ohio in 1850, and has 
continuously resided since. Politically he is a 
Republican, having grown up in that faith. He was 
formerly a member of the Whig party, but when 
the Republican party wa's organized he united with 
it and has never deserted its ranks. He and his 
wife are members of the Protestant Methodist 
Church, and they both take an active part in the 
affairs of the congregation to which they belong. 

As representative of the buildings in this section 
of country we present on another page of this 
ALBUM a view of Mr. Mills' homestead. 




f LFRED BROWN, for the last ten years has 
been located in Union Township just out- 
|i) side the town limits of Emington, and lives 
on his wife's farm on section 4. which 
property was given her by her father. As an ex- 
perienced farmer Alfred Brown takes his rightful 
place among the intelligent men around him. and is 







LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



pursuing the even tenor of his way, attending chiefly 
to his own concerns and lending a helping hand to 
whatever enterprise demands the encouragement of 
the conscientious citizen. lie takes an active in- 
terest in the maintenance of schools, and although 
not strictly a party man, usually votes for the sup- 
port of Republican principles. He is particularly 
interested in the success of the temperance move- 
ment, and his sympathies are closely allied to the 
Prohibitionists. 

Our subject, like so many of the solid men of 
Livingston County, is a native of Pennsylvania, 
where he was born, in Franklin County, Jan. 22, 
1852. His parents, George and Mary (Kneff) 
Brown, were also natives of the Keystone State and 
of German descent. The father followed farming 
in Pennsylvania in a modest way, and our subject 
continued under the parental roof until a young 
man twenty-two years old. Upon coming to this 
State, in 1874, he engaged as a farm laborer in La- 
Salle County, and a few years later, on the 30th of 
July, 1878, was married to Miss Ellen Louise Edge- 
comb, who was born and reared in that county. 
Her parents, William and Eunice (Spaulding) Edge- 
comb, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania 
and New York, the father of English descent, and 
the mother, it is supposed, of German. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown 
removed to their present homestead, where they be- 
came the parents of four children, namely': Mary 
Viola, who was born March 22, 187!; Mattie May, 
May 11, 1881 ; Zella Josephine, Dec. 24, 1882, and 
Wilhelmina Eunice, Oct. 21, 1884. Mrs. Brown 
was born March 13, 1857, in LaSalle County, this 
State, to which her parents had removed about 
1851. Her father was born in 1833, and her 
mother, Oct. 10, 1836. They were married March 
it, 1854, and the mother departed this life at her 
home in LaSalle County, Sept. 2/5, 1861. Mr. 
Edgecomb, after the death of his first wife, was 
married again, and is the father of seven sons and 
three daughters. Mrs. Knox, one of the daughters, 
is written of elsewhere in this ALBOI; Emily Eliz- 
abeth is the wife of William Smith, of Odell, and 
the boys are mostly residents of LaSalle County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members in good stand- 
ing of the Congregational Church at Emington, 




and MIT carefully training' their children to observe 
I lie principles of sobriety and morality, which will 
constitute, them worthy members of society, well 
fitted to bear the mantle of their honored parents. 



ON. LEWIS E. PAYSON. It has been 
truly said that the history of a country is 
contained in the lives of its citizens. Most 
emphatically can this saying be applied to 
Livingston County, and her distinguished citizen, 
Hon. L. E. Payson, of Pontiac. now Member of 
Congress for the Ninth District of Illinois. 

Judge Payson is a native of Rhode Island, and 
was born in Providence, Sept. 17, 1841, and is 
the eldest child of Hanson and Maria (Briggs) Pay- 
son, natives of the same State. All the children of 
Hanson and Maria Payson, five in number, are now 
living but one. Those living besides our subject 
are: Hanson L., now living in Milwaukee, and en- 
gaged in the mercantile business; Charles, a promi- 
nent attorney of Iroquois County, and Alma, now 
Mrs. S. Simmons, also of Iroquois County. The 
paternal grandfather of Hanson Payson was a na- 
tive of Massachusetts, where he engaged in the 
manufacture of paper, and was a much respected 
citizen. The father of the subject of our biogra- 
phy was a contractor and builder. In 1852 he 
moved with his family to Illinois, settling in 
Henry County, where he engaged in farming. He 
has now retired from active labor, and is living in 
Iroquois County. 

Young Payson attended the schools of Providence 
up to the time his parents emigrated to the West. 
From this time until he was nineteen years of age 
he assisted his father in farm work. He was then 
placed at Lombard University, Knox County. 111., 
to complete his school education. Subsequent to 
his college life he had the degree of LL. D. con- 
ferred upon him. After leaving the university he 
repaired to Ottawa, 111., and entered as a student 
in the law office of Bushnell, Avery & Gray, study- 
ing there until September, 18(52, when he was ad- 
mitted to the bar. He remained with the above- 
named firm until 1865, when he came to Pontiac 
and opened a law office. He was quite successful 



\ 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1037 



iii his law practice, and soon took front rank with 
the members of his profession. He was elected to 
the office of City Attorney in 1807, which position 
he held for three consecutive years. At the end of 
that time he was elected to the office of County 
Judge and served four 3~ears. In 1880 Judge Pay- 
son was elected to his first term in Congress, as a 
Republican Representative from the Ninth District, 
to which place he has been continuously re-elected. 
Prior to this time he was on the Board of Education 
for several years; was local attorney for the Chi- 
cago & Alton Railroad Co. for fifteen years, and for 
the Illinois Central for ten years. He not only 
distinguished himself as an able lawyer and advo- 
cate, but was successful financial!}', accumulating a 
large property. 

In 1 876 the Judge completed his present beauti- 
ful residence, which contains all the modern con- 
veniences and luxuries. The grounds, which are 
extensive, are elegantly laid out and adorned with 
choice flowers and shrubs and tall shade trees. 
There is a gradual slope from the dwelling back- 
ward, terminating at the waters of the Vermilion, 
which gracefully winds around, shaded by trees, 
whose branches extend over its banks. 

From the time of Mr. Payson's first entrance 
into Congress he has been active, laborious and 
watchful, ever looking to the good of the country 
and his constituents. This course has placed him 
among the foremost legislators of Congress, and 
given him an influential position. During his long 
term there he has been on many important commit- 
tees, among which were the Judiciary, Public and 
Private Lands, and Coinage. He was appointed by 
President Arthur on the Assay Commission, serv- 
ing two years. Here, as at all times, looking to the 
general welfare of the people, he was opposed to the 
suspension of the silver coinage. Among the more 
important bills introduced by Judge Payson, and 
bills championed by him, were those having for 
their object the reclaiming to the public domain 
what is known as lapsed land grants, which were 
conditionally granted to railroad corporations, and 
the Alien Land Bill. By his able efforts, and those 
of his co-workers, the prodigal land policy pursued j 
^ by former legislators has been set aside or annulled, 
disappointing the voracious appetites of land-shark i 



railroad corporations, thereby saving millions of 
acres of land to the Government. Some fourteen 
bills were passed and became laws for reclaiming to 
the Government lands which had been granted to 
railroad corporations, and which had been forfeited 
by them for non-compliance with the conditions of 
said grants. 

Judge Pa 3 r son took the ground that the railroad 
corporations not having carried out the provisions 
of the laws granting these lands. Congress had the 
power to restore them to the public domain; that 
the grant was not a mere present but was a premium, 
offered to secure certain work done of public im- 
portance. Others held that Congress had not the 
power to restore these lands. These measures were 
pas>ed in the Forty-eighth Congress. From the 
Texas Pacific there were restored to the Government 
between 18,000,000 and 19,000,000 acres; from 
the Atlantic & Pacific about 23,000,000. There 
were other minor bills passed restoring about 
12,000,000. These lands were mostly in Cali- 
fornia, New Mexico and the Indian Territory. The 
result of the revocation of the indemnity land 
reservation was the restoration to the Government 
for settlement of some 30,000,000 acres. In this, 
Judge Payson was the pioneer. By his own special 
efforts about 55,000,000 acres of granted lands 
have been restored to the control of the Govern- 
ment. 

Another bill in which the subject of this sketch 
was the-principal mover was one providing for the 
unlawful enclosure of the public domain, the Alien 
Land Bill, which he introduced, and had passed by 
the last Congress, providing that no foreigner shall 
acquire or hold any real estate wherein the United 
States has jurisdiction. The passage of this bill 
will be of great benefit to the people of the United 
States. 

Judge Payson is also preparing a bill which he 
proposes to introduce to the next Congress, regu- 
lating emigration to the United States. This bill 
provides that no foreigner, unless coming on a 
pleasure tour, shall be permitted to land here, with- 
out producing a certificate from the United States 
Consul stationed at the port, or in the country from 
which he comes, stating that he was a law-abiding 
citizen, and had been self-sustaining up to the time 



I 

T 



1038 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






of liis departure. This will be one of the most, if 
not the most, important bill that has been presented 
to Congress for many years, and should be sup- 
ported by all who have the true interests of America 
at heart. Should the Judge secure the passage of 
this bill he will add greatly to his well-earned fame 
as a legislator, statesman and patriot. 

In the Senatorial election for a successor to the 
lamented Logan, Judge Payson secured nineteen 
votes, and was next to the successful candidate, 
Hon. C. B. Farwell. On none could the mantle of 
this distinguished soldier and statesman have better 
fallen than on the subject of this biography, and 
really he is the man for the public to look to, to 
take the place of this departed statesman. 

The Judge has been frequently and favorably 
mentioned as the Republican candidate for Governor 
of Illinois, but he would much prefer to remain in 
Congress and finish the legislation he has in view. 
Unquestionably he can hold his place in Congress 
as long as he desires. He enjo3'8 the confidence 
and the affection of his constituency, and this may 
be applied, not only to the Republican, but the 
Democratic paity. He is supported by the people 
of the district, irrespective of party, and he has so 
ably and faithfully represented their interests that 
they want no other. 

Judge Payson is now in the prime of manhood, 
and it might be said is now especially fitted by 
study and long experience for a career of great use- 
fulness to the nation. The time in which he is not 
engaged in public affairs he spends chiefly with his 
family at his beautiful home, which is surrounded 
with elegance and culture. Like most prominent 
and intellectual men the Judge has the faculty of 
remembering in a remarkable degree, the features 
and names of persons whom he meets. He rarely 
forgets a name or face. There is hardly a man in 
his district whose name he cannot give the instant 
of greeting. 

Judge Payson has a splendid physique, standing 
five feet ten and one-half inches high, and weigh- 
ing about 200 pounds. His chest is deep, and j 
shoulders broad, carrying a large and well-bal- 
anced head. His features are full and open, with 
an ample forehead, beneath which are light blue, or 
gray eyes, glowing with honest brightness. His 



complexion is somewhat florid, with hair cast in 
blonde, now slightly sprinkled with gray. His 
voice is clear and rich in private conversation, in 
which he excels, and magnetic and commanding in 
the forum or on the stump. As an orator he has 
but few equals in the country. Added to this a 
dignified bearing, a polished and cordial manner, 
and a pretty fair pen portrait may be had of the 
popular and distinguished Representative of the 
Ninth Congressional District of Illinois. 




HOMAS LAWLESS. The home of which 
this gentleman took possession in the spring 
of 1875 is one of the most desirable in 
Round Grove Township. It lies on section 22, and 
comprises 160 acres of valuable land under a good 
state of cultivation. Upon this Mr. Lawless has 
effected good improvements, having a neat and sub- 
stantial dwelling, a good barn and all the other 
buildings required by the first-class agriculturist. 
He has labored industriously and persistently, and 
besides being regarded as one of the most skillful 
farmers of the northeastern part of Livingston 
County, is held in equal esteem as a neighbor and 
citizen. 

The early home of our subject was on the other 
side of the Atlantic, in County Wexford, Ireland, 
where he was born in 1828, and from which he 
emigrated when a young man in the spring of 1852. 
He landed at New York and thence proceeded 
southwest to the State of Mississippi, where he was 
employed for a time on the levee. Thence he mi- 
grated to LaSalle County, this State, and in the 
spring of 1853 entered the employ of the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company, with which he remained 
two years. The two years following he was vari- 
ously engaged in LaSalle County, and then going 
into Bureau County occupied himself at farming 
until the spring of 1868, when he became a resident 
of this county and operated on rented land in Ne- 
vada Township for a period of seven years. He 
had lived economically, and finally invested his 
hard-earned capital in the Land which he now occu- 
pies. This was partially improved but the build- 
ings were very unsuitable for his purpose. He 





1 



$$. -ft: 



4 






I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1041 



put up his present residence in 1S7.">, and has from 
time to time added those embellishments to the 
farm which have made it a point of attraction in 
that section of country. 

While a resident of LaSalle County Mr. Lawless 
was married, in January, 1854, to Miss Margaret 
Lynch, a native of his own country, and born in 
County Waterford about 1830. This union re- 
sulted in the birth of eight children, most of whom 
are at home with their parents. Their eldest son, 
Thomas M.. married Miss Ellen Swanton, and is 
carrying on farming for himself near his father's 
homestead ; Annie, the eldest daughter, is unmar- 
ried; Mary is the wife of Edward Johnson, who is 
engaged as a stonemason at Reddick, 111.; Katie, 
Mrs. Frank Laidig, resides in Decatur County, 
Kan. The younger ones are Maggie, Edward V., 
Hannah and Nora, and arc still engaged in their 
studies at school. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lawless, were reared in the faitli of 
the Catholic Church, to which they still adhere with 
loyal devotion. Our subject upon coining to this 
section of country was at once recognized as a val- 
uable accession to the community, and has always 
taken a lively interest in those enterprises inaugu- 
rated for the general well-being of the people. He 
has served as .School Director and also as Town- 
ship Assessor, lie votes the straight Democratic 
ticket, and keeps himself well posted upon matters 
of general interest. 



ATRICK F. McDONALD is a farmer and 
stock-raiser on section 21, Esmen Town- 
ship, where he has a half section of highly 
improved and well cultivated land. His 
residence, as well as the site on which it stands, is 
one among the finest in Livingston County, and 
his barns and other buildings thoroughly correspond. 
A view of the homestead embellishes this volume. 
He was born in Harrison, now Taylor County, W. 
\'a.. on the 12th of May, 12.", and is the second 
child of six born to Benjamin and Nancy A. (Flem- 
ing) McDonald, both natives of Virginia, which 
State was also the natal place of his paternal grand- 
parents, James and Mary McDonald. The niatcr- 




ual grandparents were James and Elizabeth (Welch) 
Fleming, also natives of Virginia, and farmers by 
occupation. The father of our subject was a 
farmer and lived and died in Virginia, where he 
was born. He was a patriotic citizen and always 
regretted that he was too young to engage in the 
War of 1812. 

Patrick F. McDonald was reared a farmer boy 
and obtained his education in the common schools 
which were located near his home. When he had 
leisure from his home work he was accustomed to 
working on the neighboring farms, but did not face 
the vicissitudes of life independently until twenty- 
three years of age. On the 1.3th of April, 1848. 
he married Elizabeth Hustead, the oldest child of 
Moses and Mary (Goodwin) Hustead, of Virginia, 
where their daughter Elizabeth was born on the 
16th of February, 1827. Her father was a farmer 
by occupation and a cooper by trade. The family 
lived on a farm until the father's death, and the 
widow still resides there. 

Our subject and his wife began the battle of life 
on a Virginia farm, where they remained sixteen 
.years. They experienced some of the horrors of 
the Civil War but he was not in active service. 
After the close of the war he sold his farm in Vir- 
ginia and came to Illinois and Livingston County, 
purchasing ICO acres on section 21, Esmen Town- 
ship, on which a. little house had been erected, 
which he occupied for about nine years. He then 
bought the adjoining quarter section of land, and 
erected the commodious residence which he now 
occupies. He has been engaged in farming and 
stock-raising ever since he came to Illinois, and 
takes great pride in the improvements on his farm 
as well as in his stock. His cattle are graded Dur- 
hams, his horses are Norman and Cleveland bays, 
his hogs Poland-China, and his sheep Cotswold and 
Southdown. The crops he produces are largely 
corn and small grain. 

Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have become the parents 
of seven children, six living Thaddens S., Clau- 
dius ('., Ai Gordon, Loretta, Ella May and Nevada. 
Sabra H. is deceased. Thaddens married Ella 
Bradley, and is a farmer in Round Grove Town- 
ship, where he deals in stock and conducts a grain 
commission business in the village of Campus; 



1 ' 

f 



t , 1(142 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Claudius married Martini Corbin, and lives in 
Strcator, but is not in active business at present; 
Gordon married Anna Whalen, and lives at home 
with his parents: Loretta is the wife of Walter B. 
Cornell, and lives at Gre.it Bend, Kan.; Ella mar- 
ried Charles C'ook, and lives in Pontiac, where her 
husband has been engaged in the meat business. 

Mr. McDonald has served as School Director 
and Trustee many terms, and has assessed the 
township five times. He is not active in politics, 
and votes entirely independent of political party. 
He was formerly an old-line Whig. He is one 
among the most enterprising citizens of Esmen 
Township, and is favorably known throughout 
Livingston County. Mrs. McDonald is an active 
member of the Baptist Church. 





i-HOMAS L. H. HOLMAN. Central Illinois 
was settled by a most excellent class of peo- 
ple, as its present position indicates. They 
came from all parts of the East ant? South, and 
formed the happy combination most needed for the 
development of the soil and the other natural re- 
sources of this section. Particularly has Ohio con- 
tributed to the honors of her sister State, and parted 
from many of her good men who were anxious to 
try an experiment on prairie land. Among these 
was the subject of this history, who more than 
thirty-one years ago bid adieu to the Buckeye State 
to seek his fortunes farther West. 

Mr. Holman is now one of the most prominent 
farmers and stock-raisers of Sannemin Township, 
where he owns 205 acres of highly cultivated land 
with a beautiful residence, surrounded with natural 
and ornamental trees, and in the rear the barns and 
other buildings required by the intelligent and pro- 
gressive farmer. His stock is of first-class descrip- 
tion and the farm machinery of the most improved 
pattern. This home he has built up by his own 
unaided efforts, and may be pardoned if he views 
it with honest pride. Not alone lias he accumulated 
a competency, but ha> also secured the warmest 
regard of his neighbors as a valued factor in their 
midst and one who lias stimulated them to emulate 



his example. A view of the residence, with its 
surroundings, is presented on an accompanying 
page. 

When the parents of our subject were gladdened 
by the birth of this son, on the 10th of October, 
1834, thej 1 resolved to bestow upon him a name 
which perhaps would be the means of inciting him 
to worthy endeavor and ambitions, when he should 
conic to years of responsibility. He was therefore 
given the name of Thomas L. Hainer, in honor of 
that great Ohio Statesman who distinguished him- 
self during the decade from 183.5 to 184.">. The 
boy was reared to manhood in his native county, 
and remained under the parental roof until reach- 
ing his majority. His father, Frank Holman, was a 
native of New Jersey, and the mother, Mrs. Cassie 
(Leonard) Holman, was born in Brown County. 
Ohio. Her paternal uncle, John Leonard, figured 
as one of the early patriots and served in the War 
of 1812. The family is of German and French 
ancestry, but of American birth for several genera- 
tions, steady, reliable and industrious people, who 
had nothing to do with police courts or lawyers, but 
pursued the even tenor of their way, mostly engaged 
in agriculture. 

Our subject was the fourth son of his parents, and 
in common with his brothers, attended the district 
school mostly during the winter seasons, and in 
summer made himself useful on the farm. After 
reaching his twenty-eighth year he was united in 
marriage, Feb. 2<J, 1863, to Miss Matilda B. Bell, 
who was born in Goshen, Clermont Co., Ohio, Oct. 
4, 1841, and is the daughter of Richard and Susan 
(McNeal) Belt, who were natives of Maryland and 
Ohio respectively. The mother died in Clermont 
County, Ohio, in 1844; the father lives in Batavia, 
Ohio. 

Mr. and Mrs. Holman after their marriage came 
directly to Illinois, and took up their residence on 
a farm in LaSalle County. In 1*71 they disposed 
of their property in that section, and coming to 
Saunemin Township. Mr. II. purchased 205 acres of 
land < n section 1, where he has since operated with 
the results already mentioned. His homestead 
forms one of the most attractive spots in the land- 
scape of Saunemin Township, and is a striking 
illustration of the cultivated tastes and the industry 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1043 



T 



of its proprietor. lie commenced at the foot of the 
ladder in life, and his present condition indicates 
what gooil use lie has made of his time and opj>or- 
tunities. This land when it came into his posses- 
sion bore little resemblance to its present condition, 
as there stood upon it only a .small worthless build- 
ingand it w;is practically in its primitive condition, 
having been but slightly cultivated. Our subject 
and his wife have not been blessed with children, 
but their home is often brightened by the presence 
of friends and neighbors, who find it one of the 
most attractive resorts in the neighborhood in which 
to spend a social hour. 

Mr. Holman has represented Saunemin Township 
in the Count}' Board of Supervisors, and served as 
Road Commissioner for a period of fourteen years; 
the latter position he occupies at the present time. 
He has kept his eye upon the schools in his vicinity 
and has served as Director in his district, seeming to 
increase his popularity each year, as in the spring of 
1 887 he received ever}- vote cast in the district for 
Director. Mr. Holman is a Democrat in politics 
but has been a strong advocate of the Greenback 
party. 



^ILLIAM EDWARD MORRIS, one of the 

prominent and best-known fanners of 
Dwight Township, comes of an old family 
of English farmers, springing from near Manches- 
ter, Lancashire, England. The grandfather of our 
subject, James Morris, lived on a large farm be- 
longing to Lord Derby, over thirty-five years, and 
became the father of a family of six children, 
named as follows: John, Mary, Thomas, Ann, Will- 
iam and Alice. 

James Morris was a typical English farmer of the 
better class, and was a man of much force of char- 
acter and intelligence, but with no education, not 
being able either to read or write, and said that 
when he was a boy the only attempt made to teach 
him to write was with the finger in the sand. lie 
lived the quiet, easy-going life of his class, and was 
a miser and breeder of fine cattle and horses. The 
crops then raised on English farms were principally 
wheat, potatoes and dairy products. He accumu- 
lated a handsome property, and at his death be- 




queathed $0,000 to each of his children. lie has 
always been held in the greatest respect by his de- 
scendants. William Morris, his son, and the father 
of our subject, was born on his father's farm, where 
he remained until he immigrated to this country. 
lie married and had one son, William Edward, of 
whom we write. The wife died soon after mar- 
riage, and Mr. Morris, emigrating to America, 
worked on a farm near Philadelphia for Daniel 
Wolmer, where he was again married, and by this 
wife had ten children. He finally cnrne to Grnndy 
County, 111., where he rented land, and afterward 
purchased a farm of 200 acres in Dwight Township, 
this county, where he resided until his death, which 
occurred Oct. 6, 1878. 

William E. Morris, our subject, was born in En- 
gland on the farm where his grandfather lived for 
many years. His mother died before he was old 
enough to take cognizance of persons or events, 
and his father coining to America, young William 
grew up under the care of his grandfather, and 
learned farming in the thorough manner of the En- 
glish. He received but little education when 
young r as England at that day did little for the edu- 
cation of the masses, but he has added to what he 
then obtained by reading, observation and experi- 
ence. Young William passed his early life amid 
the rural scenes of his native country, and at the 
age of twenty, in March, 18fi6, came to this coun- 
try with his father, who had returned to England on 
a visit. Upon his arrival he went to work upon 
his father's farm, where he continued until he was 
twenty-three years of age. 

On the 7th of January, 1869, Mr. .Morris was 
married to Miss Jemima Keck, of Kane County, 
111., where she was born on the 28th of July, 1 840. 
She is the daughter of Adam and Catherine Ann 
(Coleman) Keck, of New York State, who settled in 
the valley of the Mohawk many generations ago. 
Her ancestors were a sturdy and thrifty class of 
people, who transmitted those characteristics to their 
descendants. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Mor- 
ris has been blessed with three children Catherine 
I)., Rosa May and C'alvin P. 

The first year after marriage Mr. Morris rented a 
farm in his present neighborhood, and in the fol- 
lowing year bought a tract of ninety acres near 







Kill 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I) wight, upon which he resided seven years, and 
then purchased hi* present homestead, consisting <>f 
120 acres near this town. In his farming opera- 
tions he has adopted the most approved modern 
methods, and employed the best agricultural im- 
plements and machinery. Mr. Morris early at- 
tached himself to the Republican party, and has con- 
sistently worked and voted with that political or- 
ganization. Both himself and wife are members of 
the Methodist Church. It is the determination of 
Mr. and Mrs. Morris to afford every possible facil- 
ity to their children in procuring a good education, 
and at the time this sketch is written they are all 
making splendid progress in their studies at the ' 
Dwight High School. The parents are thoroughly j 
wrapt up in their affection for their children, and 
will leave no effort unexerted to place them in their 
proper position in life. 

As representative of the buildings in this section 
of countrj', we have pleasure in presenting on an- 
other page of this ALBUM a view of Mr. Morris' 
residence and its surroundings. 



T 



OSEPII PIPER, a well-known farmer am, 
I stock-raiser, whose farm is located on sec- 
tion 23, Rook's Creek Township, is an 
adopted citizen of this country, having been 
born in England on the 1st of February, 1848, and 
brought to the United States by his parents when 
about eleven months old. 

Mr. Piper is the son of Richard and Hannah ( Vaz- 
son) Piper, who upon coming to this country lo- 
cated on Fox River, Kendall County, where they 
remained until the subject of this sketch was about 
thirteen'years of age. They then came to Living- 
ston County, and rented land in Nevada Town- 
ship, which they cultivated about four years, and 
then purchased a farm. At the end of two years 
they disposed of this property, and bought land in 
Rook's Creek Township, upon which they located. 
Mr. Piper remained with his father, assisting in tin- 
work on the farm until he wa twenty-one vears of 
age, when he entered into partnership with him and 
continued about five yea.'"-. On the 7th of January. 
1*72. Mi 1 . Piper was married to Miss Elizabeth In- 



gram. The partnership arrangement with his father 
existed during the first two years of his married 
life, and in the spring of 187H he moved to his 
present home, which originally formed apart of his 
father's farm. 

Mr. and Mrs. Piper have had born to them six 
children: Charles, Sept. 15, 1872; Nellie, Jan. 3, 
1875; Albert, Dec. 23, 1876; Chester, July 28, 
1880; Olive. Feb. 20, 1885; and Ingant Norah, 
Aug. 20, 1887. Mr. Piper was the eldest of a 
family of five children, the others being Mary, John, 
George and Harriet. Mary married Aaron A. Pem- 
berton, and lives in Rook's Creek Township, where 
they have three children; John married Emma Mc- 
Maiuis, has three children, and lives in the State of 
Nebraska; Harriet married George G. Breese, and 
lives in Pontiac Township. 

Mr. Piper's father is about sixty-six years of 
age, having been born in England on the 28th of 
January, 1822. The grandfather's name was John, 
who remained in England and lived to be about 
eighty-five years of age. The father of Mrs. Piper 
was John Ingram, who was born in Virginia, and 
moved to Illinois when she was about four years 
old; he died at about thirty-five years of age. 
Mr. Piper's education was received in the common 
schools. He has been Supervisor one year, Town- 
ship Collector four years, and School Director for 
several years. He cast his first Presidential vote 
for U. S. Grant on his second election, and has 
voted the Republican ticket constantly since. 



HILIP SHRIMPTON, who is a farmer and 
one of the pioneers of Dwight Township, 
was born in 1842, and the family of which 
he is a member is of English origin. Joseph 
Shrimpton, his father, was born in Buckingham- 
shire, England, where he was a needle-maker by 
trade. While yet a resident of that country he 
married Mary Hampton, and they were the parents 
of three children Heber, Sarah and Philip. 

While their children were yet young the parents 
of our subject immigrated to this country, settling 
in Livingston County, where they engaged in farm- 
ing; but not being satisfied with the outlook for 




t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1047 - . 



Illinois at that time and yearning for the scenes of 
their nativity, they returned to England in 1856. 
The next ,year, however, yielding to the persuasions 
of the sons, who felt convinced that Illinois was to 
be a great State and would furnish a pleasant and 
profitable place of residence, the father returned 
with his family in 1857. In 1860 he moved from 
Livingston County to Grundy County, where he 
remained until 1865, when he again came to this 
county and purchased a quarter section of land, a 
portion of which is yet owned by the sons. The 
father was a devoted member of the Baptist Church, ' 
and in politics was a faithful adherent of the ' 
Republican party. Through industry and economy 
and that good management for which the English 
people are noted, he succeeded in accumulating con- 
siderable property. 

When his parents first came to the United States 
Mr. Shrimpton was but thirteen years of age, and 
yet before leaving England he had become skilled 
in the making of needles and particularly in making 
crochet needles, which was the speical branch of the 
work in which his father engaged. The business 
of making sewing needles before the introduction 
of machinery and before large factories had been 
established, had been followed by father and son in 
this family for generations. It is said that the 
father of our subject could take a hair from his 
head, make an eye in it and thread it. In this par- 
ticular vocation the Shrimpton family became much 
noted in that part of England in which the}' lived. 

In 1873 Mr. Shrimpton was married to Mary A., 
daughter of H. R. and Mary (McGraw) Hamilton, 
of Blackstone, Livingston Co., 111., and this union 
has been blessed with two children Adelbert and 
Grace Pearl. The children are both living, and in 
good qualities and intelligence are counterparts of 
the.ir parents. For several years before the death 
of Mr. Shrimpton's father they managed the farm 
of the latter jointly, and in these efforts were suc- 
cessful. Mr. Shrimpton owned forty acres of land 
at the time of his father's death, and inherited forty 
acres of the estate, which gives him a farm that is 
ample for all his necessities and just large enough 
to keep in good condition constantly. He acts with 
the Democratic party in political matters, but has 
never sought political preferment of any kind. He 



is modest and unassuming in his demeanor, both in 
politics and business affairs, but belongs to that 
class of undemonstrative men who can always be 
relied upon when emergencies arrive. He arid his 
wife enjoy the respect and esteem of the people of 
all the surrounding country. 

We present with pleasure a view of Mr. Shrimp- 
ton's homestead on another page of this work. 




sv /WILLIAM BROUGHTON, who was widely 
known in Livingston County, and in honor 
of whom the township of Broughton was 
named, was born in Monroe County, N. Y., Dec. 
20, 1823, and departed this life at his home in 
Broughton Township, Sept. 2!), 1884. Me was one 
of the earliest pioneers of Central Illinois, to which 
he came from the State of Ohio, where he had 
lived several years after leaving the place of his 
birth. His residence in this county dated from the 
1st of May, 1852. 

Mr. Broughton was distinguished as an active 
and enterprising member of the community, strong 
in his ideas of right and fearless in the expresssion 
of his sentiments. He became an extensive land- 
holder, owning 1,026 acres, the most of which he 
brought to a good state of cultivation. He fol- 
lowed the life of a sailor on the Lakes for a time in 
his early manhood, but after settling down upon 
terra firma succeeded remarkably well in his fann- 
ing operations and carried with him all through 
life the elements of mind and character which made 
him admired by a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances, and valued as a representative man of 
a highly intelligent community. 

Mr. Broughton spent his 'childhood and youth in 
his native State, and after going to Ohio located in 
Medina County, where he was married on the 6th 
of December, 1849, to Miss S. E. Smart, a lady of 
excellent family and American parentage. She 
passed away at her home in this county, Oct. 26, 
1868. Of this union there were born three chil- 
dren : Alvira, now Mrs. .1. Lewis; Arvilla, deceased, 
and Elmer, who is unmarried and largely identified 
with the fanning and stock-raising interests of 
Broughton Township. 

William Broughton was (lie first man who repiv- 



f 



i 

[f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




GUIS FRANCIS LicDUC. It often happens 
that genius seeks for itself some quiet spot 
where it can commune with nature and take 
pleasure in reviewing the glories of the past. The 
subject of this biography, a French gentleman of 
fine education and much intellect, has sought a spot 
in Central Illinois where he gives scope to his in- 
clinations, and where for the last eight years espec- 
ially he has been living comparatively retired from 
active labor, and enjoy ing in a large measure the 
pleasures of rural life, while engaging in the liter- 
ary work of which he has always been fond and to 
which he is admirably adapted. His pen is now 
chiefly employed in writing a scries of sketches, en- 
titled ''Incidents during the Siege and Occupation 
of Rome 113- the French Army in 1*49," which are 
being published in the Chenoa Gazette, and read by 
:i large number of people with pleasure and profit. 
Our subject, who comes from an old and prom- 



.-ented his township in the County Board of Super- 
visors, which office he held for a number of years, 
and was also Assessor for a long period. He took 
an active interest in politics, and in early life iden- 
tified himself with the Republican party, of which 
he remained a firm adherent until the day of his 
death. His first purchase of land was a tract of raw 
prairie, over which a plowshare had never passed, 
and for some years there was scarcely the cabin of 
another settler in sight. He labored early and late 
to cultivate the soil and establish the homestead, 
and was richly rewarded for his industry and per- 
severance. In his death the county lost one of its 
most honored men and the community one of its 
most valued members. 

Elmer Broughton was born Nov. 12, 1858, and 
has inherited largely the talents and energy of his 
father, while he bids fair to perpetuate the charac- 
teristics for which the family have been noted for 
generations. He has managed with excellent judg- 
ment the property which has fallen to him, and, al- ! 
though not laboring with the difficulties attendant 
upon the efforts of his father before him, is a man 
who would probably be equal to any ordinary j 
emergency which might arise. 



inent family, was born in Huningue, Alsace, then 
a possession of France, in 1821. His father, F. H. 
LeDuc, was born in Liel, Grand Duchy of Baden, 
Germany, in 1780, became a French citizen in 
1808, and married in 1 !.">. lie was enrolled as 
master bootmaker of the (ith Regiment of Artillery, 
and was in the Russian campaign, lie was sta- 
tioned with the depot company of the regiment at 
the fortress of Huningue, which in June, 1815, was 
surrounded by .'!0,000 Austrians under the com- 
mand of the Austrian Archduke John, only fifty 
cannoniers of the line being in the fortress at the 
time. They organized, nevertheless, for the de- 
fense, into a company of 100, by filling up with 
citizen volunteers, of which company LeDuc was 
second in command, and with some women volun- 
teers, who took charge of the guard posts, they 
succeeded in repelling for over two months every 
charge or assault of the enemy. Day after day the 
Austrians were repulsed, and could not get a foot- 
hold anywhere within range of the fortress guns, 
and the place was surrendered only after Paris had 
capitulated to the English, Prussian and Russian 
armies. He died in 1853. Magdalen Bashong, 
the mother of Louis, was born in Maseveaux, De- 
partment Hant Rhin, France, in 1788, and died in 
1826. 

Our subject, after leaving school, had followed 
mercantile business until a youth of eighteen, when 
he volunteered in the French army, and two weeks 
later was promoted a non-commissioned ollicer. He 
was soon afterward called to more important sta- 
tions, and when nineteen years old was appointed 
private secretarj' to the Duke of Reggio. Here 
the Duke of Orleans, the eldest son of Louis 
Philippe, and Crown Prince of France, took notice 
of him, and appointed him private secretaiy to his 
wife, the Crown Princess. While en route to Paris 
he met a courier with the news that an accident had 
befallen the Prince, whose team took fright, and 
who, in leaping from his carriage, had broken his 
neck. The courier insisted that Louis should re- 
turn to his regiment, but Louis answered. "I am 
summoned to the Royal court and to the court I 
shall go." lie accordingly rode on, and in due time 
pieseiitcd himself to the Princess. Thence he was 
referred to the King who received him cordially. 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1049 



but the secretaryship seemed to have been aban- 
doned, and the young man returned to his regiment 
with the promise of the first vacant place at court. 
This, however, was never realized, but the promo- 
tion of young LeDuc in the army was so rapid 
that before twenty years of age he was First Lieu- 
tenant of Artillery and Secretary of the Minister of 
War. 

In 1849, when the war in Italy broke out, our 
subject, who was master of the Italian language, 
was called to important positions, decorated with 
the Cross of the Legion of Honor for bravery, and 
was eventually sent with a flag of truce to the tri- 
umvirate of Rome. After being conducted into 
the Senate Chamber the Minister of War asked 
Louis, "What would you do if we should continue 
the defense?" The young man answered, "Signor, 
such a proceeding would be wanton bloodshed; we 
will take the city of Rome, and we shall have 
everyone of you here shot within twenty-four 
hours." Next day the French army entered the 
holy city without a shot being fired. Upon the 
breaking out of the French Revolution and the 
deposition of King Louis Philippe, young LeDuc 
lost two powerful friends and protectors, but held 
his office in Rome five years, during which time he 
often came into contract with Pope Pius the Ninth 
and his famous Secretary of State, Antonelli. When 
ill Pius received him in his bedroom several times, 
and subsequently recommended him for promotion 
to the French commander. He served as secretary 
and aide-de-camp to Marshal Bugeaud at Algiers, 
but owing to the constant change of atmosphere, 
which had its effects upon his health, he returned to 
Europe, whence, in December, 1851, he sailed to 
America. After his arrival he remained in New 
York City one year, and then coming to Illinois he 
located upon his present farm, three and one-half 
miles northwest of Clienoa. and has since been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits, lie has done much 
for the improvement of his township, and effected 
the emigration of many excellent French families 
to this country. 

Mr. LeDuc is a finely educated gentleman, read- 
ing, writing and speaking several languages fluently. 
Although wealthy he is not ostentatious, but en- 
joys life in his own quiet way, devoted to his books 



and the society of his chosen friends. While a resi- 
dent of Salem County, N. Y., he was united in 
marriage, June 13, 1853, with Miss Eve B. Neidig, 
who is a native of the Kingdom of Saxony, where 
she was born April 25. 1834. When about ten 
years of age she came to the United States with her 
parents, Nicholas and Eve (Lavender) Neidig. Our 
subject and his wife became the parents of nine 
children, of whom the record is as follows: Rosina 
was born in York State, and died there when six 
months old; Jane is the wife of William Layman, 
near Pontiac; William married Miss Mary John- 
son, and is superintendent of a large farm near 
Denver, Col.; Lizzie, Mrs. Charles Nicholas, is a 
resident of Clienoa; Emma married Christian Ver- 
cler, of this count}'; Julia is teaching school at 
Council Bluffs, Iowa: Alexander and Alice are at 
home with their parents; Edna died in infancy. 

Mr. LeDuc, in 1856, planted four or five acres 
of young forest trees, and has now a beautiful grove 
near his residence. His farm includes a quarter of 
section 33, and in all respects bears comparison 
with the modern homesteads around it. Since be- 
coming an American citizen he has kept himself 
well posted upon national affairs, and uniformly 
casts his vote with the Republican party. 



CONRAD, who is located on section" 
1 3, Long Point Township, where he is suc- 
cessfully engaged in stock-raising and con- 
ducting a farm of 120 acres, is considered one of 
the model farmers of the township, and the title is 
well won. He is a native of Prussia, Germany, 
and was born on the 16th of August, 1830, and is 
the son of Albert and Mary (Ferry) Conrad. They 
were devout members of the Catholic Church, in 
the faith of which they lived and died. The father 
died in 1874, and the mother in 1877. They were 
the parents of the following-named children: Mary 
was born in 1818, was married to Joseph Parsons, 
has three children, and lives in Germany: Marcus 
was born in 1X21, and married Mary Schmidt; Rosa 
was born in 1824, was married, became the mother 
of une child, and died in 1875; her husband died in 
1872, Frank, the subject of this sketch, was the 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






youngest of the family, and came to this country 
in 1855. 

On the 19th of March, 18<!3, Mr. Conrad was 
married to Margaret Sabin, daughter of Alfred and 
Catherine (GallighiT) Sabin. Her father was born 
in 1808, and the mother on the 18th of February, 
1809. They were the parents of the following- 
named children : James L., born Jan. 17, 1831, died 
in infancy; Elizabeth Jane, born Sept. 23, 1832, 
married William Adair, had one child, and died in 
Ohio at the age of thirty-five years; Mary Ann, 
born Sept. 20, 1834, died in Ohio at the age of 
seventeen 'years; Leah, born May 7, 1836, mar- 
ried John Owens, and became the mother of seven 
children, five of whom are deceased; she resides in 
Iowa. Nancy, born Jan. 24, 1838, married Isaac 
Jack, had six children, and died in 1872, while 
living in Ohio; William Porter, born Jan. 15, 1840, 
served as a soldier in the Union army for about 
three years, and died in the South in 1 865 ; John 
Wilson, born Aug. 1, 1842, married Ellen Hanes in 
Indiana, and had one child; he died in Indiana 
after he had served three years in the Union army. 
Lucinda Margaret, the wife of the subject of this 
sketch, was born Msych 5, 1845; Morgan L. was 
born Aug. 10, 1849, married Harriet Ilussey, and 
has a family of four children ; he is a farmer and 
school teacher in Clay County, 111. 

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are the parents of the fol- 
lowing children : Louis A., born Dec. 22, 1863 ; Will- 
iam Porter, born April 20, 1865, died in 1877; 
Frank was born Sept. 13, 1807 ; Rosa, born Jan. 1 1, 
1869, died of diphtheria in 1877; Emma, born Oct. 
20, 1870; Exie, born May 10, 1872, died in infancy; 
Milton, born in 1874; Ellie, Jan. 19, 1875; Harry, 
March 31, 1877; Harvey, born May 9, 1879, and 
died in 1880; Myrta, born May 27, 1881; Delia, 
Oct. 12, 1882; Edith, Feb. 0, 1885, and Jessie A., 
Jan. 9, 1887. 

The 120-acre farm owned by Mr. Conrad, a view 
of which is .-how n in this volume, is one of the 
best cultivated in Long Point Township. It is well 
fenced, and completely drained with tile ditches. 
The buildings which have been erected are much 
belter than the average, and built witli an eye to 
comfort and convenience. In political matters Mr. 
Conrad acts with the Democratic party, but ha.- 




never engaged in politics for the purpose of obtain- 
ing official rewards. lie is a quiet, unassuming and 
substantial citizen, in whom the people of the neigh- 
borhood repose the most implicit confidence, and 
his family enjoy the esteem and good wishes of all 
with whom they come in contact. 



RS. LOTTIE E. BUOUGHTON, widow of 
the late William Broughton, in honor of 
whom the township of that name was 
called, and where he made his home the 
latter years of his life, is now residing in a comfort- 
able home at Campus, enjoying the esteem and con- 
fidence of the friends who have known her during 
her residence in Livingston County, about eight 
years. 

Mrs. Brougbton is the daughter of John B. and 
Melissa (Colburn) Phillips, natives of New York 
State, where they continued after their marriage, 
and where the mother died, at Mineville, Essex 
County, about 1851. The father still survives, and 
is now a resident of Crown Point, Essex County. 
Lottie E. was the youngest of their three children, 
and was born at Crown Point, May 4, 1849. She 
continued there with her parents until twenty-one 
years old, when she went South and joined a mar- 
ried sister at New Orleans, where she remained two 
years. Thence they removed to St. Louis, and six 
or eight; years later to Iowa. Her marriage with 
William Broughton occurred in Keokuk in the 
spring of 1879. Her sister, Mrs. C. J. Lorigan, is 
now a resident of Campus, and the two take much 
satisfaction in visiting together. 

William Broughton was born in Monroe County, 
'N. Y., Dec. 0, 1820, whence he removed to Ohio, 
and from there to this county in the spring of 1852. 
He was first married in Medina County, Ohio, Dec. 
0, 1849, to Miss S. E. Smart, by whom he became 
the father of three children Alvira, Arvilla and 
Elmer. Of these Arvilla is dead, while Alvira and 
Elmer live in Broughton Township. The wife and 
mother departed this life Oct. 2(i, 1808, after the 
removal of Mr. Broughton to the West. Snb-e- 
quenlly he was engaged for a time as a sailor and 



=. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1053 



commander <>f a lake vessel. He came to Living- 
ston County, previous to the organization of Brough- 
ton Township and entered at once into the plans of 
the settlers for the building up of this section of 
country. 

Mr. Broughton was at once recognized as a use- 
ful and public-spirited citizen and first represented 
Broughton Township in the County Board of Super- 
visors, which office he held many years, besides 
that of Assessor. He at first purchased a small 
tract of land and was very successful in his under- 
takings, finally becoming possessor of about 1,000 
acres. From the time of coming to Broughton 
Township, he was closely identified with its inter- 
ests, and it seemed to be his chief" ambition to en- 
encourage the establishment of those enterprises 
which would insure its prosperity, and bring to it 
an intelligent and progressive class of people. He 
lived many years enjoying the confidence and es- 
teem of his fellow-citizens, and passed to Ifis final 
rest Sept. 29, 1884. In 1887 Mrs. Broughton left 
the farm in the hands of Frank Rogers, and took 
up her abode in a comfortable residence at Campus, 
where she is enjoying life surrounded by all of its 
comforts and many of its luxuries. 

Mr. and Mrs. Broughton became the parents of 
two children M. DeeEtte. who was born June 1, 
1881, and William B., Jan. 1), 1885. 




ENRY FRANCIS, a citizen of Odell, h.-iv- 
|] ing retired from active farm life, was born 
in Lewis, Essex Co., N. Y., on the 1st of 
September, 1823, and is the third child of ;i 
family of eight born to Alvin and B.etsy (Soper) 
Francis, who were natives of the State of New 
York. The paternal grandparents were Samuel 
and Dorcas Francis, who were also New Yorkers, 
and the former of whom was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary War. The father of Mr. Francis was 
reared to farm life and served for a short time in 
the War of 1812. He moved to Erie County, Pa., 
in 18/52, and engaged in farming. During his life 
he was an old-line Republican, but not active in 



politics. He was accidentally killed by a fall from 
a scaffold in his barn in Erie County, Pa. The 
widow survived him nineteen years. 

Our subject spent his early days on a farm, and 
his only educational facilities were afforded by the 
common schools. At the age of eighteen he en- 
tered a chair-making establishment as an appren- 
tice to that trade, where he remained for about 
three years, and became a proficient cabinet-maker. 
He then opened a shop at Girard, Erie Co., Pa., 
where he continued nine or ten years. In 1844 he 
was married to Mary J. Pope, the daughter of 
Ichabod and Almira (Badger) Pope, of Cattarau- 
gus, N. Y. Mrs. Francis was born in New York, 
but her parents were early settlers of Pennsylvania, 
and were engaged in farming. Mr. Francis and 
his wife remained in Girard until 1855, and then 
went to Sac County, Wis., where they farmed one 
year. They then moved to LaSalle County, III., 
where he operated, a rented farm for nine years, 
and from there went to Braceville, Grundy Co., 
111., where he bought 160 acres of land, on which 
he lived for eighteen years following, engaged in 
farming and stock-raising. 

In March, 1865, Mrs. Francis died. She had be- 
come the mother of eight children, all of whom are 
living Mary E., Julia, Amice E., Florence A'., 
Perry D., Franklin W., May E. and Nelson G. 
Arrace married Lake L. Francis, a farmer, and they 
live in Nebraska; Julia married David Layman, 
and is now a widow living near home; Florence 
married Lucius Coleman,and they live in Gardner; 
Perry married Emily Smith, and lives in Lane 
Count}', Kan., where he is engaged in farming; 
.May married William II. Ward, and lives near 
Odell; Mar)' is at home with her father; Franklin 
married Miss Mary A. Clark, and resides in Coal 
City, Grundy County; besides canning on a cloth- 
ing business, he is a land and insurance agent and 
Justice of the Peace. Nelson is farming near home. 

In 1882 Mr. Francis sold his property in Grundy 
Count)' and moved to Livingston County, where 
he bought 240 acres of improved land on section 
14, Odell Township, and eighty acres in Union 
Township. He also purchased seven acres in the 
suburbs of Odell, on which >tands a fine residence 
i occupied by himself and daughter, and a view of 



f 



10.-, | 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



which is to lie seen in this volume. He is now re- 
tired from active business. In Grundy County he 
served as Assessor, Collector, Road Commissioner 
and School Commissioner: in this county he has 
taken no active part in politics, but votes with the 
Republican party. 







BRAHAM BRU BAKER, United States 
Express Agent at Dwight, is a descendant 
of one of the oldest Pennsylvania families, 
who came originally from Holland, and 
located in Lancaster County soon after the landing 
of William Penn. The paternal grandfather of our 
subject, also Abraham Brubaker, was born in that 
county, where he spent his entire life, and passed his 
last years on the homestead which he had inherited 
from his father. He married and became the father 
of six children, namely: Jacob, Benjamin, Susan, 
Mariah, Nancy and Betsey. 

The Brubaker family were members of the Men- 
nonite Church, which derived its name from S3'inons 
Men no, who was born in 1496, in Friesland, a 
Province of the Netherlands on the northeast side 
of the Zuyder Zee. Menno was a Roman Catholic 
priest, a man of studious habits and great learning. 
He left the Mother Church and devoted himself to 
the study of theology. He was also distinguished 
for his writings, and published a book in 1539 which 
attracted much attention. The followers of his 
teachings are sometimes called the latter school of 
Anabaptists. 

Upon the invitation of William Penn in 1083, 
many Englishmen crossed the Atlantic and founded 
a settlement at German town, near Philadelphia. In 
1735 there were about, 500 families of Mennonites 
in Lancaster County alone. Altogether they now 
number about 200.000, of whom 175,00(1 are in the 
United States and Canada. They have three edu- 
cational institutions in this country, one in Hoi- 
stead, Kan., one in Wadsworth, Ohio, and one in 
Klkliart. Ind.. where they have also a publishing 
hoii>e. They also have a missionary in the Indian 
Nation. No better citi/ens are to be found in any 
community than the devoted adherents of this 
religion. For fidelity to promises and obligations, 



coupled with continuous industry and strict honesty, 
these quiet and unobtrusive characters are valued 
alike for their worth as citizens and business men. 
Abraham Brubaker, the elder, possessed in a marked 
degree the simple manners and high moral princi- 
ples peculiar to the sect, and rounded up a long and 
useful life at the age of eighty-six years. 

Jacob Brubaker, the father of our subject, was 
born on the homestead of his father, in Lancaster 
County, Pa., in 1800. Here he spent his entire life, 
and the property still remains in the hands of the 
family. He married Miss Lydia, daughter of Ben- 
jamin Whitmore, of Lancaster County, and they 
became the parents of six children, namely: Fabin, 
David, Jacob, Anna, Margaret and Abraham. In 
1838, Jacob Brubaker purchased a farm in Hunting- 
don County, Pa., where he lived until removing to 
the West, ?n 1848. He first took up his abode in 
Ogle County, this State, where he carried on farm- 
ing, and distinguished himself as'an industrious and 
hard-working man of the highest moral character 
and the most devout Christian principles. He lived, 
like his father before him, to the advanced age of 
eighty-six years, passing away in the winter of 
1886. 

Our subject was born on the old homestead in 
Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 25, 1828. He was a 
bright and ambitious boy and made the most of his 
advantages at the common schools. He was fond 
of his books, which he by no means laid aside on the 
completion of his school days, but by a continuous 
course of reading and study in after life, kept him- 
self well posted upon current events and was more 
than ordinarily well informed. He lived with his 
parents after their removal to Huntingdon County, 
and came with them to Ogle County, 111., in isjs. 
becoming familiar with farm employment! and re- 
maining under the parental roof until his marriage. 
lie chose for his bride Miss Lydia. daughter of 
John Goodman, of Huntingdon County, Pa., and 
they were married in that county Sept. 9, 1851. 
The two children born of this union are Frank and 
Jeanette, residents of Dwight, 111. After his mar- 
riage. Mr. Brul inker carried on farming in Ogle 
County until 1(!5, when coming to Dwight. he 
a.-snmed his present position, which he has held for 
a period of twenty-two years, lie is Republican in 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



=4- 

1055 t , 



politics, and a member in good standing of the Con- 
gregational Church. His "son Frank is an Express 
Messenger of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Our 
subject, socially, belongs to the I. O. O. F., and has 
held various town offices. His career has been such 
as to reflect honor upon his ancestry, which he 
traces back in a direct line to a source fully as dis- 
tinguished as that of the French Huguenots. 

Mrs. Lydia Brubaker continued the affectionate 
and faithful companion of her husband for a period 
of thirty-five years, and departed this life at her 
home in Dwight, in November, 1886. She is re- 
membered as a lady possessing all the Christian 
virtues, and was in all respects the suitable com- 
panion of her husband. Her death was mourned 
by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who 
had learned to respect her for those qualities which 
constituted her a model wife and mother, a kind 
neighbor and a faithful friend. 



tt 



'flfjAMES H. BEEKS, of Pike Township, in the 
southwestern part of this county, owns and 
occupies a quarter of section 17, upon which 
he has made all the improvements which the 
traveler now observes with an admiring eye, and 
where is presented one of the handsomest home- 
steads in this part of the count}'. The residence is 
especially fine, and the main barn, with the other 
out-buildings, is full}' in keeping with the means 
and enterprise of the proprietor. Among the prin- 
cipal features of attraction in connection with his 
home, is a beautiful grove surrounding the dwell- 
ing, and a fine orchard in the rear. The grounds 
are neatly laid out, and well kept, and the live 
stock and farm machinery are of the best descrip- 
tion. 

Mr. Beeks was one of the early settlers of Pike 
Township, coining here when his neighbors were 
few and far between, and operating first upon the 
uncultivated soil. Like man} 1 of the pioneers of 
Livingston County, he passed his boyhood days in 
Pennsylvania, having been born at West Alexan- 
der. Washington County, Sept. 18. 1.H2N. He is 
the son of Jacob Mini Margaret (Henry) Beeks, na- 



tives of Maryland and Ireland respectively. The 
father died in Washington County, Pa., and the 
mother in Marshall County. 111. The winters of 
his boyhood were spent mostly in school, while his 
summers were occupied with the labors of the farm. 
He remained a member of his father's household 
until twenty-three years of age, and was then united 
in marriage with one of his childhood associates, 
Miss Elizabeth Crow, the wedding taking place at 
the home of the bride in West Alexander, March 
18, 1852. Mrs. P. is a native of the same town as 
her husband, and was born in 1825. Her parents 
were Philip and Maria (McKennon) Crow, who 
were also natives of the Keystone State. Her 
father in 1858, emigrated westward to Marshall 
County, 111., where he purchased eighty acres of 
wild land, and farmed until 1859. The household 
circle was then broken in upon by the dread de- 
stroyer, and the mother taken away. Mr. Beeks 
subsequently sold out and removed to a point near 
the city of Bloomington, taking up a small tract of 
land and carrying on agriculture, in a moderate 
way, for two years following. He was a second 
time married, Feb. 16, 1865, to Miss Jane, daugh- 
ter of John and Jane (McCarroll) Hastings. Soon 
afterward he removed to his present home. 

Of the first marriage of our subject there were 
born five children : The eldest daughter, Maria P., 
is the wife of George Womeldorff, a farmer of Pike 
Township, located near the Beeks homestead; Fra- 
zell, the eldest son, married Miss Ella Kirkpatriek, 
and is now a resident of Cow ley County, Kan. ; 
Maggie E. is at home with her parents; Franklin 
married Miss Delia Kirkpatriek, and is also living 

I in Covvley County, Kan.; Fannie, the twin sister of 
Franklin, is the wife of Henry Witherow. of Mar- 
shall County, Kan. Of the second marriage of Mr. 
Beeks there has been born one child, a son, Henry 
C., now twenty-one years of age. 

Mr. Beeks has been the incumbent of the various 
township offices, and has officiated as Justice of the 
Peace for a period of eleven years. He was Town- 
ship Treasurer nine years, Supervisor four years, 
Assessor one term, and for several years has been 
School Director. He voted for Fremont in 1856, 
and has since been a firm supporter of Republican 

, principles. Both lie and his wife are prominently 



f 



105G 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



connected with the Presbyterian Church, and are 
widely and favorably known throughout their com- 
munity as representatives of its most solid and sub- 
stantial element. 



HAHLES M. BAKEtt, the leading furniture 
dealer of Dwight, is of German ancestry, and 
the grandson of Nathan Baker, Esq., a na- 
tive and afterward a prominent and highly re- 
spected resident of Lancaster County, Pa. Nathan 
finally removed to Bedford County, where he en- 
gaged extensively as a farmer and miller, and 
where he spent his last years. The Baker family 
were widely and favorably known throughout 
Southern Pennsylvania. 

Isaac II. Baker, the father of our subject, was 
born at the homestead of his father in Bedford 
County, Pa., Oct. 1C, 1825. He was not particu- 
larly inclined either to farming or milling, but pos- 
sessing much natural genius as a mechanic, he took 
up the carpenter trade, and after his marriage, in 
1850, migrated to Jefferson County, Ind., where he 
was employed upon woodwork for a railroad com- 
pany. Five years later he came to Dwight, and 
not long after entered the employ of the C. <fc A. It. 
H. Co., whence he proceeded South and spent some 
time in the State of Louisiana. During the war he 
became possessor of the McPherson Hotel, which 
he operated until 18(>4, when he sold out and em- 
barked in the furniture business, which he prose- 
cuted until 18*4, when he withdrew, and is now 
living in retirement in a comfortable home within 
the town limits of Dwight. 

The mother of our subject was formerly Miss 
Isabella II. Spear, and was born in Pennsylvania in 
1827. Her parents, Robert and Agnes (Cowan) 
Spear, were natives of Huntingdon County, Pa., 
and of Scotch-Irish descent. Of this union there 
were born six children, viz.: Charles M., Agnes. 
George, Ella, Maggie and John. Of these, three 
are living and residents of Dwight. The parents 
are both members of the Methodist Church, and 
Mr. Baker, politically, formerly belonged to the 
Democratic parly, but. now gives his entire support 
to the Prohibitionists. He ulliciated as Village 



Trustee six years, and has been in all respects a 
valued member of the community. lie has been 
greatly interested in the success of the temperance 
movement, and whenever opportunity occurs h.-i- 
cast the weight of his influence toward the suppres- 
sion of the liquor traffic. Although a hard worker 
many years of his life, his correct and temperate 
habits have been the means of preserving his health 
to a remarkable degree, and he bids fair to live to 
a good old age. being even now stronger and more 
active in some respects than his sons. 

The subject of this biography was born iu Jeffer- 
son County, Ind., March 23, 18411, and coming 
with his father to Dwight in tjie spring of 1*55, 
when a lad six years of age, he soon afterward be- 
gan his education in the common schools. Later 
he assisted his father at carpentering, and in 18G1 
engaged as a clerk, which occupation he followed 
until assuming the management of the old I'nion 
House, a hotel which was owned by his father, who 
was occupied in other business, which prevented 
him giving his attention to this. This property 
was sold out in 1886, and Charles M. engaged with 
his father in the furniture business, which was then 
the nucleus of the present large and lucrative trade. 

The marriage of Charles M. Baker and Miss Liz- 
zie S. Weagley was celebrated at the home of the 
bride on the 24th of December, 173. Mrs. 1. is 
the daughter of John T. and Eleanor (llilliard) 
Weagley, of Griggsville, Pike County, and of her 
union with our subject there have been born three 
children Cora M., Roy M. and Ella V., all living 
and comprising a bright and interesting little fam- 
ily. The stock and building of Mr. Baker were de- 
stroyed by fire in 1880, and he w;is obliged to be- 
gin the world over again, having no insurance. 
This, however, was not so ditlieult, as he had un- 
limited credit, and had been doing business among 
friends who had known him for years. He was 
soon upon his feet again, and in the fall of 1MH7 
found time to interest himself in the prohibition 
movement, and in connection with Frederick B. 
llargreaves, of Dwight, organixcd the first society 
in Livingston County which moved effect i\ ely 
upon the evil of intemperance. Mr. linker was 
selected lo represent the county in the State LcgU- 
lature. anil notwithstanding the elements at work in 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1057 



opposition to the success of the cause, he received 
2.1 'Jo votes, which was considered as remarkable, 
and expressed not only the sentiment of the com- 
munit}' in regard to the liquor traffic, but also its 
sentiments in regard to one of its best citizens. 

During the late campaign, Mr. Baker published 
a temperance paper entitled Facts, the management 
of which he still continues, and which is.issned reg- 
ularly, receiving the encouragement and patronage 
of the friends of the cause in the most flattering 
manner. He is also joint proprietor of the " Re- 
ligious Newspaper Company." which was incorpor- 
ated under the laws of the State of Illinois, and 
furnishes its literature principally to clergymen for 
distribution. This has proved a most successful 
enterprise, and a genuine power for good. .So- 
cially, Mr. Baker belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is 
President of the Board of Trustees of the city of 
1) wight. He and his excellent lady are connected 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and by their 
well-conducted lives have won the respect and 
confidence of the people around them. Mr. Baker 
prosecutes with earnestness whatever he undertakes, 
and the enterprises which receive his endorsement 
are usually successful. 




It. JOSEPH PAYNE, who is a dentist of 
Dwiglit, is a native of Gallia County, Ohio, 
and a descendant of excellent English and 
Scotch ancestry. His father, George Payne, 
was born at Newport-Pagnell, in England, fifty 
miles from London, in 1778, where he received few 
advantages in his childhood and began early in . 
life to "paddle his own canoe." Mr. Pa3~ne pt- 
sessed, however, the qualities of resolution and 
persistence, and soon after beginning to receive 
wages saved gradually and made wise investments, 
so that he finally accumulated a handsome property. 
He dealt largely in real estate and was chiefly in- 
strumental in the building up of Tavistock Square, 
London, where he finally resided, and attained to 
the dignity of his carriage and four at a time when 
only very wealth}' people could afford such luxury. 
The mother of our subject who, as a maiden, was 
Miss Isabella Smith, of Edinburgh. Scotland, was the 



sister of John and James Smith, two Scotch mission- 
aries to New South Wales, where they greatly dis- 
tinguished themselves for their labors and piety. 
George Payne and his young wife immediately after 
marriage took up their residence at No. 1 Tavistock 
Square, where they first dined after the ceremon\ r , 
and where their first child was subsequently born. 
There were afterward added nine more children to 
the household. 

The father of our subject, after his marriage, con- 
tinued his business in London for some time, and 
finally became security for his brother James, who 
was largely interested in navigation and was an ex- 
tensive importer of rare foreign woods. He became 
embarrassed by the loss of a fleet of vessels and ap- 
pealed to his brother George to assist him out of 
his difficulties. The latter signed paper to a large 
amount, which could not be met at maturity, and 
the property of both brothers was swept away. 
Seeing that ruin was inevitable, Mr. Payne, before 
the notes came due, went to the creditors and offered 
them certain property which he owned for their 
claims. They readily accepted this overture, ad- 
miring the spirit which prompted it, and left George 
Payne in possession of only the mansion at No. 10 
Tavistock Square. 

George Payne, after this disaster, determined to 
cross the Atlantic with his family and seek to re- 
trieve in the New World a part, at least, of the fort- 
une which he had left in the old. He came to 
America in 1810, and made his way to Gallia 

I County, in the State of Ohio, and purchased a farm 
on the Ohio River. This he sold, and purchased 
1,600 acres of the finest farming land in Gallia 

j County, where he put up a beautiful residence and 
remained there until ten years before his death. 
After selling this property he took up his abode at 
Porter, that county, where he lived retired from 
active labor until his decease, which occurred in 
1850. He had never parted with his property in 

| Tavistock Square, as he always lived in hopes of 
being able to return. It is now in the hands of 
and is being controlled by a lady by the name of 
Payne, a relative of the family. 

.Mr. Payne, soon after coming to America, came 
to the State of Illinois on a prospecting tour, 
and had the misfortune to meet with an accident 






f 






lo:, s 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



which entailed a liruken limb. 'and by reason 
of which lie was prevented from returning to 
London :il the time he anticipated, for it required 
three months to make the trip. He possessed an ex- 
cellent business capacity, and while a resident of Gal- 
lia he served as Justice of the Peace for many years. 
Politically he was a Whig. He was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. Upon assuming- his 
duties as Justice of the Peace the law of imprison- 
ment for debt was still in force, and when one of 
the primitive merchants would apply to the Justice 
for an execution for the body of his debtor, .Mr. 
Payne would tell him "if the man could not pay him 
when out of jail, he was very sure he could not do 
so when in." Justice Payne in these cases would 
make no costs, and even in extreme cases would 
advise a peaceable settlement of the claims. Of 
the ten children of the household the record is as 
follows: Margaret, the eldest daughter, was married 
to James Donnelly, of Gallia County, Ohio, and is 
now deceased: George J. married Miss Susan Kerr. 
and was engaged in the mercantile business foi 
forty years, now deceased; William married Miss 
Hannah Fisk, of Cincinnati, and is now deceased : 
James H. married Miss Fannie Newton, of Ohio: 
Charles took for his wife Miss Mary Dixon, of New 
Orleans: Isabella became the wife of Rev. Hiram 
R. Howe, of Gallia County ; Jane married Norval 
I). Rose, of the same county; Joseph, our subject, 
was the ninth child ; Thomas, the youngest, met 
with an accidental death in infancy; Richard, the 
third In-other, married Miss Mary A. Preston. 

The subject of this biography was born at his 
father's old homestead in Gallia County, Ohio, July 
15, 1820, and acquired a limited education in 
the district schools of those times, the first schools 
being in log cabins, with no floor but the earth, and 
greased paper for windows, and three miles to walk, 
and the woods full of bears and panthers. Early 
in life he became a clerk in his brother's store at 
Porter, where he remained for a period of several 
vears. During this time, however, he determined 
to become master of one of the professions, although 
he had nearly readied his twenty-fifth year before 
circumstances were so shaped that he could begin 
his cherished project. Once started he made good 
headway, and in the year following ( 1S4G) assumed 



the responsibilities of a family by his marriage with 
Mis- Mary M. Sissons, daughter of Stephen Sissons. 
of Gallia County, Ohio, and a playmate of his in 
childhood. Dr. Payne commenced practice at Gal- 
lipolis, and there the young people remained until 
going to St. Louis, in 1853, where they lived for 
fifteen j'ears. In the meantime the household had 
been enlarged by the birth of four children, namely : 
Ellen R., Joseph W., Mary M. and Jennie. Of these 
three are living, two residents of Dwight, and one 
of Chicago. 

In 1K55 Dr. Payne had occasion to pass through 
this count}', and was greatly pleased with the coun- 
try. The wide expanse of beautiful and fertile 
prairie attracted his attention, and he purchased 400 
acres on sections 8 and !), Dwight Township, a por- 
tion of which still remains in his possession. His 
dental instruments, which are probably not excelled 
in quality and finish by any in the world, were manu- 
factured expressly for him, and made of the finest 
steel with handles of pearl, beautifully inlaid with 
precious stones. Some of the instruments are of 
silver. His work is in keeping with the quality of 
his instruments. 

Dr. Payne assisted in the organization of the 
St. Louis Dental College, and was one of its 
charter members. He was unanimously elected its 
first President, and became the author of many ex- 
cellent articles in the leading dental journals of that 
time. From 1867 to 1868 he was editor of the St. 
Louis Dental Journal, and introduced various new 
theories which proved valuable to the profession. 
He had become convinced that amalgam fillings 
were poisonous, and fully demonstrated the fact by 
subsequent investigations. He is credited with 
having saved the lives of -everal people who were 
being slowly poisoned by mercury. These fact- 
are certified to by Dr. William Todd Helmeth, of St. 
Louis, and also by Dr. E. C. Franklin, both cele- 
brated medical authors. 

Dr. Payne, in 1869, removed witii his family to 
Dwight. Although now in the sixty-eighth year of 
his age, he is still vigorous and active, possessing a 
steady hand in the practice of his profession and a 
mind not in the least impaired by the flight of years. 
He has always taken a lively interest in those mat- 
ters which affect the general welfare of the commit- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



105P 



1 

1 



nity, and is warmly interested in the success of tlu> 
Prohibition movement. 

In .in early day a wealthy land speculator pro- 
posed to the Doctor to buy a township of land 
from the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in which 
he should be given a one-fourth interest and its 
entire management. Dr. P. was to exercise his own 
judgment as to the price, and the gentleman men- 
tioned was to furnish the purchase money and pay 
the expenses of the negotiator. This party had tried 
to make this purchase, but the company had refused 
to sell except upon actual settlement. Dr. Payne 
secured the land for $8.60 per acre, the whole 
amounting to nearly $100,000. The plan was to 
lay off a tawn on the line of a projected railroad, 
nine miles east of the Illinois Central, and sell the 
land in alternate 80-acre tracts. In pursuance of 
this object lie engaged 100 families in the East to 
bu}- the land and settle on it. The great panic of 
1857 broke upon the country and the Illinois Cen- 
tral made an assignment. The people who were to 
purchase anticipated difficulty in securing a clear 
title, and thus the whole project fell through. Df. 
Payne had formed extensive plans in connection 
with this project, one of which was a plank road to 
be constructed from the new town to the Illinois 
Central Railroad, and lie obligated the railroad 
company to put in a switch and a station at the 
point of commencement of the plank road. That 
station ultimately became the nucleus around which 
the present city of Paxton was built. 

Dr. Payne, however, immediately turned his at- 
tention to another enterprise, and soon organized a 
Swamp Land Company in Illinois and Missouri to 
contest the claims of those States to the so-called 
swamp lands, and made application to the General 
Land Office at Washington, embracing over 200,- 
000 acres of land as fertile as the Valley of the 
Nile, under a promise from the Government that 
he should be permitted to enter these lands at $1.25 
per acre. Dr. P. had them surveyed in 40-acre 
tracts, and the character of each tract accurately 
described, this being the requirement of the Gov- 
ernment. He was sent to Washington to hurry up 
the papers, and spent a week in the General Land 
Office with Thomas A. Ilendricks. During this 
time twenty clerks were employed to make out 



the papers. Dr. Payne, leaving a Member of Con- 
gress to look after his interests and to see that no 
bill was passed adverse to his rights, returned West 
to enter the land. But the gentleman he had left 
in charge to defeat any fraudulent bill that might 
be presented was the very man who betrayed the 
trust, and himself introduced a bill which Congress 
passed, and which was the means of cheating Dr. 
Payne out of every acre, lie had fully complied 
with his part of the contract, and was thus robbed 
by the United States Government. Me paid Rev- 
erdy Johnston $700 for his written opinion in the 
case, and who advised him to bring suit against the 
Government for the value of the land. It is possible 
that he may yet recover it, and if he does it will 
undoubtedly make him the richest man in the 
world, as most of it to-day is worth from $50 to 
$75 per acre. 

The following facts, aside from being closely con- 
nected with the life history of Dr. Payne, cannot fail 

' to be of interest. In the summer of 1856, the Hon. 
Jesse W. Fell, of Bloomington, during a short stay 
at Cairo, 111., wrote to Dr. Payne, then stopping at 

; the hotel in Bloomington, and advised him to 
purchase the farm north of Bloomington, which 
was known as the Arny farm, from having been 

1 once occupied by the noted W. F: Al. Arny, of Kan- 
sas fame, and in his letter suggested that the State 
Board of Education might be induced to locate the 
Normal University there. He proposed that Dr. 
Pavne should meet him at Mound City, a small 
town near Cairo. Dr. Payne procured a team, 

i drove to the farm in question, made a careful in- 
spection of its location and natural resources, and 
was impressed with the feasibility of Mr. Fell's pro- 
ject. The Doctor a few hours afterward was on 
board the cars bound for Egypt. Meeting Air. 
Fell at Mound City, the two took a stroll up the 
railroad several miles and seated themselves on a 
log under the cool shade of a big oak tree, and there 
matured the plan which resulted in the location of 
the Normal University and Inter the beautiful city 
of Normal. 

Dr. Payne repaired to the station, and telegraph- 
ing to Bloomington, purchased the farm for the 
sum of nearly $20,000, and donated eighty acres of 
it to the State, upon condition that the Normal 



t 



ior.0 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



I'nivcrsity be located upon it. As soon as it was 
known that tin- Arny farm had boon purchased 
with a view to securing tlie location of the Normal 
University, every fanner within a few miles of 
Bloomiugton imagined he had the most eligible site 
for the enterprise, and real estate went up to fabu- 
lous prices. The excitement soon rose to fever 
heat, and spread to the neighboring towns until the 
whole State was involved ; even Eastern speculators 
from New York City hurried West to watch the 
movement with a view to investment. Peoria, 
however, soon became the formidable rival of 
Blooming-ton. The Board of Education required 
the university to be located where the best induce- 
ments in money, and a healthy and central location 
could be found. ' Both cities possessed these req- 
uisites. Each sought to show its superiority over 
the other, and while Peoria endeavored to prove 
that the land at Bloomington was too low, the other 
party argued that the bluffs of Peoria were too high, 
and they did not fail to point out the great disad- 
vantage of a long row of distilleries at the foot of 
the bluffs, which made the locality a dangerous place 
for young men to attend school. 

The amount of the subscriptions in land and 
money was kept, strictly secret, and was to be put in 
sealed envelopes, so that neither party should know 
what the other had raised until the bids were opened 
by the board. Finally the work of raising sub- 
scriptions was completed, and the bids were sealed. 
Next.evening as Dr. Payne was going into the hotel, 
he met a gentleman from Peoria coming out, and 
judged from his peculiar facial expression that 
something had happened. Dr. Payne knew the 
proprietor of the hotel could not keep a secret, and 
concluded the Peoria man had been 'pnnipina" 
him. The Peorian was none other than Prof. C. E. 
Hovey, who afterward became President of the 
Normal University, and later was widely known as 
Col. Hovey of the School Teachers' Regiment, and 
won laurels during the war that made him a General. 
Dr. Pavne inquired of the landlord if he had told 
Prof. Hovey the amount of their subscriptions, and 
he replied that he had. -'That is just what I 
thought," said the Doctor, "and he has gone to the 
telegraph ollice and sent the news to Peoria, and 
1 ' they will open their bids and add enough more to 



1 



beat us. and you have mined our case." Dr. 1'. 
hastening away to the telegraph ollice, learned sure 
enough that Prof. Hovey had been there and sent a 
dispatch to Peoria. Something must be done 
quickly, and hastening to the house of Mr. Fell. 
Dr. Payne made known the situation. After a 
hasty consultation with .Judge David Davis and (ien. 
Asahel (Jridley, of the McLean County Bank, it was 
arranged to get the Judges of the County Court to- 
gether with the hope of inducing them to make an 
appropriation to help out of the scrape. McLean 
County owned a large amount of the so-called 
swamp land, and the plan agreed upon, was to try 
and induce the court to appropriate 10.000 acres of 
this laud. Judge Davis agreed to take it at $f> an 
acre and pay the cash, thus adding $00,000 to the 
subscriptions in the envelope. 

One of the Judges, however, lived more than 
twenty miles away, and it was now after nightfall, 
and the next day the bids were to be put into the 
hands of a committee; $50,000, however, was a 
powerful stimulus, and the Judge was sent for. He 
came promptly, and somewhere between midnight 
and daylight the appropriation was made, the 
bids were re-opened and $50,000 in cash was added. 
The envelope was then sealed and the County Court 
adjourned. 

\Vhen the bids were finally opened by the State 
Board of Education at Peoria, Bloomington was 
nearly $50,000 ahead of Peoria, and they have al- 
ways to this day supposed that the old hotel-keeper 
at Bloomiugton lied to Prof. Hovey. 



>HOMAS S. C'UKRAN, Eso,, one of the earli- 
est pioneers of the southeastern part of Liv- 
ingston County, located here in 185!). and 
has since been identified with its most important 
interests. He carried on farming almost continu- 
ously from the time of his arrival until 1H6;'), when 
he retired from active labor and removed to Chats- 
worth, where he occupied various offices, being 
Constable four and one-half years, and afterward 
Police Magistrate, which office he still holds. lie 
also occupies himself to some extent at his trade of 
a tailor, being a gentleman who dislikes idlene.-s. 





v 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



ior,s 



and is never so contented as when his hands and 
mind are employed in something useful. This qual- 
ity of industry seems to have been peculiar to the 
pioneer settlers, and through its exercise have 
sprung up the improvements which we to-day be- 
hold in all the country around us. 

Mr. Curran is a descendant of excellent Scotch 
and Irish ancestry, and spent his early years in 
Frederick County, Aid., where his birth took place 
April 9, 1822. His father, William Curran, was a 
native of the same State, and a harness-maker by 
trade. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, 
and was Lieutenant of a company of dragoons. 
He also followed teaming prior to the construction 
of railroads, and which at that time was a very lu- 
crative occupation. He was married to Miss Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Christopher Smith, of German 
descent, and locating in Frederick County, Aid., 
they there spent the remainder of their lives. The 
six children of the parental family are recorded as 
follows: Elijah is married and a resident of Carroll 
County, Aid. ; Mary became the wife of Adam 
Bowers, and is now deceased, as is also Alargaret, 
who remained single, and died about 1884; Eliza- 
beth became the wife of Christian Halleman, of 
Pennsylvania, and died about 1881; Sophia, the 
wife of Obediah Martin, is a resident of Frederick 
County ; Thomas S. was the youngest of the family. 

Air. Curran was but a child when his mother 
passed away, and his father breaking up housekeep- 
ing, he was taken into the home of his maternal 
aunt, where he passed his earl}' youth. The death 
of this friend necessitated another change, and he 
went to live with his brother-in-law, Adam Bowers, 
where he remained until sixteen years of age. Sub- 
sequently he commenced learning the tailor's trade 
in Taneytown, Aid., at which he served an appren- 
ticeship of five years, and after reaching his major- 
ity, worked as a journeyman in his native State 
and in Richmond. Va. He finally set up a shop of 
his own at AlcConnellsburg, Pa., whence in 1848, 
he migrated to Huron County, Ohio. A year later 
he removed to Richland County, and in 1850 to 
Hardin County. He started for the West in 1857, 
and upon entering the limits of the Prairie State, 
stopped first in what is now Ford County. lie was 
in poor health, and for a time made his home with 



his brother-in-law, William J. Reid. In 1859 he 
purchased a tract of land in Germanville Township, 
this county, upon which he operated six years, 
when he retired from the labors of country life, and 
established himself at Chatsworth. 

One of the most important events in the life of 
our subject took place in the spring of 1848, at 
Emmitsburg, Md., namely, his marriage with Aliss 
Alargaret Reid, a native of that town, where she 
was born Alarch 1C, 1828. This union resulted in 
the birth of four children, two of whom died young, 
and one son was called hence when a promising 
youth of eighteen years. The eldest child now liv- 
ing is William R., who was born Dec. 3, 1855. and 
is engaged as attorney-at-law in Pekin, 111., where 
he has met with fine success. 

Air. Curran has been an active member of the 
Presbyterian Church for several years, and politi- 
cally, is an uncompromising Democrat. 

As representative of the noble men who re- 
deemed Livingston County from the wilderness, 
we are pleased to give a portrait of Air. Curran. 




UGH ROBINSON, who is in the full mean- 
ing of the word a representative farmer and 
stock-raiser of Avoca Township, is a native 
of Fayette County, Ohio, where he was 
born on the 14th of July, 1842. He is the son of 
James K. and Ann J. Robinson, both of whom were 
natives of the State of New Jersey ; the paternal 
ancestors were of Scotch descent. 

When about ten years of age, Hugh accompanied 
his parents when they came to Livingston County, 
and settled in the southern part of Avoca Township. 
On the 10th of January, 1853, the mother died, 
and the father followed her over the river in De- 
cember, I860. To them were born a large family 
of children, of whom the following survive: John 
M., now in Kansas; Alarm, the wife of Joseph 
Brown, of Iroquois County, 111.; Darius A., now in 
Nebraska; Nancy S., Hugh; Effle G., the wife of 
William E. Fox, of White County, Ind.; Elizabeth, 
now Mrs. Timm, of Joliet, 111., and Irene AI. 

James K. Robinson, the father of the subject of 



L 

i 10(1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



r 



tliis ski-tell, was the first Assessor of Avoea Town- 
ship after its organization. In his political atlilia- 
tions he always acted with tho Republican party, 
and was for many years of his life a member of tin- 
Method ist Episcopal Church. He was a representa- 
tive pioneer citizen, and entered cheerfully and 
heartily into the work of improving the section of 
country where he lived. He was always a liberal- 
spirited citizen, and gave substantial encourage- 
ment to all enterprises that would better his and his 
neighbors' condition. lie enjoyed the confidence 
and respect of all who knew him, and was a man of 
sterling integrity in all his business relations. He 
was one of the prime movers, and largest contrib- 
utors to the building of the pioneer Methodist 
Episcopal Church at the site of the former village 
of Avoca, where he was a merchant for a few years. 
In his death the county lostoneof its most valuable 
citizens. 

Mr. Robinson was reared to manhood in this 
county, and during his youth obtained more than an 
average education. He has been engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits all his life. On the 3d of March. 
1870, Mr. Robinson was united- in marriage with 
Elizabeth Hartley, a native of Canada, and they are 
the parents of four children : Minnie M., who was 
born May 7, 1872; LillieG., Nov. 12, 1874; Jessie 
E., Oct. 6, 1876, and John A., Nov. 25, 1881. Mr. 
Robinson owns a fine farm of goodly dimensions, 
all of which is under a high state of cultivation, 
and upon which he has erected comfortable build- 
ings of modern architecture, while he has expended 
much effort in making the surroundings of the place 
as cheerful and comfortable as possible for his 
family. 

Mr. Robinson takes a very decided interest in 
educational matters, which the people seem to have 
appreciated, for they have elected him School 
Director for fourteen years, and School Trustee of 
the township for two years, and under his adminis- 
tration the school funds of the township have been 
honestly and judiciously handled. For eight years 
he h:i- been a member and stockholder in the Fair- 
bury I'nion Agricultural Association, which has 
for its object the promotion of the interests of the 
annual fair held each year at Fairbury. Mr. Robin- 
sou is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 



Church, in the affairs of which he takes a lively in- 
terest, as in fact both lie and his wife do in every- 
thing that promotes the welfare, of the community 
in which they live. 




ICHAEL MULLIGAN is comfortably lo- 
cated on section N, in Broughton Town- 
ship, where he has 160 acres of land, and 
in the pursuit of his chosen vocation is 
meeting with fair success and enjoying the esteem 
and confidence of his neighbors. His property has 
been accumulated by hard work, as he commenced 
his life work at the foot of the ladder without 
means and dependent entirely upon his own re- 
sources. 

Our subject was born in Ireland, Jan. 1, 1835, 
and is the son of Owen and Judith (Fay) Mulligan, 
natives of the same country. His father was a far- 
mer of modest means, and Michael early in life was 
trained to habits of industry, learning to rely upon 
himself, which proved an excellent school and the 
secret of his future success. His education was 
quite limited, and when nineteen years of age, find- 
ing little to encourage him upon his native soil, he 
resolved to seek his fortunes upon the other side of 
the Atlantic. Accordingly, in the spring of 1856 
he took passage on a sailing-vessel bound from 
Liverpool to New York City, and after a voyage of 
four weeks and three days lauded in the great me- 
tropolis, of which he had heard so much. Staying 
in New York a short time, he migrated westward, 
and in 1858 took up his residence in LaSalle 
County, this State. Eight years later he found 
himself in this county, and in 1867 purchased the 
land which comprises his present homestead. He 
ha^ effected a marked change in its appearance, and 
is now numbered among the thrifty and well-to-do 
farmers of Broughton Township. 

Mr. Mulligan, while a resident of LaSalle County, 
was married, Oct. 3, I860, to Miss Julia Corrigan. 
Of this union there were born eleven children, 
namely: Catherine, the wife of James O'Neil, 
Julia A., the wife of Thomas Johnson, both of 
Broughton Township; and John, Margaret, Mary, 
Mathew, Eli /.abeth, James, Thomas, Jane and Mon- 



f 



i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



10C5 



t 



ica, all at home with their parents. Mr. Mulligan 
was reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic 
Church, to which he still adheres, and cilice becom- 
ing a naturalized citizen has given his support to 
the Democratic party. He is School Director, and 
is one of those men to whom their neighbors apply 
when they need assistance in the enterprises which 
are calculated for the general welfare of the com- 
munity. 

The wife of our subject was" born in LaSalle 
County, this State, Dec. 13, 1844, and is the daugh- 
ter of Mathew and Bridget (Conley) Corrigan, 
natives of Ireland. They emigrated to the United 
St.-ites early in life and cast their lot with the pio- 
neers of LaSalle County, 111. The father died at 
the homestead Nov. 15, 1875, while the mother is 
living and a resident of Chicago. The parental 
household included twelve children, those living 
being: Michael, of Kansas; Mary A., the wife of 
Alexander Wallace, of Missouri; Margaret and 
James, residents of Chicago, and Julia, Mrs. Mulli- 
gan. 



TEPIIEN POTTER has been a resident of 
Round Grove Township, and located on 
section 15, for thirty -three years, during 
which time he has been a witness of the 
rise and progress of one of the best counties within 
the borders of Illinois. He has been an active par- 
ticipant, so far as his field of operations is con- 
cerned, in this work of development and improve- 
ment, and at this day can look upon what he has 
accomplished with considerable satisfaction. Mr. 
Potter was born on the 1st of April. 180(i, and is 
the son of Theodore and Wealthy (Weller) Potter, 
both natives of the State of New York, of English- 
German extraction. They afterward removed to 
Ohio, when that country was very new, and the 
mother died in Cuyahoga County. Some years 
after her death the father removed to Michigan, 
and was overtaken by a snowstorm, and frozen to 
death somewhere iu the vicinity of Hastings, Mich. 
They were the parents of ten children, of whom 
our subject was the fourth child, lie was reared 
on the farm, and remained at home until he was of 
age, although previous to that time he had worked 




away from home for short seasons, but retained his 
place in the household. After he had reached his 
majority he worked by the month continuously, 
for one man, on a farm and in the, lumber woods for 
over seven years, and then went to Cuyahoga 
County, Ohio. 

August 25, 1834, in Essex County, N. Y., Mr. 
Potter was married to Mary Ann Killmer, daughter 
of George and Elizabeth (Dickson) Killmer, who 
were natives of New York State and of German 
and Irish ancestry. Mrs. Potter was born in Wash- 
ington County, N. Y., on the 23d of February, 
1814. About one week after their marriage, Mr. 
and Mrs. Potter migrated to Cuyahoga County, 
Ohio, and settled on wild timber land, consisting 
of ninety-one acres, which they at once set them- 
selves about clearing and improving. They re- 
mained there for ten years, engaged in improving 
and general farming on this land, and then sold it 
and removed to Will County, 111., settling in Joliet. 
They remained here for ten years, five years of 
which time he was engaged in teaming. In 1849 
Mr. Potter left his famity in Joliet, and went to 
California, going by the overland route, where he 
remained for five years and engaged in the mines 
most of that time. He returned to Joliet in Feb- 
ruary, 1854, and in the following April moved to 
Livingston County, and settled in Round Grove 
Township, on lands which Mrs. Potter had pur- 
chased during his absence, which consisted of 160 
acres, located on section 15. They have since been 
residents of Round Grove Township, and have 
been successful in their undertakings. Mr. Potter 
began adding to his estate, and continued until at 
one time he owned 400 acres, but has disposed of 
all of this, with the exception of a quarter section, 
lie lias erected excellent buildings on his farm and 
made good improvements in the way of ditches, 
fences, orchards, etc., as may be seen by an exam- 
ination of the view which is given on another page 
of this ALBUM. 

Mr. and Mrs. Potter have had eight children, 
whose names are as follows: Charlotte B., Mary A., 
(Jeorge W., Margaret S., Reuben K., Albert, Alan- 
son and Elvie T. Charlotte was the wife of Jesse 
Eldred, and died in Round Grove Township, Nov. 
18, 1881; Mary died in Joliet, 111., April , 184.S, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



when about nine years of age; George married 
Miss Emma Godfrey, and resides in Will County, 
111.; Margaret resides at home: Reuben died in 
Round Grove Township, July 7, 1885, when forty- 
one years of age ; he was a telegraph operator on 
the Chicago & Alton Railroad for several years. 
Albert married Louisa Ilubbard, and resides in 
Peru, Ind. ; he is engaged as a detective, and is in 
the employ of the Gould Railroad Syndicate. 
Alanson died in Round Grove Township, Jan. 28, 
1868, at the age of two years; Elvie, the youngest 
of the family, resides at home (see sketch of Elvie 
Potter.) 

In his political affiliations Mr. Potter acts with 
the Democratic party. He has held most of the 
offices of the township in which he resides, and was 
for a considerable time [IIighwa3' Commissioner. 
His excellent wife is an earnest and active member 
of the Presbyterian Church. They both participate 
actively in all the affairs inaugurated for the wel- 
fare of the community in which they live. 




ILEXANDER M. BREWSTER came to 
Central Illinois in the spring of 1X69, when 
twentj'-eight years of age, and has since 
been a resident of Livingston County. He 
owns a good farm on section 6, in Broughton 
Township, where he is carrying on agriculture with 
fair success, and performing his obligations as a 
useful member of the community. 

Our subject is the scion of an excellent Pennsyl- 
vania family, which included intelligent and suc- 
cessful men. His father, Henry Brewster, was a 
member of the Pennsylvania Legislature and served 
for many years as Justice of the Peace in Hunting- 
don County. In that county Alexander M. was 
born, March 18, 1*41. lib mother was in her girl- 
hood Miss Nancy Campbell, who was of Irish an- 
cestry, while the f;ither of our subject traced his 
descent to one of the old Scottish Highlanders of 
the seventeenth century. The first representative 
of the family in this country was William Brew, 
ster, who crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower, 
and joined with the Puritans in their song of free- 
dom, as they landed upon Plymouth Rock. He 
settled in one of the New England States, married. 



and reared a family of sons and daughters, whose 
descendants became scattered throughout New 
England and the South, and finally drifted west- 
ward. Wherever known the name is honored, and 
with few exceptions has been the representative of 
more than ordinary intellect and l>n-iness capacity. 

Our subject was the youngest son of his father's 
family, and was reared to manhood in his native 
State, where he received a good education in the 
common schools. When sixteen years of age he 
repaired to the town of Huntingdon to learn the 
printer's trade, of which he gained a good knowl- 
edge, and which he followed until the outbreak of 
the late Rebellion. He was one of the first to 
respond to the call for volunteers, enlisting in July, 
1861, in Company D, 41st Pennsylvania Infantry, 
and which afterward became the 1 2th Regiment of the 
Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, and was assigned to 
the Army of the Potomac. Young Brewster, with 
his comrades, took part in many of the important 
battles of the war, being in the seven days' siege of 
Richmond, in the second battle of Bull Run, and 
was present at South Mountain, Antietam, Gettys- 
burg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and other 
minor engagements and skirmishes. At the expir- 
ation of his term of enlistment, he received his 
honorable discharge in June, 1864. He had borne 
with true, soldierly courage the hardships and 
privations of army life, and is willing that its 
sufferings and trials should be remanded to the 
pages of the past, with the unwritten history of 
thousands of others, who shared in the perils of 
those memorable years. 

Mr. Brewster now returned to his home in Penn- 
sylvania for a short time, hoping that the conflict 
would soon be over and that the dawn of peace was 
at hand. In this, however, both the Government 
and the soldiers were disappointed, and our subject, 
after watching the progress of the war for a time, 
determined that he would return to the army and 
assist in fighting it out. on Gen. Grant's "line." 
Circumstances led him to Rochester, N. Y., and in 
September, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, 188th 
New York Infantry, of which lie was First Sergeant. 
and which was assigned to the 5th Corps, Army of 
the Potomac. They marched southeast and met 
the enemy at different places. In the battle at 




RESIDENCE OF G.W. BOYER , 5EC.20, DWIGHT TP . 




FARM-RESIDENCE OF FREDERICK CAR LTON ,SEC . 10 , LONG POINT TP. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1009 . i\ 



Hatcher's Run, Mr. Brewster was wounded in both 
feet, and confined in the hospital, although but a 
short time. When he was able to rejoin his regi- 
ment, Lee had surrendered and the "boys" were or. 
dered to Washington. There our hero participated 
in the grand review, and in due time returned 
with his regiment to Rochester, N. Y., where he was 
finally discharged in July, 1865. 

Mr. Brewster, after a brief visit to his old home 
in Pennsylvania, engaged in printing in his native 
county until the spring of 1869, when he set out 
for the Prairie State. Upon reaching Livingston 
County he was engaged for a time at farming on 
land belonging to his father, and which he now oc- 
cupies. He was married, Sept. 4, 1870, by the 
Rev. Father Hanley, at Pontiac, to Miss Ellen Sulli- 
van, who was born iu Ireland, Feb. 4, 1849, and 
crossed the Atlantic with her parents when a 
child three years of age. They settled first in Wis- 
consin, and thence came to LaSalle County, this 
State, where the father died shortly after their 
arrival. Mrs. Brewster continued with her mother 
until her marriage. After this event our subjec 
and his wife located on the present homestead 
which includes 109 acres under a fair state of culti- 
vation, with a comfortable residence, a good barn 
and other necessary out-buildings. In politics Mr. 
Brewster is a stanch Republican. Mrs. B. is a 
member of the Catholic Church. 

Henry Brewster, the father of our subject, was 
engaged as a merchant in Huntingdon County, Pa. 
for a period of forty years. The male members of 
the family for several generations have been prom- 
inent in mercantile pursuits in that section of 
countiy. The elder Brewster died in Shirleysburg, 
Huntingdon County, Oct. 31, 1880, and his wife, 
Nancy, in 1851, at the family residence there. 
Mrs. Bre water's father died at LaSalle, of cholera, 
in 1849; the mother still lives. 



i 

t 



HARLKS FAUST, one of the enterprising 
( * enn!U1 fal ' lnei 's <f Sullivan Township, occu- 
pios a valuable homestead on section 33, 
where he makes a specialty of stock-raising and has 



signalized himself as one of the most thorough and 
skillful agriculturists of Central Illinois. 

Mr. Faust was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, 
May 27, 1827, and was the third child of Daniel 
and Rosa (Herpst) Faust, also of German birth and 
parentage. The family were among the most 
prominent and reliable in their native Province, 
where they have been represented for many genera- 
tions. Daniel Faust was reared to farming pursuits 
which he carried on upon his native soil his entire 
life, and rested from his earthly labors in the spring 
of 1837, when fifty-four years of age. The de- 
voted wife and mother survived her husband 
several years, and died in 1851, when sixty-six 
years of age. Charles, in common with the youth 
of his native country, was placed in school at an 
early age, and continued his studies with little in- 
terruption until fourteen years old. He then 
served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, 
which he followed near his childhood's home until 
about twenty-five years old, when, not being satis- 
fied with the results of his labors, in March, 1852, 
he boarded the sailing-vessel "Louisa" at the port 
of Bremen, and after a pleasant voyage of six 
weeks, set foot first upon American soil in the city 
of New York. 

From the metropolis our subject soon afterward 
found his way to Waukesha, Wis., where he secured 
employment at his trade, and thence came to 
LaSalle County, this State, following carpentering 
and farming alternately near Troy Grove, for a 
number of years. He lived frugally, saving what 
he could of his earnings, and in the spring of 1855 
invested his capital in eighty acres of raw prairie 
in Troy Grove Township. His next important 
move was to secure a helpmeet and companion to 
share his fortunes, and he was married at Troy 
Grove in September, 1855, to a lad} 7 whom he had 
long known and respected, namely, Miss Louisa 
Koehler. She was born in Germany, Dec. 6, 1820, 
and is the second child of John Gottlieb and 
Hannah (Bibbel) Koehler, whose family included 
ten children. Her father emigrated to the United 
States with his family in 1841, locating for a time 
in the city of New Orleans, whence he subsequently 
came to Illinois, and settled on a tract of land in 
l.:iS:ille County. Mrs. Faust, however, did not 



f 



- 1070 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



k 

* 



accompany her parents to the United States at that 
time, but came some years later, in 1853, and joined 
them in LaSalle County. 

Our subject and his wife soon after their 
marriage located on the land which then could 
hardly bi> dignified by the name of a farm as it had 
been little cultivated and had no buildings. They 
were young in years and strong in hope and quite 
willing to make sacrifices in order to secure some- 
thing better for the future. Erecting a temporary 
hut composed of clay and prairie grass they labored 
industriously with excellent results, and Mr. Faust, 
in due time, added forty acres to his first purchase. 
In 1X60 he sold the entire farm, and with the pro- 
ceeds came to Livingston County and purchased 
the land which constitutes his present homestead. 
Here he repeated the experience through which he 
had just iwssed in subduing the soil and slowly but 
surely bringing about the improvements which were 
necessary to the comfort of the family and the 
success of his farming operations. One of his first 
duties was to put up a shelter for the family, and 
he erected a small frame structure which served 
them a few years and until something more sub- 
stantial could take its place. 

The beautiful homestead which is now presented 
to the gaze of the admiring traveler, and of which 
a view appears elsewhere in this volume, bears 
little comparison with the tract of land upon which 
Mr. Faust settled eighteen years ago. He now has 
a fine set of frame buildings, and has added to his 
landed interests until the estate comprises 320 acres, 
all of which has been brought to a high state of 
cultivation. The handsome and commodious resi- 
dence, which forms one of the attractive features of 
the premises, was put up in 1872. In the rear are 
the fine barn and all the other necessary out-build- 
ings, together with a valuable orchard and various 
fruit and shade trees which arc proving useful as 
well as ornamental. The farm stock includes high 
grade Norman horses, Durham and Holstein cattle 
and Poland-China swine. The whole forms the 
picture of a complete home with peace and plenty 
throughout its borders. 

Mr. and Mrs. Faust became the parents of the 
children who were named a- follow-: William, 
Louisa, Albert, Daniel, Emile, (Justavc, Adolph, 



Hannah and Charlie. Of these, four were taken 
from the home circle by death Charlie. Albert, 
Hannah and William, (lustave and Adolph are 
married and carrying on farming in (Jermanville 
Township. Mr. Faust, having lived in a country 
where, among its excellent institutions the system 
of compulsory education is one of its most ad- 
mirable features, took special pains to have his 
children receive the advantages which "book learn- 
ing" undeniably bestows, and they are consequently 
well fitted, both by nature and education, to assume 
their rightful places as members of a highly intelli- 
gent community. Mr. and Mrs. Faust arc leading 
members of the Evangelical Church at Chatsworth, 
and in politics Mr. Faust is an ardent Republican. 




X. SMITH, who is one of the live and go- 
ahead business men of Pontiac, is a dealer 
in all Tvinds of lumber and building material, 
a line of goods which enters so largely into the 
growth of any city. He is a native of the town of 
Pine Bush. Orange Co., N. Y., where he was born on 
the 13th of January, 1 863, and is the son of Ezra and 
Dorothea (Corwin) Smith. The father was an ex- 
tensive farmer, and he and his wife were both na- 
tives of Orange County. They were married in 
the year 185(i, and had a family of five children 
Francis, Annie, Maggie, William I. and Carrie M. 
Ezra's father was Matthew, a native of New York- 
State, who engaged extensively in farming. Ezra 
and his wife were both members of the Presbyterian 
Church, and he is a Democrat. 

Francis N. Smith attended the public schools dur- 
ing his boyhood days, during the school terms, and 
devoted the balance of his time to work upon the 
farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then 
engaged as a clerk in a grocery house, which occu- 
pation he followed for two years. In 1881 he came 
to the city of Pontiac, where he worked for two 
months on the Chicago & Alton Railroad. He then 
began work in the lumber-yard of II. Wilbeck, 
where he continued, and of which he is now the gen- 
eral manager. 

On the 7th of May, 1*84. Mr. Smith was married 
to Mrs. Clara A. (Moreland) Lambert, a daughter 




t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1071 t , 




of Hugh Morelaud, \vlio was a native of Scotland, 
and came to America when a young' man; he is now 
a resident of LaSalle County, and is a retired farmer. 
Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born 
two children Ida and Gladys. Mrs. Smith is the j 
mother of one child by her former marriage, who 
is named Edith. In 1887 Mr. Smith built a fine 
house near the lumber-yard, which cost him $1,000. 
In politics he votes and acts with the Democratic 
party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. For one 
of his years Mr. Smith has succeeded in business 
affairs remarkably well, and he possesses the energy 
and shrewdness requisite to success in a long race 
of life. Pontiac is a place of great possibilities for 
men of his character, and there is no doubt he will 
be closely identified with the material improvement 
of that city in future. 

It is with pleasure we show on another page a 
view of Mr. Smith's residence, and also his him- ' 
ber-yard. 



LEXANDER M< KENZIE took up his resi- 
dence in Broughton Township in the spring 
of 1865, locating upon his present farm on 
section 16, and since that time has been 
closely identified with the agricultural interests of 
Livingston County. He possesses all the substan- 
tial elements of a first-class citizen, and is held in 
warm regard by the people of the community of 
which he has been a member for so many years. His 
farm comprises eighty acres of land, which he has 
brought to a good state of cultivation, and embel- 
lished with suitable buildings and all the other ap- 
pliances of modern agriculture. For a man who 
first set foot upon American soil with a cash capital 
of three cents in his pocket, it will be acknowledged 
that he has done exceedingly well. 

Our subject was born and reared amid the High- 
lands of Scotland, not far from the city of Aber- 
deen. He first opened his eyes to the light on the 
( lst of March, 1828, and is the son of Philip and 
Isabella (McLean) McKenzie, who were also of 
Scotch birth and parentage. They were people of 
modest means, and could only give their children 
the advantages of a limited education. Alexander 
continued a resident of his native country until 



twenty-four years of age, and then resolving to emi- 
grate to America, took passage on a sailing-vessel 
from the city of Glasgow, in May, 1852. After a 
stormy passage of nine weeks and three da3~s, he 
landed in New York City, and thence he migrated 
to Connecticut, where he was employed as a farm 
laborer six years at $18 per month and board, ex- 
cept in the summer season, when he received more. 
While a resident of that State, he was married, Nov. 
17, 1855, to Miss Sarah Peirie, a lady of French 
descent on the mother's side, who was born in Aber- 
deen, Scotland, March 17, 182.S. The parents of 
Mrs. McKenzie were James and Susan Peirie, who 
spent their last years in Scotland. 

Our subject and his wife continued in New En- 
gland until the spring of 1858, when they came to 
Illinois and resided for a time in Grundy County. 
They came to this county in 1802, and located first 
in Round Grove Township, remaining there, how- 
ever, but a short time. They returned to Grundy 
County, where they remained until the spring of 
1865, and Mr. McKenzie, still entertaining an affec- 
tion for this county, came back in the spring of that 
year, and secured the land included in his present 
homestead, of which he soon took possession, and 
has since retained. It was then a tract of raw prai- 
rie, upon which no improvements whatever had 
been made. He and his estimable lady endured all 
the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but 
met with the usual reward of industry and perse- 
verance. Now, sitting under their own vine and 
lig-tree, they are surrounded by all the comfort* 
of life, and feel that the old days afforded them an 
experience with which they would not willingly 
part. 

Our subject after becoming a naturalized citizen, 
identified himself with the Republican party, of 
whose principles he has since been a stanch sup- 
porter. 



JEORGE W. BLACKVVELL is one of Liv- 

ingston County's citizens who has succeeded 
in life admirably, and has, through g ..... 1 
management and the judicious use of his resources, 
grown from poverty, if not to affluence, at lea~t 1<> 
an independence. lie is extensively engaged in 




i , 107-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



farming and stock-raising; on section 35, Charlotte [ 
Township. lie was born at West Waterville, Me., 
Jan. 2, 1833, and was the fifth in a family of six 
children born to Col. Dennis and Adalissa (Stanley) 
Blackwell, both natives of Maine. The paternal 
grandparents, Thomas and Sarah (Burgess) Black- 
well, were natives of Maine, and the maternal 
grandparents, Thomas and Mary (Stone) Stanley, 
were natives of Massachusetts and Maine respect- 
ively. The father of our subject was both a miller 
and farmer, in both of which occupations he en- 
gaged at Fairfield, Me. He moved to that place in 
1836, when our subject was about three years of 
age. 

Mr. Blackwell remained at Fairfleld until lie was 
nearly nineteen years old, and received a good edu- 
cation which was completed at the academy at the 
town of Anson, Me. His father was called to Au- 
gusta during the War of 1812, to act as drillmaster, 
and rose from the rank of Lieutenant to that of 
Colonel, filling all the intervening positions. He 
remained in Maine, where he died in 1857. The 
mother of our subject, who was Col. Blackwell's 
first wife, died in Maine in 1847. Col. Blackwell 
married again in 1850, his wife being Susan Clark, 
a native of Maine, and the daughter of James T. 
Clark. She survived her husband, and died at the 
advanced age of ninety-five, at Hollowell, Me. 

At the age of nineteen the subject of our sketch 
resolved to try his fortune in the West, and went 
to the city of Peoria in 1852, where he remained 
for three years engaged at work as a carpenter. 
In 1855 he went to Washington, Tazewell County, 
where he remained for ten years employed at his 
trade. In 1865 he went back to Peoria, and after 
remaining there one year, went to Chatsworth in 
the spring of 1866. His first purchase of land was 
made in Stark County, 111., in 1857, near Toulon, 
where he purchased 160 acres of wild land, which he 
kept for three or four years, and then disposed of 
it. In the winter of 1865-00, he benight eighty 
acres of wild prairie on what is now section 35, 
Charlotte Township, and cultivated it one year, 
this being his first crop as a farmer, and consisted 
almost wholly of broom corn. 

In December. 1800, Mr. Klackwell went to New 
York, and on the :!<! of January, ISO", was married 



to Susan J. Van Patten, a native of New York, 
who was born April 15, 183!). She is the daugh- 
ter of Christian and Mary (Relyea) Van Patten, 
also natives of New York. After their marriage, 
Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell came to Chatsworth, but in 
the spring of 1867 built the house where he now 
resides, and moved on his farm. Since then he 
has added to the farm until it consists of 160 acres, 
every foot of which is good land and under a fine 
state of cultivation. This farm is drained by 1,000 
rods of tile ditches, and is equipped with good 
buildings and excellent fences. Mr. Blackwell also 
owns land in Kansas. The home farm is stocked 
with high-grade Durham cattle, Norman horses 
and Poland-China hogs. 

Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church at Chatsworth, of which he is one 
of the Trustees. They have been blessed with 
three children, two of whom are living: Ada Irene, 
born Sept. 7, 1870, and Grace L., July 30, 1878; 
they are giving these two daughters all the advan- 
tages possible for securing a good education, and 
they have been attending the High School at Chats- 
worth for a number of years, making excellent 
progress in their studies. Mary Eva, the eldest 
daughter, died Jan. 23, 1886, aged eighteen years. 
Mr. Blackwell is active in politics, and votes and 
works with the Republican party. He has been 
School Trustee for three j-ears, and has always 
manifested a lively interest in educational matters. 
This is the only office he has ever held. He takes 
an active part in selecting men as candidates for 
offices, but is not an office-meeker. 

A lithographic view of Mr. Blackwell's handsome 
residence is shown on another page of this work. 



OSKPH E. MYER is the son of one of the 
earliest pioneers of Eppard's Point Township, 
and came with his parents to this locality 
>\SJjjj) when a youth fourteen years of age. They 
began in a new country, like most of the early set- 
tler-, having little to depend upon but their strong 
hands and courageous heart>. 

Our subject \vas reared to habits of industry, and 
lias licen an energetic worker all his life, while he 





RES. or JAMESTREDENICK,SEC. 9. SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP. 



RES. OF NELSON A.BEMiSjSEc. 2. ESMEN TOWNSHIP 




RES. OF J AMES LOVELOCKjSEC.31. SAUNEMIN TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1075 



has now as the reward of his labors one of the finest 
farms in the southern part of Livingston County. 
This comprises 240 acres on section 22, located 
about the center of the township, where he has re- 
sided since about 1867. Here he has carried on 
farming and stock-raising successfully, and now 
keeps about thirty head of cattle, fifteen head of 
horses, and from twenty-five to thirty head of swine. 
The farm residence is a model structure of its kind, 

Joseph E. Myer is the son of Ely and Catherine 
(Umphenour) Myer, who came to this county in 
1850, and located in Eppard's Point Township, 
where they spent the remainder of their days. Pre- 
vious to this they had been residents of Licking 
County, Ohio, where Joseph E. was born in Sep- 
tember, 1836. His early studies were conducted 
in the district school, and he distinctly remembers 
the journey from the Buckeye State to Illinois, 
which was made overland with teams, their outfit 
consisting of three horses and a wagon. They 
started about the latter part of October, and it was 
a trip which young Joseph did not especially en- 
joy, as he was shaking with ague most of the time. 
They settled upon a tract of uncultivated land, 
and erected the conventional pioneer dwelling, a 
log house. 

Our subject remained under the home roof until 
about twenty-five years of age, and afterward for 
a time took charge of the farm of a widowed sister 
near Fairbury. After the outbreak of the Rebellion 
he enlisted in the fall of 1863 in Company G, 129th 
Illinois Infantry, and with his regiment proceeded 
to Louisville, Ky. Thence they were detailed to 
guard duty around Bowling Green, and afterward 
in Tennessee, and participated in the battles of 
Chattanooga, Atlanta and Resaca, Ga. Subse- 
quently, at Peachtree Creek, our subject received 
a gunshot wound in the left knee, which disabled 
him for about one year, which time he spent mostly 
at home, where his father had removed him. Being 
veiy anxious to rejoin his regiment he started out 
once more, before his wound was healed, and not 
long afterward received his discharge. Of his com- 
pany only nine reported after the battle of Peach- 
tree Creek, the others having been killed, wounded 
or otherwise unfitted for duty. 

Mr. Myer upon returning home resumed fanning 



on the homestead of his father, where he remained 
until the spring of 1868, and then purchased the 
land which constitutes a part of his present farm, 
and which he had contracted for before his enlist- 
ment. He also received a county bounty in land, 
which was worth, when he returned home, about $20 
per acre. On the 1 9th of August, 1860, he was united 
in marriage with Miss Ann St. John, who when a 
bride of about a year was called away, Nov. 17, 
1870. Mr. M. was a second time married in 1878, 
and put np his present residence two years later. 
The present wife of our subject was formerly Miss 
Sarah A., daughter of Jacob and Almira (Green) 
Lindley, and their wedding took place at the home 
of the bride, in Woodford County, 111., Elder Mer- 
ritt, now of Fairbury Baptist Church, officiating. 

Jacob Lindley was born in Knox County, Ohio, 
in 1 830, and was the son of Mahlon Lindley, of 
Pennsylvania. The latter removed from his native 
State to Ohio in the pioneer days, and was one of 
the earliest settlers of Knox County. The mother 
was a native of Jefferson County, Ohio. Their 
family included eight children, of whom six are 
now living, three in Champaign, two in Ohio, and 
Jacob in Woodford County. Jacob married and 
came to the West in 1855, making his wedding tour 
in a lumber wagon. They first crossed the Missis- 
sippi into Council Bluffs, Iowa, which was then but 
a village, and not liking the outlook returned east 
to Bureau County, this State. Two years later they 
located in Nebraska Township, this county, where 
they resided until 18(!!), and then repaired to Wood- 
ford County, where they still remain. Of their 
live children Sarah A. was the eldest; Frank S. died 
of typhoid fever when four years old ;, Willie G., 
a young man of twenty-one years, as well as Hattie 
E. and LeGrande, are living at home. Mr. Lind- 
ley is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, 
and has given his children the advantages of a good 
education. They are all members of the Baptist 
Church at Ocoya. 

Mr. Myer came to the West five years prior to 
the arrival of the Lindleys, and first took up a 
tract of land in Eppard's Point Township, where the 
young people began life in a manner suited to their 
income, and have since labored with one common 
purpose. In due time the household was enlarged 



1070 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




by the birth of four children. Lindley \V., the 
eldest, was born Nov. 29, 1X80; Lillian A., Aug. 
15, 1881 : LaRado ,L, born July 25, 1888, and died 
July 12, 18S5; and Ethel C., born Deo. 17, 1885. 
Mrs. Meyer has been a member of the Baptist 
Church since a young girl twelve years of age, and 
is now connected with the society at Ocoya, where 
Mr. M. regularly attends with his wife, although not 
a member. In politics Mr. Myer affiliates with the 
Republican party. 



EYI LOUDEEBACK, largely engaged in 
farming and stock-raising on a finely culti- 
vated tract of land in Aimty Township, is 
the son of an early pioneer of Vermilion County, 
this State, where his birth took place Dec. 10, 1832. 
A sketch of his parents, Thomas and Sarah (Sprin- 
ger) Londerback, will be found in the biography of 
Liberty Londerback, on another page of this ALIU-M. 
Our subject commenced "paddling his own 
canoe" soon after reaching his majority, and by 
hard work and good management succeeded in se- 
curing the warranty deed to 175 acres of land, the 
greater part of which is now under a good state of 
cultivation. The fields are enclosed with neat and 
substantial fence?, and the farm buildings will bear 
fair comparison with those of the homesteads adja- 
cent. The location is unusually desirable, being 
convenient to church and school, and one of the 
most attractive features of the place is the only 
deer park in the county, which contains a number 
of fine animals. 

Mr. Louderback very wisely refrained from a>- 
suming the responsibility of a family until he had 
laid the foundations for a home and a competency. 
This accomplished, he was married in Livingston 
County, on the 1st of March, 1863, to Miss Sarah 
Jane Stretch. Airs. Louderback was born on the 
19th of February, 1840, in Tippecauoe County, 
Ind., and is the daughter of William and Marv 
(Blue) Stretch, natives of Indiana. The mother 
was born July 5, 1H11, and departed this life at her 
home in Tippecauoe County. Ind., Dee. it, 1x47. 
William Stretch was born Aug. 20, 1801), and died 
in the same place Feb. >>, 1*50. They were married 



in the above county. April 2, 183.0, and were blessed 
with a family of seven children, two of whom died 
unnamed. The others were Thomas Harrison, now 
deceased; Sarah Jane; Harriet Elizabeth, the wife 
of John Randolph, of Lafayette, Ind.: William 
Moore, who became a Union soldier and was killed 
at the battle of Shiloh, and Mary Catherine, who 
died in infancy. 

William Stretch was subsequently married to 
Mrs. Nancy Hollcraft, June 1, 1850, in Clinton 
County, Ind., and of this union there were born 
two children: Celestia A., wife of Harry Canfield, 
a railroad conductor and now a resident of Louis- 
ville, Ky., and Ed, who died in Washington City, 
Feb. 14, 1874, when nineteen years of age. He 
was attending school and would have graduated in 
another month. Their mother is now deceased. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Louderback 
located in a modest dwelling on the farm where 
they now reside, and the household circle was com- 
pleted by the advent of the following children, the 
record of whom is thus given: Ulysses William 
was born March 1, 1804, and is now a promising 
young man twenty-four years of age. and complet- 
ing a literary course of study in the college at 
Dixon ; he is remarkably fond of reading and study, 
and will doubtless choose one of the professions; ;it 
present, the winter of 1887^88, he is teaching 
school. Ilattie Celestia, born Oct. 26. 18G5, also 
took kindly to her books, and is now a teacher in 
the public schools of Livingston County. The 
second daughter, Ella, was born July 1 I, 1*67, and 
died on the 15th of August of the following year. 
John Schuyler was born Feb. 10, 1*69: Lev! Guy, 
Feb. 3, 1875; Harry Thomas, May 29, 1880; and 
Mary Gertrude, March 19, 1885; these four are at 
home with their parents. 

In 1863, when Mr. Louderback took possession 
of his present property, there was much to be done 
in order to render it comfortable and desirable as 
a homestead, but to this task he set himself with a 
will and ma}' be justified in looking upon the re- 
sults of his labor with a great deal of satisfaction. 
I le has been upright in all his dealings, and num- 
bers his friends by the score in the community 
which has known him long and well, and learned 
to value him for his manly worth and integrity. 



t. 

7 



i 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1077 



Ho has (lone a father's full duty by his children, 
\vlui form a family group of which the parents need 
by no means be ashamed. Mr. and Mrs. Louder- 
back are both members of the Methodist Protestant 
Church and in good standing of the same. 




N. MICKELSON, the leading gro- 
cer of D wight, is of Danish ancestry, and 
w s born in Denmark, July 29, 1850. He 
comes of long-lived ancestry, his paternal grand- 
parents living to be over ninety years of age. His 
father, Mikkel K. Mickelson, was a native of the 
same country, and was a cooper by trade, conduct- 
ing an extensive business. His mother was, in her 
girlhood, Miss Cecelia M. Frederickson, and they 
became the parents of six children, namely: Nelson 
N., Jens P., Botellje, Michal 8., Andreas and 
Andre. 

The father of our subject, soon after his marriage, 
started out on a sealing expedition as cooper of the 
vessel, visiting Greenland and the northern seas, 
being thus occupied ten years. He then returned to 
terra iirma, and spent his last years in his native 
Denmark. He was a hard-working, industrious 
man, temperate and upright, and is remembered as 
a good husband and father in the broadest sense of 
the term. His first wife died when sixty j'ears of 
age, and two years later he married again, and 
died Jan. 9. 1870. 

The subject of our sketch received his education 
in a common school, and learned coopering from 
his father in early life. Upon reaching his major- 
ity he resolved to seek his fortune in the New 
World, and accordingly embarked on a sailing-ves- 
sel from Hamburg, and after a fair voyage, arrived 
in New York City. He at once set his face west- 
ward, and coming directly to this county, located 
in D wight, where helms since resided. His ambi- 
tion to become a citizen of the United States had 
been stimulated by his teacher in the old country, 
by whom he was advised to emigrate, even if he 
had to borrow the money for the purpose, which 
ho did, securing $100 from several farmers in the 
locality where ho had been reared, who knew him 
MS an honest young man who would certainly repay 



them. The year after his arrival here he liquidated 
his debt, and still preserves the leaf in his memo- 
randum book containing the names of the kind 
friends who had so materially assisted him. 

Upon coming to this country Mr. Mickelson was 
employed as a farm laborer one year, and then en- 
gaged as an employe of William II. Conrad, with 
whom he remained two years, one year in general 
work and one at his trade. The four years follow- 
ing he was engaged as clerk with McWilliams & 
Smith, dealers in dry-goods and groceries, taking 
care to live within his income and save what he 
could of his earnings. In 1878 he established him- 
self in the grocery trade in a small frame building 
on East street, and there began the career which 
has proved so successful. 

In due time Mr. Mickelson was obliged to in- 
crease his facilities!, and moved to the district which 
was afterward visited by a disastrous lire which de- 
stroyed the business portion of the town of Dwight. 
In common with others of his townsmen, he met 
with great loss, hut spent no time in brooding over 
his misfortune. A week later found him estab- 
lished on the West Side with the remnants of his 
little fortune around him and ready for business. 
Subsequently he rented a store in the Hetzel Build- 
ing, where he is now located, enjoying a good and 
growing trade, while he has the esteem and confi- 
dence of his fellow-citizens. He is essentially a 
self-made man, and has been chiefly remarkable for 
his strict attention to his own concerns. 

Mr. Mickelson was married, in the spring of 
1884, to one of his own countrywomen, Miss Mar- 
garet Pfeifer, and they have become the parents of 
one child, a son, Mitchell S. Mr. M., after becom- 
ing a naturalized citizen, cast his lot with the Re- 
publican party, and with his excellent lady, is :i 
member in good standing of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 



~">HOMAS C. HARTSHORN, D. D., a retired 
clergyman and resident of Pontiac, is agent 
at this point of the American Bible Society, 
and for a period of twenty-five years was one of its 
most active and efficient workers. He is a native 
of Montrose, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where he was 



1078 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



born March 1, 1830. His father was Asa Harts- 
horn, Esq., a native of Norwich, Conn., who in 
early manhood removed to Pennsylvania. 

Asa Hartshorn was the youngest of the four sons 
of Oliver Hartshorn, of Lisbon, New London Co., 
Conn., who served in the Revolutionary War. and 
died on his farm near Lisbon, in October, 1810. 
His family included four sons and four daughters, 
namely: Ryal, Oliver, Ira, Asa, Clarissa, Miranda. 
Sophronia and Elizabeth, all of whom, with one ex- 
ception, emigrated in the early part of the present 
century with their widowed mother to the town of 
Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., where, with the ex- 
ception of Ira and the eldest daughter, the}' all 
spent the remainder of their lives. The latter never 
married, and at this date (March, 1887), remains on 
the. homestead and has reached the advanced age of 
ninety-three years. 

The father of our subject came to New York 
State in 1 834, during its early settlement, and located 
in Delta, Oneida County, where he remained until 
1845. then went to Hamilton, Madison County, 
and passed the remainder of his days. His death 
occurred Nov. 22, 1865, and he left a family who 
were all located around him in pleasant homes. Asa 
Hartshorn was essentially a self-made man, and 
started out in life for himself at the early age of 
fourteen years. He served an apprenticeship of 
seven years at the silversmith trade, and in 1811) 
set up in business for himself at Montrose, Pa. 
Here he formed the acquaintance of the lady who 
subsequently became his wife, namely: Miss Mary, 
youngest daughter of Putnam Catlin, Esq., a prom- 
inent jurist and legislator of Pennsylvania, who 
>pent his early years at Wilkesbarre and subse- 
quently removed to Montrose, where he reared a 
fine family of sous and daughters. Among these 
was George, who became eminent as an artist and 
delineator of Indian character. 

Putnam Catlin was al>o an officer of the Revo- 
lutionary army, and the pcr-onal history of tile lady 
whom he married at the close of the war was itself 
a theme for romance. She was a daughter of .lames 
Suttoii, of WilkesbaiTc, and together with all her 
father's family, was in the midst of the Wyoming 
mas.-aere, and lied in the darkness of the night from 
the uplifted tomahawks of the savages. The parents 



of our subject were married Christmas Eve, I S2(), 
at the pleasant home of Judge Catlin in Montrose. 
Pa., where they continued to reside until 1*:>I. 
They then removed to Delta, Oneida Co., N. Y., and 
eleven years later to Hamilton, Madison County, 
where they spent the balance of their lives. There 
was born to them besides our subject one son only, 
Horace P., who was born April 23, 1823. 

Thomas C. Hartshorn, after being graduated from 
the Hamilton Academy, entered Madison Uni- 
versity of Hamilton, when sixteen years of age. and 
from which lie was graduated four years later in 1850, 
with the degree of A. B. He received three years 
later the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1 863, 
from Mount Union College, that of Doctor of Di- 
vinity. After leaving Madison University, he en- 
gaged in teaching and officiated as Principal of the 
Young Men's and Ladies' Institute at Peru, 111. In 
1853 he became connected with the American Bible 
Society, and three j-ears later was placed in charge 
of the field made vacant by the resignation of the 
late Rev. Dr. A. AV. Black, in Eastern Ohio, and 
which was under his supervision for a period of ten 
years. In the meantime the State of Virginia was 
annexed to this territory, and Rev. Dr. Harts- 
horn had charge of the entire work of reconstruc- 
tion, under the most discouraging circumstances. 
It was accomplished, however, in the face of preju- 
dice and difficulty, with entire success, greatly to 
the credit of the Doctor. 

Our subject, in 1866, returned to Illinois and lo- 
cated in Pontiac, where, for a period of eight years, 
in addition to other labors, he was Superintendent 
of the Chicago Bible Society and its auxiliaries 
throughout Cook County. He continued his ar- 
duous labors until 1879, and was then smitten down 
with spinal disease, the result of constant fatigue. 
This affliction compelled him to abandon his life 
work, and since that peril id he has been endeavoring 
to comfort himself with his books and the friend- 
ship of the people who have known him long and 
well. 

It is scarcely possible to arrive at any accurate 
statement in figures of the work accomplished by 
Dr. Hartshorn during a quarter of a century, but it 
is safe to state that he has raised, directly and in- 
directly, probably more than >?I!.~.O,IHHI iw the dis- 



LIVINGSTON' COUNTY. 



1070 



semination of the sacred Scriptures in not fewer 
than 200 languages and dialects, while at the same 
time directing the disbursement of the Word of God 
to 20,00(1 destitute families. In the matter of pul- 
pit discourses Dr. Hartshorn's style was eminently 
effective from one special feature his almost uni- 
form hold upon the sympathies of his hearers. 
Whatever the theme he handled, scarcely ever did 
he fail to carry them with him from the start, owing 
largely to his happy faculty of illustration, and still 
more, perhaps, to the cleanly cut and incisive style 
with which his thought was clothed, always ornate, 
sometimes almost to profusion, not to say redun- 
dancy. He raroly, if ever, so imbedded his thoughts 
in words as to sacrifice clearness or force, or to ren- 
der him chargeable with logomachy. In conclud- 
ing the subject we cannot dismiss it more appro- 
priately than by an illustration from the Chicago 
Times of Nov. 30, 18C9, in a discourse published 
in that issue, and delivered by Dr. Hartshorn the 
day before in that city. His theme was the "Per- 
sonality of a Divine Revelation." We give this 
extract simply to illustrate the style of the speaker's 
usual address. 

The Times says : "The theme of Dr. Hartshorn's 
discourse yesterday morning was 'The Personality 
of the Revealed Word,' founded on the 103d verse 
of the 1 1 9th Psalm. 'The central truth of Divine 
revelation,' the Doctor observed, 'is the revelation 
of a personal mediator. From the oldest annals of 
human feeling the perplexing and oft repeated 
question has been, "How shall a man be just with 
God ?" The sacrifices in every age and upon every 
altar are a perpetual memorial of the earnestness 
and fruitlessness with which a solution to this 
question has ever been sought. But from the 
smoke of their incense no voice has ever yet spoken 
to give repose. That mankind will have a religion 
of some sort, is attested by the universal experience 
of the race, and the religion of the Cross never 
shines forth with greater effulgence than when 
brought into comparison with the various systems 
which men have devised to take its place in the 
great yearning heart of humanity. They testify bv 
the very contrast to their utter incapacity to satisfy 
the universal longings of human souls after immor- 
tality. And the great central truth of Divine rev- 



elation is that it is a revelation to the individual 
mind of man; it is a personal revelation. When I 
go to God in His Word, it is that I may hear that 
Divine voice addressing my soul; it is to me that 
lie speaks, and not to man. He had reference to 
me when He made that revelation ; He knew all my 
needs and my necessities, and He has adapted Him- 
self to them and satisfied them all. Christ, my Di- 
vine Savior, has, so to speak, embodied Himself in 
this written Word that He may minister to all my 
personal wants and necessities, and that He may 
cheer, and comfort, and encourage me through all 
my pilgrimage here upon earth, and I am made to 
feel that all the provisions of His Gospel are sacredly 
and personally my own through His rich ai;d abound- 
ing grace. 

" 'Reasoning a posteriori, it would certainly be a 
matter of the strongest presumption that God would 
make a personal revelation to man, if any at all, 
from the fact of the clearly revealed doctrine of per- 
sonal accountability. The language of Scripture is 
mostexplicit : "Everyone must give account of him- 
self to God," and this doctrine of personal account- 
ability seems to underlie the whole system of the 
Divine government. 1 cannot conceive for a mo- 
ment, how a system of moral government could be 
maintained or administered upon any other terms 
than of personal accountability between the subject 
and the sovereign. The Scriptures are every where 
expressive in the strongest language, of the responsi- 
bility of personal character before Him, and this 
doctrine of personal accountability implies and pre- 
supposes the correlative one of personal provision 
and personal adaptation. The Bible therefore ad- 
dresses itself to the individual consciences of men, 
and it "speaks as one having authority, and not as 
the scribes." Nothing cin ever supply its place; 
no creeds or ethics can ever become a substitute 
for it; no tradition, though it were to come from 
heaven and emanate from the very throne itself, 
could ever supply its place; it stands pre-eminently 
nlonc as containing the only revealed will of God 
to Ilis creatures, and unfolding the processes of His 
moral government over them. The Bible brings to 
our race the only adequate revelation of the char- 
acter and will of God. The Doctor observed that 
it had been stoutly and persistently maintained that 



r 



f. 



10. SO 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Nature had made an antecedent revelation in the 
volume of her works, and at this very day, through 
lips professedly friendly to the instructions of this 
sacred hook, there are infused into the popular 
mind, to a most alarming extent, sentiments which, 
though specious in form, are most insicluous, most 
fatal in their ultimate tendencies, and are calculated 
to undermine the whole groundwork of Christian 
faith. It has been said that the inspired word is 
but a transcript of God's antecedent revelation in 
the volume of His works; that in this external rev- 
elation His character is most legibly written; that 
every green leaf in the forest, the cloud-capped 
mountain, and the smiling valleys, the purling 
streams at our feet, and the broad blue canopy 
above us, have emblazoned all over them the wonder- 
ful attributes of the Deity. To a limited and only 
a limited extent is this true. 'The heavens declare 
the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His 
handiwork; day unto day uttereth speech, and 
night unto night showeth knowledge.' But here 
they leave us. They tell of His wisdom, His power, 
and His skill, but what do they tell us of His mercy 
and His love? What answer do they bring us to 
that long vexed question of our immortality? Alas! 
where most light is needed the inquirer is left most 
fatally in the dark. That man would be a most 
treacherous guide who should attempt to conduct 
you through a region of pitfalls till he brought 
you to the very brink of the precipice, and then 
should leave you in hopeless abandonment to your 
fate; and just such a blind guide has Nature ever 
been to unenlightened reason. What light has she 
ever been enabled to throw over the dark regions 
of the tomb? Go and consult her voiceless oracles, 
and where in all human history did there ever come 
back an answer to that vexing question : 'If a man 
die. shall he live again?' A most unsatisfactory 
process has this 'dim light of nature' been in a!) 
aues. and the whole catalogue of pagan philos- 
ophers attests how indistinct and even absurd have 
been the notions of the wisest of them pertaining to 
God and their moral relations to Him. Plato rea- 
soned with himself by the dim light of Nature till 
he became so entangled in the meshes of his 'nn- 
iv:i.-onable. logic,' that he came at last to doubt 
whether even lie himself existed; and Socrates, 



while prosing the fatal hemlock to his lips, turned 
to his friends and confessed that the future was all 
a dark uncertainty. So must it ever be with man- 
kind, wherever the light of this Divine revelation 
has not been bestowed. Thick darkness covers, 
and must continue to cover, the face of the world's 
deep, till God himself speaks as lie has done to us 
in this Word, to make the darkness light. 

"The discourse was listened to throughout with 
deep interest, and at its close a liberal collection 
was taken in behalf of the City Bible Society, for 
the supphy of the destitute masses with the word of 
God." 

The marriage of Dr. Hartshorn and Miss Kate 
Williams, of Bellaire, Ohio, was celebrated at the 
home of the bride. April 19, 18o9. Mrs. Hartshorn 
is the daughter of the late James Williams, of West 
Wheeling, and a great-granddaughter of Gen. Will- 
iam Williams, one of the signers of the Declaration 
of Independence and a member of the Continental 
Congress. She was also the great-great-grand- 
daughter of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecti- 
cut, the friend and ally of Washington. Gen. Will- 
iams married Gov. Trumbull's only daughter, 
Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn became the parents of 
a son and daughter: Frederick, who was born Dec. 
19, 1801, and Ella Louise, Sept. 17, W>6. They 
are both living at home with their parents. 



<17 EWIS H. HOLLMEYER, who is success- 
|| /) fully operating on 240 acres of land in 
'" -^\ Round Grove Township, section 29, is a na- 
tive of the Buckeye State, where he was born in 
the town of Oxford, Butler County, Sept. 4, 1M57. 
Four years later his parents came to this county, 
locating in Broughton Township, where our sub- 
ject pursued his first studies in the district school 
and completed them at the Normal School at Val- 
paraiso, I nd. He took naturally to farming pur- 
suits, however, in which he has been engaged since 
old enough to make himself useful. 

The parents of our subject, Henry C. and Wil- 
helmina (Neighburger) Hollmeyer, were born in 
the Province of Hanover, Germany, whence they 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1081 



emigrated to the United States early in life, first 
locating near Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they subse- 
quently removed to Dwight, 111. The father was 
engaged nearly all his life in agriculture, and is 
now living retired from active labor. He is known 
as a man who has labored industriously and per- 
formed all his obligations as a good citizen. The 
parental household included five children, of whom 
Lewis H. is the eldest. The others are Minnie A. 
and [Etta Dora, living, while Nellie and Willie 
are dead. 

On the 28lh of December, 1877, the subject of 
this sketch formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss 
Ella D., daughter of Benjamin F. and Manetta A. 
(Bennett) Barney, who were natives of Ohio. Mr. 
Barney has lived in Livingston County a number 
of years, and now resides in Pontiac, where his 
daughter, Mrs. Hollmeyer, was born, Nov. 17, 1861. 
The family also included Zelda and M. M., besides 
one brother, Charles J.. who is now deceased. 

Mr. Hollmeyer is regarded as one of the rising 
young men of his community and one who is bound 
to succeed, in life. He is a prominent member of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics, a 
Democrat. Socially, he belongs to Dwight Lodge 
No. 513, I. O. O. F. 




ARY CAIRNS, who resides on section 2G, 
Rook's Creek Township, is the daughter of 
Isaac and Harriet (Belknap) Skeeles, and 
was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, 
."March 1 ;!, 1829. Her girlhood days were spent 
upon the farm of her father, and her education was 
obtained in the common schools. 

On the 22d of May, 1847, our subject became 
the wife of Michael Kennedy Cairns, a farmer by 
occupation, and they resided in Ohio for about ten 
years after marriage. In July, 1857, they moved 
from Ohio to near Bloomington, 111., where they 
purchased 160 acres of land, and carried on farming 
for about four years. They then sold this land, and 
removing to Tazewell County, in 1861, purchased 
land near the town of Washington, where they con- 
tinued to live until 1878, when they moved to 
Woodford County, and resided five years. They 



then sold out and purchased the farm on which the 
subject of this sketch now lives in Rook's Creek 
Township. 

Mrs. Cairns is the mother of five children Har- 
riet Isabella, Margaret Jane, Samuel Isaac, Eleanor 
Johnston and Rosa Belle. Harriet I. was born 
Sept. 27, 1848, and died in infancy; Margaret J. 
was born May 2, 1850, and married Isaac Tobias, 
a merchant of Washington, 111.; she died Oct. 10, 
1875, leaving one child, Carrie Belle, born Dec. 
13, 1874, who is now living with the subject of this 
sketch. Samuel I., whose sketch is given in another 
part of this ALBUM ; Eleanor J. was born Jan. 12, 
1855, and married Samuel Amsler Dec. 25, 1874; 
she lives in Fairbury, and has one child, named 
Charles 8., born Sept. 4, 187G. Rosa Belle was born 
Jan. 4, 1864, and received a common-school educa- 
tion, after which she attended High School at Wash- 
burn, III., two years, and then attended the Mon- 
ticello Seminary, at Godfrey, 111., two years. She 
then completed her education at the Jennings Sem- 
inary, from which she was graduated June 23, 1887. 
She is quite an enthusiast on the subject of music, 
and contemplates completing her study in Germany. 

Mrs. Cairns is the fifth child in a family of 
seven who grew to maturity : Jane, who married 
Samuel Ricketts, a merchant of Eurichsville, and 
has seven children; David B. married Rheuhanna 
Cairns, and lives in Dakota, where he owns a silver 
mine; he has two children, Samuel R., a farmer of 
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, married Jane True and 
has eight children; Thomas B., also a farmer in 
Tuscarawas County, married Rebecca Smith, and 
has five children; Asbury B. married Margaret 
Smith, and enlisting as a soldier in the Union army, 
died from the effects of a wound, and left three 
children; Charles B. married Almina Sherod, has 
four children and lives in Iowa; David, the oldest 
brother, was a Major in the Union army and served 
during the entire war; he went into the service as 
a Captain, and for gallant conduct was promoted to 
the rank of Major. 

Mrs. Cairns' father, Isaac Skeeles, was born in 
Maryland, and shortly after the close of the War of 
1812, in which he was a soldier, located in Ohio, 
where he died on the 24th of May, 1869. Mrs. 
Cairns' mother was a native of one of the 



t 



1082 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Knglanil States, and her parents moved to Ohio, 
where she met and married Mr. Skeeles. Mrs. 
Cairns' maternal grandfather, David Belknap, mar- 
ried Jane Ay res. 

Michael Kennedy Cairns, the husband of our sub- 
ject, w;is born near Belfast, Ireland, Jan. 4, 1826, 
and accompanying his parents to America when he 
was six years of age, located with them in Harrison 
County, Ohio. He died in Livingston County 
April 10, 1883. lie was the seventh child in a 
family of eight, the others of whom married and are 
recorded as follows: Margaret married Samuel 
Mack, in Belfast, Ireland, has ten children, and now 
lives in Harrison Count}', Ohio; William married 
Margaret McCayd, who died and left eight children, 
all of whom live in Ohio; Samuel married Mahala 
Fisher, and dying left two children, who live in 
Harrison County, Ohio; Isabella married George 
Johnston, has three children, and lives in Texas; 
Moses married Sarah Knight, and is now deceased; 
Kleanor married John Johnston, has nine children, 
and lives at Bloomington, 111.; John is married and 
lives in Texas, but has no children. During the 
war he was impressed into the service in the South- 
ern army and served three years. The father of 
Mr. Cairns was named Michael, and he was married 
in Ireland to Miss Isabella Kennedy. 



efpS>IMOTHY MURPHY. Few gentlemen of 
Livingston County are more worthy of 
representation in this ALBUM than the sub- 
ject of this biography. He has been located in 
Broughton Township since the spring of 1867, 
when ho settled upon his present farm, which he 
had purchased some time before, and which now in- 
cludes 360 acres of valuable land, comprising a part 
of sections 3-'! and 34, the residence being on the for- 
mer. This is a comfortable and well appointed 
structure, with a good barn and all other necessary 
OUt-buildinga convenient for the storing of grain 
and the shelter of stock. The entire premises, wear- 
ing as it does the appearance of comfort and plenty, 
is exceedingly pleasant for the eye to dwell upon. 
The proprietor is one of the self-made men of 
Livingston County, who began life for himself in a 



humble manner and has climbed up steadily until he 
occupies a good position socially and financially 
among his neighbors. 

Mr. Murphy was born in County Tipperary, 
Ireland, Aug. 22, 1819, and is the son of John and 
Elizabeth (Talbert) Murphy, natives of the same 
locality. He was the fifth child of the family, and 
was reared to manhood in the modest home of his 
parents, receiving a limited education in the com- 
mon schools. He was deprived of most of the ad- 
vantages afforded the young men of to-day, and 
earl}- in life was made acquainted with its toils and 
struggles. He continued in Ireland until twenty- 
seven years of age, and had not made a tithe of the 
progress to which his ambition aspired. Accord- 
ingly, in the spring of 1846 he gathered together 
his family and their personal effects, and bidding 
adieu to the friends of his childhood took passage 
on a sailing-vessel bound from Liverpool to New 
York City. A month later he set foot upon Amer- 
ican soil, and from the Empire City proceeded to 
Massachusetts, where he was engaged a year at 
wagon-making, which trade he had learned in the 
old country. He then removed to Buffalo, N. Y., 
where he followed his trade for a time, and then 
went over into Canada, where he met his fate in the 
person of Miss Ann Roach, to whom he was mar- 
ried Sept. 1, 1850. This lady was also a native of 
Ireland, and a daughter of Miles and Bridget 
Roach, who emigrated to America in 1834, when 
their daughter Ann was about fourteen years of 
age, settling in the Dominion of Canada. After 
four years he returned to Ireland, where he staid 
one year, and then came to the United States, where 
the death of both occurred in middle life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy took up their residence in 
Mintsvillo, Canada, where they remained until the 
spring of 1852, and then coming to the West, 
located first in LaSalle, whence in 1867 they re- 
moved upon their present farm. Mr. Murphy was 
soon recognized as a valuable addition to the com- 
munity, in the affairs of which he has been quite 
prominent, serving as School Director seven years, 
and in other respects indicating himself to be an 
honorable and worthy citizen. The family lie- 
long to the Catholic Church at Campus. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy there were born twelve 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1085 



children, who are recorded as follows: Elizabeth 
is the wife of Patrick Ferguson, of Broughton 
Township; Maria was married to Amel Obrey, of 
Ottawa, III.; John married Julia Cooling, and is a 
resident of Chicago; Sarah J. died in the Convent j 
of the Servite Sisters, Chicago, when twenty-two 
years < >f age ; Margaret for the last seven years has 
been a nun with the Servite Sisters; Norah is the wife 
of William McDermot, of Butte City, Mont; Alice, 
Miles, Martina, George, Francis and Charles are at 
home. The Murphy children received good ad- 
vantages for schooling, and Elizabeth, Maria and 
Norah were engaged in teaching before marriage. 
Alice developed considerable musical talent, and 
is a good performer on the piano, besides being ; 
competent as a teacher of this art, in which she was 
engaged for a time at Emington. 




R. CYRUS H. BARR, physician and drug- 
gist, and one of the leading citizens of 
Uwight, is descended from English ances- 
try who came to this country with the 
Puritans. The Barr family were among the early 
settlers of New York State. On the maternal side 
Dr. Barr descends from the Austin family, members 
of which were among the first settlers of Rhode 
Island. The old log cabin still stands near East 
Greenwich, that State, that was the first home of 
the Austins in Rhode Island. Dr. Barr is thus a 
descendant of the pioneers of three States, New 
York, Rhode Island and Illinois. 

Aaron Barr, the grandfather of our subject, lived 
near Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., and was a 
farmer by occupation. Ethan R. Barr, the father 
of our subject, was born on his father's farm in New 
York. He first learned fanning, and afterward 
practiced as a veterinary surgeon, being one of the 
first in Illinois; afterward he was supercargo on 
a steamer running from New Orleans to Aspinwall 
on the Isthmus of Panama. Subsequently he re- 
turned to Rhode Island, and married Miss Emily A. 
Bennett, of East Greenwich, a daughter of Thomas 
and Emily (Austin) Bennett, and to them have 
been born three children : Cyrus II., July 10, 18f)J; 



Albert W., June 3, 185!, and Lloyd C., May 2'.), 
1862. In 1856 Mr. Barr removed to Illinois, and 
settling on a farm in Grundy County, remained 
there until his death in 1882, at the age of fifty-six 
years. When he came to D wight there were but 
few houses in the village and the country was wild 
prairie. 

Dr. Cyrus H. Barr was born in East Greenwich, 
R. I., July 10, 1854, and was brought to this county 
by his parents when but four years of age. He 
obtained his education at the Morris Normal School, 
and his medical education at the Chicago Medical 
College, of which institution he is a graduate. He 
began the practice of medicine at Dwight in the 
spring of 1882. The year following he purchased 
a half interest in the drug-store owned by C. M. 
Baker, but subsequently took up his residence in 
Wilmington. In the spring of 1884 he returned to 
Dwight and purchased the remaining' half of the 
store, which he now conducts in connection with 
the practice of his profession. He is a skillful and 
reliable physician, and numbers his friends and pa- 
trons among the best people of the county. 

On the llth of March, 1 884, Dr. Barr married 
Miss Minnie A., daughter of Charles W. and Mary 
G. (Myers) Cook, of Wilmington, 111., formerly of 
New York. To Dr. and Mrs. Barr has been born 
one child, a daughter named Leila. Politically Dr. 
Barr is an advocate of the principles of the Repub- 
lican party, and fraternally he has taken three de- 
grees in Masonry which are conferred by the Blue 
Lodge. 



II. AMSLER, an important factor in 
the farming community of Indian Grove 
Township, came to this section during the 
l) early days of its settlement, and set himself 
about the establishment of a permanent home. 
Like many of the pioneers of Livingston County, 
he first opened his eyes to the light in Pennsylva- 
nia, his birthplace being in York County, and the 
date thereof Jan. 2, 1832. 

When our subject was but a child five years of 
age, his father migrated to the West, taking up his 
residence upon the present site of Peoria. There 



t f , 



lose 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f 



a> then hut little evidence of the beautiful and 
flourishing city which now greets the eyp of the 
traveler. A few months later the elder Amsler 
entered 160 acres of land in Woodford County, 
ten miles from where he had first stopped, and here 
the subject of our sketch was reared to manhood. 
He received but a limited education, find spent his 
early j-ears after the manner of the sons of pioneer 
farmers. He remained under the parental roof 
until about twenty-nine years of age, and was then 
united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Clifton, who 
has ever been to him a true friend and companion. 

Mrs. Amsler was born in Woodford County, 111., 
Sept. 5, 1K42, and is the daughter of Levi and 
S;ir:ih (Sowders) Clifton, natives respectively of 
Ohio and Virginia. Her father was a farmer by 
occupation, and departed this life in Woodford 
County about 1854, followed by the mother two 
years later; both were members of the New-Light 
Church. The parental household included seven 
children, two of whom, Douglas and Ernest, are 
now deceased. Those surviving besides Mrs. Ams- 
ler, are, Cora, the wife of E. W. Burger, of King- 
man, Kan.; Charles, Ida and Amber. 

Mr. Amsler removed from Woodford to McLean 
County in 18C6, and in 1883 came to this county, 
where his property includes eighty acres of finely 
cultivated land, one and a half miles west of Fair- 
field, besides a fine residence in the city. He still 
continues the superintendence of his farm, and 
spends his leisure time in Fairbury, where his home 
is replete with all the comforts of modern life. Dur- 
ing his later years on the farm, he turned his at- 
tention largely to the raising of fine stock, making 
a specialty of blooded draft horses and Poland- 
China swine. He usually does his own shipping, 
and has realized a small fortune from his opera- 
tions in this department of agriculture. Asa mem- 
ber of society he has been the encourager of those 
eiiterpri.-e> calculated for the moral and intellect- 
ual growth of the people, and with his family is :i 
member and regular attendant of the Christian 
Church, of which he has been Deacon for the last 
ten years, and Trustee for probably more than that 
length of time. In political matters lie is decidedly- 
Democratic. 

The parents of our Mibjcct. John and Annie 
4 




(Brock) Am>ler, were natives of Switzerland, where 
the mother was burn Nov. :i, 1802, and the father 
July 10, 1806. They were married in 1828, and 
:m> still living, enjoying in a remarkable degree 
their physical strength, and still employed actively 
about their homestead in Washington, Tazewell 
Co., 111. Both are members of the German Evan- 
gelical Church, in which the father specially has 
been prominent and has for many years held the 
office of Treasurer. They had a family of eight 
children. The eldest son, Jacob, started for Ore- 
gon in 1851, and since 1870 they have had no word 
from him or trace of him. The others besides our 
subject were named respectively: Susan, Mary, 
Heniy, Christopher, Maggie and Samuel. 



sHADDEUS S. McDONALD, a prominent 
grain buyer and stock-raiser of Round Grove 
Township, makes his headquarters at Cam- 
pus, near where he settled in the spring of 1 8KO, 
and has a good farm on section 27. This comprises 
320 acres of land, with suitable farm buildings and 
all the conveniences for carrying on agriculture 
and stock-raising after the most approved methods. 

The childhood days of Mr. McDonald were spent 
at his birthplace in Taylor Count}-, W. Va., where 
he first opened his eyes to the light Jan. 27, 1 849. 
He continued there with his father's family until 
a youth of fifteen years, and they then all migrated 
to Illinois, locating in Esmen Township, this county, 
where Thaddeus S. passed his early manhood and 
resided until the spring of 1880. His industry and 
enterprise were indicated .-it an early age, and he 
became familiar with forming pursuits, which he has 
followed all his life. He occupied his farm four 
years, and in 1884 took up his residence in Campus, 
where he has a neat dwelling with attractive sur- 
roundings, and is numbered among the valued 
members of the community. He has represented 
Round Grove Township in the County Board of 
Supervisors two year>, and socially is a member of 
Cabery Lodge No. 031, A. F. ife A. M. In polities 
he supports the principles of the Democratic party. 

The marriage of Thaddeus S. McDonald and 
Miss Ella V. Bradley took place at the home of the 



T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1087 



i 



bride in Amity Township. March 11, 1877. Mrs. 
McDonald is a. native of Illinois, and was born 
July 12, 18.")."). They have an interesting family 
of five children, named respectively: Delta V., 
Blanche M., Frank P., Ina E. and Thaddeus J. 
The elder children are pursuing their studies in the 
district school, and all will receive the advantages 
of a good education, as Mr. McDonald is a highly 
intelligent man and most decidedly in favor of 
" book-learning." 

The parents of our subject, Patrick F. and Eliza- 
beth (Husted) McDonald, were born in Taylor 
County, AV. Va., coming to this county in the spring 
of 1864. Their family included seven children, of 
whom Thaddeus S. was the eldest. Of these six 
survive, and five are residents of Illinois and one of 
Kansas. The parents of Mrs. McDonald, James 
and Nancy (Bartholomew) Bradley, were among 
the pioneer settlers of Livingston County and located 
in Amity Township, where they assisted in develop- 
ing its resources, building up a good homestead 
and rearing their children to become worthy and 
efficient members of society. The father died Dec. 
2.'!. 1861 ; the mother is still living, and a resident 
of Cornell. The wife of our subject was the 
youngest of the family, and with her brothers and 
sisters received careful home training and a good 
education in the common schools. 




" 



AMUEL MILLS is successfully engaged in 
farming and stock-raising on section 8, Es- 
inen Township, where he owns 200 acres 
of land and has established a comfortable 
homestead, receiving as the reward of industry and 
economy, the good things of life which he has so 
richly earned. The subject of our sketch is a native 
of England, being born near London on the 6th 
of May, 1848, and was the fourth in a family of 
twelve children born to George and Sarah (Shad- 
well) Mills, who were natives of England. The pa- 
ternal grandparents were Richard and Sarah Mills, 
who were also English people, while the maternal 
grandparents were Samuel and Jane Shadwell. 
The father of Mr. Mills was a herdsman by occupa- 
tion, and followed that calling in his native country. 



Samuel Mills was reared to stock-herding, and 
when a boy was so constantly engaged in that work 
that his opportunities for obtaining an education 
were very limited. At the age of sixteen years he 
left the parental roof and followed the occupation 
of a herdsman until twenty years of age, at which 
time he concluded to seek a home in America. Ac- 
companied by Percivnl Kimber and his sister, he 
sailed from Liverpool on the steamship "Nebraska," 
and landed at Castle Garden after fourteen days 
on the ocean. lie at once started for Illinois, where 
the Kimbers had relatives living at Ottawa, and en- 
gaged at farm work. In January, 1871, he married 
Miss Mary Kimber, who had made the voj'age 
across the ocean with him and her brother. She 
is a daughter of Jesse and Alice (Ackert) Kimber, 
who were natives of England and emigrated to 
America, where both have since died. 

Mr. Mills and wife first lived with her uncle, 
William Kimber, two years, and then moved down 
near Ottawa, where he rented land and farmed for a 
term of six years. He then came to Livingston 
Count}', and bought 200 acres of improved land 
upon which he now resides, cultivating this farm 
himself and making a specialty of stock-raising. 
He is the father of three children Letitia Alice, 
Nellie Jeanette and Jessie Arthur, all of whom live 
with their parents. 

Mr. Mills is not very active in political matters, 
and acts and votes independently. Considering his 
age and opportunities he has been very successful 
since coming to this country, and has made good 
use of the opportunities afforded here to enterpris- 
ing men. He has an excellent farm, which is well 
improved and productive, and has already situated 
himself so as to be independent the balance of his 
life. On another page of this volume is shown a 
view of Mr. Mills' homestead. 



SEORGE L. TAYLOR is a successful farmer 
and land-holder of Dwight Township, and is 
of pure Scotch origin. James Taylor, his 
grandfather, was a silk manufacturer of Paisle}', 
Scotland, where he was engaged in manufacturing 
the celebrated Paisley shawls. In his religious doc- 
trines lie was an adherent of the old Scotch Coven- 




loss 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



a nters. lie was the father of seven children and 
lived to l>e very aged. 

William Taylor, the father of the subject of our 
sketch, was horn at Paisley, Scotland, Dec. 12, 
1802, passing his early life in the strict training of 
the old Covenanters. He was given a good com- 
mon-school education and learned silk manufactur- 
ing of his father, in which he became much skilled 
and continued until twenty-five years of age. In 
1826, the year made famous on account of the 
death of Jefferson and Adams. Mr. Taylor came to 
this country, and was first employed in a glass man- 
ufactory in Chaiiestown, Mass. He was afterward 
foreman in cotton factories at Newton, Mass., at 
Newport, R. I., and other places, following this 
business eighteen years. In 1 847 he married Mrs. 
Prentice, widow of George Prentice, of Lanark, 
Lanarkshire, Scotland. The result of this marriage 
was three children, one of whom is now living. 
Agnes (commonly called Nancy), who married 
William McCartney, of Central Falls, R. I. The 
maiden name of Mrs. Prentice was Agnes Logan, 
and her parents were William and James (Gibson) 
Logan, natives of the same place as Mr. Prentice. 
Her marriage with Mr. Taylor resulted in the birth 
of one son, George L., the subject of this sketch. 

In 18o2 Mr. Taylor moved to Highland, Grundy 
Co., 111., and purchasing land of the Government 
began farming, and remained on the same farm 
thirty years. Being one of the pioneers of Illinois 
he has seen the State grow from the raw and un- 
broken prairie to its present condition of greatness 
in city, town and country. He was the owner of 
the first team of horses ever seen in Highland Town- 
ship. Among the amusements of the early settlers 
was the wolf hunt, in which all joined, and which 
nearly always resulted in the destruction of many 
of these pests. In 1881 he removed to his present 
residence, which is appropriately named "Maple 
Croft," consisting of ICO acres of land within one 
mile of 1) wight, as fertile and finely situated as any 
farm in this township. Politically Mr. Taylor was 
an old-line Whig, during the existence of that 
party, and upon the organization of the Republican 
party lie joined his political fortunes therewith. He 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 
which he has held the office of Steward. He has 






also been a member of the School Hoard many 
years, during which time he has been active in pro- 
moting educational matters. As the result of a tem- 
perate and industrious' life, Mr. Taylor at the age 
of eighty-five is yet a hale and hearty man, and is 
a fine example of the sturdy race from which he 
sprang. Hy his own efforts he has accumulated con- 
siderable property, both personal and real, and his 
declining years are comforted by his wife, a lad}' 
of superior intelligence and undimmed facilities 
at the age of eighty-three years. 

George L. Taylor, the subject of our sketch, wa> 
born at Newport, R. I., Sept. 11, 1848. and was 
brought to Illinois, by his parents when but four 
years of age, passing his early life amid the scenes 
and hardships incident to pioneer life in a new 
State. As best he could he obtained a common- 
school education, and devoted the summer months 
to acquiring a practical knowledge of farming. In 
1872 Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Emma J., 
daughter of James J. and Catherine (Numer) Good- 
win, of Huntingdon County, Pa. To them have 
been born four daughters Nora A., Nellie C., 
Linnie L. and Constance D. 

Mr. Taylor has remained with his father and con- 
ducted the home farm for many years. The extent 
of his membership in social orders is in being an 
Odd Fellow, of which order he is a bright and act- 
ive member. Like his father he is an ardent Re- 
publican, and allows no opportunity to pass whereby 
he can promote the interests of that party. He is a 
prominent farmer of the new and progressive school. 
and merits the reputation which he has of being an 
upright, energetic and enterprising man. His 
children are bright and interesting, and his good 
wife shares with him the esteem and ie>pect of all 
their neighbors. 

As illustrative of the homesteads that have su- 
perseded the "hut in some vast wilderness" of this 
county, we take pleasure in presenting on another 
page of this ALBDI a view of Mr. Taylor's resi- 
dence with its environments. 

THOMAS N. LANG AN. who has a reputa- 
tion throughout Illinois ns an importer and 
breeder of thoroughbred Clydesdale and 
Shire hor-es, and is a well-known citi/.en of Sun- 




RESIDENCE or W- FLANiOAN.Sec.l3,SuNBURY TOWNSHIP 



BQYTON BOY 1963. 



ROVE SPARKS. 3092, 




RES.OFT.N.LANGAN|BREEDEROFSHIRE&CUYDESDALI:HORSES}SECI2 ; SUNBURYTOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1091 



bury Township, was born in Eagle Township, La- 
Salle County, on the 3 1st of August, 1855, and is the 
oldest son of James and Catherine (Coffey) Langan, 
of whom see sketch in another part of this ALBUM. 

Thomas Langan was ten years of age when he 
came to this count}' with his parents, and received 
his early education in the district schools, afterward 
attending the Christian Brothers' College at La- 
Salle. He also attended three terms at the Normal 
School at Normal, 111., and took a scientific course 
at the Morris Normal School. During this time, 
when not at school, he was engaged at farming. At 
the time of his marriage he settled on the farm he 
now owns and occupies, on sections 12 and 1, in 
Sunbury Township, consisting of 240 acres, all en- 
closed by a good hedge fence, excepting that part 
which lies along the railroad, which has a wire 
fence. 

On April 17. 1884, Mr. Langan was married to 
Miss Mary Mullaney, who was born in Vienna 
Township, Grundy Co., 111., on the 13th of Octo- 
ber, 1803. Her father, John Mullaney. was born 
in County Sligo, Ireland, and his father, also John, 
was born in the same county, where he remained 
during his life. The father of Mrs. Langan grew 
to manhood in his native country, and then coming 
to the United States, went at once to Ottawa, La- | 
Salle County, where he was employed on the public 
works. He purchased a tract of wild prairie land 
in Grundy County, which he paid for with money 
earned on the public works. He improved this 
farm, which consisted of over 400 acres, and died 
there on the 7th of February, 1884. The maiden 
name of Mrs. Langan's mother was Mary Burke, 
who was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and her father 
was Patrick Burke, while his father, the great- 
grandfather of Mrs. Langan, was born in America, 
of Irish parentage: was married in this country, 
and then went to Ireland, where he died. The 
name of the grandmother of Mrs. Langan was Mar- 
garet Hall, who was born in Tipperary, and resides 
there now. at the age of ninety years. 

Mr. and Mrs. Langan have one child livintf, 
named John Joseph, while two children died in in- 
fancy. The business in which our subject is en- 
gaged that of raising Clydexlale and Shire horses 
is one that requires considerable care and atten- 



tion, and involves the investment of large sums of 
money. Mr. Langan's success indicates that he is 
amply possessed of all the requirements. His stock 
has a reputation second to none in the State, and 
meets a ready market for the full product. 

We have pleasure in presenting on another page 
of this volume a view of Mr. Langan's homestead. 



-*- 




SPRINGER, a resident of Long- 
Point Township, on the western line of Liv- 
ingston County, owns and occupies a snug 
homestead including eighty acres of land 
under a good state of cultivation, and supplied with 
convenient and comfortable farm buildings. A 
view of the place is shown in this work. He is lo- 
cated on section 25, and took possession of his pres- 
ent property in 1863. 

Mr. Springer is a native of Vermilion County, 
this State, and was born Dec. 18, 1837. His par- 
ents, Nathan and Lydia (Lucas) Springer, were na- 
tives of Ohio. The former was born Feb. 1 1. 1803, 
and was the son of Uriah and Mary (Long) Springer, 
who were married July 30, 17!)!). Their son Na- 
than, the father of our subject, was married about 
1820, to Miss Lydia Lucas, and came to Illinois in 
1831, being one of the earliest pioneers of Vermil- 
ion County. After a residence there of twenty 
years, he removed to this county, settling first in 
Amity Township, whence a year later he removed 
to Long Point, and locating on section 25, engaged 
in farming and stock-raising. The parental house- 
hold was completed by the birth of ten children, 
namely: Lavina, Amanda, Presley, Mahala, Zadok, 
Reason, Margaret Ann, Nathan, Lydia Ellen and 
Luretta. 

Our subject was the sixth child of his parents. 
He had been reared to habits of industry and econ- 
omy, and when twenty years of age commenced 
life for himself. His marriage to Agnes Ardell 
Halbert took place at the home of the bride in Pon- 
tiac Township June 1 1, 1880. She is the daughter 
of William and Sophia (Plow) Halbert, natives of 
Illinois. The wife of our subject was also born in 
this State, Dec. 7, 1800. This union resulted in the 
birth of four children, namely : Levina Ardell. born 



1002 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



July 1, 1882; Reason Ellsworth, Feb. 20, 1884: 
Nellie Josephine, Oct. 14, 1885; Mabel Mary, 
March 31, 1887. 

The wife of our subject was reared in the family 
of Michael Kenney until eight years of age, and re- 
ceived her education in the district school. Her 
father's family consisted of four children, namely: 
Sarah Alice, now of Peoria; Alonzo W.. of Texas; 
Agnes, Mi-s. Springer, and Addie, a resident of 
Ottawa. Upon the breaking out of the late war 
Mr. Springer enlisted in Company (', 39th Illinois 
Infantry, and served over eleven months; then, on 
account of a severe attack of measles which disa- 
bled him for further duty as a soldier, he was given 
uii honorable discharge, and returned North. In 
the meantime he had met the enemy in several skir- 
mishes, but, with his company, was detailed princi- 
pally to guard duty. 

Mr. and Mrs. Springer, after their marriage, lo- 
cated on the parental homestead, where they have 
since remained, and to the farm operations of which 
he has given his entire attention for the last twenty 
years. He has become one of the familiar figures 
in Long Point Township, where he enjoys the con- 
fidence and esteem of the entire community. Mr. 
Springer's father is deceased; the mother still sur- 
vives, and is living in Amity ^Township. 




fARON WINTIIROP KELLOGG, the 
fourth of eleven children born to Rev. 
(l\ Hiram H. and Mary (Chandler) Kellogg, 
was born in Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y., 
Nov. 7, 1835. He came to Illinois with his 
father's family in 1841, and this State has been his 
home most of the time since that date. 

The parents of Rev. Hiram H. Kellogg migrated 
from Connecticut to Oneida County, N. Y., 100 
years ago, and assisted in funning the colon}- from 
which sprang the Indian school of Rev. Samuel 
Kirkland, which grew into Hamilton College, the 
descendants of whom held their Centennial celebra- 
tion at Clinton the past summer, which President 
Cleveland, a former resident of that village, at- 
tended. and at which he made the speech which w.-is 
SO justly praised for its manner ami matter. Rev. 



Mr. Kellogg established at Clinton one of the lirst 
female seminaries in the country. The founders of 
the now famous Mount Ilolyoke Seminary visited 
his school for the purpose of learning what they 
could of the pioneer institution before starting their 
enterprise. He very early also became interested 
in the temperance and anti-slavery movements, and 
stood with Gerritt Smith, Beriah Green, Alvin 
Stewart and the little band of Abolitionists who 
made their power felt in Central New York along in 
the thirties. He was a warm personal friend of 
Albert Barnes, and stood by him in his position 
which resulted, finally, in the division of the 
Presbyterian Church into the so-called Old and 
New School branches. lie joined the Rev. George 
\V. Gale in his plan of founding a colony and a 
Christian and anti-slavery school in the (then) 
West, and was elected the first President of Knox 
College at Galesburg, III. lie held this position 
six years, during which time Galesburg was known 
all over this portion of the State as a -'nigger hole," 
and the men and women who lived there were 
known everywhere as Abolitionists. It was one of 
the principal stations of the "under-ground rail- 
road," and no fugitive was ever turned back to 
slavery after reaching that burg. 

During these years Rev. Hiram Kellogg was the 
associate of Owen Lovejoy, Ichabod Codding, 
William T. Allen, Dr. Charles Dyer, Philo Carpen- 
ter and others who lived to see the odious name of 
' Abolitionist" respected. AVhile at Galesburg he 
served as pastor of the first church there and after- 
ward carried on schools or preached at various 
places, including Clinton, Rome and Marshall, N. 
Y. ; Washington, 111.; Marshalltown, DesMoines, 
Guthrie and Newton, Iowa; and Baraboo, Wis. ; 
and died at Mt. Forest, 111., Jan. 1, 1881, when 
nearly eighty years of age. 

Aaron W. Kellogg pas>ed his youthful days at 
Galesburg, attending the common school, with its 
little wooden benches, the only one at that time in 
the village. When eleven years of age he returned 
to his native county and remained in school there 
until the fall of 1 sf> 1 , then came back to Galcsliurg 
and prepared for college. In ISoo he once more 
returned to Clinton, and was graduated from Hamil- 
ton College in 1S.">7. lie, subsequently studied law 



1 

f 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1003 



with Prof. T. W. Dwight. now of the Columbia 
Law School in New York City, but on account of 
failing health lie engaged in outdoor business about 
eight years, raining iron ore and lumbering. In the 
spring of 1866 he came to Pontiac and settled on 
the place which has since been his home, on section 
22, Pontiac Township, just outside the cit3" limits, 
where he engaged in raising fruit. He soon became 
connected with the Pontiac Sentinel, and for 
seven years he was its editor, until the paper was 
purchased by Mr. Alles. He afterward edited the 
Streator Monitor for a short time, following which 
he taught in the public schools of Pontiac three 
years. He then engaged in writing for firms who 
were engaged in publishing county histories, and in 
this connection assisted in writing the histories of 
Livingston, McLean, Vermilion and Iroquois 
Counties. 

Mr. Kellogg, in the winter of 1873, while con- 
nected with the Sentinel, was elected Assistant 
Postmaster of the State Senate, and served in that 
capacity two years. During five winters in addi- 
tion, 1880 to 1885, he was engaged at Springfield 
clerking for the Legislature and in the Auditor's 
office, and was at the same time correspondent for 
several newspapers. During several years he acted 
as the local correspondent of the Inter-Ocean at 
Pontiac. In January, 1884, at the request of 
Senator Cullom, he was appointed Assistant Post- 
master of the United States Senate, which position 
he still holds. For many years he has been the 
correspondent, first at Springfield and afterward at 
Washington, of the Peoria Journal, and his letters 
over the name of "Winthrop" have attracted a 
good deal of attention. 

From his early education Mr. Kellogg could not 
well have been other than a Republican in politics. 
He cast his first vote for Fremont, and has voted at 
every election since except twice, when by change 
of residence he was not a voter. Ho has never 
held political office except as mentioned above. He 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

In December. LSI; I.Mr. Kellogg was married 
at Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y., to Miss Sarah 
Emeline Allen. Nine children have been born to 
them, all of whom are living Othniel Williams. 
MMY Emeline, Gertrude Whmifred, Winthrop 




Chandler, William Seward, Hiram Harlow and Har- 
riet Helen (twins), Homer Gleason and Carrie Emily. 
Mr. Kellogg has a pleasant home, and when not 
absent officially at Washington, enjoys farm life, 
caring for his growing crops and stock and looking 
out for the care and education of his children. 



LEXANDER MONTGOMERY, a model 
farmer located on section 7, Reading Town- 
ship, but whose post-office is Minister, 
LaSalle Co., 111., is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was born in Fayette County, on 
the 23d of December, 1828. He is the son of Samuel 
and Elizabeth (Cammett) Montgomery, who were 
natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively. 
The father, who was a Pennsylvania farmer, died in 
1858. The mother was born in 1799 and died in 
1878. During her entire life she was an active 
worker in the United Presbyterian Church. Their 
other children were born as follows: Isaac, April 
11, 1813; Mary, Aug. 8, 1810; Rebecca, April 18, 
1819; Thomas, July 1, 1822; James, Aug. 10, 1824; 
Margaret, Aug. 22, 1826; John, March 2, 18:51; 
Elizabeth, March 12, 1833, and Sarah, Jan. 20, 1835. 
Mary died Nov. 25, 1881; Isaac, Feb. 8, 1822; 
John, July 20, 1838, and Sarah, Oct. 28, 1842. 

Alexander Montgomery was married to Sarah 
Stofer, March 23, 1856. She was born March 15, 
1829, and is the daughter of John and Man- (Stim- 
mel) Stofer, who were the parents of the following- 
named children: Elizabeth, who was born in 1831, 
and resides in Penns_ylvania, and Sarah, the wife of 
our subject. The mother of these children died in 
1833, and the father died in Pennsylvania in 1877. 
Thev were members of the Presbyterian Church, in 
which they were active workers for many years 
[receding their death. The father was a Repub- 
lican in politics, and during his life manifested much 
interest in politics. He was a fanner by occupation, 
and achieved reasonable siicccs>. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery has 
resulted in the birth of ten children, eight of whom 
are living. They are recorded as follows: James 
was born Jan. Hi. 185S; Elizabeth was born June 30, 
1 s.V.i. and married William Walters, who died June 






\* 1094 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 




;i, 18H5, leaving two children; John was born April 
10, 1SC3; Frank was horn Dec. 21, 1865, and died 
Aug. 1, 1886; Dora was born March 16, 1867; 
Seymour, Jan. 5, 1868; Mary, July 1!), 1871; Al- 
exander, Nov. 18, 187-1; Margaret Ann was born 
April 31, 1870, and died in October, 1872; Eva 
was born Aug. 24, 1877. 

Mr. Montgomery removed from the State of 
Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1867, and selected his 
present farm, consisting of 160 acres of good land, 
which is fairly improved. In politics Mr. Mont- 
gomery acts with the Democratic party, and has 
held the office of Road Supervisor, and also that of 
School Director, eight years. His wife is an earn- 
est member of the Presbyterian Church, which she 
regularly attends. 



V.EAVTON MITCHELL. Among the most 
I* substantial natives of foreign countries to 
choose the United States for their home, are 
those of Norway, a country lying largely in the 
frozen zone, but the temperature of which is much 
modified by the great extent of sea coast, the Gulf 
StiTiim, and the large area occupied by water, es- 
pecially by the fiords, which are in immediate com- 
munication with the sea. Thus the native of Nor- 
way is made hardy by the frigid temperature of the 
climate, mellowed by the counteracting influence 
of the winds which pass over the Gulf Stream. 

During the last half century no remarkable 
changes have occurred in that country, and the 
subject of this sketch, who was born there on the 
22d of January, 1824, can still revisit in his imag- 
ination, the scenes amidst which lie was reared to 
manhood, with the knowledge that they have not 
been impaired by the ravages of time. Mr. Mitch- 
ell received an excellent education in his native 
language, and in 1854, at the age of thirty, emi- 
grated to America, where after an ocean voyage 
that was full of delays, accidents and perils, lasting 
fourteen weeks, he landed in the city of (Quebec, 
Canada. Remaining in that city but a short time, 
he came direct to Livingston County, 111., where 
he luis ever since resided. In 1ISC1 he settled on a 
farm in Rook's Creek Township, and there lived 



until he moved to his present farm in Pontiac 
Township in 1 SKI). 

Mr. Mitchell was married, on the 8th of March. 
1861, to Miss Lena Norton, also a native of Nor- 
way, and they have had seven children: Isabelle 
May, the wife of /. Henson ; Guilder, Sophia, Moses 
A., Mabelle Lillie, Amelia and Cora. Ilis farm is lo- 
cated on section 7, Pontiac Township, and section 
12, Rook's Creek Township, and consists of ;>40 
acres of fine land. Mr. Mitchell has accomplished 
much since coming to this country, for when he ar- 
rived in Livingston County he was #50 in debt, 
while now his farm and buildings are as valuable 
a> .-1113- in the county. He is eminently a self-made 
man, his success both in this and the old country 
being the result of his own unaided efforts. In his 
younger years he engaged in the business of car- 
pentering, and in that occupation earned sufficient 
money to bring him to this country. He is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, and has served that 
denomination in the capacity of Deacon. After 
becoming an American citizen, and studying the 
political status of the country, lie concluded that 
the Republican party was that of freedom and lib- 
erty, and so cast his political fortunes with it. He 
has acted with that party ever since 1856, the date 
of its organization, two years after his arrival in 
this country. 



3 AMUEL McCOBMACK, who was one of 
the widest known and most highly esteemed 
citizens of Livingston Count}', was a native 
of Virginia, where he was born on the 29th 
of March, 1818. His parents were Thomas and 
Catherine McConnack, and his paternal ancestors 
were of Scotch origin. 

Our subject was reared in Virginia, and in the 
year 1 <vi;> with his parents removed to Vermilion 
County, 111., where he married for his first wife 
Miss Elizabeth Laycock, and they were blessed with 
li\e children: Rachel: Catherine, now deceased: 
Ruth, the wife of Charles Best, of Linn County, 
Kan.: Frank and Henry. His second marriage was 
with Miss Mary Louderback. a native of Brown 
County, Ohio, the marriage taking place in Living- 
ston County, 111. She is the daughter of Thomas 






RESIDENCE OF W*. BRUNSKILL.SEC.K. ESMEN TOWNSHIP. 



FATHER'S Ffzs/ofNCE. 5cc. 23 




.AND FARM PROPERTY OF JOSEPH RICH , SEc's.22.&2S.SAUNEMiN TOWNSHIP. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1097 



and Sarah Louclerlwk, both natives of Ohio, who ! 
(Mine with their family in 1831 or 18;>2 to Ver- 
milion County, 111., where they were early settlers. 
By this marriage five children were born, three of 
whom are living Nellie, Mary and Grant; the two 
deceased were Charles and Belle. 

The present Mrs. McConnack with her parents, 
settled in Livingston County in the year 1836, over 
half a century ago, and were among the first settlers 
in Amity Township. Mr. McCormack came to 
Livingston County in 18o4, and settled on section 
2."), Pontiac Township. What is now known as the 
homestead was in a comparatively raw or primitive 
condition. Like all pioneers, he endured great 
hardships and privations, which affected his health 
in after life, and he died on the 30th of January, 
1881. 

In his 3'outh Mr. McCormack received but an 
ordinary district-school education, but he was a 
man of considerable natural ability, and read a 
great deal in after life. His political affiliations 
were with the Democratic party, and he was a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., at Pontiac, where he was highly 
esteemed by his fellow-members. He was a widely 
and favorably known citizen 'of the county, a kind 
and loving husband and father, and was highly res- 
pected by all the citizens. Mrs. McConnack still 
resides on the old homestead, containing 170 acres, 
and can look back over a well-spent life with cause 
for considerable satisfaction. 




\ 



AMUEL M. BARNES, M. D., Fairbury. 
The art of medicine is one of the most an- 
cient and most beneficent of professions. 
In the early ages, among the Egyptians 
and Greeks, physicians were supposed to be in some 
mysterious way descended from the gods; and cer- 
tainly of no man is required a higher character and 
purer life than of the family physician. It may be 
properly said of Dr. Barnes that he sustains in a 
high degree these characteristics. He is a native 
lllinoisan. having been born in Whitesicle County, 
Dec. 4, 1840. 

The parents of the subject of this biography 
were Henry 15, and Jane M. (Kilgore) Barnes, the 



former now living in the enjoyment of a rii>e old 
age in Saunemin Township, this county. He was 
born in Sussex County, Del., while the mother, 
who died in 1882, was born Jan. 1, 1819, in Ohio. 
(See sketch elsewhere in this Ai.itrM.) Their chil- 
dren, seven in number, were: Mary K., now the 
wife of William P. Carri there, and the mother of 
the present State's Attorney; Belle K. ; Louisa, the 
wife of William M. Kilgore, a well-known farmer of 
Saunemin; Olive S., the wife of John C^. Brown, of 
Macksburg, Iowa; II. E. W., a prominent physician, 
also of Macksburg, Iowa; Derastns T., who died 
in childhood, and Samuel M. Whilst a youth Dr. 
Barnes secured a fair education iu the common 
schools, which was supplemented by a year's attend- 
ance at the Wesleyan University, Bloomington. 
We next find him engaged in teaching that step- 
ping stone to other professional life in which call- 
ing he continued during four terms. Thinking it 
more congenial to his tastes he next entered the 
drug-store of Thomas & Tweddale, of Lacon, 111., 
as clerk. Here he remained several months, when 
he went to Sterling, Whiteside County, where he 
found like occupation and remained until the spring 
of 1867. During that year he returned to Lacon, 
purchased the interest of Dr. Thomas, and con- 
tinued in partnership with Dr. Tweddale until 1869, 
when, after a brief return to teaching, he came to 
Saunemin Township, this county, where he im- 
proved a tract of land, and also gave the people of 
that section the benefit of his knowledge of medi- 
cine. In 1871 he went to Chicago to perfect him- 
self in medicine at Rush Medical College, but the 
fates decreed otherwise. The great Chicago fire 
destroyed much of that beautiful city, and his 
chosen alma mater was laid low by the flames. This 
necessitated a change in his programme, and the 
Medical Department of the University of Iowa, at 
Iowa City, became his place of stud}-, and gradu- 
ated him in March, 1872. Another illustration is 
here afforded of the change necessitated by force 
of circumstances. After graduation he commenced 
the practice of medicine in Monmoiith, Jackson Co., 
Iowa, whence in 1873 he came to Fairbury, ami be- 
came associated with Dr. N. T. 1'. Robertson, now 
of Ihitchinson, Kan., and his brother, Dr. II. E. 
W. Barnes. Thi> partnership continued three years, 



f 



1098 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






when it wa> dissolved, Dr. Robertson going to Kan- 
>a>, and our subject and his brother continuing 
here. In 1878 he too went to Kansas, resuming 
his old-time association with Dr. Robertson. Whilst 
in the enjoyment of this relationship, his wife was 
removed by death, compelling him, in behalf of his 
children, to return to this State, which he did in 
1879. For a single year he and his brother prac- 
ticed together, when Dr. II. E. W. Barnes moved 
away, since which time our subject has continuously 
resided and practiced here, securing a profitable 
practice and acquiring an enviable reputation, es- 
pecially as a surgeon. Where great skill and exper- 
ience are required, his services are in demand, and 
at the Chatsworth disaster he bore a leading part in 
caring for the wounded. He was for some years 
Examining Surgeon for the Government, and is at 
present Examiner for the ^Ktna, Washington, 
North western, New York Life, Home, National Life, 
Travelers', and a number of other insurance com- 
panies, for which services he receives a handsome 
income annually. 

Politically Dr. Barnes is a Republican, and takes 
an active interest in politics. Besides his natural 
adaptability to his chosen calling, he is an inventor 
of no mean talents, and is the patentee of several 
devices. Socially he is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and has passed to the Council Degrees, 
has been High Priest of the chapter, Master of the 
lodge, and has creditably filled the various offices 
of the bodies. He is also a member of tlie Knights 
of Pythias. 

Dr. Barnes was first married in September, 1870, 
to Miss Augusta S. Erwin, of Wenona, 111. This 
lady became the mother of three children : Edna M., 
who was born in August, 1 871 ; Clara B., in October, 
187;i, and Erwin M.. who was born in July, 1877, 
and died March 2(1, 1885. Mrs. Augusta Barnes 
departed this life at IIutc!iinson. Kan., Feb. 28, 
1879. and i> buried by the >ide of her father, at 
, Wenona, III. The Doctor was subsequently married, 
July 28, 1880, to Miss Ella B. Irwin. a sister of his 
first wife. She was born Dee. l:i, l!s5i;. in Marshall 
Count}', 111. They were the daughters of William 
and Susan A. (Sain) Erwin, native> of Ohio. Mr. 
Erwin died at Wenona sonic years ago. and the 
mother still lives there. They were the parent- of 




Austin M. Erwin, of Sannemin; Mrs. Dr. II. K. \V. 
IJarnes, of Macksburg, Iowa; Mrs. Charle> Horn, 
of Wenona: Mrs. Franklin, of Streator: Mrs. Fo.-ter. 
of LaRose; Mr. C. E. Erwin, of Wenona, and Airs. 
Preston Gants. of Omaha, Noli. Of the last mar- 
riage of Dr. Barnes there was born one child, 
Editli Mautie, a bright little girl now (1887) four 
years old, who enjoys the honor of having named 
herself. 



APT. EUGENE ROLAZ STEVENS, one of 
the best known citizens of Livingston Coun- 
ty, is now a retired business man of Dwight. 
It is seldom that a biographer has occasion to deal 
with a subject whose family lineage contains the 
names of so many eminent men as that of the Ste- 
vens family, names famous alike as soldiers, states- 
men, scholars, bankers and merchants; a name which 
has become distinguished in nearly all the higher 
grades of life. They were pioneers in the New 
World, and patriots in the struggle for liberty. 

The Stevens family is of English origin, and Gen. 
Ebenezer Stevens, the grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Boston, Mass., on the 25th of August, 
1751. He was engaged in the destruction of the 
tea in Boston Harbor, in December, 1773, and an- 
ticipating disastrous consequences to himself, he 
went to Rhode Island to reside. Here he raised 
two companies of artillery and one of artificers for 
the expedition against Quebec, in which he served 
as Lieutenant, and was in command. The expedi- 
tion marched with cannon and mortars through 
snow and over rough hills of New Ilampshire and 
Vermont to the mouth of Otter Creek on Lake 
Champlain. and enduring great privation and in- 
tense .sufferings. At Three Rivers they heard of 
the fall of Montgomery, and the defeat of the Ameri 
cans of Quebec. When they returned to St. John's. 
Maj. Stevens and his corps rendered efficient .-erv- 
iec in the Northern Department during 177(i. In 
the spring of 1777 he went to Ticonderoga, and 
commanded the artillery there. lie joined Gen. 
Schuyler at Ft. Edwards, and commanded the artil- 
lery at the battle of Stillwater. In consideration of 
bis services he received from ( 'ongre.s the brevet 
rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry, and soon 



f, 

t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1099 



after was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of Artil- 
lery, lie was afterward entrusted with special 
duties of great moment, and was selected to ac- 
company LaFayette in the contemplated expedition 
into Canada. Early in 1781 he proceeded with 
Gen. LaFayette into Virginia to oppose Arnold. 
After the surrender of Cornwallis, Lieut. Col. Ste- 
vens returned North, and from that time until the 
close of the war he remained in command with Col. 
Lamb at West Point. 

When peace was restored. Col. Stevens began the 
business of a merchant in New York. Here he was 
commissioned Major General, commanding the di- 
vision of artillery of the State of New York. lie 
was holding the latter office when the War of 1812 
broke out, and was called into active service of the 
United States in the defense of that city. He was 
a senior Major General of Artillery until 1815; in 
1800 he superintended the construction of the forti- 
fications on Governor's Island. For many years he 
was one of the leading merchants of New York, and 
amassed a considerable fortune. His death oc- 
curred Sept. 2, 1823. Col. Trumbull introduced 
Lieut. Col. Stevens in his picture of the surrender 
of Cornwallis, mounted at the head of the regiment, 
and also prominently in his picture of the surrender 
of Burgoyne. 

Alexander H. Stevens, M. D., LL. D., son of 
the above, was born in New York City, in 1 789, grad- 
uated at Yale in 1807; studied medicine in London 
and Paris; was professionally engaged in Queen's 
(now Rutger's) College from 1814 to 1816; in the 
New York College of Physicians and Surgeons from 
1826 to 1 837, and again in 1840 to 1844, and filled 
several other important positions in the medical 
profession. He was also author and editor of many 
valuable medical works, and died in New York Citv. 
March 30, 1859. John Austin Stevens was the son 
of Gen. Ebenezer Stevens by his second wife, Mrs. 
Sands, and was born in New York City, Jan. 22, 
1795. His mother was a sister of Col. Ledyard, of 
Revolutionary fame. Mr. Stevens graduated at 
Vale College ill 1813, and became a partner in his 
father's mercantile house. In 1818 he was a dele- 
gate to the Philadelphia Free Trade Convention, 
and in 1820 became a member of the New York 
Chamber of Commerce, of which he was for several 



years the Secretary ; was one of the founders and 
first President of the Merchants' Exchange, Presi- 
dent of the well-known Bank of Commerce, and 
President of the Associated Banks of New York, 
Philadelphia and Boston, which, during the late 
Civil War, saved the credit of the Government by 
repeated loans amounting in the aggregate to $150,- 
000,000, and was Chairman of the committee 
which managed the details of these transactions. He 
took an active interest in benevolent institutions, 
and was for a long time Governor of the New York 
hospitals combined. He was a Whig with Free 
Trade principles, and was noted among his intimate 
friends for literary and scientific attainments. He 
died in New York City on the 19th of October, 
1874. 

John Austin Stevens, son of the. one just above 
named, was born in New York City, Jan. 21, 1827; 
graduated from Harvard in 1846, became a mer- 
chant in New York, was Secretary of the Chamber 
of Commerce, and was prominent in loyal and pat- 
riotic organizations during the Civil War. lie is 
the author of several valuable historical and bio- 
graphical books. He is an accomplished investiga- 
tor and author, and has contributed to the literature 
of the country several valuable papers on American 
history. 

Samuel Stevens, son of Gen. Ebenezer Stevens, 
born in New York City in 1784, graduated from 
Yale in 1805, studied law and became a distin- 
guished member of the New York bar, and was 
prominent in politics. Frances Gallatin, the mother 
of Capt. Eugene R. Stevens, was born in Baltimore 
in 1803. She was the daughter of Albert Gallatin, 
the eminent statesman, patriot and financier of the 
Revolutionary period, and the early half of this 
century. Abraham Albert Alphone de Gallatin was 
born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1701, was the son 
of Jean de Gallatin by Sophia Albertina Rolaz du 
Rosey. He was of an ancient patrician family. 
His maternal grandfather was Albert Rolaz, Seigneur 
du Rosey, of Pays, now Canton of Vond. Switzer- 
land. His ancestor, Jean de Gallatin, Secretary to 
the Duke of Savoy, removed from Brene, now De- 
partment of Air in France, to Geneva, of which he 
became a citizen in 1510, and, although he was 
vested a viscount palatine by Pope Leo X (1522), 



4* 



noo 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






lie embraced the Reformation, and was one of the 
magistrates of the city in 15:io, when Geneva be- 
came an independent Republic. His wife was Per- 
sonnetta D'Entremont, nearly related to Josephine 
D'Entremont, wife of the illustrious Admiral Co- 
ligny. 

Albert Gallatin was left an orphan in his infancy, 
and was educated under the care of a distinguished 
lady, a friend and relative of his mother. He 
graduated in 1779 at the University of Geneva, and 
being deeply inbued with the bold and liberal spirit 
of the times, he declined offers of honorable em- 
ployment under one of the sovereigns of Germany, 
and in opposition to the wishes of his family emi- 
grated to the United States. He landed at Bos- 
ton July 14, 1780. He met some Swiss lately from 
Geneva, and with them enlisted in a company of 
volunteers about to march to the defense of a 
threatened point, and he was soon appointed to 
command a post of some Importance, menaced by a 
body of militia and Indians. The war soon ended, 
and he found employment at Harvard College, 
where he taught French during the year 1783. On 
coming of age he received his share of his father's 
estate, with which he purchased land in Virginia, but 
went to reside on a farm in Pennsylvania, not far 
from Pittsburgh. On these lands he founded the 
glass manufactory which has grown to such great 
proportions that at the present time about one-half 
of the glass used in the United States is made within 
a few miles of the spot where Albert Gallatin began 
it in such a humble way in 1790. He was soon 
drawn into public life, and upon the division of par- 
ties during Washington's first term as President. 
Gallatin sided with Jefferson and the Democracy, 
and made himself conspicuous by the boldness and 
decision with which he advocated the Democratic 
principles. The whole country rani; with his name 
in 1793, when, after having been elected United 
States Senator by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 
his right to a seat in the Senate was denied by the 
Federal Senators. At the time of the whisky in- 
Mirrection he was instrumental in bringing the affair 
to a peaceful conclusion. The great period of his 
life began in 17i>", when the people of Western 
Pennsylvania elected him to the House of Repre- 
sentatives, where he distinguished himself by the 



vigor of his opposition to Federal measures. Mr. 
Jefferson selected him in 1801 to fill the second place 
in his Cabinet, that of Secretary of the Treasury, a 
position he held for twelve years, when he was sent 
abroad by the President, and negotiated a peace 
with England. After the War of 1812 Mr. Galla- 
tin was appointed Minister to France, where he re- 
mained eight years, returning home in 1*27, when 
he chose the city of New York as his place of resi- 
dence. He assisted to found the University of New 
York, and was the author of several works of great 
value. He lived to the great age of eighty-eight 
years. 

Byam Kerby Stevens, son of Gen. Ebene/.er Ste- 
vens, and the father of the subject of our sketch, 
was born in 1792, and graduated from Yale in 1811. 
He was the friend and classmate of the eminent Dr. 
Worcester, the author of Worcester's Dictionary. 
Mr. Stevens and his brother, John A., succeeded 
their father, (Jen. Stevens, in the shipping and com- 
mission business in New York. He married Miss 
Frances Gallatin, the only daughter of Albert Gal- 
latin. She was born in 1803, and died in 1877, at 
the age of seventy-four years. She was very highly 
educated, and was a woman of great force of char- 
acter, and took a lively interest in politics, as she 
had been a companion of her father, and a confi- 
dant in many of his plans. Her mother war- a 
daughter of Commodore Nicholson, of the Ameri- 
can Navy. Mr. Stevens was one of the old New 
York merchants who did so much to lay the founda- 
tions wide and dee)) for the future greatness of the 
city. The linn of which he was the founder and 
head at one time owned as many as twelve vessels, 
and did a large business with the West Indies and 
foreign ports. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stevens were the parents of seven 
children, whose names are as follows: Albert G., 
imw a lawyer in New York; Frances AL. who married 
Uriah Tracy; Alexander II., V ice President of the 
Gallatin National Bank in New York; Byam K., 
ex- President, of the Gold Stock Exchange, of New 
York, now retired from business; Eugene R., our 
subject: Frederick W.. a lawyer of great wealth, 
and Josephine, who remained unmarried and lived 
in New York. Mr. Stevens died in New York in 
1*70, at the age of seventy -eight years. Both lie 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1101 



:ind his wife were Episcopalians, and the children 
were trained in that faith. In political opinions 
Mr. Stevens was a Whig, and afterward a Repub- 
lican. 

('apt. Eugene Rolaz was horn in New York City 
Oct. 2f>, 1X37, at No. 12 Leroy Place, Bleeker 
street, the residence of his father. His early life was 
spent in gaining an education, and he attended the 
school kept by Aaron N. Skinner, the Mayor of 
New Haven, Conn. He entered Yale in the class 
of 1858, and graduated with it. He then acted as 
secretary for his uncle, John Austin Stevens, who was 
President of the Bank of Commerce in New York. 
In 1860 he came to Livingston County and bought 
680 acres of land and began farming. He assisted 
in raising the first company of soldiers organized in 
D wight, and was chosen Captain, but his company 
was not accepted, as the quota had already been 
filled. He re-enlisted in August, 1862, in Com- 
pany B, 129th Illinois Infantry, as a private. He 
was detailed for detached service at headquarters, 
acting as Assistant Adjutant General for Gen. K. 
A. Paine. After the war Capt. Stevens embarked 
in the grain business at Dwight. He was for seven 
years a member of the Board of Trustees of the 
village, was for five years Town Treasurer, and for 
the same length of time School Treasurer. In 1879 
he went to Colorado and became deeply interested 
in mining, and made frequent visits to that State 
up to 1 883. He is now retired from active busi- 
ness. In politics he is a Republican, and is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. R., which is the only fraternal so- 
ciety of which he is a member, as he is opposed to 
secret societies. He is a courteous gentleman of 
very agreeable manner, a man of education, well 
reud, of high character and unsullied reputation. 



J "JOSEPH P. RICH, one of the solid and reliable 
men of Saunemin Township, has been en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits on section 22 
' since the spring of 1876. He is mostly in- 
terested in stock-raising, and his life has been marked 
by that industry and perseverance which seldom 
fail to bring success. He is in comfortable circum- 



stances, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all 
who know him. 

Mr. Rich was born on the other side of the Atlan- 
tic in Somersetshire, England. April 3, 1849, rind is 
the son of James J. and Mary (Perrett) Rich, who 
were also of pure English descent. When their son 
Joseph was a child of five years of age, the parents 
set out for the New World with their little familj-, 
hoping to improve their condition financially and 
give to their children better opportunities than then 
appeared possible upon their native soil. After a 
brief time spent in New York City, where they 
landed, they set out for the West, and coming into 
Lake County, this State, resided there a few years 
and thence came to this county about 1864. Here 
the parents have since remained, and are comfortably 
located on a good farm on section 23, in Satinamin 
Township. 

Our subject was reared to manhood in this county, 
and received rather a limited education, his services, 
as soon as he was old enough, having been utilized 
in assisting to build up the new home in the West. 
He was naturally industrious and frugally inclined, 
and under the training of his excellent parents, set 
out in life with a well-formed character, and the 
qualities which commended him to the people 
around him. He remained a member of his father's 
household until the latter part of 1872, and on 
Christmas Day of that year was united in marriage 
with Miss Sarah A. Spafford, one of the most es- 
timable young ladies of Saunemin Township, and 
the daughter of Robert S. Spafford, a well-to-do 
farmer, of whom a sketch appears in this AUK M. 
Of this union there were six children, four of whom 
are living, namely: Mary I., Charles J., Han^y R. 
and Elsie J., all at home with their parents. One 
daughter, Sylvia, died when nine months and four 
days old, and another, Edna, when six months and 
nine days. 

The Rich homestead includes 200 acres of valuable 
land with a handsome and substantial set of frame 
buildings, suitable barns and outhouses, and every- 
thing pertaining to a first-class estate. The stock 
is of good grades and well cared for, and the farm 
machinery embraces implements of the most im- 
proved pattern. Besides this property Mr. Rich 
also owns 120 acres in Kankakee County. This 



t 



f 



1102 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



property lie has luiilt up from a capital of forty acres, 
which was given him by his father upon reaching 
his majority. He has been blessed with good judg- 
ment, has been wise in his investments, and never 
afraid to put his shoulder to the wheel whenever 
his labor was necessary. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are 
members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church at Sauneinin, of which our subject is 
a Trustee, and to which be has always contributed 
liberally and cheerfully of his means. He is one of 
the most reliable members of the Republican party, 
although giving little attention to politics beyond 
casting his vote at the general elections. As repre- 
sentative of the buildings of this section of country 
we present on another page a view of Mr. Rich's 
residence. 



t 



X RRIN GALLUP, who is a retired fanner of 
Dwight, was born in Sterling, Windham Co., 
Conn., in 1824. The Gallup family in 
America are all descended from old Puritan ances- 
try, Capt. John Gallup having come to this country 
in 10:!0, with the Puritans who fled from England 
for the purpose of enjoying greater religious free- 
dom. A strict regard for the Sabbath was one of 
their particular characteristics, and is to-day a trait 
of the Gallup family which descended from their 
Puritan ancestors. Capt. John Gallup was a noted 
Indian fighter, and was in the Pequod War of 1G35, 
in which he commanded a company. His son, 
John Gallup, was killed in King Philip's War, in 
the fight at Burning Swamp, and it is supposed his 
body was burned, as it never was found. 

Isaac Gallup, the great-grandfather of the sub- 
ject of this sketch, was a settler in Connecticut and 
was a land-holder, owning at one time a township 
of land in Windham County. He was a large 
owner of slaves in the days when slavery was an 
institution in New England as well as in the South- 
ern States. He freed all his slaves before his death. 
and settled them all upon his estate, directing that. 
they should be cared for in their old age. One of 
his peculiarities wa.- that he would never own a 
female slave. He wa. a Deacon in the Presbyterian 
Church, and very strict in all his religious observ- 
ances. Hen Adam Gallup, the son of Naac, and 



grandfather of our subject, was born on his father's 
estate, and by occupation was a farmer. He was 
married to Miss Margaret Dorrence, and they be- 
came the parents of seven children. He was a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary War, and was a man of 
strict, integrity, a very industrious and careful far- 
mer, whose word was as good as his bond. 

John Adam Gallup, the father of our subject, 
was born in Sterling, Conn., on the 6th of April. 
171)5. He was reared as a farmer, and learned the 
trade of a carpenter. He was a soldier in the War 
of 1812, and participated in the battle of Stony 
Point. The musket which he then carried is still 
preserved and in the possession of his son. Nov. 
26, 1818, he married Miss Polly, daughter of Henry 
and Annie (Rathburn) Barber, and they became 
the parents of nine children Ben Adam, Daniel, 
Orriu, Sabra, Leonard II., Cynthia, Ralph W., Mir- 
anda and Diana, all of whom are living except 
Miranda, who died when a young lady, and Cyn- 
thia, who died in infancy. In 1850 Mr. Gallup 
moved to LaSalle County, 111., where he followed 
the occupation of a farmer until the death of his 
wife Oct. 23, 1863. After spending a few years in 
retirement upon his farm lie took up his residence 
with his children in Livingston County, and died at 
the house of his son Daniel on the 16th of June, 
1875, at the age of eighty years. He was a member 
of the Congregational Church, a man of good prin- 
ciples and upright character, who brought up his 
family in the ways of industry, economy, truth and 
virtue. 

Orriu Gallup was born on the old homestead 
which had descended from his great-grandfather. 
He received an education in the common schools of 
that day, to which he has since added by quite ex- 
tensive reading and careful observation. At tin- 
age of twenty-one years he learned the trade of a 
wool sorter, and he worked at that business which 
was very profitable until he was twenty-nine years 
of age. accumulating sufficient money to give him 
a fair start in life. In 1844 he was married to Miss 
Harriet J., daughter of Charles and Partheua 
(Ford) A very, and this union was blessed by the 
birth of three children Abby .1.. Sarah E. and John 
A. The two daughters died in infancy. In 1 s.V) 
Mr. Gallup removed to LaSalle County, 111., and 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1103 



purchased a farm, and in 1882 lie came to Dwight, 
this county, near which he owns 320 acres of hind, 
which he rents to other parties. John Adam, the 
son of the subject of this sketch, was carefully edu- 
cated at Olivet College, Mich. ; Columbia College 
Law School, N. Y., and at the Law Department of 
the University of Michigan. He is now a practicing 
lawyer at Pomona, Los Angeles Co., Cnl., where 
he is doing a prosperous business. 

The subject of this sketch is a self-made man, 
who started as a poor boy, and by patient industry 
and careful economy has accumulated a fortune 
which he is now enjoying in his retirement. His 
four brothers are all well-to-do, and during their 
lives have made it a point to assist one another 
whenever money was needed. The entire family 
is an example of what perseverance and industry 
can accomplish. Mr. Gallup is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and as he grows older in years 
his interest in the principles of that order in- 
creases. After a long and successful life he has 
now retired from business, and is prepared to en- 
joy the fruits of his labor, surrounded by people 
who hold him in high esteem as a citizen and have 
great respect for what he has accomplished during 
his residence among them. 




BERNARD O'NEILL, a gentleman of rare in- 
telligence and great force of character, has, 
for the last thirty years, been one of the 
most prominent members of the farming 
community of Broughton Township. He was born 
in the county of Dublin, Ireland, March 27, 1818, 
and is the son of Henry O'Neill, who was a farmer 
of modest means. Bernard received a common- 
school education and distinguished himself as a 
bright and apt scholar, keeping his eyes open to 
what was going on around him, and making the 
most of his opportunities. 

When a youth of seventeen, becoming tired of 
the 111011010113' of the fields, our subject went to 
Dublin and engaged_as clerk for Peter Anngiar, who 
was proprietor of a large extent of land, and whose 
business required the employment of a book-keeper. 



Young O'Neill continued with this gentleman for 
some months, and then, nothing better presenting 
itself, he returned to farm life and followed agri- 
culture until he had nearly reached his thirty-third 
year. In his youth lie was ardent in his desires for 
liberty, and at an early age signed petitions for 
Catholic emancipation, and served as an O'Con- 
nellite for a number of years. He recollects well 
Peale, Wellington and other notable men. In 1 8- ( >8 
he joined the United Irishmen, attending all their 
meetings, and in 1841 joined the National Repeal 
Association of Ireland. In 1843 he attended the 
monster repeal meeting held on the hill of Tara, 
also the last one, which was suppressed whenO'Con- 
nell was arrested. His fealty to his chief was 
crowned by his attendance at the funeral of O'Con- 
nell, in Dublin, in 1847. 

Our subject now decided that if he was to make 
any headway in the world he must change his lo- 
cation, and seeing nothing encouraging in the re- 
i gion where he had been born and reared, he decided 
to seek his fortunes in the New World. He sailed 
from Liverpool on the 27th of March, 1K51, on his 
thirty-third birthday, and after an ocean voyage of 
twenty-seven days landed in New York City, whence 
he found his way to Long Island, and worked upon 
a farm about four and one-half years. The climate, 
however, being unfavorable to his health, he started 
for the West, and reaching Chicago he remained a 
few days, and then proceeded to Waukegan, 111., 
whence he finally came to this county on the :5d of 
October, 1855. 

During his wanderings, however, Mr. O'Neill 
had found a companion to share his labors and 
struggles, having been married on the 15th of Janu- 
ary, 1854, while in the State of New York, to Miss 
Johanna Maloney, a native of his own country, and 
the daughter of James and Mary Maloney, the 
father a resident of the old country ; the mother is 
now deceased. Mrs. O'Neill, however, did not ac- 
company her husband upon his first trip to the 
Prairie State, but joined him in the following 
spring. Mr. O'Neill continued as an employe two 
years after reaching this county, with excellent re- 
sults, and in 1857 purchased 160 acres of the farm 
which he now occupies on section 1. In 1N(>5 he 
settled on this land which was then in its primitive 



f 






1104 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i- 



condition, with no improvements whatever. .Mr. 
O'Neill's first care was to provide a shelter for him- 
self and his wife, and ho put up a modest dwelling. 
As time passed on other improvements were added, 
and our subject purchased eighty acres more, so 
that he now has 240 acres, all under a high state of 
cultivation. The residence is a neat and substan- 
tial structure, and the barns and out-buildings are 
in keeping with the thrift and intelligence of the 
proprietor. The homestead is convenient to a 
school, market and church, and the town of Cam- 
pus is on'.y a short distance off. 

To Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill there were born seven 
children, of whom four are living, namely : Catherine, 
James Henry, John T. and William Patrick. Cath- 
erine was born Feb. 22, 1859, and is the wife of 
Peter Handley, a prosperous fanner of Seward 
County, Neb., and the mother of two children. 
James H. was born April 3, 1861, and married Miss 
Catherine Milligan, Feb. 14, 1887; they are living 
in Broughton Township. John T. was born June 
15, 1864, and makes his home with his father, as 
also does William P., who was born June 3, 1867. 
Mrs. Johanna O'Neill departed this life at her home 
in Broughton Township Dec. 14, 1881. She was a 
lady of many excellent qualities, a faithful wife and 
mother, and greatly respected by her neighbors. 

Our subject after becoming a naturalized citizen, 
identified himself with the Democratic party, but is 
a strong protectionist. He cast his first Presiden- 
tial vote for the lamented Stephen A. Douglas, but 
had it not been for Dr. Burchard's '-three R's" in 
1884, he would have voted for Blaine, the Repub- 
lican nominee for the Presidency. Mr. O'Neill 
keeps himself well posted upon State and National 
affairs, and entertains decided views upon all ques- 
tions of general interest. This quality, however, 
is one he inherited from his ancestors, and one of 
which lie need by no means be ashamed. His ma- 
ternal grandfather, John Palmer, an Irishman by 
birth and parentage, served in his native country in 
the War of 17118, and was just as fearless in the ex- 
pression of hts sentiments and his honest convic- 
tions as is his grandson, our subject. The old gen- 
tleman was held a prisoner for some time on ac- 
count of his political principles, and from accounts 
there is no doubt that when liberated he was just 



as courageous as before in disseminating his honest 
convictions. 

Mr. O'Neill came to this county when its schools 
and churches were being established, and in accord- 
ance with his belief in the necessity of thorough 
education, contributed liberally to the enterprises 
set on foot in this direction, donating land for a 
building site when men who were wealthier re- 
fused. He has been almost continuously since that 
time a School Director, giving his services cheer- 
fully for a period of thirty years or more. He hn 
carried his precepts into practice by giving to his 
own children excellent advantages, preparing them 
to enter the business and social world upon an equal 
footing with the intelligent people around them. 
Mr. O'Neill was reared in the doctrines of the 
Catholic Church, and was the first person of this 
denomination to settle in this part of Livingston 
County. He was confirmed by Archbishop Murray, 
of Dublin, when a lad ten years of age, and all his 
life he has loyally adhered to the religion of his 
forefathers. There are few men represented in this 
work whose careers have been marked by greater 
attainments, according to their advantages, or who 
have exercised their influence with better results. 



I', OSS DK ALBERT GREGG, who is one of 
L?t/ the latest acquisitions to citizenship in 
civ\\ Round Grove Township, was born in Mag- 
%|)nolia, Putnam Co., 111., Jan. 2, 1861. His 
parents were William M. and Ann M. (Calloway) 
Gregg, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ken- 
tucky respectively. Their household consisted of 
three children, of whom our subject was the second 
child, and he was six years old when the father died 
at Ann Arbor, Mich. The mother afterward mar- 
ried H. J. Oakes, and they reside inSunbnry Town- 
ship. During his boyhood, and up to eighteen 
years of age, our subject lived in the village of 
Magnolia, where he attended the common schools 
regularly, and obtained a good education. In the 
spring of 1869 he came to Sunbury Township. Liv- 
ingston County, where he was engaged in agricult- 
ural pursuits until the spring of 1887, when he 
sold hi-* farm, and purchased 160 acres on section 



1 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1107 



1 



22, Round (Jrove Township. Tliis farm, a view of 
wliicli is presented on another page, is one of the 
most eligibly situated in the township, and under 
the intelligent manipulation of Mr. Gregg will no 
doubt be made very productive and remunerative. 

March 14, 1872, Mr. Gregg was married to Miss 
Mar}' Brooker, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, 
Nov. 20, 1854. She is the daughter of John and 
Elizabeth (Halferry) Brooker, the former of whom 
was born in the county of Kent, England, on the 
6th of June, 1821, and the latter in Hesse-Cassel, 
Germany, on the 19th of April, 182"). Mr. Brooker 
was in the employ of the United States Govern- 
ment for eight years, during which time he engaged 
in the building of forts, and for a considerable time 
was General Government contractor. Since be- 
coming a citizen of Illinois, he has been engaged in 
farming. He first settled in Sunbury Township in 
the fall of 1857, where he was residing at the time 
of his death, which occurred on the 28th of Sep- 
tember, 1884. His widow still survives. They 
had a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Gregg 
was the fourth in order of birth. 

In their new home in Round Grove Township, 
Mr. and Mrs. Gregg are surrounding themselves 
with all the comforts of life. The farm which they 
have purchased is one susceptible of great improve- 
ments, and can be converted into one of the most 
comfortable homesteads in the township. Mr. 
Gregg is a Republican in politics. 



Sl'ENCE. One can get an idea of the 
lapse of time since the subject of this sketch 
settled in Livingston County, when it is 
remembered that he was the first groom and his 
wife the first bride of the county, and that their par- 
ents were about the first white people to settle in 
the county. They have witnessed its growth from 
a condition of utter wildness to one of the most 
populous and best cultivated counties in the State. 
Mr. Spence is now a retired farmer and lives on 
section t, Belle Prairie Township. 

Our subject was born on the 12th of July, 1814, 
in Madison County, Ky., and is the son of Malachi 
and Courtency Ann (Hubbard) Spence, natives of 




North Carolina, and Maryland respectively. The 
mother died in 1817, and the father remained a 
widower until his death on the 1st of June, 1847, in 
Livingston County, at the age of eighty years. He 
had the ad vantages of only a limited education, and 
in politics he was a Democrat. There were born to 
them nine children Lacada, Sarah, James, Mary, 
Rebecca, Keziah, Carrie, our subject, and one who 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Spence was reared on a farm, and spent all 
the time that he could in attending the primitive 
schools of that day, which were taught in log school- 
houses, there being no better school buildings until 
long after Mr. Spence had attained to manhood. 
He remained at home with his parents until he 
reached the age of twenty-two, when he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Darnall, on the 4th of June, 1837, 
by the Rev. John Darnell, of the Baptist Church. 
She was born on the 18th of September, 1820, in 
Boone County, Ky., and came with her parents to 
Illinois in 1 830. Her father, Mr. V. M. Darnall, 
was snowbound in the winter of 1830-31 at Mack- 
inaw, McLean County, where he had gone to obtain 
provisions for the family. On account of the ex- 
traordinary snow drifts on the prairie, he was com- 
pelled to remain away from his family for five days 
with the full knowledge that they were suffering for 
food. His is credited with being the first family to 
settle in Livingston County, and they suffered ter- 
rible hardships and privations, the relation of which 
would seem incredible to the people who are now 
living in comfort and plenty in this county. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Spence were born five children: 
Courteney A. R., who married John M. Darnall, 
who died in the army in 1864; Melvina F. E., now 
Mrs. Allen Bentley: Martin M., who married Jennie 
Darnall: Mary E., who became the wife of D. C. 
Avery, and Marcus D., who married Miss Cora 
Myers, and is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser 
of this county. 

Mr. Spence accompanied his parents when they 
arrived in Illinois tin the loth of October, 1831. 
He began life for himself without capital and with- 
out land. The first house in which he lived was 
16x1 8 feet in dimensions, constructed of roughly 
hewed logs, with a plank floor, and his first purchase 
of real estate was eighty acres of Government land. 



1108 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



r 



As the years went by and the country became bet- 
ter populated, he became more prosperous, and from 
time to time added a few acres to his original pur- 
chase, so that his farm now consists of 320 acres of 
land, all of which is cultivated to the best advan- 
tage. Mr. and Mrs. Spence can be truly designated 
as the pioneers of Livingston County, for they 
have the honor of enjoying the distinction of being 
the first couple married in the county. The half 
century which lias just closed shows the wisdom of 
the choice on the part of each, for during that long 
period they have lived together as man and wife 
happily and contentedly, sharing alike their joys 
and sorrows. Mr. Spence has been a life-long Dem- 
ocrat, and has lived to see his i>arty again in power, 
after having no voice in the Government for over 
twenty years. Mrs. Spence is a member of the 
Baptist Church, regular in her attendance, and de- 
voted in her loyalty. 

It is with pleasure we present on a preceding page 
of this volume portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Spence, 
worthy pioneers of Livingston County. 



H. CONRAD. A large number of the 
residents of Dwight Township are scions of 
old Pennsylvania families who descended 
from English, German and Irish ancestry, and came 
to this country in the Colonial days. The subject 
of this sketch, who is now largely engaged as a lum- 
ber dealer in Dwight, is the grandson of Henry 
Conrad, who emigrated from Germany late in 1700. 
His mother joined him in the voyage, but died on 
the ocean and was committed to a watery grave. 
The son located at Woodstock, Shenandoah Co., 
Va., where he engaged at hotel-keeping and butch- 
ering, and continued in that locality for a period of 
twenty years. He became thoroughly American- 
ized, imbibing the patriotic principles of the Colon- 
ists, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. 

Among the sons of Henry Conrad was William, 
who became the father of our subject. He was 
born at Woodstock, Va., iu 1797, and early in life 
learned the trade of a wagon-maker, which he fol- 
lowed many .years in Lancaster County, of which he 
became a roidcnt when twenty-four years of age. 




He married Miss Rebecca, daughter of William 
Hosier, of Berks County, Pa., and they became the 
parents of fourteen children, of whom the following 
are living, namely: John, Jacob. Henry and W. 
II. Five years ago Benjamin crossed the Missis- 
sippi, and when last heard from was in Montana. The 
daughters were Mary, who married John Faust, of 
California; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Henry 
Ditterline, of Lancaster County, Pa.; Catherine, the 
wife of Tillman Steininger, of DuPage County, 111.; 
Ann, who married Peter Good, of Livingston 
County; Barbara, the wife of John Klughard, of 
this county; and Margaret, who married William 
Suyder, of Kankakee County. William Conrad 
came to Kankakee County, 111., in 1859, where he 
engaged in farming, but only lived until the fall of 
the following year; the mother is still living, and 
has now reached her eight3'-fifth year. Both were 
members of the Evangelical Church. The father 
of our subject was quiet and unostentatious in his 
habits, industrious and honest, and possessed all the 
qualities of a substantial and reliable citizen. He 
was energetic and industrious, and surrounded his 
family with all the comforts of life. In early man- 
hood he had identified himself with the old-line 
Whigs but later endorsed Republican principles. 

W. H. Conrad, the subject of our sketch, was 
born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 27, 1832, and 
spent his childhood and youth upon a farm, while 
in winter he pursued his studies at the district 
school. When eighteen years of age he commenced 
learning the carpenter's trade and continued a re>i- 
dent of his native county until 1854. He then 
started for the West, and crossing the Father of 
Waters, located in Jackson County, Iowa, where he 
worked at his trade three years. He met with such 
success that he decided he was entitled to spend a 
part of his earnings on a visit to his childhood's 
home and his old friends. Upon starting again for 
the West he stopped in DuPage County, III., a 
short time, and then became a resident of Joliet for 
one year. Subsequently he migrated to Chicago, 
and was employed at his trade in different places 
until 1863. In the spring of that .year he set up in 
business for himself at Dwight, and in 18(!8 was in 
good condition financially to establish a home of 
his own. He was accordingly married to Miss 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1109 



Maiy, daughter of Simon and Margaret (Taylor) 
Winkler, of Dwight. The little household in due 
time was enlarged by the birth of two daughters 
Lillie and' Mary. The progress of Mr. Conrad was 
steadily onward, and in 1877, having a snug capi- 
tal, he put up a steam planing-mill and tub factory 
at Dwight. and engaged extensively in the manu- 
facture of barrels and butter-tubs. Upon abandon- 
ing this he engaged in the lumber business, in 
which he has since also been uniformly successful. 

Mr. Conrad is now numbered among the prom- 
inent and reliable business men of the town, and 
with his family moves in the best society. Politi- 
cally, he has always been a Republican, and with his 
wife and daughters, is a member in good standing 
of the Evangelical Church. Miss Mary Conrad, 
who with her sister has been finely educated, is 
book-keeper for her father, and does her work in an 
expert and business-like manner. 



kEM UEL F. SHEPHE 

fthe respected citizen 
_ Livingston County, 



I 



\l/ EM UEL F. SHEPHERD. Prominent among 
citizens and successful men of 
who have succeeded in 
life through their own energy and perseverance, is 
the gentleman of whom we write, who is at present 
residing on his fine farm of 320 acres in Saunemin 
Township. 

Mr. Shepherd is a native of Montgomery County, 
Ohio, where he was born on the2dof August, 1834, 
and is the son of John P. and Nancy E. Shepherd, 
natives of New Jersey and Virginia respectively. 
In the year 183G he accompanied his parents when 
they emigrated to Illinois, and settled in Marshall 
County, where they were among the pioneer settlers. 
They remained in that county until 1872, when 
they moved to Minonk, Woodford County, where 
the mother resides; the father died in 1870. The 
latter, during- his lifetime, served as Township 
Road Commissioner in Marshall Count}', and filled 
other important positions in the government of the 
township. 

Our subject remained at home with his parents 
until he attained to years of manhood, during which 
time he received careful training in the rudiments 
of farming, and also obtained a fair education in 



the public schools. He has spent his entire life 
upon the farm, excepting about four years, during 
which time he was engaged in the livery business 
in Washburn. Wood ford Co., 111. On the 21st of 
February, 1857, Mr. Shepherd was married to Mary 
J. Gray, who was born on the 23d of June, 1835, 
in Marshall County, III. She is the daughter of 
William and Catherine (Osborn) Gray, both of 
whom were Kentuckians by birth, and came to Illi- 
nois at an early day, settling in Marshall County. 
Of this union have been born six children, five of 
whom are living: John P. was born Nov. 4, 1858; 
William R., Dec. 12, 1861 ; Frank I., Oct. 7, 1865; 
Charles E., May 1, 1869; Isabelle C., July 6, 1871; 
and Jessie 1C., Jan. 2, 1875. 

In March, 1876, Mr. Shepherd became a citizen 
of Livingston County, and purchased 320 acres of 
land in Saunemin Township, upon which he has 
since resided, and devoted his time to making sui>- 
stantial improvements. That he has succeeded will 
be seen by examining the view of his home, which 
is shown in this volume. Mr. Shepherd has 
served as Road Commissioner for six years, and for 
many years in the capacity of School Director. In 
polities he votes and acts independently of either of 
the old organized parties, and votes for men whom 
he considers qualified to discharge the trusts con- 
ferred upon them honestly, regardless of what party 
they belong to. Mrs. Shepherd is a prominent 
member of the Christian Church, and devotes con- 
siderable time to the welfare of that organization. 



1 



F. C'ORBIN. One of the most commanding 
and picturesque homesteads in Sunbury 
Township is that occupied by our subject 011 
section 29. He is a Virginian by birth, 
being born in Taylor County, that State, Oct. 5, 
1843, and is the eldest of a family of nine children 
born to Oliver H. P. and Mary E. (Flowers) Corbin, 
natives of Harrison County, W. Va. 

The paternal grandparents of our subject, Ander- 
son and Elizabeth (Haines) Corbin, were natives of 
Maryland and West Virginia respectively, the 
former of English descent. At the age of sixteen 
Mr. C'orbin became a soldier in the Revolutionary 



f 

if 



1110 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



r 



army, in which also his father, Francis Corbin, was 
Quartermaster. The maternal grandparents, Jesse 
and Mary (Lucas) Flowers, were natives of Virginia 
and also of English descent. The Flowers family 
wa.- largely composed of professional men, several 
of them having become eminent in the practice of 
medicine, and in their day were nearly all prominent 
in politics. Jesse Flowers was a member of the Old 
Dominion Legislature, and upon the construction 
of the State of West Virginia, after the war, served 
as a member of the Legislature of that State. His 
father, John Flowers, lived in Pennsylvania. 

The father of our subject was a carpenter by 
trade, but spent the greater portion of his life in the 
occupation of a farmer. Coming to Illinois in 1854, 
he entered the land upon which our subject now re- 
sides, and made it his home until 1870. when he 
rented the farm and went to Holden, Johnson Co., 
Mo., and spent a year and a half in looking over 
the country. While there his demise took place, 
and the family then returned to the old homestead 
in Livingston County, where the widow now re-ido 
with our subject. 

Mr. Corbin has lived upon the farm all his life, 
and in early boyhood applied himself closely to fa- 
miliarizing himself with all the details of farm work, 
improving all the opportunities also that were avail- 
able for obtaining a good common-school education. 
At the age of twenty-two years he left home to cure 
for himself, going to Holden, Mo., where his parents 
joined him some time afterward. While living 
here he became engaged for a time as baggage- 
master, and was also employed by the Western 
Union Telegraph Company. Upon the death of his 
father he settled up his affairs in Missouri, and re- 
turned with the widowed mother and children to the 
homestead in this county. Our subject's brother!* and 
sistera were named as follows: John II., Jesse F.. 
Florence, Edith, Mary E., Francis M.. Sarah J., 
Benjamin 15. and Oliver II. P. Francis and Benjamin 
died in infancy; Mary E. married L. V. Harvcv. a 
farmer, and lived in Lincoln County, Mo., where 
she died leaving two children, one of whom died 
MM in after, and the other, Mary E., was reared un- 
der the care of our subject and his mother; Edith 
married Oliver II. P. Lower.-, a native of Virginia, 
who is engaged in farming and stork-racing on the 



seriioii south of the old homestead. Since Mr. 
Corbin's return to Livingston County he has con- 
ducted the affairs of the home farm success- 
fully, and besides cultivating crops has engaged 
considerably in stock-raising. The farm consists 
of ](!() acres of land, all of which is under cultiva- 
tion, and the position of the farm is one of the most 
desirable in the township. 

Mr. Corbin is quite active in politics, although 
he is not attached to either of the old political 
parties. In 1880 he was elected Supervisor forSmi- 
bnry Township on the Independent ticket, and has 
held that office every year since without serious op- 
position. He has also served as Justice of the 
Peace for several years, and School Treasurer seven 
years. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and 
recently joined the encampment at Pontiac. He is 
one of the live men of Sunbury Township, and 
makes his influence felt upon all occasions where 
the people of the township are interested or where 
their condition can be bettered.* 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country, we present on another page of this vol- 
ume a view of Mr. Corbin's residence and its sur- 
roundings. 

(0) 

JEREMIAH COLLINS. One of the finest 
farms in this section of country, both in the 
1 way of improvements and farm buildings, is 
' the one occupied by the subject of this 
sketch, on section 25, Esmen Township. Mr. 
Collins was born in Miami County, Ohio, Jan. 22, 
!*:!!, and was the eldest child in a family of thir- 
teen born to Daniel and Nancy (Penney) Collins, 
natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. The 
paternal grandfather was Jeremiah Collins, a native 
of France, who was a Captain in the Revolutionary 
War under Gen. LaFayette. The maternal grand- 
father was James Penney, and hi- wife was a .Mi 
Holme-, who was born in Ireland. The father of 
Mr. Collins was a blacksmith by trade, and came l<> 
Ottawa on the IGthof July, 183H, where he followed 
his trade for seven years and then engaged in 
fanning, lie made two trips to California, and now 
live- in Marseilles. III. ; the mother is dead. 

Mr. Collins was reared to farm life and received hi- 



I 



' ' 






. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



113 






education at the common schools. At the age of 
twenty-one years, in 1852, he went to California by 
the overland route, in wagons drawn by oxen, and 
consumed six months on the journey. After mining 
and lumbering there fora little over three years, he 
became dissatisfied with the country and returned 
home by way of the Isthmus, riding, at that 
place, on the first railroad he ever saw. Soon after 
his return to the States he came to Ottawa, III., 
where he arrived on the 20th of November, 1855, 
and began farming, which occupation he followed 
for several years. 

On the 5th of August, 1802, Mr. Collins enlisted 
in Company C, 88th Illinois Infantry, under Capt. 
George A. Sheridan, at Seneca, and was mustered 
into the service at Chicago, under Col. F. T. Sher- 
man. The regiment was first sent to Jefferson ville, 
Ind., opposite' Louisville. Ky.. and soon afterward 
took part in the battle of Perryville, Ky. Mr : 
Collins was disabled by sickness, and was discharged 
at Gallatin, Tenn., Feb. 5, 1863, and for two years 
after was unable to perform any work. 

On the 9th of December, 1855, Mr. Collins was 
married to Eliza J. Turner, who was born at Leeds, 
England, on the Gth of January, 1835. She was 
the daughter of George and Ann Turner, natives 
of England, who came to America at an early day, 
and settled at Dayton, LaSalle County, in 1841, 
where they spent tlieir declining years. Mrs. 
Collins died Feb. C, 1872, leaving a family of five 
children, who are recorded as follows: George D. 
was born Jan. 11, 1857; William E., June 2, 1858; 
Martha J., Dec. :i, 1859; Charles J., April 30, 1804; 
Warren R., May 1, 1860. Charles and Warren are 
unmarried and live at home; George married Mary 
(iunn and they reside in Esmen Township: Will- 
iam married Mary Mackinson, and lives on a farm 
in the same township; Martha married S. E. Slider, 
and lives on a farm in Owego Township. Mrs. 
Collins was a member of the Christian Church, 
and was a lady highly esteemed in the community. 

Mr. Collins was a second time married, to Rachel 
Wilkerson, Oct. 20, 1872. She was born in 
Madison County, Ky., on the 21st of March. 1854, 
and was the fourth child in a family of nine born 
to John and Mary (Bentley) Wilkerson, who are 
natives of Kentucky, ami now reside in Lexington, 



111. Immediately after this marriage Mr. and Mrs. 
Collins settled on the farm where they have ever 
since resided. They are the parents of four chil- 
dren, all of whom are living: Mary was born Dec. 
19, 1873; Grade M., May 18, 1877; John E., Sept. 
29, 1878, and Sadie B., Feb. 10, 1885. Mr. Collins' 
first purchase of land was eighty acres, part of 
which was improved, in 1855, and soon thereafter 
he bought fifty acres more. This he sold, and com- 
ing to Livingston County in 1871 purchased 100 
acres of improved land, to which he has since added 
eighty acres. In 1887 he built a commodious 
residence, which is nicely furnished throughout. 
On another page of this volume is shown a view of 
Mr. Collins' residence. 

Mr. Collins is not active in political matters, and 
has only consented to discharge the duties of the 
offices of School Director and Road Commissioner. 
In elections, however, he votes for the candidates 
of the Republican party. He is an enterprising and 
go-ahead citizen, taking an active interest in all 
public affairs which affect the people. 




EANDER MORGAN, a retired farmer of 
Dwight Township, withdrew from the active 
labors of an agriculturist in 1887, and took 
up his abode in the town of Dwight, where he is 
surrounded by all the comforts of life and enjoying 
the rest and ease which he has so justly earned, 
lie has lived worthily and presented an example 
which the present generation will do well to emu- 
late. He is the scion of an excellent old family, 
the essential points in the history of which is as 
follows: 

The first representative of this branch of the 
Morgan family in America was the great-grand- 
father of our subject, who emigrated from Wales 
when a young man, accompanied by two brothers, at 
a period long before the Revolutionary War. They 
located in Reading, Fairfield Co., Conn., and there 
joined the Societ}' of Friends who had fled from 
Wales and England to escape persecution and en- 
joy the right to worship after the dictates of their 
own conscience. Among the sons of this gentleman 
was James Morgan, grandfather of our subject, 



:114 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



who was born in Reading, Conn., and was reared to 
fanning pursuits. He also, in compliance with his 
early teachings, identified himself with the Friends, 
and upon reaching manhood, was married to Miss 
Mary Osborn, a native of his own town. They be- 
came the parents of six children, namely: Ezekiel 
Zalman, Joel, Stephen, William, Dolly and Mary. 
Grandfather Morgan reared his family in the quiet 
of their New England home, and remained a resi- 
dent of that locality all his life. His three brothers 
settled near him. and they were all distinguished as 
peaceable and law-abiding citizens. The Friends 
had no regular church, and the people held religious 
meetings at their homes. The Friends, as is well 
known, are averse to warfare, and refusing to serve 
as soldiers, Mr. Morgan and his brothers were all 
imprisoned during the Revolutionary War. The 
British soldiers visited the homestead on one of 
their raids but did little mischief beyond drinking 
the milk in the pantry. 

Grandfather Morgan accumulated a handsome 
property, including 200 acres of land, with a 
substantial mansion and all the appurtenances 
which went to make up the complete homestead of 
that day. There Stephen Morgan, the father of 
our subject, was born, and continued under the 
parental roof until reaching his majority. He took 
naturally to farm pursuits, and when ready to es- 
tablish domestic ties was united in marriage with 
Miss Annie, daughter of John St. John, of Wilton 
Township. The household in due time included 
ten children, namely : George, Giles, Roswell, Le- 
ander, Hiram, Hermon, Samuel, John, Delia A. and 
Eunice. These children were all reared on the old 
farm, and all have passed away except George, Her- 
mon and our subject. 

Stephen Morgan swung loose, somewhat, from 
his early religious training, and identified himself 
with the more modern Congregationalists. lie still 
preserved, however, the stanch morality and tem- 
perance of life which had distinguished his progeni- 
tors, and was greatly respected by all who knew 
him. He acquired a good education and was a fine 
penman. He became prominent in local affairs and 
finally was called upon to represent his county in 
the Connecticut Legislature. The Morgan family 
attained to high standing in '-the land of steady 



habits," were of stalwart frame and sound consti- 
tution, and remarkable for their industry and 
energy. They made for themselves a name of 
which their descendants may well be proud. 

The subject of this biography was born at the 
old homestead of his parents, Feb. 24, 181.0, in the 
mansion which had sheltered three generations of 
the Morgan family. He became accustomed in 
early life to the various employments of the farm, 
and received a common-school education. Upon 
reaching manhood one of his first important steps 
toward the establishment of a home of his own was 
his marriage with Miss Ann Eliza, daughter of 
Elias and Lettie (Dickens) Barker, of Greenwich. 
After his marriage he removed to Yonkers, N. Y., 
and was there engaged ten years, when he returned 
to his native State, and three years later, in 1 8.0(5, 
set out for what was then the far West. Upon 
reaching Livingston County, this State, he pur- 
chased a quarter section of land one mile and a 
half from the present flourishing town of Dwight, 
which was then but a mere hamlet of four houses. 
There was not a tree to be seen in the township 
and no fences or other indications that it would 
ever be a point worthy of any special interest. He 
and his wife began life there in the pioneer fash- 
ion, armed with hope and strength and prepared to 
meet every emergency. The difficulties and priva- 
tions which they experienced seem now even greater 
than they did then, because of the contrast between 
the past and the present. 

Mr. Morgan, true to the instincts which he had 
derived from his ancestry, put his shoulder cheer- 
fully to the car of progress, and was one of the 
first to assist in the establishment of educational 
and religious institutions. He helped to build the 
churches and sustain the societies, contributed of 
his means to the erection of school-houses, and by 
all methods in his power, encouraged the settling 
up of the country with an intelligent and progres- 
-ivr people. He had become a Whig in early man- 
hood, but upon the abandonment of the old party 
cordially endorsed the principles of the Republicans. 
The temperance movement of late years has en- 
listed his sympathies in the wa'rmest degree, and he- 
is now an active Prohibitionist, and hopes to live 
until he shall assist in the election of a Prohibition 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1115 



candidate to the Presidential Chair. Both he and 
his excellent wife united with the Congregational 
Church years ago. Mr. Morgan is in all respects 
an honor to his stanch Nevv England ancestry, and 
looks back to the story of his progenitors with par- 
donable pride, taking as much satisfaction in being 
a descendant of James Morgan as though he were 
William the Conqueror. 

There were boni to Leander and Mrs. Morgan 
four children, namely : Marie A., Leander B., 
William II. and George A. The two youngest sons 
are stock dealers at Gardner, III. Their only daugh- 
ter, Marie, was taken from the household circle by 
death at the early age of twenty years. 



y WILLIAM W. HILTON, who is engaged in 
cultivating the old Hilton homestead, was 
born in Esmen Township, Livingston 
Count}', on the 5th of January, 1 849. He is the only 
child born to Philip K. and Matilda S. (Longnecker) 
Hilton, natives of Ohio and New York respectively, 
of whom a biographical sketch is given in another 
part of this ALBI'M. Our subject was reared to farm 
life and received a liberal education. He first at- 
tended the common schools at Odell, passed through 
the High Schools of that town, and was graduated 
from the select school at Des Moines, Iowa. 

Like his father, William W. Hilton has been an 
extensive traveler. In 1873 he went with his 
father overland to Denver, Col., visiting the nat- 
ural parks, Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak and all the 
noted mountain scenery. During this trip he joined 
in a buffalo hunt, and with the help of a colored 
man who accompanied him, killed a young buffalo. 
He spent the winter in the mines, and proceeding 
to California the next spring, visited Los Angeles, 
San Jose, the sea-shore at San Pedro and the bath- 
ing resorts at Santa Cruz, and thence to San Fran- 
cisco, and by rail by the way of Denver to his home 
in Livingston County. Upon his return in 1876 he 
assisted in restoring the farm, which had consider- 
ably run down during the absence of himself and 
father. After this he engaged for a short time at 
farm work in the neighborhood. 

On the 8th of October, 1870, Mr. Hilton was mar- 



ricd to Miss Alice J., daughter of George and 
Sophia (Armen) Stevens, who were natives of Ohio, 
but migrated to Illinois at an early date, where the 
mother died. The father now resides in Lawrence, 
Kan., where he is engaged in wagon-making. Mrs. 
Hilton was reared by the family of Hugh Cummins. 
After marriage Mr. Hilton worked at farming in 
Esmen Township for one season, and then moved 
upon the homestead where he has since remained, 
actively engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hilton have six children, whose names are 
as follows: Philip Kimball, Henry Wallace, Clara 
Matilda, George Franklin, Mabel May and Edna 
Pearl. 

In political matters Mr. Hilton followed in the 
footsteps of his father and gives his allegiance to 
the Democratic party. He is not very active in 
politics, but discharges his duty as a citizen by 
always voting. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, as well as of the Odd Fellows, and has oc- 
cupied in these orders the higher positions in the 
subordinate lodges. He has served his neighbors 
iu the capacity of School Director many years, and 
has also been Overseer of Highways. He is an excel- 
lent citizen, correct in his habits and prompt in his 
business transactions. 




ETER MUNSON. In no other country on 
the face of the globe do there exist such op- 
portunities for success in any of the pursuits 
l\ followed by men, and particularly in agri- 
cultural pursuits, as in the United States. Ever 
since the settlement of the country the public do- 
main has been without limit, so far as the demand 
for land is concerned, and even now there is enough 
unoccupied land to afford a farm for the heads of 
families of the balance of the world. Thousands of 
men have come from foreign countries who did not 
possess a dollar when they landed on our shores, 
and within a few years become the owners of am- 
ple and beautiful farms. Our customs and privi- 
leges are such that any man, no matter what his 
nativity, if he is industrious and economical, can 
have a landed homestead of his own on which no 
one dare molest him in his vested rights, or make 



t , 1116 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



him afraid. He need not have money to begin 
with; all the capital required is willing hands and a 
stout heart. 

Peter Munson, who is an enterprising farmer and 
stock-raiser on section 29, Pontiac Township, is a 
native of Denmark, and was horn on the llth of 
April, 1837. He is the son of Morgens and Eliza- 
beth (Munson) Andersen, and was their first born. 
He was reared to manhood in his native country, 
and received a good education in his native lan- 
guage. In 1857 he emigrated to America, taking 
passage at Copenhagen upon a sailing-vessel, and 
after a voyage of three weeks landed at New York 
City, and came immediately to LaSalle County, 
where he resided six years. About 1863 he came 
to Livingston Count}-, of which he has since been a 
citizen. In September, 1 8C4, he joined the 54th Illi- 
nois Regiment, being attached to Company B. He 
participated in the battles at Franklin and Nash- 
ville, and in numerous shirmishes, serving until the 
loth of June, 1865, when he was honorably di>- 
cliarged. He now owns 120 acres of good land, 
which he purchased with money accumulated through 
his own industry and economy. 

Mr. Munson was married, on the 3d of Novem- 
ber, 1867, to Catherine E. Kofod, and they have 
had six children, five of whom are living Matilda. 
Milo, Joseph, Earnest and Lillie. Mr. Munson is a 
member of the Republican party, and has been 
elected by the people upon several occasions to 
public office. He is now serving as School Director 
in District No. 5, and was elected Township Road 
Commissioner in the spring of 1887. He is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and gives 
of his time and means liberally for the support of 
that organization. As a citizen he stands well 
among his neighbors, and is considered one of the 
representative farmers of Pontiac Township. 



IOHN R. RADCLIFF. One of the best 
cultivated farms and most |>lea-ant home- 
-teads in Livingston County is located in 
D wight Township, near the town of Dwight, 
in which (he Mihjecl of lliis >ketdi and his family 
reside. Mr. Rack-lit! is of Welsh descent. 



Isaiah Radcliff, the- grandfather of the subject of 
our sketch, came as a young man from Wales be- 
fore the war of the Revolution, and settled on a 
farm in Fayette County, Pa., near Perryopi>li>. 
He married Miss Hannah Curable, and to them 
were born eight children Samuel. Laban, John, 
Joseph, Hannah, Rebecca, Sarah and Phcube. He 
was, like many of the original pioneers of this 
country, a man who made few changes in life. lie 
remained on the old homestead all his days in the 
quiet life of the pioneer, before railroads had fur- 
nished available means of travel, and died in the 
early part of this century. In his religions beliefs 
lie was an adherent of the Baptist Church. 

Joseph Radcliff, the father of the subject of this 
sketch, was born on the old homestead in 1801, and 
was educated in the common schools, learning farm- 
ing also, which he followed on the old homestead. 
At his father's death his mother was left with a 
small farm, and Joseph lived with her and cared for 
her until her death, when he inherited the property. 
In 1 *30 he married Miss Sarah, daughter of William 
and Jane (Crawford) Shanks, of Fayette Count}', 
1'a., and to them were born thirteen children 
Maria, Rebecca, Phcube, John, Hannah, Rachel, 
Mary, Alfred, Isaiah, Sarah. Esther, Huldah, and 
one who died in infancy. In 1 837 he sold the prop- 
erty left to him by his mother and bought a farm 
near Uniontown, Pa., where he remained until his 
death in 1865, at the age of sixty-five- years. He 
was a strong Democrat politically, and in religion 
was a Baptist. He was a man of a vigorous mind 
and took an active interest in the affairs of the day. 

The subject of our sketch was born on the old 
homestead of his grandfather in 1835, and went 
with the family to Uniontown, where he remained 
until he grew to manhood, receiving a good com- 
mon-school education and becoming proficient in 
the occupation of a fanner. In 1858, at the age of 
twenty-four years, he married Miss Mary L., 
daughter of Absalom and Rachel (Leightlc) Carr, 
of Fayette County, Pa. They became the parents 
of two children: W. A., who died in infancy, and 
Emlyn A., who married Miss Adella, daughter of 
Dennis and Elizabeth (Martin) lirown, of Living- 
ston County; they are -ettlert in Ida Grove, Ida 
Co., Iowa, where he is engaged as an engineer in a 




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,55 



ifc 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1119 



steam flouring-mill, and are the parents of two 
children, Arthur he Roy and an infant, Mona Ames. 
In 1859 Mr. Radcliff moved to LaSalle County, 
and began farming on rented land where he re- 
mained for eleven years. In 1870 he came to 
Livingston Count}', and in 1874 he purchased the 
farm on which he now resides, near I) wight. This 
is considered one of the best farms, in the township, 
and is provided with comfortable buildings and 
other first-class improvements, of which a view is 
shown in this connection. 

Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. R. has 
been Steward for several years. He is now filling 
the responsible position of School Trustee, and 
takes great interest in all educational matters. His 
very decided views upon the temperance question 
have led him to join his political fortunes with the 
Prohibition party, and he is a very strong advocate 
of the doctrines promulgated by that party. The 
success in life attained by Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff is 
due to their own united efforts. The}' began in a 
humble way, and by industry and perseverance 
have earned a competency. They are now com- 
fortably situated and need have little fear for their 
personal comforts during the balance of their lives. 
They are pleasantly surrounded in a social way, and 
enjoy the esteem and respect of all their neighbors. 



OHN A. COYNER. This gentleman is pleas- 
antly located on section 26, Avoca Township, 
where for a period of eight years he has been 
successfully engaged in the various details of 
farm life, and is numbered among the representative 
citizens of Avoca Township. He is the subject of 
an interesting history, which is substantially as fol- 
lows: 

Mr. Coyner was born in Augusta County, Va., 
Nov. 5, 1850, and is the son of Addison II. and 
Elizabeth (Brown) Coyner, also natives of the Old 
Dominion, and the father now deceased. His pa- 
ternal ancestors comprised one of the finest branches 
of an excellent Scotch-Irish family, while on the 
mother's side he is descended from the German. 
His paternal grandmother, a Miss Rhea, was a, 



daughter of Gov. Rhea, Governor of North Caro- 
lina, where her whole family excepting herself and 
one brother and sister were massacred by the Indians. 
His maternal grandfather crossed the Atlantic in 
the eighteenth century. 

The parents of our subject, in 1856, emigrated 
from their native State to McLean County, 111., 
where the father died only a few months after his 
arrival. The mother continued tliere with her 
children until the spring of 1870, and then, accom- 
panied by her sons, John A. and another, took up 
their residence in this county, where our subject, 
with the exception of four years spent on the other 
side of the Mississippi, has since resided. The 
mother is still living, at nearly eighty years of age, 
and is a resident of Forest, 111. The parental house- 
hold included seven children, of whom five survive, 
namely: Mary E., the wife of Brunson Smith, of 
Forest; Margaret E., the wife of Dr. Lockridge, of 
Indianapolis. Ind. ; Sarah L., the wife of Milo 
Rowell, of Colorado Springs, Col., a brother of 
Congressman Rowell, of Illinois; Charles, of San 
Diego, Cal., and John A. 

Mr. Coyner received a thorough English educa- 
tion and made the most of his opportunities. lie 
was fond of his books, and after leaving school 
engaged in teaching during the winter for several 
years, while in the summer he employed his time in 
farm pursuits. He was thrown upon his own re- 
sources early in life and acquired those habits of in- 
dustry and economy which have, been the secret of 
his later success. He took possession of his present 
farm in the spring of 1880, and is now the owner 
of 150 acres of fertile land, which by his own labors 
has been brought to a good state of cultivation. 
The farm buildings are creditable to the proprietor 
and the township alike, and Mr. Coyner, as a mem- 
ber of the community, is rated among its most 
worthy and useful men. While a resident of Forest 
he officiated in the Methodist Episcopal Sunday- 
school as Superintendent, and is now serving as 
Class-Leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Avoca. His estimable lady also belongs to the 
same church. Politically, Mr. Coyner is Demo- 
cratic, and during the years 1882-83, represented 
Avoca Township in the County Board of .Super- 
visors. He has always given his support to theeslab- 



- 

A 1120 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



lishment and inaiiitcn.iiicc of schools, and is at pres- 
ent serving as Director. It is natural!}' expected, 
from his character and habits, that he should aid in 
all the enterprises tending to the welfare of the 
community, and he has never disappointed those 
who have thus relied upon him. 

Mr. Coyner was married, on the 12th of March, 
1878, to Miss Celia M., daughter of Nicholas and 
Nancy (Thompson) Wilson, who were among the 
earliest pioneers of Livingston County. Mr. Wil- 
son passed to his long home in 187C; the mother 
is now living in Forest. Mrs. Coyner was born 
May 14, 1856, and is now the mother of four chil- 
dren: Grace M., who was born Dec. 21, 1878; 
Walter Lee, April 25, 1881; Lewis C., May 21, 
1884, and Theodora, Nov. 5, 1887. The two eld- 
est are just commencing their education in the dis- 
trict school. 



ENRY SIEDENTOP, one of the leading ag- 
riculturists of Livingston County, and also 
identified with her industrial interests, owns 
and operates a good farm on section 1, Sun- 
bury Township. He also owns a farm in Nevada 
Township, and is carrying on a brick-kiln and tile 
factory, which is patronized by a large proportion 
of the people around him. He came to this county 
in what might properly be called its pioneer days, 
and has contributed in no small degree to its ad- 
vancement and prosperity. He is regarded by Ins 
neighbors and fellow-townsmen as a fine represent- 
ative of the prosperous German citizen who pur- 
sues the even tenor of his way, attending to his own 
concerns, and as a consequence is abundantly pros- 
pered. 

Mr. .Siedentop was born in the Province of Han- 
over, Germany, April 20, 1844, and comes of a race 
of people who for generations have been largely en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, Henry 
Siedentop, was born in Hrunswick. Hanover, where 
his grandfather operated a farm and spent his en- 
tire life. When a young man. Henry entered the 
army and served the required time, then returninij 
to the rural districts he resumed the tilling of the 
soil until his death, which occurred in l.si;<j, when 




he was forty-five years old. He had married M lady 
of his own Province, Miss Nora Ilormbostel, one of 
his youthful associates, and they became the par- 
ents of one child. Mrs. Siedentop was subsequent! v 
married again, and came to America with her second 
husband. She is still living and a resident of New- 
town Township, this county. 

Our subject is the only son of his parents and has 
two half-sisters. Under the admirable school >ys- 
tem of his native country he was placed under in- 
struction at an early age and was kept at his books 
quite steadily until fourteen years of age. when he 
assisted his father on the farm and remained under 
the home roof until 1802. Then, a youth of eight- 
een, he embarked alone for the United States, 
taking ship at Bremen and landing in New York 
City. He arrived upon American shores worse than 
penniless, for he had borrowed the money with 
which to pay his passage. He came directly to 
LaSalle County, 111., and was employed by a farmer 
who owned land near the present site of the town 
of Streator. It was then but the beginning of a 
village and our hero for his services received $10 
per month. He made it his first business to repay 
the money which he had borrowed, and after work- 
ing for other people about three years engaged in 
tanning for himself on rented land. Five years 
later, in 18G8, he purchased the land included in his 
present homestead, and one year afterward settled 
upon it. There was at the time but one small frame 
building which might better be named a shanty 
than a house. He made the best of circumstances, 
however, and moved into it with his little family. 
The}' occupied this dwelling one week, and then 
Mr. S. began the structure which has now grown 
into a large and commodious frame residence, lin- 
ished and furnished in modern style. He has, be- 
sides, a good barn and all other necessary out- 
buildings, a fair supply of farm machinery, and a 
good assortment of live stock. On another page of 
this ALBUM may be seen" a view of Mr. Sicdentop's 
residence with its surroundings. 

Mr. Siedentop put up his buildings and com- 
menced the manufacture of tile and brick in IM.s:',. 
He has two large kilns and a commodious dry house. 
and turns out annually about -SS.IIDII worth. The 
product i- of superior quality, and the manufactory 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1121 



is a great convenience to the citizens of Sunbury 
and adjacent townships. Mr. S. has added to his 
landed interests and now has 278 acres of some of 
the finest farming land in Central Illinois. 

Our subject while a resident of Streator, 111., was 
married, Oct. 2, 1 866, to Miss Elizabeth Bencken- 
dorf, a native of his own Province and born March 
28, 1848. Her parents, Frederick and Reka (Messel) 
Benckendorf, were also natives of Hanover and are 
now living near Streator. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. S. were named respectively: Henry, Frederick, 
Lizzie. Willie, Einina, Alberd, Lena and Emile. 
The elder ones are making themselves useful about 
the homestead and the younger are pursuing 
their education at the district school. Mr. Sieden- 
top is a gentleman of more than ordinary intelli- 
gence and business capacity, and upon becoming a 
voter identified himself with the Republican party, 
whose principles he has since uniformly supported 
at the polls. He and his estimable wife are mem- 
bers in good standing of the German Methodist 
Church. 



EDWIN O. CHAPMAN, the agent of the 
Chicago & Alton Railroad at Cayuga, was 
born in Lancaster, England, May 14, 1835, 
and was the second child born to Walter Walker 
and Hannah (Buckley) Chapman, natives of En- 
gland. He came to America with his parents at 
the age of fourteen years. They sailed from Liver- 
pool on the " Blanchard," under command of Capt. 
Blanchard, in 1848. After being tossed on a stormy 
sea for six weeks and four days, during which time 
the vessel lost her mainmast, and came very near 
foundering, they landed in New York Harbor. Mr. 
Chapman's sunny disposition, and his songs and 
jokes, made him the boy favorite of the crew, and 
he lived among the sailors all the way across. 

Mr. Chapman's parents came to Kendall County, 
111., where they had friends. Soon after, leaving 
their two boys at Lisbon, they went to Morris, 
Grundy County, where the mother opened a mil- 
linery store and the father engaged in gardening. 
Their children never saw them again, as a few 
weeks after the terrible cholera scourge swept over 



the country and they were numbered with its vic- 
tims. Mr. Chapman is now the only surviving 
member of the family. At the age of seventeen he 
bound himself to contractor Foote, of Grundy 
County, to serve as an apprentice at the carpenter's 
trade for three years, and with him came to this 
county in 1855; He worked at this trade for five 
years, helping to build nearly all the houses in and 
around Cayuga. 

In the fall of 1859 Mr. C. and his brother bought 
some wild land and farmed until 1861, when the 
pressing need of brave men to defend the Union 
called him away from all that he had accumulated 
and bright prospects for the accumulation of more, 
to face the foe on the field of battle. Aug. 12, 
1861, he was mustered into Company C, 39th Illi- 
nois Infantry, under Capt. Gray, of Rook's Creek 
Township. They were sent at once to Chicago, 
and thence to St. Louis, and soon after to Williams- 
port, Md., where they were joined by Company K, 
the last to enter the regiment, and which completed 
its muster and enrollment. It was now October, and 
they were placed under Gen. Curtiss, of Fremont's 
command, at St. Louis, Mo. About November 
the regiment was sent to the East under command 
of Gen. Ward Lemon, and stationed at Williams- 
port, Md.. and were introduced to actual service in 
an artillery skirmish at dam No. 5, about four 
miles from the station, after which they were placed 
tinder the command of Gen. Leander, and stationed 
to guard the Baltimore & Ohio Railway at Alpine 
Station, Va. The brigade then comprised the 13th 
Indiana, 39th Illinois, 62d Ohio and 85th Pennsyl- 
vania. Here Stonewall Jackson found them first 
at Bath, Va., driving some toward Cumberland, 
Md., and the rest down the river to Alpine and 
across the river to Hancock, Md. Company C was 
placed on the hill near the pike, west of the station, 
to hold the enemy then approaching on the road 
from Bath. As Jackson's column arrived near 
them they were ordered to fire, and doing so, 
emptied eleven saddles. The company then re- 
treated to the landing and proceeded to cross the 
river on the ferry-boat. The boat being very heavy, 
it ran aground about the middle of the river, and 
enough of the men waded to the shore to lighten 
the boat so it could proceed to the other side. As 



1 1 -2-2 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



\ 



:i result of the exposure, Mr. Chapman was taken 
sick with erysipelas, and lay in that condition for 
some time, when he was furlonghed thirty days. 
Mr. Chapman rejoined his comrades at Winchester, 
and they engaged Stonewall Jackson on the 16th 
of March. They drove him down the Shenandoah 
to Newtown, and across the brakes to the Luray 
Valley. They were then called to Fredericks-burg, 
reviewed by President Lincoln and placed in Mc- 
Dowell's command. The next order took them 
back to the Shcnandoah, to engage Leo and Jack- 
son. McDowell lingered, and the detachment un- 
der Shields, in which Mr. Chapman was, reached 
there three days before he did. Preparations were 
being made to fortify the month of the valley and de- 
stroy the three bridges crossing the river. This was 
the only outlet for the Confederates, the alternative 
being to abandon everything, even to their guns, 
and scatter among the mountains; but McDowell 
refused to allow Shields to do this, and the enemy 
crossed one of the bridges, fought their way through 
and attacked McClcllan when he was lying before 
Richmond. Had McDowell carried out the plan of 
Gen. Shields the Confederates would never have 
left the Shenandoah, McC'lcllan would have gone 
to Richmond, and the war would have closed in 
1 S62. The regiment was then sent up the James 
River to aid McClellan, and captured a battery and 
500 prisoners without firing a gun. They were 
just in time to take part in the battle of Malvern 
Hill, July 3, after which they fell back and forti- 
fied Harrison's Landing, and held it until ordered 
to Yorktown, thence were sent to Hampton Roads. 
In September they moved t<> Suffolk. Ya., and fort- 
ified that place. Here the brigade was vciy mate- 
rially weakened by the 13th Indiana being taken 
from it. The regiment remained here half the win- 
ter, and engaged in skirmishing along the Black Wa- 
ter with detachments of Jackson's forces. January 
."> they broke camp, crossed the country to the coast, 
and shipped from Ilolley's Landing, Ya., to New- 
bern. N. ('.. arriving there about the middle of the 
month. Six weeks later they re-shipped at More- 
head City, N. C., and went to Hilton Head, a.-mall 
island off the- OOast of South Carolina, where they 
were reviewed by Gen. Hunter, who was then in 
command, and re.- ted on their arm> inilil April 2, 



when they went up to Cole's Island and cros-ed. 
On the 7th (the fleet having assembled, and every 
preparation having been made to reduce Ft. Sum- 
ter) the first gnu in retaliation for our humiliation 
of two years previous was fired. It was a sight 
long to be remembered. The fleet commenced fir- 
ing at 3 P. M. and continued until 5 P. M., when 
they moved majestically out of the harbor. The 
monitor " Monotuck" was badly hurt, and on mov- 
ing out in rough water sank about one mile from 
the shore off Morris Island. Contrary to the ex- 
pectations of the land forces, the fleet did not re- 
new operations, but some time afterward returned 
to Edistoe Inlet for repairs, leaving the regi- 
ment to which Mr. Chapman belonged on the north 
point of Folly Island. Here it (>as$ed a >eason of 
inactivity until some time in June. The rebel 
blockade runner, " Ruby," being chased by the fleet, 
was run aground at the mouth of a small inlet be- 
tween Folly and Morris Islands. She was loaded 
with cotton fabrics and silks, and was a very valu- 
able prize. The strife to gain possession of the 
cargo of this vessel caused a rupture between the 
Union and rebel forces, which ended in our being 
obliged to fortify ourselves, and ultimately forced 
on the siege of Fts. Wagner and Gregg. On July 
18 the charge on the above forts took place, which 
was unsuccessful, and fully showed the strength of 
the rebel forces. From this time the fighting set- 
tled down to a siege. In the siege of Charleston, 
during the month of August, the famous "Swamp 
Angel" burst in tiring the eighteenth shot. On 
the 7th of September the Union forces had worked 
up close to the forts, and the rebel forces evacuat- 
ing about '2 A. M. of that day, we had possession 
of the entire island by daylight. One of the mon- 
itors coining in to inspect the obstructions of the 
harbor, which were anchored at the extreme north 
end of the Wand, was left aground by the falling 
tide, upon which the entire fleet came in to engage 
the rebel forts so a.- to protect the monitor. 

The regiment to which Mr. Chapman belonged 
returned to Folly Island October 2S, and thence to 
Hilton Head, where the veterans re-enli.-ted, and re- 
turned home on a furlough for sixty days; Mr. 
Chapman remained on the island at Braddock's 
Point. On its return the regiment. wa> placed nn- 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



11-2:5 



der Butler's command and moved to Hampton 
Roads, where the detachment to which Mr. Chap- 
man belonged joined it on the 1st of May. They 
then moved on transports up the James River to 
City Point, and went forward toward Richmond, 
coining in sight of Manchester May !.">, while Grant 
was fighting in the Wilderness. Here they lay un- 
til the 16th, formed in a semi-circle, when they 
were attacked on the right and defeated all along 
the line until the extreme left was readied, where 
the regiment to which Mr. Chapman belonged held 
its position at fearful cost, losing- nearly 400 men. 
Every commissioned otlicer ou the field was lost. 
Butler then re-organized the troops and aided Grant 
to cross the James River, hemming Lee in at Pe- 
tersburg by fortifying from the James to the Ap- 
pomattox in front of Weir Bottom Church, where, 
on the 20th of May, occurred the memorable charge 
and capture of Walker. On the 12th of August 
the regiment crossed the James River to Deep Run, 
and on the 15th attacked the rebels there, but were 
defeated with terrible loss. Mr. Chapman's time 
expired the day they crossed the river, and he ap- 
plied for his discharge. Before it came he engaged 
in the battle of Deep Bottom, and was wounded in 
the left leg. He had received a wound in the cheek 
and one in the foot when before Richmond in May, 
but neither of these wounds disabled him from serv- 
ice. From the beginning to the end of his service 
he never was known to shrink when duty called him 
to action. He enlisted as a private, was promoted 
to Corporal, and then to Sergeant, for his braver}-, 
and after heroic service at Charleston, was tendered 
a commission, which he modestly declined. He 
was discharged on the llth of September, 1864, 
having served for three years and one month, and 
battle-worn and weary he returned to his home in 
Livingston County, where he began work at his 
trade and on the farm. 

On the 16th of September, 1866, Mr. Chapman 
married Miss Mary J. Thompson, who was born in 
Edenton, Ohio, on the 4th of February, 1843. 
She was the second child in a family of three born 
to James and Alice (Harris) Thompson, who were 
natives of Ohio, and settlers in Illinois in 1800. 
Mr. Chapman farmed until the fall of 1872, when 
he was appointed agent of the Chicago A. f Alton 



Railway at Cayugn, which position he has held up 
to the present time. In December of the same year 
he was made Postmaster, and filled that office with 
credit until May 1, 1886. He was a member of the 
School Board twelve years, and served as Road 
Commissioner three years. In 187f>, realizing the 
need of a telegraph station at Cayuga, he provided 
himself with a battery and instrument, and by dint 
of hard study and close application, fitted himself 
and daughter, nine years of age, for the work. 
Without an instructor, never having seen the work- 
ings of a telegraph office, and past forty-two years 
of age, he was ready within six months for active 
work, and in May, 1876, the office was established, 
and is now one of the most important along the 
line. 

Our subject and his amiable wife became the par- 
ents of six children Agnes, George, Emily, Mary, 
Edwin and Cora. Agnes married J. H. Cosgrove, 
who was Station Agent at Odell; George died in 
childhood, and Kmily in infancy ; Mary, Edwin and 
Cora are attending school, it being the ambition of 
their parents to educate all their children well. 
Mr. Chapman is the owner of a comfortable home 
in the village, and has a good farm near by. He 
takes an active part in political matters, and votes 
and works with the Republican party. 



IIARLES II. CRANDALL, engaged in build- 
ing and contracting in the town of Dwight, 

^fj was born in the city of Providence, R. I., 
Aug. 12, 1831. His ancestry dates to the landing 
of the Pilgrims in 1620, and on his mother's side 
tt> Gov. Winslow. Charles Crandall, the grand- 
father of the subject of our sketch, came from En- 
gland with his two brothers when a young man, be- 
fore the battle of Bunker Hill had been fought, 
and settling at Greenwich, R. I., kept the tavern 
at that place at the beginning of the Revolutionary 
War. 

Gen. Putnam was a guest at the hotel over night 
and offered Mr. Crandall a commission as Captain 
in the Continental arm}'. Mr. Crandall was a pa- 
triot, and immediately accepting the proposition, 
raised a company at Marblehead, Moss., which lie 



t 



f. 



t 



1124 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



commanded at the battle of Hunker Hill. The 
patriotism of the Continental soldiers is well illus- 
trated by the fact that part of Capt. Crandall's men 
were barefooted during much of the time they were 
in the service. Capt. Crandall served all through 
the Revolutionary War, and at its close became a 
merchant at Voluntown, Windham Co., Conn., 
where he remained until his death. He was paid 
for his services in the army in Continental money, 
which he applied to the purchase of a large tract of 
land at Voluntown. He was a very religious man, 
and becoming a Baptist minister, built a church 
himself in which he preached for many years. He 
was held in great respect, and is remembered to this 
day by the title of Elder Crandall. 

Charles C. Crandall. the son of the above, and 
father of our subject, was born at Voluntown, Conn- 
He inherited lands from his father, and was a well 
educated man, teaching school at Fall River, Mass., 
and Providence, R. I. He married Miss Lucy 
Winslow, daughter of Capt. Isaac Winslow, of Fall 
River, Mass.. and they were the parents of six chil- 
dren, named as follows: Lorenzo, William, Edward, 
Charles, Celeslina and Joanna. He was a man of 
strong religious convictions and was a member of 
the Baptist Church. His death occurred on the 1 4th 
of February, 1857, at the age of sixty years. He 
was a kind husband and father, and a man of ster- 
ling integrity. 

Charles H. Crandall, our subject, remained with 
his parents until seventeen years of age, during 
which time he was given such an education as could 
be obtained in the common schools of that day. He 
then left home and began learning the trade of a 
house joiner, at which he served an apprenticeship 
of three years. In 1852 he went to California, and 
worked on the Panama Railroad at $10 per day. 
The mortality was so great that it is said a man 
was buried for every tie laid. Mr. Crandall did not 
remain in this employment long but went to San 
Francisco, and soon after returned home, where he 
worked for a time in New York. He went to Cuba 
at the time of the execution of Gen. Lopaz, the 
fillibuster, and twenty-five Americans, most of 
whom were mere boys. Mr. Crandall has been 
quite a traveler, and among the places in which he 
has plied his vocation is Savannah. Ga. 



In 18f>(j Mr. Crandall was married to Miss 
Amanda, daughter of Daniel and Maria (Austin) 
Bartholic. of East Greenwich, R. I., who are now 
residents of Dwight. To Mr. and Mrs. Crandall 
have been born six children Joanna, Lucy, Carrie, 
Charles, Oliver and Henry, all of whom are living. 
In 1858, with his family, Mr. Crandall removed to 
Dwight, and purchased a lot, on which he built the 
house in which he still lives. For twenty-three 
years he was a bridge builder for the Chicago <fe 
Alton Railroad, and in all this time he never lost a 
day's work excepting the regular holidays, and 
during this time worked on fifty-seven Sundays 
and eighty-seven nights; he has remarkably good 
health, and bids fair to live to a ripe old age. He 
is a man of excellent character and has won for 
himself an enviable reputation among men. He is 
an active and earnest member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and takes a prominent part in the work of 
that order. 



LFRED P. BAYLER, a prosperous farmer 
of Broughton Township, is pleasantly lo- 
cated on section 18, in possession of about 
115 acres of good land, which he has cul- 
tivated successfully since the spring of 1882. In 
connection with general farming he has given con- 
siderable attention to the raising of fine stock, which 
has been the means of yielding him a handsome in- 
come. He is a man of excellent business capacities, 
and in all respects a useful and liberal-minded citi- 
zen. He has been connected with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church since 1865, being identified with 
the society of Campus. In this church he has 
served as Steward and Trustee, and has been one of 
its most cheerful and liberal supporters. Politically, 
the Republican part}' claims him as one of its most 
reliable adherents. He has served as School Trustee 
both here and in his native township, and has been 
elected to other offices, but declined to serve, pre- 
ferring to give his attention to his farm interests 
and his family. 

Mr. Bayler was born in Tazewell County, this 
State, Sept. 1C, 1846, and is the son of George and 
Elizabeth (Fleniken) Baj-ler, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The mother 




1 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1 1 25 



was born in Ohio, and was the daughter of an Irish 
gentleman, who left his native soil when a young 
man, and was one of the early settlers of the Buck- 
eye State. The parents of onr subject came to Illi- 
nois early in life, the father in 1842, and the mother 
three years later. They were among the pioneers 
of Tazewell County, and assisted in the early cul- 
tivation of the soil of Washington Township. They 
endured, in common with their neighbors, the priva- 
tions and hardships of life in a new country, and 
built up for themselves a good home in Washington 
Township, where they still reside, and enjoy the 
confidence and esteem of the people of that sec- 
tion. 

The subject of this biography was reared to man- 
hood in his native county, and pursued his first 
studies in the district school. He was fond of his 
books and anxious to obtain knowledge, and made 
good use of the limited advantages afforded him. 
When twenty years of age, he entered the North- 
western University at Plainfield, where he expected 
to take a full course, but on .account of ill-health 
was obliged to abandon his studies in less than a 
year. He did not allow himself to lose what he had 
gained, however, but kept up a course of reading, 
and upon the recovery of his health taught school 
two terms, and in the summer engaged in farming. 
He made his home with his parents until twenty- 
three years of age, and then started out in life on 
his own account. 

One of the most important steps toward the es- 
tablishment of a home of his own, was the marriage 
of Mr. Baylor with Miss Nancy E. Van Meter, a na- 
tive of his own county, and one of his childhood 
associates. Mrs. Ba3'ler is a few j'ears younger 
than her husband, having been born July 2, 1851, 
;ind is the daughter of Nathaniel W. and Corinna 
( I )orsey) Van Meter, who were natives of Hard in 
County, Ky., and of German descent. They re- 
moved from the Blue Grass regions soon after their 
marriage, and cast their lot with the pioneers of 
Taxewell County. Their household included eleven 
children, of whom the following survive: Joseph 
B., now of Nebraska; Mary E., the wife of James 
Van Meter, of Ellendalc, Dak. ; San ford G.,of Wil- 
ber, Neb.; Henry R., of Colorado Springs, Col.; 
John E., of Los Angeles, Cal. ; and Nancy E. 



Mr. and Mrs. Bayler commenced life together on 
a farm in Taxewell County, where they remained 
until their removal to their present homestead. 
Their family includes eight children, namely: Car- 
rie B., who was born July G, 1870; Laura A., Jan. 
27, 1873; Jesse G., July 2, 1875; Lizzie L.,Feb. 2. 
1878; Una M., July 10, 1880; Hattie L., Jan. 8, 
1882; George R,, Nov. !), 1883, and Ernest L., Jan. 
20, 188G. Hattie L. died Nov. 9. 1884; the others 
are at home with their parents, and form an inter- 
esting group of which they may well be proud. 
The eldest daughter is an accomplished young lady 
of seventeen years, and the youngest child is a 
bright little boy about two years old. 

Mr. Bayler farmed in Washington Township, 
Tazewell County, until the spring of 1 882, when he 
purchased the land which he now owns. Upon tin's 
he has effected good improvements, and has sup- 
plied it with the machinery and buildings necessary 
for prosecuting his chosen calling after the most ap- 
proved methods. He is held in the highest respect 
by his neighbors, and is a member of the com- 
munity of whom much is expected in the future. 
Mrs. Bayler is an active worker in the temperance 
cause, being a member of the W. C. T. U. at Em ing- 
ton, and is also President of the Missionary Society 
in connection with the Congregational Church at 
Emington. 



eilARLES MOULDS, Resolute men always 
take adversity philosophically, and persevere 
until they have forged prosperity out of de- 
feat, when the faint-hearted would have gone down 
with scarcely a struggle. When a man is fight- 
ing for a foothold in life and at every step his feet 
slip backward, it requires courage to go ahead, and 
a strong will to hold every inch gained. The sub- 
ject of this sketch, at the beginning of his career in 
life for himself, met many obstacles and backsets, 
but growing neither weary nor faint-hearted he 
persevered until fortune smiled upon him. He is 
now a farmer and stock-raiser on section :>4, Long 
Point Township. 

Charles Moulds is a native of England, where he 
was born on the 2Hth of April, 1S35, and is the son 
of John and Sarah (Llowett) Moulds, also natives 



! 



t. 



,,11 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



of tli.-it country. The mother died in September, 
iss;,. jn Livingston County, while the father i.- non- 
living with his son William. They emigrated to 
America in Is.V!. ami were accompanied by the 
subject of this sketch. 

At the age of twenty-two years Charles Moulds 
began life on his own account, and his experiences 
at the beginning were varied and discouraging. 
His first crop of wheat was a large one, and in due 
time it was stored in rail pens, lined with straw. 
The owner of the land, concluding to rid the field 
of superfluous straw, set it afire. The fire commun- 
icated to the pens and Mr. Moulds' entire crop was 
destroyed. The next yetir he began a new en- 
terprise, and engaged during the season in breaking 
prairie land, at which he made good wages, but 
when pay-day came he discovered that the con- 
tractor for whom he worked had absconded and he 
received no pay. The next season he again en- 
gaged in raising wheat, with a fine prospect of an 
excellent crop, but this time misfortune came in 
the shape of chinch bug, and entirely destroyed 
that season's crop. He then went to Indiana, 
where he engaged for two years as drayman. 

On the 24th of January, 18(!1, Charles Moulds 
was married to Miss Martha, a daughter of Fryer 
and Elizabeth Richardson, who were natives of 
England, in which country she also was born, on 
the 4th of February, 1841. To Fryer and Eliza- 
beth Richardson there were born six children, one 
iif whom, John, first married Miss Sarah Richardson, 
and was a second time married, to Miss Annie 
Mains, who bore him three children, and they re- 
side in Nebraska Township. Their daughter, Eliza- 
beth, married Henry Moulds, and to them were 
born eight children, five of whom are living; they 
now reside east of 1'ontiac. Thomas, another son, 
married Miss Mary Ami Farr, and they have sc\cn 
children. 

At the time of his marriage the cash capital of 
our subject consisted of *;>;">. but he went to work 
with a will, and by economy and close attention to 
bii-inc-s. ably -cconded by his wife, he has so well 
succeeded that he is now established on an excel- 
lent 80-acre farm. All the buildings are of good 
and substantial quality, and the fields are fenced 
and cross fenced with both hedge and wire. Every 




detail about the farm -hows ir I and careful man- 
agement, and the evidences of thrift are noticeable 
on every hand. Mr. Moulds, in politics, acts with 
the Democratic party, but he does not neglect his 
business affairs on account of politics. He and his 
family stand well in the esteem of the people who 
surround them. 



J. PILLSBURY, of Pontiac, was born in 
York County, Me., Oct. 21, 1884. In 185, r > 

<*|? he married Eliza J. Cole, and the same year 
removed to Illinois, and engaged in farming until 
April, 1863, when he commenced reading law, and 
upon being admitted to the bar formed a copart- 
nership with Samuel L. Fleming, then engaged in 
the practice at Poutiac, 111. In 1873 he was elected 
Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, composed 
of the counties of Livingston, Iroquois and Kanka- 
kee. This circuit was consolidated with the circuit 
composed of McLean and Ford Counties in 1877 
by the act of the Legislature establishing Appellate 
Courts for the State. He was then appointed by 
the Supreme Court one of the Judges of the Ap- 
pellate Court, and has been three tirms re-appointed 
and occupies that position. He has been re-elected 
for the third time Circuit Judge. 

In 1K70 Mr. Pillsbury was elected a delegate to 
the constitutional convention which framed and 
submitted to the people the present constitution of 
the State. Having been a resident of Livingston 
Count}- for over thirty years he is regarded as one 
of the "old settlers," and it is believed lie enjoy - 
the confidence and respect of the people of the 
county. 

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Pillsbury. four of whom still live to love and bless 
them: Clara A. intermarried with Mr. S. K. Sims, 
of Pontiac; C. Avis, now Mrs. E. J. Walker, of 
Kansas City; Louis S. and Dale. 



i 



HESTER F. MORRIS. The extensive and 
valuable farm property of this gentleman is 
located on section 17, Amity Township, and 

forms one of the most valuable and well conducted 
homesteads in the western part of Livingston 



,ft 

o 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



11-29 






County. It includes 450 broml acres, "<)() of which 
has been brought to a high slate of cultivation. The 
remainder is in pasture and timber, the proprietor 
being largely engaged in the raising of fine stock. 
Mr. Mori-is is widely and favorably known as one 
of the most ciiterpri-ing men and skillful fanners 
of Central Illinois, and his very example has proved 
an impetus to his neighbors around him, whose 
farms, have no doubt been given better care and 
cultivation than they would otherwise have re- 
ceived. A view of the residence and its beautiful 
surroundings is given on another page of this AL- 
ISUM, to which the reader is referred. 

Mr. Morris came to this county at a time when 
it most needed resolute and enterprising men to 
cultivate the soil and introduce the improvements 
which were so necessary to its progress and enlight- 
enment. His early years were spent in Tippecanoe 
County, Ind., where his birth took place Dec. 12, 
1828, at the modest home of his parents, Henry and 
Mary (Reynolds) Morris. They were natives re- 
spectively of Virginia and Ohio, whence they re- 
moved in 1830 to Illinois. The father, however, 
was not long lived, his death occurring at the age 
of thirty-nine years, nine months and nine days, on 
the llth of September, 1843, when his son, Chester 
F.. was a youth of fifteen years. 

The father of our subject was a well-educated 
and intelligent man, a Whig politically, and a prom- 
inent member of the United Brethren Church, to 
which the mother also belonged. She remained a 
widow, surviving her husband over thirty years, 
and passed away at her home in Livingston County, 
at the age of sixty-three years, eleven months and 
twenty-eight days. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom Chester F., our subject, was the 
eldest. Mary R. died Sept. 28, 1843, at the age of 
thirteen years, seven months and fourteen day.-: 
Philip died Sept. 29, 1 843, aged twelve years, 
seven months and twenty -eight days; Andrew en- 
listed in the Union army at Pontiac. in August, 
1861, returned from the service unharmed, and 
died at his home in Livingston County, Oct. 12, 
I * 72, at the age of thirty-nine years, ten months 
and nineteen day-: lie had been married and was 
the father of one child who is now deceased. Nancv 
died in IN 13. when about eight years of age. Will- 



iam H. gave his life to the service of his country, 
having enlisted in Company F, 33d Illinois Infantry, 
and died at Iron ton, Mo., Nov. 27, 18G2, aged 
twenty-two years, nine months and four days. Jo- 
seph died Sept. 9, 1843, aged ten years, and Ellen, 
Sept. 19, 1845, aged one year and four days. 

Our subject came to Illinois in 1836, and was 
married in Amity Township, this county, June 11, 
1857, to Miss Susan Springer, who was born in 
Ohio. Sept. 17, 1 832, and died at her home in Amity 
Township, Feb. 13, 1874. Of this union there 
were born the children whose record is as follows: 
Henry was born May 8, 1858, and died Sept. 8, 
1858; Perry J. was born Sept. 21, 1859, and died 
April 18, 1879; Scott B. was born Sept. 30, 1860, 
and died Aug. 18, 1861: Mary was born Oct. 25, 
1861, and died Jan. 10, 1862; Rose was born April 
4, 18C4, and died Sept. 17, 1878; Joseph was born 
Nov. 26, 1865: William R., May 20, 1868, and 
Geneva, Jan. 3, 1870. 

The present wife of our subject was formerly 
Mrs. Sarah (Smith) Goddard, and they were mar- 
ried Jan. 13, 1878. She is the daughter of David 
and Mary Smith, natives of Ohio, and was born 
Dec. 8, 1837. Of this union there have been born 
three children, all of whom are deceased : Chester 
was born July 19, 1878, and died July 30 follow- 
ing; May was born Aug. 30, 1881, and died when 
one year and sixteen days old. William Henry 
Morris died aged two years andtwelve days. Po- 
litically Mr. Morris is an uncompromising Demo- 
crat. 




ANSON C. POPE, one of the most active 
anc ' useful citizens of Livingston County, 
has been identified with its farming interests 
since his boyhood. He was born in Reading Town- 
ship, Nov. 14, 1844, and is the son of Joseph and 
Milln Pope, the former born in North Carolina, 
Nov. 14, 1807, or about that date. The elder Pope 
came to Illinois in 1841, bringing with him his wife 
and three children, and took up his residence in 
Reading, where he departed this life in 1847. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Nathan- 
iel Pope, was a native of Scotland, whence he emi- 
grated at an early day, and settled in the South; 
his mother's people were of Irish descent. Grand- 



I 




130 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



father Pope reared a large family of children, who 
in turn married and reared large families of their 
own. His descendants are now widely scattered, 
many of them in the South, and most of the re- 
mainder in the West. To Joseph and Milla (IJrat- 
ton) Pope there were born five children, of whom 
but two are living. John, the eldest son, died in 
Streator, III., when forty years of age; Walter D. 
was born Dec. 20, 1827, and is now in Streator; 
Frances was born Jan. 14, 1x30, and is deceased; 
Rachel died in infancy; Lanson C. of our sketch 
wa.s the youngest of the family. 

Joseph Pope was stricken down by the hand of 
death when a young man, his decease occurring at 
the family residence in Reading Township, when 
Lanson C. was but three years old. He had been 
for some time Justice of the Peace of this town- 
ship. The family not long afterward came to New- 
town Township, and thence to Ottawa, LaSalle 
County. Young Pope remained a member of his 
mother's household until a youth of eighteen years, 
when, in 1863, he joined the Union army, enlisting 
with his brother in the Cogswell Battery of the Inde- 
pendent Light Artillery, and marching to the scene 
of conflict, he participated in many of the important 
battles of the war. In the fight at Nashville, Term., 
Dec. 15, 1864, our subject with his comrades faced 
the enemy two days in continuous battle, and dur- 
ing the first day and night they neither left their 
guns nor horses. The constant boom of artillery 
affected Mr. Pope to such an extent that he after- 
ward became deaf in the right ear. They next met 
the enemy at Franklin, and kept up a skirmish for 
several days, giving chase to the rebels, and finally 
following them until most of the division was either 
killed or captured. The remaining members of the 
regiment to which our subject belonged then 
boarded a steamer which took them to New Orleans, 
whence they crossed the bay to Dolphin Island, and 
not long afterward moved upon and captured Span- 
ish Fort, after an engagement of several days 
While at Mobile they were greeted with the joyful 
news of the surrender of Gen. Lee and the balance 
of the Confederate army, and not long afterward re- 
ceived their honorable discharge, and were mustered 
out at Springfield. 

Mr. Pope upon returning from the army, located 



first in Ottawa, and in 1870 purcha>ed part of his 
present farm. He was prosperous as an agricult- 
urist, and built up from the uncultivated soil a 
good homestead with suitable buildings lie in- 
Nested his surplus cash in additional land, and now 
has 190 acres which has been drained with KOO rods 
of tile, and upon which he operates largely as a 
stock-raiser. For this purpose he lias ample stabling 
room and sheds, and the traveler passing by the 
place and noting the tasteful dwelling with its sur- 
roundings invariably turns to look a second time 
and to make a mental note of the thrift and indus- 
try of the proprietor; on another page of this work 
is shown a view of the homestead. Mr. Pope, after 
the war identified himself with the G. A. R., and in 
politics may be designated as an independent Demo- 
crat. 

Our subject while a resident of Newtown Town- 
ship, was married in February, 1809, at the home of 
the bride in Newtown Township, to Miss Diana 
Lundy, who was born in LaSalle County, Nov. 1 5, 
1 837. Her parents, Henry and Polly (Cops) Lundy, 
were natives of New Jersey and Virginia respect- 
ively, and are now in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Pope 
began life together in. Newtown Township, and in 
due time became the parents of five children: Their 
eldest daughter, Mary Frances, was born Sept. 7, 
1871 ; she has received a fair education and still re- 
mains under the home roof; John Marion was born 
Feb. 20, 1873; Erastus C., Nov. 14, 1875; Henry 
Porter, May 18, 1877; and Jessie Pearl, Aug. 18, 
1879. Mrs. Diana Pope departed this life at her 
home in Newtown Township in February, 1880, 
mourned by a large circle of friends. Her remains 
were laid to rest in the Phillips Cemetery in New- 
town Township. 

The present wife of our subject was formerly 
Miss Rachel Dickey, and they were married at Pon- 
tiac in 1883. Mrs. Pope is the daughter of Isaac 
and Lucinda (Goff) Dickey, who were natives of 
Virginia and Ohio respectively, and are now de- 
ceased. Of her union with our subject there are the 
following two children: Cora Alice, who was born 
July 27, 1884, and Gracie Pearl, Jan. 4, I SKI;. 

Isaac Dickey, the father of Mrs. Pope, was born 
at Harper's Ferry, Va., Oct. '-', 1812. He left his 
native State when a young man, and went to Ohio, 



r 

f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1131 




whore ho was married to Miss Lueinda Goff. SIio 
was burn in Cincinnati, Feb. 11, 1817, and died in 
Esmcn Township, May 2, 1881; her husband had 
served some years as Justice of the Peace, and died 
in 1865. The record of their children is as fol- 
lows: Margaret Jane was born in Ohio, Aug. 18, 
1849; James Harvey, Feb. 12, 1847; Reason Morse, 
Nov. 6, 1848; John Andrew, Feb. 19, 1852; Rachel, 
Mrs. Pope, Aug. 1 7, 1 854 ; Mary Frances, March 31, 
1856; Isaac William, June 3, 1861. Walter D. Con- 
nor, a son of our subject's sister Frances, was reared 
in the family, with whom lie remained until his mar- 
riage, about eight years ago, and to whom they be- 
came much attached ; he is now a resident of Amity 
Township. 



HRISTOPHER L. AYGARN. Oftentimes 
those who come to the United States from 
foreign countries meet with reverses and 
sore discouragements for some years after their ar- 
rival here, but tenaciously following out the course 
of action adopted at the outset, almost invariably 
they are finally rewarded with success. Such was 
the case with our subject, who is a fanner and stock- 
raiser on section 9, Rook's Creek Township. He is 
the son of Lars and Martha C. (Helicksou) Aygarn, 
and was born in Avaldncs Haugesuncl, Norway, on 
the 4th of September, 1850. He came to this coun- 
try with an older brother when he was sixteen years 
of age, landed in Quebec about the 1st of Novem- 
ber, and reached Chicago on the 21st of that mouth 
in the year 1866. He went at once to Ottawa, 111., 
where he arrived on the 23d, and there remained 
about three years, working by the month during the 
slimmer in LaSalle County, and boarding jn Liv- 
ingston County during the winter. He spent the 
summer of 1870 in Minnesota, and remained there 
during the following winter, when lie again returned 
to LaSalle County and worked by the month. 

Mr. Aygarn was married, on the llth of Feb- 
ruary, 1<S72, to Miss Isabelle C. Mitchell, daughter 
<>f John and Bertha C. (Oakland) Mitchell. After 
his marriage he rented land in Livingston County, 
which he farmed for three years, and having saved 
some money, purchased 160 acres of land in 



the fall of 1874, on which he now resides. In the 
three years following his purchase his crops were 
almost absolute failures, compelling him to allow 
the land to revert to the original owner, losing the 
amounts he had already paid. Still believing in the 
holdfast doctrine, he continued to farm the same 
land until the year 1886, when he repurchased it. 
Mr. and Mrs. Aygarn have had six children: 
Lewis Oliver, born on the 18th of July, 1873; Ber- 
tha Josephine, on the 3d of August, 1875; John 
Tobias, born on the 1 3th of October, 1878, and died 
on the 25th of December. 1878; Martin Gustav Me- 
lancthon, born Dec. 3, 1879; Harriet Tabitha, Oct. 
30, 1882; Christian Thomas Millard, Aug. 4, 1886. 
Christopher Aygarn is the youngest of a family of 
thirteen, all of whom grew to years of maturity ex- 
cepting one ; eight of whom were married, and six 
are still living. The names of all of them are as 
follows: Lars, deceased, was married and lived in' 
Norway, leaving several children in good circum- 
stances at his death; Anna Christina married in 
Norway, came to this country, lives in Min- 
nesota, and has several children; Ellieck came to 
Illinois and then removed to Minnesota, where he 
married and has a large family ; Oliver came to Illi- 
nois, married, and enlisted in the army about 1863; 
served through the war, receiving a slight wound 
in the neck, was honorably discharged, and died on 
the 1st of November, 1870, leaving one child, Lars 
Aygarn, who lives in Illinois; Katrine was married 
in Norway, has quite a large family, and is the only 
one of the children still remaining there; Martha 
Christina died in Norway ; John, who was in the 
army three years, and received an honorable dis- 
charge, is unmarried, and lives in Illinois ; Peter and 
Matthias were twins, and both grew up to manhood. 
Upon coming to America, Peter became a, sailor 
and enlisted in the United States Navy, where he 
served about eleven years, when he was taken sick 
and sent to the hospital at Norfolk, Va., where he 
died <>f numb palsy; Matthias remained on the farm 
in Norway until he became a man, and then upon 
emigrating to America, he also concluded to be- 
come a sailor, and followed the sea until 18<>8, when 
he went as a sailor on the Lakes. After two years' 
service he concluded to become an Illinois farmer, 
and finally in 1883 he went to Dakota, where he took 



I 



. i I 1 :;-.' 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



a homestead :ui<l died, unmarried; Lisa Margretta 
cninc to this country when she was thirteen years old. 
married Thomas Ryerson, lives in Rook's Creek 
Township, and lias several children; Lars Tobias 
married and died in Norway. He was quite a 
genius and invented a fanning-niill and threshing- 
machine which ran liy either wind or water power, 
and also a machine for separating oatmeal ; Chris- 
tine died at the age of two, and Christopher is the 
subject of this sketch. He took out naturalization 
papers, and cast his first vote for Gen. I*. S. Grant 
upon his second election, but in political matters 
since, he has been an advocate of the doctrines of 
the Greenback party. lie is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church, filling the office of Secre- 
tary of that organization, and this seems to be about 
the only office he desires to hold, for he has been 
elected to various township offices, and invariably- 
refused to serve. 





'BEAM DURFLINGER, one of the most 
substantial members of the rural commun- 
ity of Rook's Creek Township, owns a 
good farm on section 24, where he has fol- 
lowed agriculture successfully, and of late years 
turned his attention largelj- to stock-raising. The 
land is chiefly devoted to the raising of grain and 
hay, and the provisions necessary for family con- 
sumption. The premises in all respects are indica- 
tive of the Ohio man, which our subject is literally, 
having been born in Madison Count}-, that State, 
June 12, 1832. His parents, however, removed to 
Indiana when he was two years of age, locating in 
Hamilton County, where they were residents for a 
period of twenty-four years, and thence came to 
this State, locating first on a farm near Blooming- 
ton. where they resided until 1SIIO, then came to 
this county, which has since been their home. 

Our subject is the son of Henry and Elizabeth 
(Lilly) Durtlinger, and wa> the tenth in a family of 
thirteen children, five of whom are still living. 
Three brother* yielded up their lives as a sacrifice 
upon the altar of their country, having eiili-ted 
during the late war in an Indiana regiment, bein<>- 



r 



taken fatally ill in Kentucky, and died there in the 
ho.-pital. James, another In-other, enlisted in the 
20th Illinois Infantry and succumbed to the ex- 
posure and hardships of army life; he came home 
and died soon afterward of typhoid fever; hi.- re- 
mains were placed in the family biirying-ground on 
section 22. Daniel enlisted in the 26tli Illinois In- 
fantry, and escaped comparatively unharmed, liv- 
ing to return home, and is now a resident of Olatlia, 
Kan.; Mary Jane became the wife of Francis Davis, 
of McLean County, and they have one child: 
Elizabeth, the wife of Newton Kdgington, of John- 
son County, Kan., is the mother of five children; 
Ellen married Davenport Welch, now deceased, and 
lives in Virginia; she has four children. The par- 
ents were natives respectively of Virginia and Con- 
necticut, and became residents of Ohio in their 
childhood. They were married in the Buckeye 
State. 

Mr. Durflinger remained under the parental roof 
until after his parents became residents of this 
county. He was reared to fanning pursuits, which 
he has followed all his life, and as opportunity af- 
forded has improved hij limited education, keeping 
himself well posted in regard to public matters and 
taking a genuine interest in the progress and pros- 
perity of his adopted count}-. He was married 
rather late in life, after passing his thirty-first birth- 
day, to Miss Louisa J. Pemberton, the wedding 
taking place at the home of the bride, March :!, 
1864. This union has resulted in the birth of four 
children, namely: Ida Alice, born Feb. 14, 18(!(>; 
Charles William. May 1, 1870; Abram II., March 
12, 1878, and Ina M., March 12, 1885. 

Mrs. Durflinger is the daughter of Hiram and 
Catherine (Hibbs) Pemberton, and was the fifth 
child in a family of nine, four of whom are de- 
ceased. Her eldest sister, Anna, was twice married: 
first to Abram Gamble, by whom she became the 
mother of three children, and secondly to his 
brother, Harvey (iambic. Jame.- M. served as a 
soldier in the I'nion army and was killed in battle 
at 1'eachtree Creek; I'. Darius i- fanning in 
Hook's Creek Township; Alson Parker. Martha 
Josephine: St.ansbury Cannon died about l^G'J: 
Aaron Alvah is farming in Rook'.- Creek Township, ' 
and Hiram Camdon is a roident of St. Louis. Mo. y 



f 



. RESIDENCE or-hN. BARR SEC. 17. ESMEN TOWNSHIP. 



RES\ DENCE or GEO.W. BROOKS, SEC. 32. SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP. 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



11 35 




GEORGE W. BROOKS is one of the best 
known stock -raisers in Livingston County, 
and has one of tlie best arranged and highly 
cultivated farms in Sullivan Township, located 
mi section 32. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., 
Fcli. 20. IS III, and was the youngest child in a 
family of three born to his parents, Richard and 
Mary (Daniels) Brooks, both of whom were natives 
of Kngland. The paternal grandparents were 
George and Susan (Blinco) Brooks, natives of En- 
gland, and the maternal grandparents were Benja- 
min and Mary (Williams) Daniels, who were Welsh 
by birth. 

The father of our .subject was born in England 
on the Oth of November, 1824, and was married 
there in 1844. They came to this country in 1841J, 
a short time before our subject was born, and set- 
tled in the city of Brooklyn, whence they removed 
to I'oughkeepsie, where Mr. Brooks, the elder, had 
charge of an engine at the iron works, and held 
that responsible position some seven years. In 
185C he migrated to LaSalle Count}', 111., where he 
lived until 1809. The father in the spring of 
that year came to this county and purchased 
100 acres of wild prairie oil section 32. Sullivan 
Township, where our subject now resides. The 
parents died within nine weeks of each other; the 
date of the father's death was April?, 1884, and that 
of the mother's Feb. 5, 1884. George W. remained 
at home and assisted in improving the farm, re- 
ceiving his education at the Christian Brothers' 
Academy in LaSalle County, 111., from which he 
graduated with honors in the spring of 1800. 

On the 27th of March, 1872, at Saunemin, Mr. 
Brooks was married to Annie A. Gray, who was 
born Feb. 22, 1852, in Deer Park Township, La- 
Salle Co., 111. She is the daughter of Aimer 
and Mercy E. (Pratt) Gray, and was the second in 
a family of seven children, five of whom are living; 
in Livingston County and one in Kan-a-. Mr. and 
.Mr,-. Brooks are the parents of four children, whose 
names are Marietta, Fannie Maria: Katie Mabel, 
who died at (he age of twenty month-, and Rich- 
ard Aimer. 

The farm on which our subject resides, by the 
addition of a piece now and then, has increased un- 
til it now comprise.- .">00 acres of most excellent 



laud, the greater portion of which is under a high 
state of cultivation, 200 acres being set aside for 
pasture ground. The residence is a model build- 
ing, and on the home farm there are three good 
barns. The farm is stocked with high-grade Norman 
horses, to the number of forty-five, including two 
fine thoroughbred stallions. lie has also fine herds 
of graded Short-horn and Hereford cattle, and 
droves of Poland-China hogs. Mr. Brooks is act- 
ive in political matters, and is a strong partisan of 
the Republican party. He has held a number of 
the township offices, including that of School Trustee 
for ten years. School Director for two years and 
Township Clerk for three years. Mr. and Mrs. 
Brooks have made themselves popular with the 
people who surround them, and delight to engage 
in such good works as will ameliorate the condition 
of their neighbors. 

As representative of the progress made in the 
style of architecture of the buildings of this section 
of country, we present on another page of this 
ALBUM a view of Mr. Brooks' residence. 




LISTED BROS., gentlemen widely and favor- 
ably known throughout Amity Township, 
have been farming together for the last 
seven years, and are now principally en- 
gaged in stock-raising. They have a fine tract of 
land located on section 20, 2G5 acres in extent, 
which is provided with a good dwelling and suita- 
ble out-buildings for the carrying on of their chosen 
calling. 

Samuel N. Husted, the elder of the above firm. 
was born in Franklin County, Ind., and is the son 
of William and Rachel Husted, natives of New Jer- 
sey. The parental household included -even chil- 
dren. The father was a farmer by occupation, and 
a reputable and worth}' citizen. He and his excel- 
lent wife are now residing in Cornell. 

Husted Bros, were reared in Indiana, and Sam- 
uel N. after reaching his majority, was united in 
marriage with Martha Iloltcn, daughter of James 
Wilson, the wedding taking place at the home of 
the bride, Dec. 2."), 1807. Their first home was in 
Esiiicn Township. They became the parents of 




1 1 30 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



seven children, six now living, namely: Charles S.. 
William J., Raymond ()., David Earl, Mabel 11. 
and Edna C. Albert S. died in 18711, when ten 
yours of age. The mother of these children, after 
l>i'iii; the faithful wife and helpmeet of our subject 
for a period of nearly twenty years, died very sud- 
denly with congestive chills on the 7th of May, 
1887. Her remains were laid to rest in the ceme- 
tery at Cornell, and her name is held in kindly re- 
membrance by her mourning family and a large 
circle of friends. 

David M. H ustd was born Sept. 27, 1854, in 
Putnam County, 111., and like his brother, assisted 
in the labors of the homestead as soon as old enough 
to make, himself useful. He was educated in the 
district school, and in the spring of 1880 was 
united in marriage with Miss Clara A., daughter of 
William J. and Sarah (Wilson) Reeves. The 
brothers are industrious and enterprising citizens, 
skillful and progressive farmers, and in all respects 
valuable factors in a community noted for its pros- 
perous and intelligent people. 

The children of William and Rachel Husted arc 
recorded as follows: Hannah M. became the wife 
of H. B. Sheppard, of Chatsworth, and is the 
mother of seven children ; Caroline is the wife of 
D. G. Campbell, of Streator, and the mother of 
seven children, six now living; Mr. C. is a Station 
Agent for C. <fc A. R. R. Co. Sarah E. married B. 
R. Johnson, a merchant of Cornell, and they be- 
came the parents of six children, five now living; 
Lydia W. and Rachel M. are unmarried and at 
home with their parents. 




WILLIAM G. DAVIS. The farm of this sub- 
stantial and well-to-do resident of Dwight 
Township is pleasantly located on section 
22. and forms one of the most attractive features 
in the land>cape of that region. A view of the 
homestead is shown elsewhere in this work. His 
property includes 010 acres of valuable land, located 
near the town limits of Dwight, which he inherited 
from the estate of his father. The latter, Robert 
Davis by name, wa- a descendant of substantial 



Welsh ancestry, and was born in the northern part 
of the principality where several generation:* had 
come and gone, and were chiefly distinguished for 
their quiet and unobtrusive lives, and their quali- 
ties as correct and law-abiding citizens. 

Robert Davis crossed the Atlantic when a young 
man, and took up his residence in Pike County. 
Ohio, with his two brothers, Thomas L. and Richard, 
who accompanied him. Thomas L. finally drifted 
into Peoria, this State, where he engaged in rectify- 
ing whisky, and became wealthy. Richard occupied 
himself as a boatman on the Illinois River, and died 
young. Robert, who had learned the cooper's trade, 
finally came to Lacon, Marshall County, arriving 
here with only seventy-five cents in his pocket, 
but soon afterward secured employment, and after 
years of plodding industry invested the capital 
which he had accumulated in a stock of groceries. 
He was engaged in trade a few years, then began 
speculating in lands, and soon found himself on the 
wave of prosperity, which finally led him on to fort- 
une. At the time of his death he was worth at 
least $300,000, and this remarkable accumulation, 
from such a humble beginning, was the re.-ult 
solely of his own industry and perseverance. 

Robert Davis, besides distinguishing himself as a 
very sagacious business man, had great respect for 
his word, which the people around him soon found 
was as good as his bond. He had a thorough con- 
tempt for the irresponsible man, and required those 
who dealt witli him to be prompt in meeting their 
obligations and engagements, or to furnish some 
good reason for their dereliction. He was one of 
the most zealous members of the Republican party, 
but was no office-seeker, preferring to give his time 
and attention to his own affairs. He had been 
reared piously, and in religious view> adhered to 
the doctrines of the Episcopal Church. His death 
took place at his home in Texas, in the spring of 
1870, after he had reached the age of sixty-four 
years. His only sister, Margaret, is the wife of 
1-M ward Jones, of Henry, Marshall County, and the 
mother of four sons: Edwin, who died young: 
Charles R., a banker: Robert and Thomas, all resi- 
dents of Henry. 

The mother of our subject was. in her girlhood. 
Mi>s Margaret, daughter of lien jam in F. and Hannah 



f. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1137 



E. Goodwin, of Wheeling, W. Va. This lady died 
at her home in West Virginia when her only child, 
William G.. our subject, was but two weeks old. 
The father subsequently married Miss Sarah M., ' 
daughter of Dr. Fetter, of Magnolia, and they be- 
came the parents of four children, viz: Helen V., 
who married Sunnier Clark, of Peoria, and is now ! 
deceased; Maria E., Lora F., and Frederick, who 
died when a boy. 

William G. Davis was born at Lacon, Marshall 
Co., III., Dec. 29, 1848, and received a common- 
school education, while at the same time being 
reared to farming pursuits. He was an ambitious 
boy, however, with decided views of his own, and 
when eleven years of age engaged as a cabin-boy 
and "texas tender" on a steamboat on the Ohio 
River, which occupation he followed four years, 
and experienced many hardships. He then decided, 
like the Prodigal Son, to return to his father's 
house, and like him was received with open arms. 
From this time on he labored at the homestead 
until 1X7<>, when he was married to Miss Drnsilla 
M., daughter of Edwin and Hattie Simpson, of 
Magnolia. 

After marriage our subject and his young wife 
located on a farm near Henry, 111., where, however, 
the}^ only remained a short time, and lived in dif- 
ferent places until 1879, when they took possession 
of their present property. Mr. Davis in the mean- 
time took one more trip on the Ohio River, as a re- 
minder of the old times. Life, since that day, 
flowed on comparatively uneventfully until our sub- , 
ject met with his first great affliction in the death 
of the faithful wife, which took place in the spring 
of 1887. Mrs. Davis was a lady greatly beloved 
by her family and friends, and possessed those 
womanly virtues by which she exerted a go. ,.1 
influence upon all around her. She was kindly 
in ail her wa\>, hospitable and charitable, and 
a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. She died with full faith in the Christian 
redemption, and met the last enemy with that calm- 
ness and fortitude which had chacterized her through 
all the vicissitudes of life. The household of our 
subject is now presided over by his niece, Miss Nel- 
lie Matthiason. daughter of Peter B. and Florence 
S. Simpson, of Magnolia. This lady is highly in- 



telligent and well educated, being a graduate of 
Jacksonville Female Seminary. 

Mr. Davis, politically, is like his father before 
him, a stanch Republican, and in his management 
of the important interests which he now represents, 
and the large property which he owns and controls, 
has evidently inherited a large proportion of the 
good judgment and energy which proved the secret 
of his father's success in life, and made of him one 
of the most important factors in the business and 
agricultural interests of Illinois. 




LEXANDER SINCLAIR. It can truth- 
fully be said that Illinois is in advance of 
her sister States in the matter of agricult- 
ure and stock-raising, as the statistics from 
all sources will amply prove. Her soil is not ma- 
terially different from that of Indiana, Iowa and 
Wisconsin, and the reason cannot be placed to 
that account. But there must be a reason some- 
where, and it seems to lie in the people themselves. 
Pennsylvania has planted her sons compactly in 
many sections of the State, and wherever they are 
the country has been made to blossom as the rose. 
It is largely due to the sturdy Pennsylvaniaiis who 
settled in Illinois during the infancy of the State, 
and later, that her position as a grain-growing and 
a stock-raising State has been attained. 

In this connection it is pertinent to state that the 
subject of this sketch, who is a farmer and stock- 
raiser on section 19, Esmen Township, was born in 
the Keystone State, Cambria County, on the 24th 
of August, 1839. He is the third child in a family 
of four born to Gordon and Barbara (Hosea) Sin- 
clair, who were natives of Scotland, and emigrated 
to Pennsylvania, arriving there in the fall of 18:il. 
They came from Aberdeen, near where they were 
both born, and where they were married. The pa- 
ternal grandfather was al>o named Gordon, and the 
maternal grandparents were John and Margaret 
(McGregor) Ilosea, who were also natives of Scot- 
land. They emigrated to America in 1831, and the 
grandmother died during the ocean voyage: the 
grandfather spent his declining years in America. 
The father of Mr. Sinclair followed his trade of a 



I 



i 



1138 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



harness-maker until lie came to America, when he 
settled in Minister, Cambria Co., PH., ami followed 
the same occupation about six years. lie then 
bought eighty acres of land and began life as a 
fanner in 1838, which occupation he followed until 
his death, June 7, 1862. He was an earnest Chris- 
tian, and a zealous member of the Presbyterian 
Church all his life; his excellent wife died on the 
llth of November, 1881, in Michigan, where she 
was residing with her children. 

Mr. Sinclair was reared as a farmer boy, and re- 
ceived what education the common schools afforded 
until he was twenty-two years of age, when he en- 
tered an academy for the purpose of securing a 
higher education ; but the death of his father called 
him home, and he then took charge of the farm. 
His younger brother, Gordon, had entered the 
Union army, and Alexander was the oiil3' one upon 
whom the home interests could devolve, and he 
managed affairs for two years. 

On the -2(1 of July, 18G4, Mr. Sinclair married 
Margaret Griffith, who was born in Wales on the .~>th 
of November, 183."). and was the youngest child in 
a family of eight boys and seven girls born to Evan 
and Sarah (Davis) Griffith, who were natives of 
Wales. They came to America about 1839, and 
after living five years in Indiana County, Pa., they 
bought a farm in Cambria County, where the father 
died on the 9th of January, 18C1, and the mother 
in September, 18G2. Their parents were John and 
Catherine Griffith, and Daniel and Sarah Davis, all 
natives of Wales. 

Alexander Sinclair settled on the home farm in 
Cambria County, where he remained five years, then 
removed to the town of Evansburg, in order to lie 
near good physicians who might treat his wife's 
eyes, which had begun to fail. They remained there 
one year and then moved to Van Buren County, 
Mich., where he teamed at a sawmill .-ix years, and 
then coming to Livingston County, in the fall of 
1S7(), he settled on land belonging to Mix Sinclair's 
brother. Four years later he bought 320 acres of 
improved land on section l!i, where lie erected im- 
provements and lias re.-ided ever since. Mi's. Sin- 
clair never recovered her Mght, and has been totally 
blind for the past sixteen years. She is the mother 
ol' live children, all of whom are living and unmar- 



ried: Barbara 10. was born July 111, 1 Si!.") ; Robert 
Gordon, Oct. 29, IKOC,; Evan I',.. .May II. 18011; 
Mary F., Feb. 11, 1871, and Erwin A., May :>, 1880, 

Mr. Sinclair is now Road Commissioner, and lias 
served as School Director ever since he settled in 
the county. He takes no very active part in politics, 
but votes with the Republican party, and is not in- 
different to its successes. lie is an enthusiastic 
stock-raiser, and has a decided partiality for Nor- 
man and Hambletonian horses, Durham cattle and 
Poland-China hogs. 

On an adjoining page of this volume is shown a 
view of Mr. Sinclair's residence together with its 
surroundings. 




ETER J. NEWHALFEN, a native of the 
Province of Cologne, Prussia, emigrated 
to America when a youth of nineteen years, 
and since that time has adapted himself t< > 
the institutions of his adopted country, while at 
the same time he has been industriously engaged in 
tilling her soil and endeavoring to become a useful 
and respected member of society. In his laudable 
efforts he has succeeded well, and by his industry 
has acquired a comfortable property consisting of 
eighty acres of land under a good state of cultiva- 
tion and supplied with excellent buildings. He 
has been favored with a good physical constitution, 
and has strictly observed that most important fac- 
tor to a man who would be successful and well 
thought of, namely, honesty, and a careful conscien- 
tiousness in the transaction of bu?ine>-. As the re- 
sult of these qualities, he enjoys the kindly regard 
of his neighbors, and is esteemed as a valued fac- 
tor among the property owner> of Saiinemin Town- 
ship. 

Our subject was born Oct. 17, 1835, and is the 
son of Peter W. and Regine (Schuste) Newhalfen, 
who were also of German birth and parentage. In 
common with the youth of his native land, lie re- 
ceived a good education in the German tongue, and 
continued near the place of his birth until the sum- 
mer of 1*,)4, when, accompanied by his parent >. lie 
took passage on a sailing-vessel at Antwerp, and 
after an ocean voyage of >i\ week>. landed in New 




RESIDENCE OF HENRY FRANCIS, ODELL, ILLS. 



PROPERTY OF TRWIN G Rl F F ITH . SEC. 28 




RESIDENCE. OF ALEXANDER 51 N CLAIR ,5EC.13,E5MEN TP. 



r. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1141 



York City and came directly to this State. They 
located in LaSalle County where they made their 
home, and where the mother died about 1874. 
Peter J. employed himself at whatever he could 
find to do, being mostly engaged in farming, and 
about 1804 came to this county, taking up his 
abode in Saunemin Township, of which he has 
since been a resident. He had been trained to hab- 
its of industiy and economy, and as soon as possi- 
ble began to save something from his rather limited 
earnings, which he in due time invested in the land 
which constitutes his present homestead. Here his 
course has been marked by the true German per- 
sistence of his ancestry, and he has added little by 
little to the value of his property, until it bears fair 
comparison with that of other intelligent farmers 
around him. 

Some time after coming to this count}' Mr. 
Newhalfen made the acquaintance of Miss Eliza- 
beth Eisfield, one of his own countrywomen, and 
they were married on the .")th of February, 1873, 
at the home of the bride in LaSalle County. Mrs. 
N. was born in the Province of Hessen in 1841, 
and by her union with our subject has become the 
mother of four children: Henry \V., who was born 
Oct. 22, 1873; Augustus E., Dee. !), 1876; Freder- 
ick, Feb. 20, 1879, and Grover C., Aug. 9, 18*3. 
The name of this last child quite satisfactorily in- 
dicates the politics of its father, although Mr. N. 
usually votes independently and for the men whom 
he considers best qualified for office. 



It. WILLIAM L. ItABE. a practicing phy- 
sican of thirty years' standing, traces the 
main points in an interesting career as fol- 
lows. The family originated in Germany, 
and was first represented in this country by the pater- 
nal grand lather of our subject, Jacob Rabe, who left 
the Fatherland previous to the War of 1812, when 
he was a young man. His ancestors had for many 
generations been widely known throughout Prussia, 
where two of his brothers were publishers at Berlin. 
Jacob Itabe upon coming to America settled on 
a tract of land near what was then the unimportant 
little town of Monongahela, Pa., where he engaged 
in fanning, married.; rind became the father of three 




sons. He subsequently arrayed himself on the side 
of the Colonists in their struggle for liberty, and 
also fought in the War of 1812. As the result of 
temperance and other good habits, he lived to the 
patriarchal age of one hundred and three years, and 
preserved his mental and physical strength to a re- 
markable degree. He was noted for his industry 
and integrity, and whether at home or among his 
neighbors preserved that equanimity of temper and 
well-bred manner which at once singled him out as 
a gentleman by birth and breeding. The celebrated 
opera singers, the Itabe sisters, were offshoots of 
this family, and were widely known throughout, 
Europe, where they made a fortune by their talent. 
They were offered 120,000 to fill an engagement in 
this country, but declined to cross the water. Many 
other members of the family were distinguished for 
their musical talent. 

John Itabe, the father of our subject, was born 
on the old homestead near Monongahela, Pa., 
where he pursued his early studies, and developed 
into'a school-teacher. Upon reaching manhood he 
was married to Miss Elizabeth Luce, a native of his 
own State, and this union resulted in the birth of 
the children recorded as follows : Melesendra became 
the wife of Dr. Henry Morrison, of Pittsburgh; 
Amanda married Samuel A. Frederick, of Ohio; 
Maria died at the age of sixteen years; Hiram is a 
capitalist at Clyde, Ohio; John is 'i physician of 
Monongahela, Pa., and William L. is our subject. 
In 1820 John Itabe removed with his family to 
Jefferson County, Ohio, and purchased a form, upon 
which he located and spent the remainder of his 
life, his death taking place about 1872. He was a 
man of more than ordinary ability, and was at once 
recognized as a valuable addition to the community. 
He was prominent in the membership of the Pres- 
byterian Church, and held the various township 
offices. Upon becoming a voter he had identified 
himself with the old Whig party, but upon its 
abandonment cordially endorsed Republican princi- 
ples, and sought to wield a healthy influence over 
his children, to whom he gave a liberal education 
and encouraged them in the exercise of those vir- 
tues by which they became valued and reputable 
citizens. 

Dr. William L. Kabe was born on the old home- 



11 12 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






.stead of his parents in Ohio, May 8, 1839, where 
he passed his early life and became familiar with 
farm pursuits. At the same time he was being 
carefully edurati'd, ami filtered Richmond College 
at an early age, after the removal of the family to 
Ohio. Upon being graduated from this institution 
he attended Washington College, in his native .State, 
and taking up the study of medicine, completed his 
course in Cleveland Medical College, Ohio, from 
which he received his diploma. He opened his first 
ollice at Wellsvilk 1 , in that State, where he practiced 
four years, and subsequent!}' became President of 
Richmond College. After coming to the West he 
took up the study of theology in the McCormick 
Theological Seminary at Chicago. He did not by any 
means, however, abandon his first profession, but in 
order to still further progress in the science of med- 
icine, in 1866 took a course at Rush Medical Col- 
lege, which conferred upon him a diploma and an 
honorary degree. In 1 !S67 he became pastor of the 
First Presbyterian Church at Bloomington, where 
he continued for a period of eight years. He then 
removed to Dwight, where he officiated as pastor of 
the Union Church seven years, after which he re- 
turned to, and has since followed his old profession, 
of physician and surgeon. During the late war 
Dr. Rabe, true to the patriotic instincts which had 
descended to him from a race of men distinguished 
by their love of freedom, raised two companies of 
infantry and prepared to defend the city of Steuben- 
ville, Ohio, from the threatened raid of the rebel 
General, Morgan. During the conflict there he acted 
as Assistant Surgeon, was under fire, and experi- 
enced a very narrow escape. He witnessed the 
capture of Morgan and attended professionally to 
twenty men wounded by sabre cuts. lie is con- 
servative in politics, and meddles little with matters 
outside of his profession. 

Dr. Rabe, while a resident of Bloomington, was 
united in marriage with Miss Kninia Clay Temple, 
daughter of William II. and Elizabeth (Park) Tem- 
ple, of Bloominglon. Of this union there are four 
bright children, namely: Mildred T., who was born 
July 17, ISO*; William L., Oct. s. |si;:i ; Clarence 
P., Jan. 10. 1872, and Lucy K.. Jan. 21, 1 s74. all 
remaining at home with their parents. Miss Mil- 
dred Rabe has received a musical education and 



evinces decided talent in this direction, having siin^ 
in public with great success, while her brother. 
Clarence, seems strongly inclined to the same. 
.Mrs. Rabe, on her mother's side, is descended from 
the Park-Custis'family, to whom the wife of Wash- 
ington was closely related. 

The following extract is taken from the lecture. 
"A Doctor's Rambling Thoughts," delivered by 
Dr. Rabe before the Medical Association held at 
Ottawa, 111., Dec. 6, 1887. 

' Gentlemen, our mission is to conserve the truth; 
remember, " truth is mighty and will prevail." And 
when the great assemblage of the renowned inedieal 
men of the whole world the greatest medical con- 
vention, as I conceive, ever convened or presided 
over by a citizen of Illinois or any citizen of any 
State, laud or country when they, in their wisdom, 
admitted none but regular rational physicians to 
their deliberations, they gave a stunning, fatal blow- 
to deception, fraud and quackery in our own and 
other lands. Let fashion be fashionable, but when 
you are called to the bedside of a sick man. think 
without reserve, what is the very best thing I can 
give or do for this, my patient; if very sick get the 
best counsel you can. But wise as we may be. 
walking vocabularies of medical knowlege. long 
experienced, why don't we cure more of the sick? 
Why do so manj' die ? Or will any of you answer 
or tell satisfactorily why or what is a pain? 

" Now, gentlemen of the Medical Association, in 
fine a correct diagnosis is ne plus ultra: a prognosis 
is of far less vital character. Nature's wants in 
health are few and simple. We can consider as we 
please or wish, make them great. So likewise in 
disease, few remedies are absolutely needed, it is the 
best we want." 




PERRY, who own? :!.'(i a. -ITS ol 
land located on section 7, Amity Township, 
was born in Pontiac Township on the 1 ;">th 
of March, 1*43, and is the sun of Sylvester 
and Jane (Campbell) Perry, who were natives of 
Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1 ;!:!. locating in Pon- 
tiac Township. The father was a strong Democrat; 
the mother was an ardent member of the Christian 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1143 



Church. To them were born four children : The 
subject of tliis sketch and his sister Mary Jane, who 
were twins, the latter dying when she was about 
two 3' oars old ; Thomas C'., who grew to manhood 
and enlisted in Coin pan j' F, 33d Illinois Infantry, 
and died of flux at Vicksburg, Miss., Sept. 27, 1 865, 
after having served eighteen months in the army: 
and Eleanor, who was born March 30, 1848, and 
married David Morris; they have seven children, 
and live in Nebraska. 

Mr. Perry received a good common-school edu- 
cation and also attended a six-months term at the 
Jennings Seminary in Aurora, 111. In 18(52, at the 
age of nineteen, he enlisted in Company G, 129th 
Illinois Infantry, with which he served three years, 
being discharged on the 27th of July, 1865. Dur- 
ing the time he was in the army he participated in 
the battles of Resacaand Burnt Woods, Ga., and 
in the slaughter of Pine Mountains, a southern 
branch of the Keniiesaw Mountains, in which he re- 
ceived a gunshot wound, the ball entering the 
small of the back, taking a downward course and 
coming out through the left hip. This wound was 
so severe that he had to be removed to the hospital 
at Nashville, Teun., and from there to the Marine 
Hospital at Chicago, where he remained about one 
year, and was then discharged from the service on 
account of his wound. For this disability he now 
receives 14 per month from the Government. 

On the 12th of May, 1867, Mr. Perry was married 
to Almina L., daughter of William and Matilda 
(Mills) McVay, who were natives of Greene County, 
Pa., and devoted members of the Christian Church. 
'(See sketch of William McVay elsewhere in this 
work.) Mr. Mills was a strong Democrat in his 
political convictions and used all his influence for 
the perpetuity of that party. He is now dead and 
his wife survives him. To them were born nine 
children Almina L., Isabella U., Albert. Eli F., 
Ida T., Joseph, Ira. Perry D. and Willis D. 

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Perry, in 
1867, moved upon the farm they now occupy, on 
section 7, which comprises 320 acres of fine farm 
and pasture land, watered by Mole Creek, and on 
which there is ample provision to protect the stock 
from the heat of the summer, and the blasts of win- 
ter. They also have an orchard of three acres 



comprising the finest varieties of fruit, while the 
general improvements of the farm denote good 
management at the hands of the owner. On another 
page is shown a view of this beautiful homestead. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Perry have been born nine chil- 
dren, all of whom are living at home, as follows: 
Willie S. was born May 3, 1868; Elmer T., Jan. 
28,1870; Nellie B., Nov. 30, 1871; Joseph A., Oct. 
21, 1873; Pearl M., Oct. 23, 1875: lidna M., Jan. 
10, 1878; Walter V., Nov. 26, 1880; Alfonza L., 
Feb. 19, 1883, and Winifred A., June 3, 1885. All 
these children enjoy exceptionally good health, and 
theirs may be termed in the fullest sense of the 
word a happy family. Mr. Perry is a leading 
Comrade in the Grand Army Post in Cornell, and 
is regular in his- attendance upon the meetings. 




j&ILLIAM RIDINGER, a highly respected 
citizen of Sannemin, owns and occupies a 
comfortable homestead on section 32, where 
he is successfully engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. He is a native of the State of Indiana, and 
was born in Warren County on the 29th of February, 
1832. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Ridin- 
ger, both of whom were natives of Ohio. His 
paternal ancestors were of German descent, and were 
early settlers in this country. 

In about 1846 our subject accompanied his 
parents when they came from Indiana to this 
county. Upon their arrival they settled for a short 
time in Avoca Township, and thence removed to 
Saunemin Township, where they made a permanent 
residence. There the father died in November, 
1880, and the mother now resides on section 33. 
There were born to them thirteen children, of 
whom the following survive: William of our sketch; 
Mary J., the wife of George Yeagley; Eliza, the 
wife of A. Johnson, of Saunemin; Alfred, who 
lives near Saunemin, and married Eliza Lord ; John, 
who married Ellen Lee, and now resides in the State 
of Nebraska ; Martha, the wife of Russell Thornton, 
of Minnesota; Sarah E., the wife of James K. P. 
Ycaglcy, of Nebraska; Nicholas P., who is living 
south of Fairbury, ami married Mary Rhodes, and 



it 11-14 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 






Charles, who is single and :it home. The mother of 
these children is in her seventy-fifth year, and is 
physically hale and hearty and with mental facul- 
ties unimpaired. The parents were among the lirsl 
pioneers of Livingston County, and the father was one 
of the first men to serve upon a jury in the county, 
lie endured the usual hardships which fell to the 
pioneer settler and became widely and favorably 
known throughout the county. He assisted in rais- 
ing the frame of the first flonring-mill erected below 
Pontiac, and he also assisted to build the first bridge 
at Pontiac. During the cholera epidemic the dis- 
ease prevailed to an alarming extent at Pontiac. and 
during this time he gave great assistance to the suf- 
ferers in the capacity of a nurse. He was a man of 
generous disposition and philanthropic nature, and 
during his entire life made it a point to divide what 
he had with the destitute and needy. 

William Ridinger, our subject, in many respects 
possesses the characteristics of his father, and has 
attained the reputation of an excellent citizen and 
benevolent gentleman. The greater portion of his 
life has been spent in Illinois, where he first began 
the life of a farmer, and in the common schools of 
the State received such education as the facilities of 
those days afforded. 

On the 18th of September, 18oG, Mr. Ridinger was 
married to Julia M. Hamlin, a native of New York, 
who was born on the 27th of December, 18.'!S, 
and is the daughter of Alanson P. and Esther M. 
(Roberts)llamlin, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Ridin- 
ger before her marriage taught the first school in 
the first log school building erected in this township. 
and the old structure still stands on Mr. Ridinger's 
farm. To Mr. and Mrs. Ridinger have been born 
six children, four of whom are living, whose names 
are: Louisa, who was born Nov. 11, 1857, and is 
the wife of David Morehart, of Saiincmin ; Alice. 
who was born July :!1. IS.V.I. and is the wife of 
William Phillips, of Sauucmin; Emma, who was 
born Feb. 1.'!, 1X01, and is married to Charles Tan- 
ner, of Sanneniiii. and Henry, who was born Oct. 
27. IXOS.aiid rc.-idcs with his parents. Nellie M. died 
at the interesting age of seventeen years : Marv Hell 
died aged one year and four months. 

Mr. Ridinger own> Mill acres of land, on which 
he has erected comfortable and substantial build- 




ings, and the home of the family is one of the most 
pleasant in the township. Our subject is a Demo- 
crat in politics, but the extent of his office-holding 
has been to serve as School Director, and in the dis- 
charge of the duties of that oflice he has given most 
excellent satisfaction. 



R. MAURICE HOUSTON, a leading phy- 
sician of the town of Dwight, is of Scotch- 
Irish origin. His grandfather, John (lib- 
son, came from the North of Ireland, while 
his father, James Houston, was a farmer and land- 
holder in Northern New York. The latter began 
life like most Americans, in a humble manner, but 
through energy and perseverance has accumulated 
a comfortable competency. During his entire life 
he has been a stanch Republican in political opin- 
ions, and has held the various township offices. He 
took for his wife Miss Margaret Gibson, daughter 
of John and Sarah (McKee) Gibson, of Canada, 
and they became the parents of eight children, 
namely: Sarah, Josephine, John, James, Lyons, 
(i rant, Samuel and Maurice. The father had only 
a common-school education, but was a man who 
was a great reader and lover of historical works, 
and he was careful to give all his children a good 
education. He is now living at the age of sixty- 
five years. 

Dr. Maurice Houston was born on his father's 
farm in Essex County, N. Y., on the 27th of October, 
I HIT, and passed his early life at the homestead, 
lie gained a good common-school education, and by 
dint of industry earned means whereby he procured 
his professional education. He spent eight years in 
office work under Dr. F. J. D. Avignon, of Essex 
County, N. Y., and with Dr. C. A. M oners, of Law- 
rence, Mass, lie then graduated at the Ilahnemann 
Medical College, Chicago, and after some practice 
in that city came to Dwight. where he has estab- 
lished an extremely lucrative practice. 

On the IT) th of May, 1X74, Dr. Houston was 
married to Miss Addic A., daughter of Asa and 
Matilda (Jennings) Barker, resident- of Metlmen. 
.\Ia-s. A -a Barker, the father of Mrs. Houston, was 
a soldier in the Civil War and was killed at Spoil- 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



11 !.- 



>vlv:nii:i. To Dr. :ni(l .Mis. Houston lias been born 
one son, Kred M., whose birth occurred on the 2(ith 
of October, 1875. 

Dr. Houston is eminenth 7 .1 self-made man, and 
had :in extremely hard struggle to gain the means 
for obtaining a medical education. He was fore- 
man in the Great Atlantic Cotton-Mills, at Law- 
rence. Mass., and 'during that time devoted all his 
leisure to study. On account of the constant strain 
both in his work in daytime, and his study at night. 
his eyesight became so seriously impaired that he 
was prevented from reading for three j'ears, and 
the treatment which he was compelled to take ab- 
sorbed the accumulations of eight years' earnings. 
His devoted wife came to his aid by reading aloud 
to him, and cheered him with words of kindly sym- 
pathy and encouragement. The physicians under 
whom he studied advised him to abandon the study 
of medicine, but he still clung to his aim'.in life 
with the firmness and tenacity characteristic of the 
hardy Scotch stock from which he sprang. The 
Doctor, by hard study, became one of the first in 
his class at Hahnemann Medical College and was 
elected to the honorable position of President of 
the class. In his case it is proved that persistent 
effort is almost always sure of success. Dr. Hous- 
ton has secured the confidence of the people of 
1) wight by his skill and ability in his profession, in 
which lie stands deservedly high. 

Among the portraits of representative men and 
women of Livingston County 'we have pleasure in 
presenting that "of 'Dr. Houston. 




, HRISTOPHER S. CIIRITTEN, JU.,M prom- 
. inent representative of the farming interests 
' i if Newtown Township, is the son of one of 
the early settlers of Livingston County, who came 
to this section from Crawfordsville, Ind., about 
1H53. Our subject was born in that city, July 13, 
1 843, and was the fifth in a family of seventeen 
children, the offspring of Christopher and Kura 
(Drake) Chritten. natives respectively of Virginia 
:m<1 New Jersey. 

The father of our subject was born in 17!)ii and 
d( parted this life at his home in Montgomery 



County, Ind., in is)!). The paternal grandfather 
was of German birth and parentage, and died when 
his son Christopher was two years of age. The 
latter continued with his mother in Kentucky un- 
til approaching manhood, and learned the trade of 
stone and brick mason, at which he became a skill- 
ful and reliable workman. lie; put up the first brick 
chimney in Montgomery County, Ind., and burned 
the first brick that was made in that county, being 
the first workman of the kind to settle there. He 
assisted in the erection of many important build- 
ings of Montgomery County, including its court- 
house and some of its churches. He accumulated a 
good property, and was a man greatly respected for 
his excellent personal character. Politically he was a 
Democrat, and was one of the most useful mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church at Crawfordsville. 

The mother of our subject was born in 1798, and 
died at her home in Livingston County in 18(i."i. 
She was the daughter of Enoch and Eura (Drake) 
Drake, natives respectively of Germany and Wales, 
whence they immigrated to America early in life, 
and were married in New Jersey. Mrs. Chritten was a 
lady of great business ability, and after the deatli 
of her husband increased her possessions to the 
amount of $6,000. She also was a devoted Chris- 
tian and a member of the Baptist Church. Besides 
rearing a family of fifteen children she performed 
the part of a faithful and conscientious mother to 
three of her grandchildren, who were bereft by 
deatli of their natural protectors. She spent her 
last 3'ears at the home of her son William in Read- 
ing Township, passing away at the age of sixt3'- 
seven vears. She had been a resident of the county 
since September, 1852. 

The household of the grandparents of our sub- 
ject included twelve children, all with one excep- 
tion now deceased. The remaining one, their son 
Noah, is supposed to be living in Ohio. To Chris- 
topher, Jr., and his wife there were born seventeen 
children, namely: Isaac, who died when about sixty 
vears of a^e; Enoch, a resident of Nebraska; Jo- 
seph, of Iowa; Alexander, deceased; Lucinda, who 
died in Indiana, leaving a family of three children ; 
Catherine, living in Iowa; William, of Reading 
Township, this county ; Racliael, the wife of Sam- 
uel Bower, Supervisor of Reading Township; Rob- 



I 



f. 



i in; 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i- 



ert.of Kansas: Rebecca, tin- wife of Jacob Spencer, 
of Iowa : Charles, a resident of Kansas; Maty, the 
wife of David Runion, of Missouri; Christopher S., 
our subject; .lames, who died in the army at Chat- 
tanooga, July 4, 1863; America, the wife of K. 
Fenner, of Heading Township, and two who died 
in infancy unnamed. 

The subject of our sketch continued under the 
home roof until seventeen years old. In the mean- 
time, after the death of his father, his mother with 
her family had removed to this county. Christo- 
pher, at the age mentioned, started out for himself 
as a farm laborer by the month, and two years 
later rented a tract of land and commenced farm- 
ing on his own hook. He worked singly fora num- 
ber of years, and after hislthirty-first birthday was 
united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Masters, 
Feb. 25, 1X75. The wedding took place at the 
home of the bride in Newtown Township, L. II. 
Mallory, J. P., officiating. 

Mrs. Chritten was born in Wyandot County. Ohio, 
Jan. 10, 1855. and is the daughter of BJTOII and 
Luciuda (Cronse) Masters, natives of Pennsylvania, 
and of Dutch and Irish descent. Their family in- 
cluded eleven children, of whom but seven are now 
living. The father still survives, and is a resident 
of Newtown Township. He owns 160 acres of 
good land, upon which he located in 18C7. His 
wife, Lucinda, died March 10, 1885, when sixty- 
two years old. 

To our subject and his wife there have been born 
the following children: William Emmett, March 8, 
187C; Fanny Leah, May 26, 1878; Dap Burnett, 
Jan. 28, 1881; Owen Elbert, Sept. 27, 1883, and 
Mary Jessie, Sept. 30, 1886. Mr. Chritten for a 
period of flteen years operated a coal bank near 
Coalville. Since 1876 be has been engaged in 
farming and trading. He is a wide-awake, energetic 
fanner and business man, and a fair representative 
of the enterprise and industiy of the community, 
lie is the only adherent of the Republican party in 
his father's family, and to these principles he clings 
with all the tenacity of his natural force of character. 

Iivron Masters, the father of Mrs. Chritten, is now 
sixty- four 3' ears of age. Sarah A. .her elder sister, was 
born Aug. !). IM.'il, died .Inly :!. 1 882 ; Samuel, born 
Sept. in. 1*17: Melissa. Sept. 26, IS4'.I ; Emma, Dec. 



'.), IK.").'!; Mary E., the wife of our subject ; Fremont. 
born in September, 1857 ; Amanda, Jan. 14, 1860; 
Elmeret, Sept. 30, 1862, and three brothers died 
young. 

- -KH- 




M< VAY was born in Washington 
County, Pa., on the 15th of July, 1820, 
and died on the 1st of June, 1874. He 
was married to Miss Matilda Mills, who was born 
on the 18th of January, 1836, and was the daughter 
of Abel Mills, of Greene County, Pa. In pol- 
itics William MeVay acted with the Democratic 
party, and in religious matters was an adherent of 
the doctrines of the Christian Church, in which he 
was for many years a Deacon, living an exemplary 
life, while in his death the church lost one of its 
strongest supporters, the community a generous 
hearted man and a kind neighbor, and the family an 
indulgent and affectionate parent. 

The Ijrothers and sisters of Mr. McVay were 
named as follows : James, John, Hannah, Jacob, 
George, Mary, Rebecca, Caroline, Samuel and Wal- 
lace. James was born March 23, 1822, married 
Miss Susan Niel has four children and resides in 
Greene County, Pa.; John was born July 25, 1825, 
has a family and resides in Greene County, Pa. : 
Hannah was born July 5, 1827, is the wife of Judge 
John T. Elbin, of Greene County, Pa., and they 
have a family of five children; Jacob was born June 
7, 1828, and married Miss Vina Courtwright, who 
died soon after marriage; he then married Mar- 
garet Thorp, and they had two children, one of 
whom, a daughter, is married. George was born 
Aug. 11, 1832, and first married Miss Maria Smith, 
who died leaving five children; his second wife was 
Miss Elizabeth Long, a native of Pennsylvania, 
and by this wife were born one girl and one boy. 
Mary was born July 11, 1834, is married and has a 
family of five children; Rebecca was born Dec. 28, 
1836, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in 
this Ai.iti M: Caroline was born May 14. 1840, and 
was married to George Hughes, of Greene County, 
Pa.; she died Feb. 15, 1 88."), leaving eight children. 
Samuel was born June 4, 1842. and died July 30. 
isl.'i. aged three years, one month and twenty-one 
days; Wallace was born July I-'!. 1 S4 4. and died Sept. 



I 



4 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1147 



27, 1855, aged eleven years, two montlis and nine 
days. 

The record of the parental family of Mrs. McYay 
is as follows: Catharine was married to Abel Wool- 
sey and died Sept. 16, 1867 ; she was a member of 
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Kmeline was 
married to Robert Morris Dec. 28, 1839, and died 
May 8, 1854; she was also a member of the Cum- 
berland Prc.sl>3'terian Church. Martha was born 
Sept. 19, 1821, and died aged twenty-five years and 
ten months; Simon U. was born May 11, 1828, and 
died many years ago; Stephen U. was born March 
26, 1831, and is long since dead; David H. was 
born Dec. 1, 1833, and is also dead; Eli was born 
June 18, 1838, and died Aug. 7, 1861 ; Joseph was 
born April 11, 1841, was married and lives in Amity 
Township. 

John McVay, father of the subject of this sketch, 
was born Oct. 28, 1794, in Washington County. 
Pa., and died April 15, 1831; his wife, Hannah, 
was born July 12, 1806, and was a native of Greene 
County, Pa. To William and Matilda McVay were 
born eight children Almina, Isabella. Albert, 
Francis, Ida, Ira, Willie P. and Willis. Albert, Ida 
and Willie P. are deceased ; Ira and Willis have not 
yet reached their majority, and reside with their 
mother, devoting their time to the management of 
the farm and stock-raising. The farm consists of 
280 acres of most excellent land, all of which is 
very productive. 

Mrs. McVay is a thoroughly practical woman and 
understands precisely how to manage all the affairs 
connected with her farm, and with her two sons at- 
tends to every detail. She is a lady who stands 
foremost in the advancement of /ill good works, and 
enjoys the esteem and respect of her neighbors. 
WP take pleasure in presenting on another page a 
view of the homestead of Mrs. McVay. 




i^RESLEY SPRINGER, pleasantly located in 
Amity Township, section 20, lias passed 
nearly all his life in farm pursuits, and is 
the owner of a comfortable homestead com- 
prising 150 acres of fertile land, convenient to 
schools, church and market. Of this, thirty acres- 




is in timber and pasture, and the balance is under a 
fine state of cultivation. It is stocked with good 
grades of domestic animals, while the residence and 
other farm buildings reflect credit upon the proprie- 
tor. 

Mr. Springer is a native of Ohio, where he was 
born in Brown County, April 19, 1831. His par- 
ents, Nathan and Lydia (Lucas) Springer, were na- 
tives of the same county, the former born Feb. 11, 
1804, and the latter, Dec. 5, 1807. They were 
married Feb. 22, 1827, and soon afterward removed 
to Vermilion County, 111., where they resided about 
twenty-two years. They then removed to Living- 
ston Count}' and settled in Long Point Township, 
where the death of the father occurred, Jan. 29, 

1871. The mother is still living, and is a member 
in good standing of the Christian Church. They 
became the parents of fourteen children, three sons 
and five daughters of whom still survive. 

When a child Presley Springer was brought by 
his parents to Vermilion County, where he rema-'ned 
a resident for a period of twenty years, when he 
took up his abode in this county, locating first two 
and one-half miles southwest of his present home- 
stead. While a resident of Amity Township, he 
was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara Custis, 
Nov. 2, 1866. Mrs. Springer is the widow of Levi 
Custis, and daughter of Lewis and Prudence John- 
son. By her first marriage she became the mother 
of three children: Frank Elmer, now a resident of 
Iowa; Ena E., the wife of Gustave Girard, now re- 
siding in Denison, Iowa, and Harry Willard, who 
married Miss Lillie Maud Partridge, of Clinton 
County, Iowa, and resides in Kansas. Mrs. Springer 
was born in Smithfield Center, Bradford Co., Pa., 
in 1840, and came to Illinois in 1857. 

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Springer are re- 
corded as follows : Milton Eugene was born Aug. 
24, 1867; Ella Jane, Aug. 6, 1869; Lewis Presley, 
March 15, 1871 ; Clara Alida, April 24, 1874; Henry 
Preston, April 19, 1876; Guy Manley, Feb. 25, 
1878; Martha Maria, Dec. 28, 1881, and Charley 
Sherman, Aug. 27, 1883. Lewis P. died Dec. 12, 

1872, and Martha M., Aug. 3, 1882. 

The mother of Mrs. Springer, Prudence Johnson, 
was born in Catskill, N. Y., Oct. 4, 1805, and was a 
most estimable Christian lady, and a member of 



f 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



the Methodist Episcopal Church. She departed this 
life at her home in Ancona, April 1!), 1809. The 
father of Airs. Springer was liorn ill Oxford, Che- 
naiigoCo.. N. Y., March -21, 1 KO. 4 !, and at the present 
time is the oldest man in Amity Township, where 
lie resides at Cornell. He has suffered a great 
affliction in the loss of his eyesight, which occurred 
six years ago. 

Mr. Springer ranks among the well-to-do farmers 
of his community, and although meddling very lit- 
tle in political matters, casts a straight Democratic 
vote at the general elections, and keeps himself well 
posted upon matters concerning the welfare of his 
county and township. Mrs. Springer became a 
member of the Christian Church in l.s.~>8. 



17 OUIS K. REDFERN, a farmer by occupation, 

Maud a gentleman who has followed that call- 
ing during the greater part of his life, but 
who at present is engaged in working for Walton 
Bros., of Fairburj', III., is a son of John and Eliza- 
beth (Shields) Redfern. The father of our subject 
was born in England, whence he immigrated to this 
country, landing, after a pleasant voyage, at Troy, 
N. Y. There he was variously occupied, and it 
was there he became acquainted with and married 
Miss. Shields. John Redfern, hoping to better his 
financial condition in the rapidly growing West, 
migrated to Fulton, Whiteside County, whence, 
after a residence there until 1801, he moved to 
Denver, Col., and made that his home until his 
demise, in 1864. 

The subject of this notice was born in Fulton, 
Whiteside Co., 111., in 1852. He accompanied his 
parents to Denver, Col., in 1801 , and after the death 
of his father in that city in 1804, he and his mother 
returned to Fulton, 111. After a residence there of 
four years, the mother was called to the supposed 
death bed of her youngest daughter. While en route 
an accident occurred, which resulted in the throw- 
ing of the -tage in which Mrs. Redfern was riding 
down an embankment of forty feet, and into the 
Platte River. She \va> badly hurt but, was rescued, 
and Vanderbilt being on hi.- way to California and 
hearing of the accident, had Mrs. Redfern taken to 



a ranch, and all was done that possibly could be to 
alleviate her suffering. When she was able to be 
moved, she was sent to her home in Fulton, but died 
from the result of injuries received in the accident. 
Louis Redfern was left an orphan at the age of 
fifteen, and Dr. Leander Smith, of Fulton, became 
his guardian. Louis was sent to Jennings Semin- 
ary, Aurora, 111., where he received a good educa- 
tion, and then, obtaining possession of the money 
left him by his mother, he went to Chicago. He 
was there during the terrible fire of 1871, and it 
was in that city that he lost the principal part of the 
money that was left him. From Chicago he came 
to Livingston County, where he engaged in fann- 
ing, meeting with signal success, and which vocation 
he continued to follow until within the last two 
years, when he met with financial failure; since then 
he has been working for Walton Bros. March 7, 
1877, Mr. Redfern was united in marriage with Miss 
Minnie May Johnson, the ceremony taking place in 
Vermont. Fulton Co., 111. Their union has been 
blessed by the birth of the following children : 
Mertie May, born June 23, 1878; Corrie Lnella, 
March 2:>, 1881, and Fred Eugene, Oct. 22, 1884. 



JOSEPH STEVENSON. In the subject of 
this sketch we find an excellent example for 
young men just embarking in the field of 
active life, of what may be accomplished by 
a man beginning poor, but honest, prudent and in- 
dustrious. In early life he enjoyed but few ad- 
vantages, and his school days were limited. He 
has relied solely upon his own efforts and his own 
conduct to win for him success, and he has not 
been disappointed. He has not been a swces- 
wholly in the sense of accumulating wealth, but in 
doing good to others, in serving them well, and 
winning their respect and esteem. He has ever ob- 
served that important factor in a successful life, 
honesty. He is a careful, conscientious business 
man, ever obeying the dictates of that higher law 
in matters both of a public and private nature. 

Mr. Stevenson is engaged quite extensively in 
farming and stock-raising on section 17, Snuncmin 
Township. lie is a native of the North of Ireland, 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1151 



where 1 lie MS liorn on the 22d of May, 1849, and is 
the son of John (deceased) and Elizabeth Steven- 
son, and the eldest of their family of children. He 
was reared to manhood in his native Ireland, and 
received a fair education in the schools of that 
country. He emigrated to America in 1872, taking; 
passage on a steamer at Londonderry, on the 23d 
of May, and landing in Philadelphia on the 6th of 
dune. Soon after his arrival he secured employ- 
ment as a farm hand in Pennsylvania, at which he 
continued until the spring of 1874, when he came 
to Illinois and located in Livingston County. Here 
he worked by the month on a farm for fourteen 
months, at which time he rented land which he cul- 
tivated until the spring of 1883, and saved sufficient 
means to enable him to purchase eight}' acres of 
excellent land. Among the improvements which 
he has placed upon this farm there are 300 rods of 
tiling, which serve to drain the land completely. 
Upon his arrival in this county, Mr. Stevenson had 
but $5 in money, and when he came to Illinois his 
capital consisted of $125; from that small begin- 
ning has grown his present prosperity. 

On the 8th of duly, 1875, Mr. Stevenson was 
married to Miss Martha Byers, a native of Ireland, 
where she was born in April, 1 852, and the daugh- 
ter of Robert and Mary Ann (Hutchinson) Byers. 
To them two children have been born, viz. : Rob- 
ert J., on the 14th of April, 1876, and William G., 
on the 23d of August, 1878. Mr. Stevenson is a 
believer in the Presbyterian doctrines, but not a 
member of the church, and his political affiliations 
are with the Democratic party. He is in favor of 
any measure that will improve the condition of the 
<< unity, and elevate the standard of society. 




\ 



ETER W. SKTZER, a progressive fanner 
and stock-raiser on sections 17 and 18, Es- 
men Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, 
where he was born in Luzerne County, on 
the 23d cf duly, 183S, and was the tenth child in a 
family of eleven born to Peter and Catharine 
( YanCamp) Setzer, a sketch of whom appears in 
another place in this work. 

Mr. Setzer spent his early life upon a farm and 



his dependence for an education was wholly upon 
the country schools. At sixteen years of age he 
left home and worked for a neighbor for six months, 
after which until almost of age he worked upon the 
farm in summer and during the winter attended 
school. His father dying about the time our sub- 
ject reached his majority, he returned home, and 
taking active management of the farm, he soon 
saved sufficient money to buy ox-teams, and he then 
contracted for breaking prairie lands throughout 
the surrounding country; many of the farms in 
sight of his home were first brought under cultiva- 
tion by his hard labor. Being energetic and enter- 
prising he accumulated a good beginning before he 
concluded to marry. 

On the 7th of April, 1862, Mr. Setzer took as a 
helpmeet Miss Sophia, daughter of Daniel and So- 
phia (Whittier) Knight, natives of the State of 
Maine, where she also was born in the year 1840. 
Her parents came to Illinois and first, settled in La- 
Salle County, whence at the end of one year they 
came to Livingston County, but being of a roving 
disposition soon sold out and afterward made many 
changes, buying and selling land all the time until 
the death of the father, which occurred in Fillmore 
County, Minn. His wife still survives him, and 
resides in Chippewa County, Minn. 

Mr. and Mrs. Setzer settled lirst on the farm they 
now occupy and have remained there ever since, 
excepting a year spent in the North, which was 
necessary for the benefit of her health. They are 
the parents of ten children, six of whom Nettie, 
George, Charles, Fred, Effie and Cora are now liv- 
ing and reside at home. The names of the deceased 
were dohii, Hattie, Bertie and Warren. 

In the summer of 1862 Mr. Setzer enlisted in 
Company M, Light Artillery, under Capt. Miller. 
The organization of this company was begun at 
Ottawa, and those who enlisted went to Chicago, 
where the complement of a full company was se- 
sured, and where Mr. Setzer was sworn into the 
service, acting independently as long as he served 
with it. About three months after the company 
went South he was injured at Louisville, Ky., by a 
horse, and on the 24th of October, 1862, he was 
discharged. He does not take a very lively interest 
in political matters but votes with the Republican 






1152 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



party. Mr. Set/.er has :i most excellent farm of 280 
acres, in the cultivation of which he devotes much 
energy. In his stock operations he keeps abreast 
of the times, and has the reputation in his neighbor- 
hood of putting first-class animals upon the market. 
As representative of the buildings in this section 
of country, we present on another page of this work 
a view of the homestead of Mr. Setzer. 




^* ORRIS FOLEY, a prominent and wealthy 
farmer of Amit}' Township, is the owner of 
a tract of 537 broad acres, 240 of which is 
under a fine state of cultivation, while the 
balance includes twenty-five acres of timber and a 
wide stretch of some of the best pasture in Living- 
ston County. His possessions are the result of his 
own industry and perseverance, as he began life poor 
in pocket and under the most adverse circumstances. 
He has illustrated, in a remarkable manner, what 
may be accomplished by energy and resolution, and 
stands to-day among the most highly respected 
citizens of Central Illinois. 

The early home of our subject was on the other side 
of the Atlantic, in County Wexford, Ireland, where 
he was born in November, 183.0, and remained 
until a young man twenty-two years of age. His 
parents, Dennis and Honor (Kelly) Foley, were also 
of Irish birth and parentage, the father being the 
son of Morris and Mary (Rhine) Foley. To the 
latter were born the following children: Morris, 
Patrick, John, Mary Ann, Bridget and Philip. 
The mother of our subject was the daughter of Pat- 
rick and Ann (Doran) Kelly. 

Mr. Foley received a limited education during 
his boyhood, and assisted his parents in their efforts 
at maintaining a family, his father being a farmer 
by occupation. He began early in life to think 
about the future, and after considering the matter 
in all its bearings, became convinced that there was 
little chance for his advancement during the then 
present state of things in Erin's Green Isle. His 
parents did not accompany him but joined him a 
year later, in the spring of 1852. Young Morris 
embarked first on a small vessel at Waterford, IPV 
which means he reached Liverpool, and then 



boarded a sailing craft bound for New Orleans. 
The voyage occupied seven weeks and three days, 
and with the exception of a few squalls, was reason- 
ably fair and pleasant. From the Crescent City 
our subject made his way north into Ottawa, this 
State, where he found friends, and made his 
home there two or three years, in the meantime 
employing himself at whatever he could find to do. 
Subsequently he went up the Fox River into 
Asbury and became the employe of Paul Kennedy, 
with whom he remained two years. From there he 
migrated to the town of Serena, LaSalle County, 
where he farmed on shares for three seasons, and 
from there made his way to this county, becoming 
a permanent resident in the spring of 1850. 

Mr. Foley had lived frugally and saved what he 
could of rather limited earnings, which he now in- 
vested in 1 60 acres of land on section 35, in New- 
town Township. His course from that, time has been 
steadily onward, and he has been uniformly suc- 
cessful in his undertakings. He has added to his 
first purfchase by degrees and has now one of the 
most desirable homesteads in the township. It is 
with pleasure we present a view of it in this volume, 
as being a fine representative of the farm homes of 
Livingston County. Upon coming here he was ;it 
once recognized as a valuable addition to the com- 
munity, and has interested himself in whatever en- 
terprise was set on foot for the advantage and wel- 
fare of the people. Politically he votes the straight 
Democratic ticket, and is School Director in his dis- 
trict. He was reared in the doctrines of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and has all his life closely 
adhered to the faith of his forefathers. 

The family of our subject consists of his wife and 
eleven children. The former was Miss Bridget, 
daughter of Michael and Mary (Doran) Whalen, 
natives of County Wexford, Ireland, and the par- 
ents of ten children. The latter were named re- 
spectively : Patrick, Ellen, John, Catherine, Mar- 
garet, Michael, Bridget, Lawrence, Thomas and 
Edward. With the exception of John, who died in 
August, 1873, at Esmond, they are all living and 
mostlj' residents of Livingston County. The chil- 
dren of Mr. and Mrs. Foley are recorded as follows: 
Patrick Henry was born March 22, 1859, and is an 
intelligent and enterprising young man, who, in or- 



I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1153 



der to see something of the world, started out in 
1883 and is now traveling in Texas; Mary Pollen 
was horn Dee. 17, 1861, and died May 30, 1886; 
Morris, Jr., was born Oct. 22, 1863, and married 
Miss Maggie L., daughter of Frank Craven, of 
Odcll Township, and is engaged in farming: John 
W., born May 27, 1865, is at home with his parents; 
Frances C., born Jan. 13, 1867, is the wife of Peter, 
son of John Corrigan. of Amity Township, and 
whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume; 
Dennis was born Feb. 13, 1869; Thomas Edward, 
Sept, 1, 1870; Hannah, Oct. 10, 1872; Katie Agnes, 
born Sept. 10, 1874, died Aug. 9, 1875; Philip C. 
was born in 1 875, aud with the other younger chil- 
dren continues at home with his parents; Katie Ann 
was born Dec. 14, 1877; Josephine, in December, 
1879; Frederick A., Aug. 17, 1883. 

Besides bringing his land to a thorough state of 
cultivation, Mr. Foley has erected a fine set of 
frame buildings which will bear fair comparison 
with anything of the kind in this county. As a 
man who has assisted in the development of the re- 
sources of Livingston County, he stands high and 
enjoys the uniform respect and esteem of his 
neighbors. 



y WILLIAM E. VAN BUSKIRK, Cashier of 
the bank of Odell, is a native of Montgomery 
County, Pa., born July 29, 1860, and is the 
son of Silas Y. and Catherine (Troy) Van Buskirk, 
who were natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey 
respectively. The father of our subject was a 
farmer in early life, but his later years were spent 
in painting. In 1867 the family came to the great 
West and located at Fairview. Fulton Co., 111. Two 
years later he removed to Odell, where he is still 
living, and following the trade of a painter. 

The subject of this sketch was reared a fanner 
until a young man. Me then commenced learning 
the harness-making and saddlery trade. Not find- 
ing this very lucrative, he commenced teaching 
school, which he followed for two years and one- 
half. He was educated at the city schools at Odell, 
and completed the full course in those excellent in- 
stitutions. In 1883 he prepared to enter the Nor- 



mal School in McLean County, but being offered a 
position jn the bank of Odell, he renounced his in- 
tention, and entered upon his work in the bank on 
the 9th of April, 1883. He has remained in this 
institution ever since, and now holds the respon- 
sible position of cashier. 

August 6, 1884, Mr. Van Buskirk married Elma 
L. Root, daughter of S. T. and Susan (Haynes) 
Root, who was born in Somerset, Mich., Dec. 14, 
1859. She had been a teacher by profession, and 
was fulfilling an engagement in the Odell school at 
the time of her marriage. They are the parents of 
one child, Troy Root, born Aug. 10, 1885. 



eHARLES STACKER has been a resident of 
Livingston County since the 24th of August, 
1865, moving from Bureau County, III., 
where he had been successfully engaged in farming 
for ten years. Since becoming a resident of Liv- 
ingston County, he has been engaged in general 
farming and the raising of high-grade stock, in- 
cluding Norman horses, Short-horn cattle, and Po- 
land-China hogs. He keeps generally from fifteen 
to twenty horses aud cattle, and about the same 
nnmber of hogs upon the place. The improve- 
ments which he has made upon his farm are very 
substantial, and include the planting of an ash and 
maple grove, covering two acres of ground. When 
Mr. Stacker came to Forest Township, a large pro- 
portion of the land embraced in that territory was 
wild prairie. The eighty acres which he purchased 
of Mr. S. G. Cone is now all under a good state of 
cultivation, and is located about a quarter of a mile 
from the village of Forest. For this land he paid 
120 per acre, and under the intelligent manipula- 
tion of its present owner it has increased in value 
until it is now worth $>7o per acre. 

Mr. Stacker was born on the 31st of August, 
1837, and is the son of John and Henrietta Stacker, 
the former a wagon-maker by trade, who came to 
Chicago in 1854, where he remained until his death, 
which occurred in 1858. The mother died in the 
old country one year before the father emigrated 
to the United States. They were the parents of 



! 



I 



1151 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



five children, whose names are: Mary, Lena. Caro- 
line. Louise :md Charles. While our subject re- 
mained at home he worked at the trade of wagon- 
making with his father, and at twenty years of age 
began working for himself, engaging the first year 
with a Mr. Reese. He then went to Bureau County, 
where he worked at his trade by the month for 
three years, and then entering land he farmed for 
five years, at the end of which time he came to Liv- 
ingston County, where he has since resided. 

On the 15th of September, 1870, Mr. Stacker 
was married to Miss Lutina Judson, a native of 
New York State, and to them have been born two 
children George Lester, on the 31st of February, 
1878, and one child who died in infancy. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stacker are members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, in which they take an active interest. 
The}' are prominent members of the society of the 
neighborhood in which they live, and engage act- 
ively in such movements as are calculated to bene- 
fit the community, and promote the interests of the 
people. Mr. Stacker acts and votes with the Re- 
publican party, but is in no sense a politician in the 
meaning that he is a seeker after office. 




ETER SETZER was a farmer by occupa- 
tion though in early life he learned the 
blacksmith's trade, which occupation he 
followed, managing a farm at the same 
time. He was born in Luzerne County, Pa., where 
he was reared and engaged in farming. 

Mr. Setzer married Catherine Van Camp, a native 
of Pennsylvania, and in 1844 came to Illinois and 
settled in LaSalle County, which at that time was 
very sparsely settled, and the preliminary work of 
constructing a canal was in progress; there were 
then no railroads through the country. He lived 
there about seven years, when he moved to Living- 
ston County, and bought eighty acres { wild land 
in what is now Esmen Township. He built his 
house of timber which grew along the creek, sawing 
the slabs used in its construction five miles from 
home and hauling them to where they were needed. 
This house was 1 :!x20 feet and was one and one- 



half stories in height. He was obliged to do all In'- 
own making and repairing of implements for farm 
use. His grain and stock market, while a resident 
of LaSalle County, was at Chicago, and he either 
drove or hauled his hogs there every year. At 
driving time the neighbors took turns at hauling 
feed along for the hogs and in aiding to drive them. 
While small game was plentiful in those days and 
deer roamed the prairie in great numbers, wolves 
were also very plentiful, and when the boys went in 
the evening to drive the cows home they carried a 
gun with which to protect themselves. Mr. Setzer 
was the father of eleven children at that time, of 
whom four were with him Jacob, Peter W., Mat- 
tie and Anna. Sarah came soon after. Elizabeth, 
' Isaac and Abraham remained in Pennsylvania, the 
boys following a seafaring life, and three children 
died in infancy. The life on the farm was at first 
characterized by many hardships, but soon the 
land around was taken up and settlement began in 
earnest. A few years served to see the prairie 
dotted with houses and the roots of the prairie grass 
turned up to the sun by the sturdy plowman. 

Mr. Setzer was a quiet and industrious farmer, 
and never sought office, 'although quite active in 
political matters. He was a Republican in politics, 
while he and his wife were members of the Baptist 
Church for a great many years, and wielded a strong 
influence in the community. It is to such pioneers 
as Mr. Setzer that Illinois owes her standing for en- 
lightenment and intelligence in the sisterhood of 
States. 




/MOS HERTZ came to Livingston County 
'(l\ when a large portion of it was practically 
jft a wilderness. He was well fitted both by 
nature and early training to take up life 
and its duties in this undeveloped section of country, 
and has ably performed lii> part in the building up 
of the township which he chose for his future resi- 
dence. Broughton Township had been then but 
recently outlined, and the cabins of the settle]-- were 
few and far between. The people were struggling 
to secure a comfortable living, and at the same 
time effect the improvements for which there was 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



such great room. They battled with the difficul- 
ties of a new and undeveloped soil, a distant market, 
and the laborious transportation by horse or ox teams 
over highways which had been but faintly marked 
out through the woods or over the comparatively 
untrod prairies. The exercise of industry, however, 
during the laje of years, has effected a change 
which words seem feeble to express. There were 
required to accomplish this, resolute hearts and 
strength of muscle, and in these essential qualities 
the subject of this sketch distinguished himself as 
a useful and important factor toward the task 
which, begun amid such difficulties, has proceeded 
with such admirable results. 

Mr. Hertz is one of the oldest living settlers of 
Broughton Township, to which he came in the spring 
of 1859. He was born in Berks County, Pa., Sept. 
12, 1831, and is the son of Samuel and Sarah 
(Ludwig) Hertz, who were also natives of the Key- 
stone State. His paternal grandfather, Conrad 
Hertz, was a Hessian by birth, and with thousands 
of others became a soldier under the British Gov- 
ernment, and was sent to America to assist in crush- 
ing the rebellion of the Colonists. Upon arriving 
here, however, and becoming acquainted with the 
condition of affairs, being an intelligent man he 
went over to the ranks of Gen. Washington, and 

O 

thereafter did splendid service in behalf of those 
who were struggling for their liberty. After the 
close of the war he settled in Pennsylvania, where 
he married and reared a large family of children, 
among whom was Samuel, the father of our sub- 
ject. 

Samuel Hertz was reared to manhood in his 
native county, where he continued several years 
after his marriage. Most of the survivors of a 
large family born to him and his wife Sarah are 
located in Pennsylvania. They are named as fol- 
lows: Bernard, who is farming: Matilda, Mrs. Abrani 
Weitzel, of Berks County; Samuel, Jesse, Amos, 
Jeremiah ; Mary, Mrs. Nicholas Moore; Elizabeth, 
Mr-, \\illiam Gophart; Benjamin; Salinda, Mrs. 
Jacob Bixler, and Frank. 

Amos Hertz continued in his native county until 
reaching manhood, in the meantime receiving a 
limited education, and becoming well acquainted 
with hard labor. lie had always been anxious to 



become well informed, and availing himself of the 
instructive books which came in his way, by a 
steady course of reading he has kept himself well 

- posted on matters of general interest. He came to 
Livingston County first in 1858, and purchased his 
present farm, then returned to Pennsylvania. He 
provided himself with a wife and helpmeet in the 
person of Miss Cynthia J. Persels, to whom he was 
married April 4, 1861. They began housekeeping 
in a modest frame dwelling on the new land, and 
our subject commenced in earnest the cultivation 
and improvement of his purchase. Here he has 
since resided with his family. 

The wife of our subject was born in Wayne 
County, N. Y., Feb. 10, 1844, and is the daughter 
of Isaac and Clarissa (Bosvvorth) Persels, the former 

; a resident of Grundy County, this State. Isaac 
Persels was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., and is 
of German descent; the mother was of English an- 
cestry, and a native of Westfield, Mass. Mrs. Hertz 
came to Illinois in 185(1 with her parents, who lived 
in Grundy County for a short time, and removed 
to Broughton Township, this county, in 1859, where 
they were among the first settlers. Mr. Persels 
labored industriously for a number of years and accu- 
mulated sufficient means with which to retire from 
active labor. He removed to Gardner in 1887, and 
is spending his last years in ease and comfort. The 
mother died on the farm in Broughton Township 

| Jan. 23, 1877. They were the parents of nine chil- 

! dren, of whom six are living, namely: Henry, of 
Binghamton, N. Y. ; Samuel, of Steel City, Neb.; 
Cynthia J., Mrs. Hertz; Roland, of this county; 
Mary, the wife of Charles Correll, of Greenwood 
County, Kan., and Herbert, of Butler County, 
Kan. 

Our subject and his wife became the parents of 
three children, namely: Ernest A., who was born 
Jan. :>, 18C5, and died Jan. 11, 1880; Jessie M., 
who was born May 3, 1869, and Louis R., April 26, 
1881 ; the last two are at home with their parents. 
The homestead includes eighty acres of land, which 
produces in abundance the richest crops of the 
Prairie State. Mrs. Hertz is a very intelligent lady, 
well educated, and taught the first school in District 
No. :!, Broughton Township, and the second term 
in what was then known as District No. 2. Both 



lir.s 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 




husband find wife early in life identified themselves 
with the Congregational Church at Einington, and 
have since continued active members. Mr. Hertz 
officiates as Trustee, and has been a cheerful and lib- 
eral contributor to the maintenance of the society, 
as well as other worthy enterprises calculated for 
the good of the community and the promotion of 
morality and education. 

As representative of the buildings of this section 
of country we present on another page of this vol- 
ume a view of Mr. Hertz' residence and its sur- 
roundings. 



a*s*a. AMUEL THOMSON ably represents the 
farming and stock-raising interests of Ne- 
braska Township, and has a desirable home- 
stead pleasantly located on section 24. He 
is of substantial Scotch ancestry, a man of excellent 
education, and followed the profession of a teacher 
some years during his early manhood. He is in the 
prime of life, having been born Aug. 24, 1859, and 
his first recollections are of his boyhood home in 
Jubilee Township, Peoria County, this State. His 
parents were Thomas and Margaret Thomson, who 
lived on a farm in Peoria County, where with their 
other children, our subject was reared to manhood. 
Young Thomson upon reaching his majority com- 
menced farming for himself, but after one year, not 
being satisfied with his mental accomplishments, sold 
his teams, and entering the Normal School attended 
four terms, and in the spring of 188,'i went still 
higher, into the commercial department of Wesleyan 
College at Bloomington, where he took a full course 
in book-keeping, commercial law, etc. In the fall 
of 1884 he commenced teaching, and kept this up 
several seasons, in the meantime also carrying on 
farming in Waldo Township. 

The marriage of Samuel Thomson and Miss Ara- 
bella, daughter of Isaac and Mary J. (Spencer) 
Sheets, was celebrated on the 22d of February, 1885, 
Key. Woodard, of Gridley, officiating. Mr. T. and 
his bride soon afterward went to housekeeping, and 
our Mibject continued teaching in winter and farm- 
ing in summer until enabled to inirclia.se eighty 
acres of land, of which he took possession in the 
spring of 18X7. and where he now lives. They 



have one child, a daughter, Mary A., who was born 
Feb. G, 1886. 

Mr. Thomson was the sixth in a family of nine 
children: His sister Margaret is the wife of .Mat- 
thew Murdock, a inolder by trade, but who is now 
farming in Allen County, Kan. ; they have five chil- 
dren. Eliza C'.. Mrs. William A. Cornwell, lives on 
a farm in Waldo Township, and is the mother of 
six children; William married Miss Margaret (Jal- 
lagher, and lives in Rook's Creek; Agnes is the 
wife of James Baxter, of California, and the mother 
of six children; David married Miss Lucy K. 
Smith, and they, with their one child, reside in Storm 
Lake, Iowa; Samuel of our sketch was the next in 
order of birth; Mary became the wife of George S. 
Thomson, and they removed to Texas, where she 
died in October. 188(5; Thomas is a resident of 
Peoria, and John V., of Rook's Creek. 

Thomas Thomson, the father of our subject, was 
a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, born in 1802, 
and died in 1869. The mother was born in Glas- 
gow, and is still living. They were married in Peo- 
ria County, this State. 

Mrs. Thomson was born in Nebraska Township, 
this county, March 20, 1864, and is the youngest in 
a family of six children. Her brother William is 
married, and the father of five children; he lives in 
Crawford County, Kan. Alexander continues at 
home; Xial R., also a resident of Kansas, is married 
and has two children: Margaret is the wife of John 
Haley, of Dakota, and the mother of five children; 
Ernest Earl is at home. Mr. Sheets was born in 
Columbia County, Ohio, and his wife in Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Mr. Thomson is a Republican, and a strong tem- 
perance man, and is not afraid to state his views and 
opinions, which he defends with all the sincerity and 
honesty of his nature. 



THORNTON KEMEYS PRIME. The dif- 
ferent generations of the Prime family as 
they have come and gone, have all left 
marks which have not only added luster 
and renown to them individually, but each in his 
time ha.- been a benefactor to the human race. 




I 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1159 



Three brothers named Prime, of an excellent En- 
glish family, left Liverpool in HioO, and settled in 
Massachusetts. One family was known as the Massa- 
chusetts Prime, and subsequently removed to New 
York City, ami founded the old banking house of 
Prime, Ward & King, which .to-day exists but un- 
der another name. The second brother went to 
the South, where all trace of him was lost. The 
third, .lames Prime, was a wealthy and influential 
citizen of Mil ford, Conn. Ebenezer Prime, one of 
the children of James, makes the chain complete, 
and from him directly we trace the genealogy of 
the subject of this sketch. 

Not only as a personal history but of general in- 
terest to our readers at large, will be found a short 
biography of the ancestors of Mr. Prime, as show- 
ing what has largely given him the present bent of 
mind and taste. Ebenezer Prime was graduated when 
he was nineteen years of age from Yale College in 
1714, and was pastor of a parish in Huntington, L. 
I., in 1723. An accomplished theologian, a thor- 
ough classical scholar, keenly interested in Colonial 
affairs, he directed the thought, political as well as 
religious, of the neighborhood in which he lived. 
He preached, exhorted, wrote, printed and circu- 
lated, and enjoined resistance against the British 
with all the force of his tongue and pen. When 
the British took possession of Long Island, Col. 
Thompson took particular pains to direct the fury 
of his detachment of soldiers against the parsonage, 
destroying the house and its contents, and the Col- 
onel himself ordered that his own tent should be 
pitched where, as he expressed it, he '' could never 
walk in and out of the graveyard without treading 
on the head of that damned old rebel, Ebenezer 
Prime." 

Benjamin Young Prime, the next descendant, 
was born in the old Huntington parsonage, Dec. 
20, 1733. He entered the college of New Jersey, 
then situated at Newark, and was graduated in 1701 
with honor, lie decided on the profession of med- 
icine, and sailed for the continent, and was soon 
busily engaged at work. He made himself pro- 
ficient in six languages, writing readily French, 
German and Spanish, as well as the classic lan- 
guages, lie inherited all his venerable father's en- 
thusiasm, and composed songs, ballads and battle 



lyrics, which were sung by the soldiers during the 
Revolution, and have gone down into history as 
the best of poetic and literary work of that nature. 
-He lived to see the close of the war and the estab- 
lishment of peace, and died respected and lamented 
by all, in 1791. A son of the above, the Rev. Dr. 
Nathaniel Scudder Prime, was an eloquent speaker, 
a close observer of current thought, a learned 
theologian, a wise counselor, and a zealous pro- 
moter of education. He left behind him four sons, 
two of whom were clergymen, the third a physician 
and the fourth a lawyer, but all so actively en- 
gaged in letters as to be pre-eminently recognized 
as literai'3' men. 

We now come to Dr. Samuel Ireiueus Prime, 
the father of S. Thornton K. Prime. His .life may 
be considered from four standpoints, those of the 
preacher, the author, the editor and the private 
man. Dr. J. R. Paxton, in his funeral address, de- 
livered July 22, 1885, says: "Never a bigot or 
fanatic on any question agitated or debated in the 
land for half a century ; a well-balanced head, no 
eccentricities, no pet virtue, no little hobby, no 
one special excellence which he always aired and 
rang changes upon, the leading advocate of the 
evangelical Protestant faith in this country, his 
death is a calamity to the whole church. He will 
have no successor, but as long as this country en- 
dures and Christianity is proved, Dr. Irena-us 
Prime is sure of honor and fame for the good he 
accomplished, the life he lived, the God he glori- 
fied as citizen, preacher, editor, author and man." 
The historical facts are condensed from a paper en- 
titled Four Primes, read before the New York 
Genealogical and Biographical Society, Feb. 12. 
I,s8(i, by Edward Iremeus Stevenson. 

S. Thornton K. Prime was born at Weston, Conn., 
July 31, 1*34, and was educated at Rahway. N. J., 
where he was prepared for entering college. He 
did not enter, however, for the father thinking the 
tastes of his son inclined more to a business career 
than a literary one, placed him in the banking-house 
of John Gihon & Co., New York City, where he 
remained for seven years, and until the house was 
swept away by the financial crisis of 1857. Mr. 
Prime married in 1858, and removed to Dwight, 
III., which was then a very small prairie town with 



T 



I 



1 1 no 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



not over 100 inhabitants. He purchased 320 acres 
of land, built a house and commenced farming, 
knowing nothing practically of the work. He 
toili'd on, struggling for ten years against low 
prices and poor crops. During all this time he de- 
voted his leisure moments to reading and study, 
and was never so happy as when writing some short 
article for the press. In 1873, when the Granger 
movement swept over the Northwest, Mr. Prime 
took a most active part in the work in Illinois. 
No other county was so thorough!}- organized or 
produced greater practical results from the move- 
ment than Livingston County, the home of Mr. 
Prime. 

The celebrated platform of the Farmers' and Peo- 
ple's Anti-Monopoly Party was the joint work of 
Mr. Prime, of Dwight, and W. B. Fyfe, of Poutiac. 
Tens of thousands of copies of the platform were 
circulated all over the Northwest; the principles 
adopted, and county and State officers elected, as 
the result of this wonderful, broad and far-reach, 
ing declaration of principles. A copy of the plat- 
form is here given. 

PLATFORM 

of the 
Farmers' and People's Anti-Monopoly Party 

of 
LIVINGSTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



DECLARATION. 

The organization is opposed to railroad steals, 
tariff steals, salary -grab steals, and every other form 
of thieving by which the farmer and laboring classes 
are robbed of the legitimate fruits of their labor. 

PLATFORM. 

First: We are in favor of controlling by law 
the railroad corporations of the State. 

Second: We submit to taxation and duties to 
meet the necessities of the Government, but de- 
nounce as unjust and oppressive all taxations for 
the benefit of special classes. 

Third: We are in favor of the present banking 
-\>tem being so made that all men, by giving the 
proper security, should have equal privileges. >o 



that supply and demand shall regulate our money- 
market. 

Fourth: We are opposed to all future grants of 
land to railroads or other corporations, and believe 
that the public domain should be held sacred to the 
actual settler. 

Fifth: We are in favor of a true system of 
Civil Service Reform, making honesty and capacity 
the only valid claims for public employment, and 
believe that the office should seek the man and not 
the man the office. S. T. K. PKIMK. 

Secretary of the Farmers' and People's Anti- 
Monopoly Part}-, of Livingston County, 111. 

DWIGHT, ILL., July 17, 1873. 

The Grange excitement had subsided, leaving as 
it did, the unmistakable marks of progress, advanc- 
ing and settling the railroad question in one year 
by what had not been accomplished by the courts 
for over 100 years, and Mr. Prime turned his at- 
tention more particularly than ever before to edi- 
torial work. For many years he contributed arti- 
cles of practical value to the Chicago Tribune over 
the signature of ' Plowholder," upon the tariff ques- 
tion, and also upon matters connected with agri- 
culture. In 1878 Mr. Prime commenced a special 
department in the Chicago Tribune, of reporting 
the crops of the country; these reports covered the 
entire Northwest, and appeared daily in the Tribune 
from March until October. They added greatly 
to the Tribune's reputation as a newsgatherer, but 
very little, if any, to Mr. Prime's, as the nature of 
all great dailies is to glorify themselve> and ignore 
those who furnish the brains, the authors. At this 
time also, over the signature of " Northwest." Mr. 
Prime made an enviable reputation as a correspond- 
ent of the New York Commercial Bulletin. As has 
been intimated, the crop statistics of Mr. Prime, 
after the first season, attracted such attention that 
he conceived the idea to withdraw his work so far 
as the daily press was concerned, and establish a 
erop bureau, supplying private individuals, grain 
and commission merchants all over the country, 
with the earliest, fullest and most reliable crop in- 
formation in the 1'nitcd States. This proved to be 
a va>t undertaking. Every county in every State. 
from Ohio to the far Northwest, was thoroughly 



f 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1161 



organized, and from three to live correspondents 
were appointed in proportion to the value of the 
county as a grain-producing area. Twelve clerks 
tiiilcd him in this work, until he had his bureau 
thoroughly systematized and organized. Every 
day in the year, and from every State, Mr. Prime 
received information as to the crop outlook, so mi- 
nute as to details that he was in a position at any 
time to know their condition. These reports are 
now the authority of the country, and are eagerly 
sought after by the trade, not only at home but 
abroad. In 1881 Mr. Prime opened in the Farm- 
ers' Review, then a small weekly agricultural paper, 
a department of crop news, which he conducted 
until the summer of 1880, when he resigned. For 
the last six years he has been the able correspond- 
ent of the New York Journal of Commerce under 
the signature of " Northwest." He is also a regu- 
lar contributor to The Farmer, of St. Paul, and the 
American Rural Home, of Rochester, N. Y. Not- 
withstanding all his newspaper work and crop du- 
ties, Mr. Prime has found time to advance, and has 
had the pleasure of seeing adopted many valuable 
suggestions concerning our country roads, and also 
upon the question of tile drainage. In 1878 he 
compiled and edited a book of 800 pages, " Model 
Farms and Their Methods," which is a standard, 
practical work, giving, the experience of 150 suc- 
cessful farmers. 

Mr. Prime resides upon his farm of 400 acres, 
which is in a high state of cultivation, while his 
home is one of the most beautiful in the St.-ite. 
The house contains a fine library, and is also 
adorned with works of aft. Mrs. Mary K. Prime, 
the wife of the subject of this sketch, was a woman 
of rare accomplishments, and shared with her hus- 
band a great love for everything which in this 
world goes so far toward making a home attractive. 
There are few more beautiful homes in Illinois, and 
none more happy and cheerful, than the one which 
from small beginnings thirty years ago, Mr. and 
Mrs. Prime, by their good taste and untiring in- 
dustry, succeeded in making. Mrs. Prime was 
called from this beautiful home to a " house not 
made with hands," on the 24th of April, 1886. 
The Rev. O. X. Pollard in his tribute to her mem- 
ory said : .She was reared in the best society of 



the land. She was truly cultured, and had a wide 
reputation for hospitality and making those about 
her at ease on all occasions. To her is due much 
credit for the good influence of our society from 
an early day to the present time, and in her death 
the community loses a power for good that can 
never be restored to us." Mr. Prime has from time 
to time filled all the different town olHces. and in 
politics is a Republican, and a Protestant in relig- 
ion. In the full vigor of manhood, it would seem 
that he has just commenced to be a useful man to 
society and the world at large. 



i E8SE LITTLE, who occupies a prominent 
position among the farmers and stock-raisers 
of Broughton Township, owns land on sec- 
tions 5 and 6, and is in possession of one of 
the most desirable homesteads in this part of the 
county. He is in the prime of life and in possession 
of a competence, the result of years of industrious 
labor and good management. He began at the 
foot of the ladder, without means or influential 
friends, and aside from being the owner of a fine 
property, has been prominent in township and county 
affairs, and in all respects a most reliable and intelli- 
gent citizen. 

Our subject was born near the famous battle-field 
of Gettysburg, in Adams County, Pa., April 4, 1832, 
and is the son of Andrew and Mary (Gricr) Little, 
also natives of the Keystont- State, and the father a 
farmer of modest means. Jesse, in common with 
his brothers and sisters, received his education in tin- 
district school, and when fourteen years of age, on 
account of the death of his father, was thrown upon 
his own resources. In the meantime the family had 
removed from Adams to Franklin County, Pa., and 
Jesse there worked by the month during the sum- 
mer, while he pursued his studies in the winter. 
When a youth of eighteen he commenced serving 
an apprenticeship at blacksmithing and plow- 
making at Chambersburg, where he spent three 
years, and worked three more years as a journey- 
man in Detroit, Mich. 

Mr. Little, in the spring of 18oO, took up 




> 1162 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f 



i 



residence in Peru, 111., where he established a wagon 
and carriage shop, which he conducted about two 
years. In 1858 he returned to his native State, 
where he remained until the outbreak of the late 
Rebellion. Soon afterward he enlisted in the 12th 
Pennsylvania Reserves, and was in the battle at 
Drainsville and the seven-days fight before Rich- 
mond. On account of his bravery and fidelity to 
duty, he was promoted First Lieutenant, and assisted 
in the command of his company until the conflict at 
Harrison's Landing, when he was taken ill with camp 
fever and compelled to return home. On the 13th 
of February, 1863, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Rebecca, daughter of James and Catherine 
(Snively) Chariton, of Franklin County. Mrs. Lit- 
tle was born Jan. 3, 1839, in that county, while her 
father was also a native of Pennsylvania, but of 
Scotch-Irish descent : the mother, also a native of the 
Keystone State, traced her ancestry back to Switzer- 
land. 

Mr. and Mrs. Little soon after their marriage 
came to Peru, 111., where our subject continued his 
former occupation as a wagon-maker until the fol- 
lowing year. In the spring of 1864 he came to 
this county, and in company with his brother, pur- 
chased a half section of land, one-quarter in each 
of sections 5 and 6 in Broughton Township. The 
soil was in its primitive condition, and the marvel- 
ous transformation which has been effected has been 
simply the result of incessant labor and persever- 
ance, often under the most discouraging circum- 
stances. Mr. Little, however, possessed in a large 
measure the qualities required by the pioneer set- 
tlers, and had no thought of abandoning his task or 
flying from the difficulties which stared him daily 
in the face. He proceeded with the cultivation of 
his land through sunshine and storm, and at the end 
of each year found himself a little further advanced. 
The lowlands were made productive by the laying 
of tile, an orchard was planted and buildings put up, 
one after another, until the homestead now has 
around it an air <>f thrift and plenty that is most 
pleasing to the eye of the beholder, as may be 
judged from the view of it presented on another 
page of this AI.IUM. Our subject now, sitting un- 
der his own vine and fig-tree, can survey the work 
of his hand- with :i pardonable degree of pride, and 



with the reflection that he has been amply rewarded 
for his toil and care. 

The household circle of our subject and his wife 
was completed by the birth of ten children. The 
eldest sou, William Fremont, was born Aug. 22, 
1804, and is now proprietor of a good farm of 
ninety-four acres in Clay County, Miss., within a 
quarter of a mile of the court-house. Edward E. 
was born April 8, 1866, and remains at home with 
his parents and the younger children; Joseph JV. 
was born March 10, 1867; Annie E., Jan. 31, 1871 : 
Benjamin Franklin, April 19, 1872; Alfred L., May 
4, 1874; Sarah C., June 22, 1876: Edith B., June 
20, 1877; Roscoe ('., March 10, 1879, and George, 
May 18, 1885. 

The parents of Mrs. Little arc still living, making 
their home at Dwight, this county. Mr. Chariton 
was born Dec. 14, 1810, and his wife, Catherine, 
April 17, 1820. They were reared in Franklin 
Count}', Pa., and married there on the 1 2th of April, 
1835. They have lived together in peice and har- 
mony for a period of more than fifty years, and. 
celebrated their golden wedding in Dwight, which 
was made the occasion of general rejoicing by 
a large company of their friends and relatives. 
Their family included nine children, five of whom 
attained their majority. Rheuhamma E. is the wife 
of John Slyder, of Peru, 111., and the mother of three 
children; Rebecca, the wife of our subject, was the 
second child; Alfred married Miss Georgiana Board- 
man, and is carrying on general merchandising at 
Campus; they have one child; William married 
Miss Frank Bigelow, and is a resident of Chatta- 
nooga, Teiin. ; they have two children. Daniel G. is 
engaged in merchandising at Campus. 

Mr. Little was the fourth child in a family of 
seven. His eldest brother, Levi B., married Miss 
Rebecca Boone and is the father of two children ; 
he served during the late war in the 159th Penn- 
sylvania Infantry, and died at his home in Ft. 
Wayne, Ind., Dec.. 9. 1882. Edmund H. married 
Mi" Susan Sell, and served as a I'nion soldier 
in the (ith Pennsylvania Infantry; he was killed at 
the battle of Bristol Station. Va.. and left two sons 
and two daughters. Thaddeus S. is engaged in 
farming at West Point, Miss.; Jesse, our subject. 
w;is the next in order of birth; Benjamin T, died 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Dec. 24, 1855, when about twenty-two years of age; 
Louisa is the wife of Joseph W. Seibert and the 
mother of three children; their home is in Cham- 
bersburg. Pa. Jennie married Lodasky S. House, 
and died in 1874, leaving one child, who is now a 
resident of (iettysburg. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject served 
as a soldier in the Revolutionary War five years, and 
subsequently drew a pension from the Government. 
Andrew Little, the father of our subject, was born 
on St. Patrick's Day, 1784. and during the War of 
1812 was drafted, but on account of being an in- 
cumbent of an office, escaped service. Mr. Jesse 
Little has been quite prominent in the affairs of his 
township, serving as Highway Commissioner and 
School Director several terms. He is a Republican, 
politically, and has an abiding faith in the correct- 
ness of his party's principles. In 1876 he attended 
the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and im- 
proved the opportunity to visit the scenes of his 
boyhood days, made so famous by the battle fought 
there during the late war. This was an outlay of 
time and money which he has never regretted and 
which could scarcely have been spent in a wiser 
manner. 



'DWARD G. PUTNAM was born at Han- 
over, N. II., Aug. 20, 1827, and is the son 
V ? of John and Sarah (Heath) Putnam, natives 
of New Hampshire and Connecticut respectively. 
In 1844 the father of our subject removed to 
Madison County. Ohio, with his family, where he 
remained until his death in 1841). He had been 
twice married, his first wife being Anna B. West, 
by whom he had one son. At his death his widow 
removed to Ottawa. III., and thence to Livingston 
County, where she died in Odell, in October, 1868. 
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, 
and educated in the district schools, with the ad- 
vantages of one term in the academy. At the ago 
of eighteen years lie left home, and for a year en- 
gaged in farm labor. The next year he entered 
the employ of a book and clock firm at Columbus, 
Ohio, as traveling salesman, and being promoted to 
the position of collector for the same house, he 
served in that capacity about seven years. April 



28. 1853. he married Miss Mary E. Crabb. who was 
born in West Jefferson, Ohio, July 1, 1834, and is 
the daughter of William W. and Lucy Ann (East- 
man) Crabb. Her father was a merchant, although 
he had learned the trade of a saddler. He was born 
July 27, 1811, and died Dec. 8, 1839. His widow 
'married a Methodist Episcopal minister, and re- 
moved to Indiana in 1842. They came to Illinois 
in 1862. and died in Forest, the mother in 1879. 

The subject of this sketch and his wife shortly 
after their marriage settled in West Jefferson, Ohio, 
where he followed farming for one year. They 
then moved to Indiana, but the next year went to 
Ottawa, LaSalle County, where he was engaged on 
a farm two years. They came to Livingston County 
in 1 859, where they have since made their home. 
He has been engaged since coming here as a clerk 
in a store, and is now a traveling salesman. He and 
his wife are parents of six children, as follows : Otto 
L., Etta H., Mary E M Elmer E., Clarinet and Anna 
L. All of the children have received a liberal 
education and have developed into successful teach- 
ers in the schools, except Elmer, who is an artist of 
considerable ability. 

Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are worthy members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, upright and un- 
ostentatious in their lives, and enjoy the confidence 
and esteem of their community. Mr. Putnam is a 
stanch Republican in politics, but does not take an 
active part in the deliberations of his party. 




INCKNEY S. BROWN, proprietor of 240 
acres of fine farming laud on section 17. 
Round Grove Township, came to this 
county in June, 1861. lie has, however, 
bei-n a resident of Illinois since the spring of 1853, 
when, a young man just married, he set out to seek 
his fortune in the great West. 

Mr. Brown was born in Hopkins County, Ivy., in 
the spring of 1831, and remained in that section of 
country until after reaching his majority, engaged 
in agricultural pursuit*. Upon leaving his native 
State he located in Bond County, 111., where he 
operated on rented land four years, and thereafter 
lived in both Putnam and LaSalle Counties, lu 



1164 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



June, 18lil, he came to this county and purchased 
eighty acres of land, which is now included in his 
present homestead. He labored with an industry 
and persistence which could hardly fail of good re- 
sults, and added to his purchase until he now has 
all the land that one man can properly oversee and 
cultivate. He also put up good buildings, and has 
expended hundreds of dollars in improvements, 
but feels well repaid for his outlay of time and labor. 

Mr. Brown before leaving his native State was 
united in marriage with one of his childhood a.-so- 
ciates, Miss Ruth Weeks, who became the mother 
of two children: John M., now a bright and intel- 
ligent young man who continues at home with his 
father, and Eudora L., the widow of William Cum- 
berland. The latter was married in 1877, and lo- 
cated with her husband in Livingston County. He 
crossed the Mississippi into Kansas, where, on ac- 
count of ill-health, he purposed to sojourn for a 
time, and died there in Crawford County. Dec. 25, 
1879. His widow then returned to her father's 
house, where she has since remained. The mother 
of these children died in Bond County, HI., about 
1855. She was a lady of many excellent qualities, 
and a consistent member of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. 

Mr, Brown, in the spring of 18GO, was married 
to Miss Melissa Weeks, the sister of his first wife, 
who was also a native of Hopkins County, Kv. 
Their parents were natives of Maryland and Georgia 
respectively. The father has long since passed 
away. The mother, now in her eighty-ninth year, 
lives with Mr. Brown. This union resulted in the 
birth of five children, namely: Mary, Annie, Lucy. 
William and Wesley, all living and at home with 
their father. Mrs. Melissa Brown departed this life 
at her home in Round Grove Township in the 
spring of 1872. She is affectionately remembered 
by her friends and family as a worthy wife and 
devoted mother, who performed all her duties in 
life with conscientious care and fidelity. She also 
belonged to the Methodist, Kpiscopal Church. 

Mr. Brown politically is independent and has 
also taken a deep interest in the success of the tem- 
perance movement. While possessing decided opin- 
ions he is never offensive in the expression of them, 
and believes there is more Christianity in persuasion 



than in force. He has officiated as School Director 
in his district, and is looked upon as one of the 
most substantial and reliable men of bis -community. 




UGH CUMMINS, the oldest living pioneer 
in Esmen Township, is the owner and occu- 
pant of a farm on section 8. He was born 
in Ross Count}', Ohio, Feb. 22, l.si>7, and 
is the son of James and Sarah (Foster) Cummins, 
both of whom were natives of Lancaster, Pa., and 
is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. 

The father of our subject removed to Ohio in 
the earlier days of its settlement, about the year 
1802, and following farming all his life, died in 
Delaware County, in the fall of 1834. lie had 
been a soldier in the War of 1812, as his father 
before him had been in the Revolutionary War. 
He was a thorough pioneer in all his habits, and 
fond of frontier life. Hugh was reared amid all 
the hardships of pioneer life, making rails, grubbing 
stumps, building fences, etc. He cast his first vote 
for Gen. Jackson in 1828, and the same year left 
his home and came West. He made the trip by 
water on the Wabash into Indiana, and thence on 
foot to Illinois. He tramped through the country 
to the Illinois River, and followed that stream to 
Ft. Clark, now Peoria. There being nothing there 
except the military fort, and the Indians being 
quite hostile, he returned to the Wabash River. 
lie reached home late in the winter of that year 
and remained there until 1833, when he traded for 
1(10 acres of land in Illinois and came out to hunt 
it up. lie discovered the land in Knox County, 
and finding some friends settled on the same sec- 
tion, returned to Ohio to bring on the family. 
On account of sickness in the family, however, he 
was compelled to forego the design, and settled 
near home. In is in he sold out in Ohio, and com- 
ing to Illinois, purchased eighty acres of land near 
Pontiac, where he made a settlement in 1842. 

In November, I.S4;>, Mr. Cummin.-, married Miss 
Hannah, daughter of John and Katnrah (Wilkins) 
Chew, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. 
She was not destined for a long life, and died 






LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1165 




March 20, 1846, leaving her husband with two chil- 
dren, James B. and Hannah, the latter of whom 
died in infancy; .lames B. married Miss Ellen Gar- 
rison ami lives on the home farm; they have eight 
children. Mr. Cummins sold out his property, and 
bought land in Esmen Township, where he now re- 
sides. In 18411 he again entered into the marriage 
state, this time with Mrs. Rachel Longnecker, a 
daughter of Zachariahand Mary (Keith) Robinson, 
who was born in Maryland, March 10, 1804. 



DYVIG, who owns a good farm on sec- 
tion 26, Nevada Township, was the first 
native of Norway to make a permanent set- 
tlement in the township. He was born Feb. 13, 
1845, and is the son of John O. Dyvig, also of 
Norwegian birth and parentage. The latter con- 
tinued in his native country until 1866, and then, 
accompanied by his wife and six children, made the 
long voyage to America in the hope of bettering 
his condition. 

The father of our subject, upon landing in this 
country, made his way westward to Illinois, and 
first pitched his tent in Odell Township, this 
count}'. He was comparatively without means and 
commenced farming on rented land, following agri- 
culture in this manner until he could save enough 
money to buy a farm, and when this auspicious day 
arrived he purchased one in Nevada Township, and 
there spent his last days, his death occurring Sept. 
29. 184. 

Our subject attended school until fourteen years 
of age, and then continued with his parents, work- 
ing on the farm in his native country, and accom- 
panying them to the United States. At this time 
he had attained to manhood, and after his arrival 
in this county worked out by the month in Odell 
Township until the year following. He then crossed 
the Mississippi into Wimieshiek County. Iowa, where 
he resided two years, and after a visit to Minnesota 
returned to his old tramping grounds in this county. 

Our subject now commenced as his father had 
done before him, and farmed on rented land in Ne- 
vada Township three years. At the expiration of 
this time he was enabled to purchase eighty acres 



which are included in his present farm. This is all 
enclosed and drained, and furnished with conve- 
nient and substantial buildings, including a com- 
fortable dwelling and suitable barns for the stor- 
age of grain and the shelter of stock. His family 
consists of his wife and one child, the latter :i 
daughter. Julia. 

The wife of our subject, to whom he was married 
in 187.">, was formerly Miss Carrie Thompson, one 
of his own countrywomen. They are Lutherans 
in religion, and Mr. Dyvig votes the Republican 
ticket. Since becoming a naturalized American 
citizen he has thoroughly identified himself with 
the interests of his adopted country, keeping him- 
self well informed in regard to matters of general 
interest, and in his township is always ready to 
assist any worthy enterprise. 



I 



I I ILL 

W of 

W/ err, 



jj-ILLIAM FINHOLD. A large proportion 
those who first ventured into the West- 
ern country, having the courage to stake 
their all on the untried prairie or in the virgin forest, 
were natives of another continent. They crossed 
many miles of ocean before reaching the land which 
they believed would, by the exercise of industry 
and well directed effort, yield them a home and a 
competency. Among those who came to this country 
nearly forty years ago was the subject of our sketch, 
who is now a farmer and stock-raiser on section 1 (i, 
Owego Township. 

Mr. Finhold is a native of Prussia, Germany, 
where he was born on the 15th of June, 1831, and 
is the son of John and Mary Finhold. The first 
twenty years of his life were spent in his native 
country, where he received a good education in his 
native language. In his youth he learned the trade 
of a carpenter, which he followed for several years, 
and then emigrated to America in 1851, taking 
passage in a sailing-vessel at Hamburg. After an 
eventful voyage of eight weeks he landed at the 
city of New Orleans, and thence by steamboat on 
the Mississippi River he reached the town of Peru, 
111., in the neighborhood of which place he remained 
until 1864. In that year he came to Livingston 
County, and settled on his present farm. His first 



_^_ 

f 



1166 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



pure-huso of land consisted of a tract of eighty acres, 
fifty of which had been broken and on which was a 
small house. lie went to work upon this land with 
a determination to succeed, and he was not disap- 
pointed. By subsequent purchase's, as he grew able, 
he added to the original tract, until he now owns 
5(>0 acres of first-class land. 

Our subject was united in marriage with Miss 
Caroline Miller, a native of Germany, and they 
have had seven children, six of whom are living: 
Frederick, Henry, Charles: Minnie, wife of Joseph 
Harden, of this county ; Augusta and Rikin. Mr. 
Finhold is a member of the German Lntheran 
Church, in which he takes a warm interest, and con- 
tributes liberally of his means, lie is a Republican 
in politics, and takes a leading part in the affairs of 
his party. He is at present serving as Road Com- 
missioner of Owego Township, this being his second 
term as incumbent of that office, and he has served 
for many years as School Director, and takes great 
interest in school affairs. 

When Mr. Finhold reached Illinois, on his ar- 
rival in this country, he lacked $7 of having any- 
thing, that being the amount of his indebtedness at 
the time, and considering the property which he 
has accumulated since, he can lie highly compli- 
mented for his energy, perseverance and judicious 
investment. 



J'~OHN V. WILSON, Sheriff of Livingston 
County, is a native of the Buckeye State, 
and was born in Adams County, April 21, 
1 183!). His parents, James and Sarah (Earl) 
Wilson, were natives respectively of Virginia and 
Adams County, Ohio. James Wilson carried on 
farming extensively in the latter State, where lie 
was regarded as a good citizen, and with his wife, 
was a member in good standing of the Presbyterian 
Church. They had a family of nine children, of 
whom six are living, namely : John T. of our sketch ; 
Josephine. Mrs. Washburne, of Ohio; Dr. Isaac A., 
of Fairbury, 111. ; Robert F., of Ohio; Rebecca, Mis. 
Sears, of Indiana, and James K., of Ohio. 

The father of our subject departed this life in 
Brown County, Ohio, in 1882. The mother is still 



living on the old homestead there. John T. re- 
ceived a practical education in the district school, 
and continued on the farm until reachinghis major- 
ity. Upon the breaking out of the late war, he en- 
listed in Company D, 24th Ohio Infantry, and par- 
ticipated in the battles of Stone River, Chicka- 
inauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and many 
minor engagements during his three years service. 
After the war he was employed in a Provost Mar- 
shal's office at Hillsboro, Ohio. In 186/i he was 
married, in Adams County, to Miss Susan M., 
daughter of William and Mary Shepard, and not 
long afterward they settled on a farm near Pontiac 
in this county, where they lived until 1882. Mr. 
Wilson then moved into the city, and the same 
year was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Livingston 
County, which position he filled so acceptably that 
he was elected Sheriff in the fall of 1886. He is 
Republican in politics, and belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
and the G. A. R. He and his family occupy pleas- 
ant apartments in the county jail building, and en- 
joy the friendship of the best people of Pontiac. 
Their two children. Louis B. and Florence V., live 
with their parents, the son being employed as a 
clerk in the Sheriff's office. 

AMES H. WYLLIE, one of the most enter- 
prising farmers and stock-raisers in Union 
Township, located on section 1 , is a nati ve of 
Illinois, where he was born in LaSalle 
County, on the 27th of September, 1862, and was 
the third child in a family of six born to John and 
Margaret (Hamilton) Wyllie, who were natives of 
Scotland and a sketch of whom appears elsewhere 
in this ALBUM. The subject of this sketch was a 
child when his parents moved to Livingston County, 
where he was trained to farm life, and received a 
good common-school education. 

On the 31st of December, 1885, Mr. Wyllie was 
married to Jessie McLeod, who vns born in Scot- 
land on the 16th of May, 1865, and was the fourth 
child of a family of seven born to John and Agnes 
McLeod, also natives of Scotland, who came to 
America when the daughter was about three years 
old, and settled first in Canada. They afterward 
* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1167 



removed to Wisconsin and thence to LnSalle ( 'omit y, 
whence they subsequently came to this county, 
where the father engaged in fanning, lie was a 
well-educated man, and well trained in business 
habits, and for a good portion of his life he followed 
the occupation of book-keeper and accountant. 

Immediately after marriage Mr. Wyllie and his 
wife settled on the farm where they now reside, and 
erected a commodious house, which they furnished 
comfortably and also erected a barn and other farm 
buildings. Mr. "\Vyllie is grading up his stock from 
thoroughbred animals, and in this department of 
his business has been quite successful. He spares 
neither time nor expense in accomplishing what he 
undertakes, and on this account has deservedly ob- 
tained the reputation of being one of the most enter- 
prising farmers and stock-raisers in Union Town- 
ship. Being but a young man, and having made 
such an auspicious beginning, the future undoubt- 
edly has much in store for him. They have one 
child, named Agnes, who was born on the 7th of 
October, 1886. 

Mr. Wyllie is not very active in political matters, 
but never allows an occasion to go by when he can 
vote the Republican ticket. He has never been an 
office-seeker, and has no taste for public positions. 
He is thoroughly wrapt up in his business affairs, 
and feels that he has no time to engage in the 
scramble for office. He is a most excellent citix.en 
and contributes liberally to all public enterprises. 



yARREN C. MUNRO, a prominent farmer 
on section 1, town 27, range 7, has been 
a resident of Saunemin Township since 
1868, with the exception of twelve years spent in 
Iroquois County. He was born inSeekonk. Bristol 
Co., Mass., Oct. 29, 1834, and is the son of Joseph 
and Olive (Brown) Munro. also natives of the Bay 
State. They were married in Seekonk, April !i, 
1826, and lived there until the death of the-father, 
which occurred on the 23d of April, 1863. 

Joseph Munro had been engaged in mercantile 

business a long period, but the last years of his life 

were spent on a farm. After his decease the mother 

came to Saunemin, Livingston County, and made 

<* 



her home with her children until her death, which 
occurred near Watseka, Oct. 8, 1878. The parental 
household included nine children, named respect- 
ively : Melvin, Courthmd C.. Brown, Joseph, Seneca 
W., Warren (.'., Sopater S., William 1). and Cornell. 
The two last named are deceased. 

The paternal grandfather of our subject, also 
Joseph Munro, served in the Revolutionary War, as 
also did the maternal grandfather, Aaron Brown, 
while Joseph Munro, Jr., served in the War of 1812. 
The family traces its ancestry back to the landing of 
the Mayflower, and is of English and Scotch extrac- 
tion. AVarren C. remained with his parents until 
reaching his majority, and then started out in life 
for himself. He journeyed from his native State to 
LaSalle County, 111., in 1856, and engaged in farm- 
ing on rented land until 1860. Then, in partner- 
ship with his brother, he purchased 240 acres which 
they sold two years later, and our subject again 
farmed rented land four years. At the expiration 
of this time he came to Saunemin Township and 
purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 36, of 
which he remained in possession until 187">. 

Mr. Munro now sold out his property at a good 
profit, and removing to Iroquois County remained 
until the spring of 1887, when he returned to 
Livingston and purchased his present farm of 120 
acres in Sauisemin Township. This comprises one 
of the most valuable bodies of land in this section 
of country, is very fertile and under a high state of 
cultivation. Upon it there is a good set of frame 
buildings, and Mr. Munro keeps a goodly assort- 
ment of live stock, while he is amply supplied with 
all the appliances required by the skillful agricult- 
urist. 

While a resident of LaSalle County, Mr. Munro 
was married, Nov. 4, 1860, to Miss Emma Pearson, 
who was born in Miami County, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1841. 
Mrs. Munro is the daughter of Jonathan C. and 
Nancy Jane (Anderson) Pearson, who were natives 
of Ohio, and became the parents of eleven children. 
These were named respectively : Irena, John F., 
Rosetta, Emma, Abraham C., Mary. Webster M., 
Amelia H., Elizabeth S., Marintha J. and Lillie. 
Irena, John F.. Rosetta and Lillie arc deceased. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Munro there have also been 
born eleven children. Those living are: Rosetta, 






1168 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



A-:i < '.. Lemuel 1',., Elvira, (ieorge W.. Ira 1'. :iiil 
Esther; the deceased nrc Kdgar, Amanda, Lucy unit 
.Nelson. Our. subject and his wife are prominent 
members of the United Brethren Church, while 
three uf their children belong to the Christian 
Church. In polities Mr. Minim is a Prohibitionist, 
exerting his influence in behalf of temperance and 
the general principles enunciated by this party. 




E. RIORDAN, of Nevada Township, one 
| of its well-to-do citizens, is located on a good 
farm comprising a part of section 32, where 
he has met with success in tilling the soil 
and provided himself with something for a rainy 
day. He is a native of County Limerick, Ireland, 
where he was born April 16, 1849, ai;d is the son of 
Patrick Kiordan, a native of the same county. 

James Kiordan, the paternal grandfather of our 
subject, spent his entire life in County Limerick* 
where he carried on farming. His wife, Bridget 
(Kelly) Kiordan, was a native of the same county- 
Their son, Patrick, upon reaching manhood was 
married to Miss Catherine Shunahan, daughter of 
James and Julia (Hanley) Shunahan, also of County 
Limerick. 

The father of our subject, in 1849, accompanied 
by his wife and children, emigrated to America and 
lived for two years following in the Dominion of 
Canada. Next he took up his residence in New- 
York State, whence, two years later, he came to Illi- 
nois, and locating in the town of LaSalle remained 
there a few years, then went onto a farm in Dimmock 
Township, that county. This land had been pur- 
chased by his son James, and he occupied it until 
1868, in which year he came to this county, and 
spent the last years of his life with his children in 
Nevada Township. His death took place in July, 
1HS1. The mother is still living, and makes her 
home with our subject. 

Patrick and Catherine (Shunahan) Kiordan were 
the parents of seven children, four of whom grew 
to mature years. Jeremiah is a resident of Nevada 
Township; James lives in Dimmock. LaSalle County, 
and David in Nevada. 

Mr. Riordan of our sketch was but an infant when 



he \vas brought by his parents t<> America. Heal- 
tended the district school in LaSalle County, III.. 
and the Christian Hi-others' School. \Vhen not em- 
ployed at his books he assisted in the labors of the 
farm, and upon reaching manhood was fully quali- 
fied to carry on agriculture for himself. In l.sT.'i, 
he was married to Miss Ella Murphy, daughter of 
Timothy Murphy, and who was born in LaSalle 
County. Mr. Murphy was a native of County 
Cork, Ireland, and the son of Bartholomew Murphy, 
who spent his entire life there. The mother of 
Mrs. Kiordan was Miss Catherine Tookey, of County 
Cork, where she was reared and married. Patrick 
Murphy and his family came to America in 1840, 
and located in Pennsylvania, where they lived 
seven years. Upon coming to Illinois they settled 
in Rutland Township, LaSalle County, whence they 
removed, in 1 868, to this county, and located in 
Nevada Township. Here the mother died in 1877. 
Mr. Murphy is still living, making his home with 
his daughter, Mrs. Kiordan. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven 
children Mary A., Katie A., John T., Maggie. 
David A., Nellie B. and Annie N. Mr. R. is Dem- 
ocratic in politics and has been quite prominent in 
township affairs, holding the various offices and dis- 
charging his duties in an intelligent and praiseworthy 
manner. In 188(i he was the candidate of his party 
for Sheriff, but the Democrats being in the minority 
he was defeated with the balance of his ticket. 



RS. YERNERA K. STRATTON, of Long 
Point Township, and daughter of J. W. and 
E. E. (Kingsley) Miller, owns and occupies 
a valuable farm on section 24. This com- 
prises 240 acres under a fine state of cultivation. 
supplied with good buildings and chiefly devoted to 
grain and stock raising. In the drainage of the 
land there has been employed about 7">0 rods of 
tiling, and adjacent to the residence is a fine 
orchard, while the homestead is abundantly supplied 
with small fruits of all kinds. On another page of 
this AI.HI >t is shown a view of .Mrs. Stratton's resi- 
dence with its environments. Mrs. Stratton isa lad}' 
greatly esteemed in her community, and surrounded 







LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1169 



by her family and friends is enjoying all of the 
comforts and many of the luxuries of life. 

The parents of Mrs. Strattou were natives of 
Pennsylvania, her father the son of Jeremiah and 
Sarah Miller, who spent their entire lives in the 
Keystone State. The former died in 1860, at An- 
cona, 111., and his wife two years later, in Pennsyl- 
vania. Vernera E. was born in Pennsylvania, Aug. 
25, 1835, and came with herparents to this State in 
1844. The paternal family included the following- 
named children : Samantha E., Vernera E., Abigail 
D., Annie V.. John E., Annie Viola, Merritt W., and 
an infant who died unnamed. 

Mrs. Stratton completed her education in her 
native State, and continued under the parental roof 
until her marriage with M. L. Stratton, which was 
celebrated at the home of the bride, June 24, 1859. 
The nine children born of this union are recorded 
as follows: Susan was born July 20, 1800, and is 
now living in Iowa; Martha W. was born Feb. 22, 
1861, and died two weeks and three days later; 
Dighton was born Feb. 21, 1863, and is farming in 
Iowa; Ralph was born May 6, 1865, and remains 
at home with his mother; Celia I. was born Feb. 
25, 1868, and being unusually fond of her books, 
has acquired a good education, completing her 
studies in the High School at Perry, Iowa; Hugh 
was born March 6, 1870; Flora M., June 28, 1873; 
Edwin S., June 17, 1875, and Clyde F., July 11, 
1878. 




IBERTY LOUDERBACK, general insur- 
ance, real estate and collecting agent at 
Cornell, came to this county during the pio- 
neer days, locating in Amity Township in 1837. 
He m.'iy now proudly boast of a fifty years' resi- 
dence, during which time he has built up an envia- 
ble reputation as an honest man and a good citizen. 
He possesses excellent business capacity, and has 
been closely identified with the interests of his 
adopted State since taking up his abode within its 
limits. 

Mr. Louderback was born in Brown County, 
Ohio, July 4, 1824, and is the son of Thomas 
and Sarah (Springer) Louderback, natives of the 
same place, where the former was born in 1803, and 



was the son of Michael Louderback, a native of 
Germany, born in 1770. He crossed the Atlantic 
during his youth, just after the Revolutionary War, 
and located in Brown County, Ohio, where he en- 
gaged in farming and spent the balance of his days. 
He built up a good homestead, and closed his eyes 
upon the scenes of earth in 1832. He chose for 
his wife one of the maidens of Brown County, and 
they became the parents of eight children, namely : 
Peter, Michael, Andrew, Thomas, Henry, Isaac, 
Susanna and Nancy ; all have now passed away. 

In November, 1831, Thomas Louderback left the 
Buckeye State, and coming to Illinois located in 
Vermilion Count} 7 , where he engaged in farming 
six years. In 1837 he came to Livingston County, 
and in April of that year located in Amity Town- 
ship on section 21. He possessed a large amount 
of sturdy persistence, and with reference to any- 
thing he had once undertaken, there was in his vo- 
cabulary no such word as fail. The face of the 
country fifty years ago presented a vastly different 
appearance from that of the present, suggesting at 
once the necessity of men of perseverance and 
strength of character in order to perfectly accom- 
plish the developement of its natural resources. 
Thomas Louderback was in nowise lacking in the 
essential qualities of the pioneer, and each year saw 
something added to his prosperity. In due time, 
besides various conveniences around the homestead 
and the necessary buildings pertaining thereto, he 
had accumulated 250 acres of land and a choice as- 
sortment of live stock. After having been an hon- 
ored resident of Amit}* Township for a period of 
seventeen years, during which time he had made 
many friends and secured the respect of the entire 
community, he departed this life on the 6th of 
March, 1854. The faithful wife and mother, who 
had accompanied him to the West and bravely 
shared his trials and labors, preceded her husband 
to the silent land Oct. 25, 1842. 

The eleven children born to Thomas and Sarah 
Louderback were named as follows: Susanna, Lib- 
erty, Mary, Mills, Levi (see sketch), William, Co- 
lumbus, Thirsja, Mahala, Thomas and George. 
Susanna, Columbus and George died in infancy ; 
most of those now living are residents of Living- 
ston County. The mother of this family was born 



i 



t 1170 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



i 



in Brown County, Ohio, June 12, 1805, and was 
the daughter of Uriah and Nancy (Long) Springer, 
natives of Virginia. Nancy Springer was born 
July 23, 1779, in Brown County, Ohio, and de- 
parted this life July 24, 1838. Her husband, Uriah, 
was born in the State of Virginia, March 31, 1780, 
and surviving his wife nine years, died Oct. 29, 
1847. Our subject has in his possession a fine 
family record dating back through several genera- 
tions. By this it appears that his maternal ances- 
tors were natives of Sweden and residents in or 
near the city of Stockholm. Grandfather Springer, 
after his marriage in the Old Dominion, removed 
with his family to Brown County, Ohio, and subse- 
quently, in 1837, to Illinois with his children, 
locating in Amity Township, where he and his ex- 
cellent wife spent their last years. They were the 
parents of thirteen children. Mary, the eldest 
daughter, died when forty-three years of age, in 
Amity Township; Hannah died a year younger; 
Nathan lived to be seventy-one years of age ; Sarah, 
the mother of our subject, was the fourth child ; 
William died at thirty-three years of age; Joseph 
at forty-seven; Zadock at twenty-two; Levi at 
twenty-seven ; Drusilla makes her home at Mt. 
Pleasant, Iowa, and is seventy -three years of age; 
Nancy died at thirty -nine years of age; Mahala at 
twenty -eight; Uriah lived to be only twenty years 
old, and Thirza passed away at the age of fourteen. 

The subject of this biography spent his child- 
hood and youth under the parental roof, making 
himself useful in various ways upon the farm. As 
may be supposed, considering the section of country 
in which his early years were passed, his schooling 
was exceedingly limited, embracing only about 
eight months to the time of reaching his majority. 
lie possessed good natural ability, however, while 
he was a keen observer of what was going on 
around him, and by the perusal of instructive books, 
has attained a good knowledge of business methods, 
besides posting himself upon subjects of general 
interest. He was a lad of thirteen years upon 
coming to this county, and developed into manhood 
amid its pioneer scenes, securing many friends and 
becoming admirably equipped for the struggle of 
life. 

The most important event in the life of our sub- 



ject was his marriage, which took place April 25, 
1849, shortly before he had reached his twenty- 
fifth birthday. The young lady chosen to share 
his future life was Miss Mary Jane Corbin, who 
was born Oct. 9, 1827, in the Old Dominion, and is 
the daughter of David and Catherine Corbin, na- 
tives of Virginia. They continued in the Old 
Dominion until about 1831, and then took, up 
their residence in Livingston County. The paren- 
tal household included five children Jacob, Obe- 
dience, Ellen, Harriet and Mary Jane ; of these but 
one is now living. 

Mr. and Mrs. Louderback after their marriage 
located in Amity Township, and in due time their 
household included six children. The eldest son, 
John H.. was born March 25, 1850, and on the llth 
of May, 1873, was married to Miss Mary King, of 
Amity Township, where they are still living on a 
farm, and have four children; George W. was born 
Oct. 9, 1851, and married Miss Ella Gates, of 
Amity Township; he is also engaged in farming in 
that township, and is the father of three children. 
Chester W., a painter by trade, was born April 9, 

1854, and married Miss Amanda Young, May 12, 
1878; they have four children, and reside in Paw- 
nee City, Neb. Julia was born Oct. 18, 1856, and 
is the wife of Thomas J. Gregory, of Cornell, and 
the mother of four children, one of whom is de- 
ceased ; Hersie Jane was born Sept. 28, 1863, and 
was married, Dec. 27, 1882, to Harry L. Mallory; 
they have two children, and are residents of Strea- 
tor. Harriet C. was born April 26, 1868, and is 
the only child at home. 

Mr. Louderback's business transactions extend 
over a large tract of territory, and he has been 
made the conservator of important interests. He 
is independent in politics and has for years been 
warmly interested in the success of the temperance 
movement, being essentially a Prohibitionist. He 
was elected Justice of the Peace in November, 

1855, which office he has since held, and has served 
as Township School Treasurer eight years, and rep- 
resented Amity Township in the County Board of 
Supervisors three years. He has been a resident 
of Cornell for the last ten years, and is recognized 
as one of its most valued citizens. Our subject, 
with his excellent wife, many years ago connected 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1171 



himself witli the Protestant Methodist Church, of 
which he has now been an honored member thirty- 
six years, much of this time serving as Trustee, 
which office he holds at present. He has now 
l>assed his threescore years, and has made for him- 
self a record of which his children will never be 
ashamed. 



J1OIIN ZEIGLER, a retired farmer of Sun- 
bury Township, was. born near Carlisle, 
I Cumberland Co., Pa., April 3, 1821, and 
was the eldest in a family of five children, 
the offspring of Henry and Sophia (Frye) Zeigler, 
also natives of the Keystone State. His paternal 
grandparents were Henry and Barbara Zeigler, na- 
tives respectively of America and Germany. Henry 
Zeigler was Captain of a company in the Revolu- 
tionary War, serving all through the conflict until 
its close. 

Henry Zeigler followed the occupation of a far- 
mer in Pennsylvania until 1856, then removed to 
Fountain County, Ind., and from there, in 1877, 
to this State. His wife had died in Pennsylvania. 
He spent his declining years with his two sons, al- 
ternately, and died in 1881. John, of our sketch, 
was educated in the common schools, and at the 
age of twenty engaged in teaching. On the 6th of 
October, 1842, he was married to Miss Sarah 
Dunkelbarger, who was born in Perry County, Pa., 
Aug. 4, 1825. Her parents were Jonathan and 
Maria Dunkelbarger, natives of Pennsylvania, 
where the}' spent their entire lives. 

Our subject after his marriage farmed fora time 
in his native State, and upon his removal to Indi- 
ana, purchased a farm in Fountain County, upon 
which he operated three years. In the spring of 
1852 he came to Illinois, making the journey over- 
land in the same manner in which he had removed 
from Pennsylvania, and driving his stock before. 
In this manner he brought sheep and hogs, but the 
price for these being very low he lost money on 
them. 

Mr. Zeigler upon coming to this county entered 
160 acres of land on section 25, in Ncwtown Town- 
ship, with forty acres of timber. Here he built a 
house, and with the exception of two families had 



no neighbors for many miles around. Deer, wolves 
and wild turkeys were plentiful, and there was only 
one school-house between him and Pontiac. Mr. 
Zeigler assisted in laying off roads and school dis- 
tricts, locating the boundaries of the township, and 
was otherwise prominent in its development and 
progress. During his residence there of twenty- 
nine years he built up a fine farm, but finally took 
up his residence on his farm in Sunbury Township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler became the parents of seven 
children, of whom but two are living Benjamin 
and George. The former is farming in Newtown 
Township, and the latter is living at the homestead. 
Jesse R. Brown, a grandson, also makes his home 
with our subject. Mr. Zeigler contemplates mak- 
ing his future home in New Michigan, where he has 
already purchased property. He has been active in 
politics the greater part of his life and votes the 
Republican ticket. Religiously he belongs to the 
United Brethren Church, in which he has officiated 
as Class-Leader for twenty years, and also as 
Trustee. 



LVIN GEORGE CLARK was born in La- 
Salle County, 111., Oct. 4, 1842, and was 
the oldest child of Charles and Olive 
(Slater) Clark, who were natives of Ohio 
and New Hampshire respectively. His parents 
came to LaSalle County probably in 1838, and 
remained there until the close of the war, when they 
removed to Missouri, and settled in Johnson 
County. The father remained in that place until 
his death. He enlisted in the 104th Illinois Infantry 
on its formation, and served until the close of hos- 
tilities, and participated in many battles, including 
those of Shiloh, Lookout Mountain, Corinth and 
Island No. 10. His death was due to disease in- 
curred while in the service. 

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools. At the age 
of twenty-two he left home and began life for him- 
self, having been married Nov. 25, 1862, to Miss 
Susan Wi throw, who was born in Toronto, Canada, 
Feb. 22, 1841. She is the daughter of James and 
Mary (Harley) Withrow, the former of whom was a 
school teacher, Alvin and his young wife com- 




i 



1172 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



T 




menced life on a farm in LaSalle County, where 
they remained two years, but in 1865 they removed 
to Livingston County, where they have lived ever 
since. He has been engaged all this time in farm- 
ing. He and his wife are the parents of four chil- 
dren Thomas A., Ada E., Delia M. and Francis C. 
Thomas died in childhood. Ada is the wife of W. 
W. Chapman. Mr. Clark is a Republican in poli- 
tics. 



ATTHIAS TOMBAUGH, late a prosperous 
farmer and stock-raiser of Odell Township, 
was born in Washington County, Pa., June 
11, 1835, and was the sixth child in a 
family of ten born to Matthias and Rachel (Spohn) 
Tombaugh. He was reared on a farm and received 
a good education, spending some time in Mt. Union 
College, Ohio. When twenty years of age he en- 
gaged in teaching in his native county and followed 
this profession ten years, in which he attained to 
considerable prominence, officiating as Principal in 
different cities. 

During the late war Mr. Tombaugh was anxious 
to enter the ranks, but could not do so on account 
of ill-health. He came to the West in 1865, with 
his wife, formerly Miss Elvira J. Letherman, to 
whom he was married Jan. 30, 1862. She was also 
born in Washington County, June 11, 1838, in the 
township adjoining that of her husband. She was 
the youngest of the nine children born to John and 
Christina (Myers) Lethermau, also natives of Penn- 
sylvania. Her father served in the War of 1812, 
and spent his life in his native State. 

Mr. Tombaugh landed in Illinois on the 1st of 
March, 1865, and shortly afterward purchased 320 
acres of partly improved land in Reading Town- 
ship. Later he was joined by his family, but sold 
this farm about three years afterward. He then 
traveled through several of the Western States, but 
finally returned to this county and purchased a 
farm in Sunbury Township, where he farmed and 
taught school, and in the fall of 1873. after serving 
two or three terms as Supervisor, was elected County 
Superintendent of Schools, in which capacity he 
served nine years. In 1876 he exchanged his farm 
in Sunbury Township for 240 acres near the village, 



where he took up his residence. He was afterward 
elected Supervisor for Odell Township, in which 
capacity he served until his death. 

Mr. Tombaugh left a fine farm of 358 acres in a 
high state of cultivation and with first-class build- 
ings. He was a prominent member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and together with his excel- 
lent wife, labored for the advancement of Christi- 
anity, both in the Sunday-school and elsewhere, as 
opportunity offered. His career was cut short 
while he was in the prime of life. He was very 
fond of fishing, and on the 13th of May, 1887, this 
time rather reluctantly, set out as usual to the 
river accompanied by his son and two hired men. 
They had gone early, and about 8 o'clock one of 
the men slipped over the dam, and being likely to 
drown, Mr. Tombaugh, hastening to his assistance, 
stepped too near the treacherous surface and was 
also precipitated into the water below. His son 
sprang in to save him, but Mr. T. seemed to have 
been stunned by the fall and could not help him- 
self. He dragged his son to the bottom twice 
with him, when the latter also began to fail, and 
was obliged to release his hold. The son succeeded 
in getting to shore, but the father had sunk to rise 
no more. This affliction to the family was pecul- 
iarly distressing, as his son, Raymond R., had ;il unit 
a year previous!}' met his death after bathing in the 
river. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tombaugh were the parents of seven 
children, of whom five are living. They have in- 
herited those admirable traits of character which 
will make of them honest men and good citizens. 



OHN THOMAS McCLINTOCK, of Eppard's 
Point Township, operates forty-eight acres 
of improved land, and stands well among his 
fellow-citizens. He was born in Kentucky, 
Sept. l!l, 1819, and removed with his parents when 
five years of age to Ohio. After a residence there of 
twenty years, during which time he engaged ex- 
tensively in teaching, he removed to Indiana, and 
from there three years later to this State, becoming 
a resident of this county in 1868. He is a natural 
farmer and horticulturist, and takes pride in beau- 



t 



f 

* 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1173 



T 



tifying his surroundings, which attract much atten- 
tion from the passers-by. 

The father of our subject was William, and his 
grandfather Joseph McClintock, the former a native 
of Kentucky, and the latter settling in the Blue Grass 
regions about the time that Daniel Boone was be- 
coming famous. The family is of Scotch and Irish 
descent. William McClintock and his wife became 
the parents of twelve children, six of whom were 
born in Kentucky and six in Shelby County, Ohio. 
In the latter place the parents spent their last years, 
the father dying in 1851, when sixty-five years old, 
and the mother in 1855 or 1856, when about sixty- 
three. But three of their children are now living: 
Daniel, of St. Louis, Mo.; Henry, of Springfield, 
Ohio; and John T. of our sketch. 

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss An- 
geline G., daughter of Col. Samuel Eccles, one of 
the military men of Kentucky, full of patriotism, 
and an expert in drilling soldiers. Mr. and Mrs. 
McClintock became the parents of two children, who 
died young, Sarah Jennie, at the age of nine years, 
and Mary Gertrude, at sixteen months. The former 
was a very bright child, and even at that early age 
had developed a great talent for composition. Her 
parents preserve with religious care a little book in 
which the child had noted down many of her 
thoughts and fancies. 

Our subject and his wife were reared Presby- 
terians, but are now members of the Congregational 
Church, with which Mr. McC. has been connected 
since he was twenty-one years old, and in which he 
officiated as an Elder from the fall of 1851 to 1880. 
He has also been a Deacon, and is considered one 
of the chief pillars. Politically he is a Democrat, 
and a warm admirer of President Cleveland. 



sHOMAS N. YOUNG is now occupying the re- 
sponsible position of Postmaster of Cornell, 
Amity Township, which position he deserves, 
both because of his fitness and as a recognition of 
the services he has rendered to the party in power 
in the National Government. Mr. Young was born 
on the 9th of June, 1843, in Brown County, Ohio, 
and is the son of Simon K. and Barbara'B. (Reyn- 




olds) Young, both of whom are natives of Ohio. 
The father was born on the 1 1 th of November, 1815, 
and died on the 29th of July, 1872, aged fifty-six 
years, and the mother was bom on the 20th of 
April, 1808. She was the daughter of Stephen 
Reynolds, Sr., and Barbara (Northrup) Reynolds, 
natives of Rhode Island. Her father was born July 
28, 1774, and died Aug. 2, 1842; her mother was 
born Nov. 4, 1769, and died Jan. 28, 1843. Ste- 
phen Reynolds and Barbara Northrup were married 
in Rensselaer County, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1791, and 
came to Ohio in 1802, before that State was ad- 
mitted into the Union. 

The brothers ^and sisters of the mother of our 
subject are as follows: George Tiffany was born 
March 27, 1792;. Lavinia, born June 2, 1793, and 
died Aug. 12, 1838, in Livingston County, 111.; 
Oliver, born Aug. 20, 1794; Thomas Northrup, 
born Sept. 25, 1795, died April 29, 1868, aged 
seventy -two years ; Susannah, born Sept. 12, 1797; 
Olive, born May 28, 1799, died Jan. 20, 1817; 
Joseph, born Sept. 21, 1801, died Feb. 9,1857, 
aged fifty-six years ; John Wilson, born Dec. 2, 1803, 
in Ohio; Stephen, born March 4, 1806, died Feb. 
22, 1865, aged fifty-eight years; Barbara B., the 
mother of our subject, born in April, 1808; Cor- 
nelius W., born Jan. 2, 1811, died Jan. 31, 1887; 
he was the first Clerk of the Court of Livingston 
County. Samuel K., born April 24, 1814, was one 
of the pioneer settlers of Livingston County, and is 
now a resident of the State of Missouri. The par- 
ents of our subject had two children, Susan Ann 
being the name of the other; she was born on the 
15th of September, 1844, and died in Livingston 
County May 14, 1861, aged sixteen years. 

Thomas N. Young, our subject, was married to 
Martha Ann McKee, on the 2.9th of December, 
1 865. She was the daughter of James and Nancy 
McKee, born on the 28th of June, 1848, and died 
on the 14th of August, 1871, aged twenty-three 
years. Mr. Young again married, the lady of his 
choice being Mrs. Mary E. Werner, who was born 
on the 22dof December, 1839. The marriage took 
place on the 29th of February, 1872. The result of 
this union has been two children: Augustine H., 
born July 5, 1874, and Barbara O., Aug. 22, 
1879. Both these children are at home and the 



1174 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



T 



former is making good progress at school. Mr. 
Young enlisted in Company F, 33d Illinois Veteran 
Infantry, in April, 1864, and served in that regi- 
ment until December, 1865. During his service he 
was in the engagement at Mobile, and at Ft. 
Blakesley, receiving a broken ankle while on duty at 
Bayou Bloneff, La., Dec. 25, 1864. 

Mr. Young owns some valuable property in the 
town of Cornell, which includes a house and lot, also 
one store building, and a vacant lot. He is a 
Democrat in politics, and besides the Government 
appointment which he now holds, he has filled the 
official positions of Township School Treasurer and 
Assessor. He is a member of Beacon Lodge No. 
618, I. O. O. F., at Cornell, is a comrade of Cornell 
Post No. 223, G. A. R., is a member of the Good 
Templars, and is also a member of the Christian 
Church, as was his late wife, who died on the 14th 
of August, 1871, at Jacksonville, 111. Mrs. Young 
came to Livingston County in the spring of 1851. 



HRIST GMELICH is one of the extensive 
farmers and stock-raisers on section 7, Amity 
Township. He was born in Wurtemberg, 
Germany, Sept. G, 1833, and is the son of Philip 
and Magdalene (Walter) Gmelich, farmers in Ger- 
man y, where the father died in 1852 at the age of 
sixty years, and the mother in 1853, at the age of 
fifty-six years. To them were born the following- 
named children: Sophia, Christina, Delina and 
Christ. Sophia was born in 1826, and came to 
America in 1854; she married William Everet, who 
died in 1876, leaving her with five children living 
in Pittsburgh. Christina was born in 1829, and died 
in 1881 in Germany; she married Mr. Keebler and 
had a familv of four children. Delina was born in 
1839, and died in 1877; her death was caused by 
being thrown from a bridge by a train of cars near 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 

In 1853 our subject came to the United States, 
and on the 21st of February, 1858, he married Miss 
Johanna Winkler, of Brunswick, North German}'. 
She was the daughter of Henry and Anna Winkler, 
who were the parents of the following-named chil- 
dren : Anna, Henry, Johanna, Dorothy and Christ. 




Anna married Henry Hoover, by whom she had 
three children, and died in Germany; Henry is 
married and lives in Germany; Johanna is the wife 
of our subject; Dorothy died in 1864; she came to 
America in 1 855, and was married to Justice Wag- 
ner, by whom she had three children, and died in 
Illinois. Christ resides in Germany. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Gmelich have been born six children, as fol- 
lows: William, on the 31st of May, 1859; Lew Al- 
bert, April 5, 1862; Matilda C., Oct. 29,1863; 
Sophia, May 5, 1867; Robert Christ, Feb. 3, 1870, 
and Daniel Edwin, May 1, 1879. These children 
all reside at home, engaged in assisting their parents 
upon the farm and attending the common schools. 
Mr. Gmelich's excellent farm consists of 279 
acres,' under a good state of cultivation, and on 
which are erected good and commodious farm 
buildings, a view of which is shown elsewhere in 
this work; the farm is watered and well drained by 
Mole Creek. Besides farming Mr. Gmelich gives 
considerable attention to a high grade of Norman 
horses, and graded hogs and cattle. He is a Re- 
publican in politics and wields considerable influ- 
ence with his party. Because of his interest in 
educational matters he has been selected for several 
terms to fill the responsible position of School Di- 
rector. He is an active and progressive citizen and 
participates in all matters calculated to benefit the 
community, lie and his wife and two children, 
Tilda and Robert, are members of the Evangelical 
Church, in the affairs of which they take an active 
part. 




ENRY C. LIST, who is the " Village Black- 
smith" of Fayette, is a native of Tazowell 
County, this State, and was born Jan. 5, 
1842. His parents, Lewis and Kate (Ga- 
ble) List, natives of Germany, formed their ac- 
quaintance on board the vessel coming to America, 
about 1830. Each was alone and comparatively 
frendless, and they concluded the most sensible 
thing would be to unite their fortunes and assist 
each other in the further journey of life. They set- 
tled in Pennsylvania, where the wedding occurred 
six months later. They remained in the Keystone 
State about three years, then came to Tazewell 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1175 



County, 111., where the husband followed farming, 
varied by a little shoemaking for tke neighbors, he 
having served an apprenticeship at this trade. 

The parents of our subject had a family of nine 
children, of whom eight are living. They were 
named respectively: Jacob, Adam, John, Lewis, 
George, Frederick, Christopher, Mary and Henry; 
Mary died in infancy. Henry C. remained with 
his parents on the farm in Tazewell County, work- 
ing during summer and attending school in winter, 
until 1860, when he started out for himself and for 
four years worked as a farm laborer. He then 
served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade 
under the instruction of Benjamin Tobias, at Wash- 
ington, 111., and after leaving the shop was em- 
ployed by the day at his trade for a period of six 
years. 

Mr. List, in 1875, established himself at Strawn, 
iu this county, setting up a shop of his own, where 
he commands the entire patronage of the place, as 
his is the only establishment of the kind. He chose 
for his wife a maiden of this region, Miss Maggie 
Schmaltz, to whom he was married Oct. 17, 1878. 
Mrs. List is a native of Germany, and the daughter 
of highly respected citizens. This marriage re- 
sulted in the birth of two children Clara M., who 
was born Nov. 14, 1879, and Gertrude Frances, 
Nov. 23, 1884. They occupy a neat and comfort- 
able home, and enjoy the confidence and esteem of 
many friends. 

Mr. List, politically, is an uncompromising Dem- 
ocrat, a man of decided views and opinions, and 
lias been School Director of District No. 2 since 
1885. 




ANS LARSON TUESBURG, deceased, was 
born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and reared 
to a seafaring life. After receiving a liberal 
education, he learned the carpenter's trade, 
after which he entered the Danish Navy and was 
soon made a Lieutenant. During the bombardment 
of Copenhagen he distinguished himself, and shortly 
afterward left the naval service and entered the 
merchant marine. For fifteen years he was en- 
gaged in the trade between Hamburg and Rio 
Janeiro, and afterward between Copenhagen and 



Valparaiso. Rounding Cape Horn twice a year for 
more than fifteen years, without a single accident, 
is a testirnonj' to his seamanship. In 1835 he re- 
solved to leave the sea, and become a citizen of the 
United States. Accordingly he landed at New 
York to look for an opportunity to engage in some 
line of business. The year previous, three land 
agents, Josiah James, John Harris and William 
Sampson, had organized a scheme of colonization 
for their land in Central Illinois. Mr. Tuesburg 
joined a company bound for that region, among 
whom were the following parties: David Roberts, 
Charles Jones, John Harris, Dr. Shaw, A. Hay wood, 
A. Richmond, G. Richmond, II. Richmond, and 
others to the number of twenty. They left New York 
on the 1st of October and traveled by way of the 
Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence across the country 
to the Ohio River. The balance of the trip followed 
the course of the Ohio River to its mouth, thence 
up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to the mouth 
of Apple Creek. From there they crossed the 
country to Jacksonville, where they remained all 
winter, and in the spring removed to Tazewell 
County where they settled. Each one of the col- 
onists was allowed to purchase but one-quarter of 
a section to start with. The land-owners had laid 
out a town to which they gave the name of Tre- 
mont, and each purchaser of 160 acres of land was 
to be given three lots in the new town gratis. The 
colonists soon built up a prosperous and happy so- 
ciety, and laid the foundation of the present thriv- 
ing county of Tazewell. 

In 1835 the subject of this sketch entered into 
a contract to bring a stock of merchandise to Tre- 
mont for a merchant named Flager who was going 
into the business at that place. On his arrival with 
the goods, he found such a contented and happy 
community that he resolved to remain there, and 
aij'ain engaged in carpentering, the trade he had 
learned in his youth. In October, 1839, he married 
Mrs. Estelle Spaulding, the daughter of Charles 
Jones and widow of Adam Spanlding, who was a 
nutive of Chambersford, Mass. They were the 
parents of five children, Adtr, who died in infancy; 
La ust Hanson, deceased; Lawrence, deceased; 
Charles H. and Lawrence. Laust Hanson enlisted 
in Company Q, 4th Illinois Cavalry, under Col. 






i 1176 



t 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



Cook, and was killed at Holly Springs, Miss. The 
younger Lawrence is engaged in the machinery trade 
at Ottawa, 111. Mr. Tuesburg died in April, 18. r >9. 
His widow still survives him, and resides on the farm 
with her son Charles H., with whom she has always 
made her home. She is a hale and hearty matron 
of eighty years, with a bright and clear intellect 
and a memory replete witli incidents of their early 
colonial settlement. She and her husband were 
both members of the Baptist Church. 




T 



R. DANN BREWER, of Fairbury, a prac- 
titioner of the Eclectic School, has been 
remarkably successful in his pursuance of 
the practice of medicine, and although 
comparatively a young man, has clearly distanced 
many who have had more experience and count a 
greater number of years. He is a native of Ohio, 
where he was born in the town of Warren, Trum- 
bull County, Jan. 22, 1843. 

The parents of our subject, Sylvester and Sarah 
(Hake) Brewer, were natives respectively of Ver- 
mont and Pennsylvania. The father was bom in 
1805, and emigrated from his native State to Wis- 
consin in 1853. He departed this life in Jefferson, 
Wis., in 1874, after reaching the advanced age of 
seventy-five years. The mother is of Pennsylvania 
stock and is still living in Jefferson County; she 
belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
parental household included eleven children, of 
whom one died in infancy. The eldest son, Frank, 
is a practicing physician of Evanston, III.; Horatio 
is deceased ; Elizabeth became the wife of William 
Thatcher and is now living in Ohio; Leah died 
when twenty-seven years old ; Dann of our sketch 
was the fifth child; Marietta, Mrs. Webber; Peter, 
Sylvester H., Jay, Sarah and Cynthia comprise the 
remainder of the family. 

The education of our subject commenced after 
the removal of his father to Wisconsin, and making 
good use of his time during his school days, he 
commenced teaching at an early age, and in 1870 
became Principal of the Waukesha Reform School, 
where he acquitted himself with great credit. In 



the meantime he had given his leisure hours to the 
perusal of medical works, and shortly after coining 
to this county, in March, 1873, entered Bennett 
Medical College at Chicago, from which lie was 
graduated with first honors in the spring of 1870, 
and began practice at Fairbury. Two years later he 
took a course at Hahnemann College, Chicago, and 
afterward attended a clinical course of lectures in 
the Cook County Hospital ; he has become one of 
the leading physicians in Livingston County. 

Dr. Brewer was married in Fairbury, May 10, 
1882, to Miss Lottie Rogers, a native of Ohio, and 
who was born in August, 1855. Mrs. Brewer is a 
lady of fine literary attainments, and a disciple of 
the Western Female Universit}' at Oxford, Ohio, and 
is also a graduate of the Chautauqua Literary So- 
ciety. They occupy one of the most attractive 
little dwellings in the city, which, within and with- 
out, furnishes ample evidence of the refinement of 
its inmates. The Doctor and his wife are in sym- 
pathy with the Christian Church, of which he has 
been a cheerful and liberal supporter, contributing 
materially to the erection of their church edifice. 
Socially he belongs to the Masonic fraternity and 
has taken the Knight Templar's degree, being for 
two years Eminent Commander, besides holding 
the various offices in his lodge. 



)HOMAS C. SPENCER, one of the solid men 
of Forest Township, is a native of the Prai- 
rie State, and was born in the pioneer days, 
in November, 1826. His early home was in Schuy- 
ler County, and his parents were William M. and 
Rachel (Brooks) Spencer, natives respectively of 
Ireland and Massachusetts. 

William M. Spencer emigrated from his native 
country while a youth, and settled first in Law- 
rence County, this State, in 1804, while it was still 
a Territory. He occupied himself in tilling the 
primitive soil, and established a gristmill on what 
was then the Little Embnrras River. This he oper- 
ated a good many years, but on account of the 
troubles connected with the War of 1812, was 
obliged to abandon it for a time. On his premises 
a family of eight were killed by the Indians, and 




LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1177 



he, with the other inhabitants of that section, was 
obliged to keep a constant watch to preserve his 
life. The savages murdered the settlers indiscrim- 
inately, sparing neither women nor children. Mr. 
Spencer finally crossed the Mississippi and made 
his home near Waterloo, Iowa, in 1854, where his 
death took place at the advanced age of eighty -six 
years, when he was making his home with a daugh- 
ter; the mother had passed away some ye&rs before, 
at the age of seventy. 

The father of our subject was twice married, hav- 
ing six children by his first wife. This lady was in 
her girlhood Miss Lorana Snow, who died when 
middle aged. He was subsequently married to Miss 
Rachel Brooks, and they became the parents of 
twelve children, two now living, namely : Ritcheson 
and Thomas C. Thomas C. remained at home un- 
til twenty-five years of age and then started out for 
himself. One of his first steps toward the establish- 
ment of a home was his marriage, Sept. 28, 1851, 
to Miss Sarah A. Bocock, a native of Ohio, and 
born in Highland County, in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. 
Spencer began life together on a farm near the 
town of Canton, 111., and in due time the little 
household was enlarged by the birth of seven chil- 
dren, four living, namely: James A., William G.. 
Samuel W. and Jesse O. One son and two daugh- 
ters are deceased, namely: Theodocia E., Maggie 
E. and John U. The latter died when an infant; 
Maggie passed away when an interesting child 
twelve years of age, Feb. 27, 1873; Theodocia 
died at the homestead in Belle Plaine Township, 
Oct. 16, 1865; James and Samuel are married, the 
former being occupied as engineer in an oilrnill at 
Gilman, and the latter is engaged in farming. 
Samuel is carrying on stock-raising in Lake View, 
Ore. ; William is working at the trade of carpenter, 
at Lake View, Ore., and is interested in the farm 
with Samuel. 

Our subject acquired a good common-school ed- 
ucation, and in early life was trained to habits of 
industry. While in Marshall County he held the 
offices of School Trustee and Justice of the Peace 
nine years, and was Township Clerk four years. 
Politically, he is Republican, and with his estima- 
ble lady is a member in good standing of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church at Fairbury, in which he 



officiates as Clerk, and is otherwise prominently 
identified with its interests. The farm of Mr. 
Spencer lies on section 6, and comprises forty -eight 
acres, where he carries on agriculture, and also a 
dairy. His farm has a great variety of fruit trees 
of all kinds, and is about equi-distant from Forest 
and Fairbury. 



OHN C. GEORGE, the Postmaster of Dwight, 
is a native of Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio, 
and was born Oct. 19, 1833. The family is 
of Irish extraction, John George, the father 
of our subject, having come from the North of Ire- 
land, near Belfast, when some nineteen years of age. 
He settled in Maryland, and there married Ann 
Cross, who vvas the mother of the following children : 
Sarah A., Edward, James C., Priscilla A., Margaret, 
John C., Leathey, Louisa, Benjamin C., Elizabeth 
N. and Rebecca J. 

The father of our subject removed with his little 
family to Belmont County, Ohio, among the pio- 
neers of that region, and engaged in farming. In 
1865 he removed to Illinois, where he purchased a 
farm in Nevada Township in this county, where he 
made his home until 1876, when he departed "to 
the pale realms of death." He was a member of 
the Presbyterian Church. 

- Our subject passed his early life upon his father's 
place, and received his education in the common 
schools of the period. At the age of twenty-one 
he left home and came to Nevada Township, arriv- 
ing here on the 8th of October, 1854. The town 
of Dwight had been laid out during the summer, 
but the site was so low and wet that James C. 
George, a brother of John, refused an offer of 
eighty acres of land adjoining the corporation as a 
gift, considering it worthless. John C. George 
purchased land in the vicinity. It was at that time 
covered with heav}' grass, which was some twelve 
feet high in low places. He commenced immediately 
to improve his farm, and make a home. Having 
now the cage prepared, in 1856 he married Miss 
Mary E. Clarkson, a daughter of Egbert and Maria 
(Joycox) Clarkson. On the 5th of August, 1862, 
Mr. George, imbued with intense patriotism, en- 
listed in Company C, 129th Illinois Infantry, and 






f 



' 1178 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



served throughout the war. With his regiment he 
was employed in guard duty, etc., until the spring 
of 1864, when they joined Gen. W. T. Sherman, 
and with that matchless leader began the famous 
march to the sea. Mr. George participated in the 
battle of Resaca and the other contests around At- 
lanta, at Peachtree Creek, Burnt Hickory, and 
others of that great campaign. After participating 
in the grand review in Washington he was mustered 
out on the 8th of June, 1865, and honorably dis- 
charged. He at once returned home and began 
farming. Three years later he moved to Dwight 
Village and began contracting in railroad work, 
which he continued for many years, until appointed 
Postmaster in 1886. His wife died in 1887. 

In political opinions Mr. G. is a stanch Demo- 
crat. He is a member of Dwight Post No. 626, 
G. A. R., of the I. O. O. F. and the Pioneer Society 
of Dwight, and is a popular and esteemed citizen. 




ON. AMOS M. JOHNSON was born in New 
Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. 'Y., Aug. 3, 
1819. He was reared a farmer's boy, and 
until sixteen years of age attended winter 
schools. On reaching his sixteenth year, he matric- 
ulated at Wilbraham College, Mass., and following 
the curriculum of that institution, was graduated 
therefrom with honors. Hoping to better his finan- 
cial condition in the fast-growing West, he mi- 
grated to this State and located at Farmington, 
Fulton County. There he studied medicine in the 
office and under the instruction of Dr. Christie. 
Later, he attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, 
from which he was graduated and received his di- 
ploma. Returning to Fulton County, he hungont 
his shingle at Vermont, and entered upon what 
proved to be a very successful and remunerative 
practice. 

Dr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss 
Melissa II. Kinney, a charming and accomplished 
young lady of Farmington, 111., in 1843. Contin- 
uing his practice in Vermont until 1851, during 
which time he was also engaged in the drug busi- 
ness with his father, he moved to Ipava, Fulton 



County. There he embarked in the mercantile 
business with his brother Deloss, and they success- 
fully conducted the same until 1854. During that 
year Dr. Johnson purchased 300 acres of land in 
McDonough County. Moving his family upon this 
land, he superintended its cultivation, at the same 
time practicing his profession, and was thus occu- 
pied for about two years. He was also engaged in 
the land business at Vermont, and traveled over 
many of the Southern States in the interest of his 
business. Returning to Fulton County, he sold his 
farm for $8,000 in gold, and moved to Vermont. 
There he engaged in the real-estate business with 
his two brothers, William K. and F. I. Johnson, 
which relationship existed until 1859. 

During the latter year Dr. Johnson moved to 
Peoria, this State, and was the capitalist among the 
incorporators of the great American Pottery at that 
place. In this adventure he lost $50,000 in cash, 
and four years after going to Peoria he found him- 
self without a dollar, and a large family on his hands. 
He kissed his wife and children, told the boys to 
" keep the wolf from the door," and started South 
to act as surgeon in the 1 19th Illinois Infantry, Col. 
T. J. Kinney commanding. On reaching the regi- 
ment, the vacancy was filled, and Dr. Johnson went 
to buying cotton. In less than a year he returned 
to Peoria with $7,000, and walking into the room 
threw it into his wife's lap, remarking, " That's a 
pretty good year's work." The writer heard him 
say it, and was one of the " tickled " company. 

In 1864 Dr. Johnson moved his family to Osce- 
ola, Ark., where he was successfully engaged in 
raising cotton. He was elected to the State Legis- 
lature in 1868, and served with distinction. The 
feeling was strong against Northern men in that 
part of the State ; rebels who had been whipped in 
honorable warfare were smarting from their defeat. 
Dr. Johnson, day after day and night after night, 
rode among them and administered to their wants, 
and never charged a dollar. How glad they were 
to see his face when languishing on beds of sickness, 
and yet they killed him killed him because he 
loved his country, and dared to express his belief 
that " the North was right and the Soutli was wrong." 
Aug. '24, 1 869, they shot him, as the moon was hidden 
by the blackened clouds of night, and not a single ' 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1179 






I 



twinkling star shone forth to testify to their ac- 
cursed deed. His remains were laid to rest at his 
old home of Vermont, Fulton Co., 111. 

Of the union of Dr. Johnson with Miss Kinnej', 
nine children were born, five boys and four girls. 
Two have gone to meet their father on the other 
shore, and seven yet remain. Of the latter, four 
are living in this county, viz. : Eugene ; Minnie, 
Mrs. Redfern; Jennie, Mrs. Easton, and Ella, Mrs. 
Westervelt; the others are Dayton, Oscar and Lew. 
The mother is still living, and makes her home with 
her children in this county. 



fifJESSE SLYDER, a retired farmer and auc- 
tioneer of Dwight, is of Scotch and Welsh 
ancestry on his father's side, while on his 
mother's he is German. A branch of the 
Slyder family crossed the Atlantic at an early day 
and located in Maryland, where William Slyder, 
the father of our subject, was born. He was fairly 
educated, and was employed both as school teacher 
and shoemaker in his native State until removing to 
Franklin County, Pa. 

The mother of our subject was in her maidenhood 
Miss Elizabeth Shull, and was a native of Mary- 
land. Jesse Slyder first opened his eyes to the 
light in Adams County, Pa., where he received a 
common-school education and was reared to farm- 
ing pursuits. Early in life he was thrown upon his 
own resources, and at the age of fifteen years he en- 
gaged as a teamster from Chambersburg to Balti- 
more and Pittsburgh. This was before the days of 
railroads, when freight had to be transported by 
wagons immense structures, capable of carrying 
five tons, and drawn by six horses. They were 
built very clumsily and were very heavy, the tire 
of the wheels being four inches in width, and the 
wagon alone being a load for one pair of horses; 
the harness corresponded with the carriage. The 
roads were turnpike and a great many men were 
employed in this freighting business. It required 
no little skill to manage the six horses, but young 
Slyder was equal to the emergency and soon became 
as proficient as the rest. The route from Chambers- 



burg to Pittsburgh covered a distance of 115 miles, 
and our subject frequently crossed the Alleghany 
Mountains in the dead of winter and in the midst 
of blinding snowstorms. Little account was taken 
of these storms, however, and no stop made unless 
the road was utterly impassable. There were 
stations along the route called taverns, which were 
provided with spacious stable yards capable of ac- 
commodating a large number of horses and wagons. 
The animals were sheltered from the weather simply 
by a large woolen blanket and plenty of straw. 
They were well fed, and frequently came out in the 
spring in better condition than when they started. 

Mr. Slyder, during the summer, followed farm- 
ing, and occupied himself with teaming in the winter 
seasons. The owners of the teams formed caravans 
of 126 horses and three men each, and employed an 
agent along the line to look after their interests. 
Mr. Slyder became one of these agents and traveled 
on in advance of the teams to arrange for accom- 
modations at the stopping places, and on the return 
trip settled for the provisions which the men and 
animals consumed. An idea of the magnitude of 
these transactions may be obtained from the fact 
that in the course of two years Mr. S. for this pur- 
pose paid out $160,000. 

Our subject continued in Pennsylvania, and in 
1837 was united in marriage with Miss Hannah L. 
Minger, of Franklin County, that State. They be- 
gan life together in a little home in that county, 
and in due time became the parents of eight chil- 
dren, namely: William, Susan, Samuel, Jesse L., 
Hattie, David, Daniel and Emma. In the spring of 
1853 Mr. Slyder determined to seek the western 
country, and while changing his location, changed 
his occupation also. On arriving in this State he 
located upon a tract of land near the town of Peru, 
whence three years later he came to this county and 
purchased 200 acres in the remote northeastern 
part of Round Grove Township. There were but 
few improvements in the township at that period, 
and his own land was essentially in its primitive 
condition. He located his family in a board house, 
and under great difficulties began the cultivation of 
the soil. His perseverance and resolution soon bore 
their legitimate fruit, and in due time he began to 
realize the reward of his labors. As his family 






I 

I 



1180 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



f 



grew up around him there also grew up on the 
farm one improvement after another, until he he- 
came the possessor of a neat and substantial resi- 
dence, a commodious barn with convenient out- 
buildings. a goodly assortment of live stock, and all 
the other accessories of the modern country estate. 
In 1808 he retired from the laborious duties of an 
agriculturist and took up his abode in Dwight, of 
which he has now been a resident twenty years. He 
has been remarkably successful as an auctioneer and 
has had an experience of thirty-seven years at this 
business. 

Upon first becoming a voter Mr. Slyder identi- 
fied himself with the Democratic party and sup- 
ported its principles until the election of James Bu- 
chanan. In 1860 he considered that he had 
reason to change his opinions, or felt that his party 
was not living up to its avowed principles, and 
joined the Republican ranks. In religious matters 
he is a decided Methodist. 

During his youth Mr. S. was extremely anxious to 
obtain a finished education. His father, however, 
met with sore reverses, and the son yielding to his 
sense of duty laid aside his personal plans and 
wishes and bent his energies to assist in the support 
of the family. He has, however, improved his 
opportunities for reading, and has a good knowledge 
of general business, by which he is enabled to suc- 
cessfully cope with the various questions which 
arise in the routine of daily life. 

Mr. Slyder has been quite prominent in township 
affairs, serving as Supervisor, and being identified 
with those enterprises inaugurated for the general 
good of the people. His duties as auctioneer have 
brought him in contact with most of the residents 
of Round Grove Township and vicinity, by whom 
he is generally esteemed as a useful citizen and a 
valued member of the business community. 



AMUKL HIGBEE,a well-known and highly 
respected resident of Reading Township, 
has a fine farm of 240 acres on section 29, 
which is well improved and largely de- 
voted to the raising of grain. He has been especialty 
successful in his labors, which have been carried on 




with good judgment and system, as indicated in the 
neat appearance of his homestead, about which 
nothing is allowed to run to waste or any work ill 
done. 

This gentleman first opened his eyes to the light 
near the Atlantic coast, N..J., April 6, 1827, and is 
the son of William and Hannah (Horn) Higbee, 
natives of the same State, the former born in 1785, 
and the latter in 1799. William Higbee departed 
this life at his home Aug. 8, 1878, and his wife, 
Hannah, surviving him nine years, died March 19, 
1887. The father in early manhood was a sailor on 
the Atlantic Ocean, but subsequently took up his 
residence oil terra firmaand engaged in farming. In 
1839, accompanied by his family he migrated from 
New Jersey to Ohio, where he was one of the earliest 
pioneers. After leaving the sea he had served in the 
War of 1812, doing guard duty along the coast. 
His wife in the meantime, together with many 
others, fearing an attack from the enemy, took her 
bedding and her little family, and fled to the woods. 
The British, however, failed to effect a landing, and 
so their fears proved to be groundless. In those 
days, however, it was deemed wise to use every pre- 
caution for the preservation of life and property. 

To William and Hannah Higbee there were born 
the following children: Phebe Ann, John, Sarah 
Ann, Mark, William. David, Hannahettie, Thomas, 
Mary, Elizabeth, Charles H., James and Phebe Ann. 
Samuel Higbee left his native county, and at the 
age of twenty-nine years was married, Sept. 29, 
185G, to Miss Sarah E. Girard. tier parents were 
John and Elizabeth (Robinson) Girard. The father 
was a carpenter by trade, and spent his last days in 
the Old Dominion. His wife, Elizabeth, was born 
in March, 1795, and died in Ohio in April, 1877. 
Their family included eight children, namely : Lu- 
cinda, who was married, and died in Ohio, after 
reaching middle age, and becoming the mother of 
eight children; Thomas R., a contractor and builder 
at St. Louis, Mo.; John R., a farmer of Ohio; Ruth 
Eleanor, wife of Hamilton Hedges, of Ohio, and 
the mother of eight children; James W., who died 
in Virginia after reaching his twenty-first birthday; 
Seman, a carpenter by trade, and Susan. 

Mr. and Mrs. Higbee after their marriage located 
in Livingston County. The record of their chil- 



^ 



t. 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1181 



dren is as follows: The eldest daughter, Mary, died 
shortly after her birth ; Charles Theodore was born 
July 18, 1858, is now married, has a family and 
is farming in this county; Ettie Jane was born Jan. 
29, 1861, and is the wife of Harry C. George, and 
the mother of two children; they are carrying on 
farming. Edwin S. was born Oct. 16, 1863, and is 
connected with the post-office at Ancona ; Samuel 
Leone was born May 2, 1866; Jessie Mabel, Oct. 
13, 1868; Sarah Luella. May 14, 1871; Anna Bell, 
April 25, 1876. The younger children, with the ex- 
ception of Sarah L., are home with their parents. 
She is attending school in Streator. Mr. and Mrs. 
Higbee are prominently connected with the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church. Our subject, politically, is 
a Republican and a Prohibitionist. He served on 
the Village Board of Trustees six years, and also as 
School Director and Pathmaster several terms. 



ffiOHN NEWTON CAMPBELL owns 133 
acres of good land on section 25, Newtown 
Township, where he controls about 213 
acres. As a tiller of the soil and a breeder 
of good cattle and horses he has distinguished him- 
self in a highly creditable manner. With the ex- 
ception of about sixteen years' residence in Indiana, 
he has lived in this locality, his birthplace being 
near his present residence, where he first opened his 
eyes to the light May 5, 1856. For a man of his 
years he has a good start in life, and in addition to 
being regarded as a skillful agriculturist, is also one 
of Newtown Township's best citizens. 

Our subject is the son of Samuel and Sarah 
(Spinning) Campbell, the former born in Preble 
County, Ohio, in 1822. His father, Joseph Camp- 
bell, was a native of Kentucky, and of pure Scotch 
ancestry. He married Miss Sarah Walker, a Ken- 
tucky lady, and not long afterward they left the 
Blue Grass regions for Ohio, whence they removed 
to Indiana, where the wife and mother died. The 
remaining members of the family subsequently came 
to Illinois, where the eldest son, John, is a resident 
of Esmen Township and is represented in another 
part of this work. Samuel, the father of our sub- 
ject, was the second child, and Melinda is the wife 



of Edward Spinning, of Kansas; Andrew left home 
when about nineteen years old and went to Cali- 
fornia with a company twenty-five j'ears ago, since 
which time he has not been heard from and is sup- 
posed to have died ; Joseph died in 1857, in this 
State. 

Samuel Campbell was reared to manhood in 
Indiana, and married there in 1850. Six years 
later he came to Illinois, but returned to Indiana 
after eighteen months and remained until 1867. He 
then came to Livingston County, locating in New- 
town Township, where he continued four years. 
Thence he returned to Indiana, where he became 
the owner of 380 acres of land, on which he has since 
resided. He is a prominent and liberal-minded cit- 
izen, and the father of thirteen children, whose 
names are as follows: Jefferson, Sarah, Andrew, 
John N., Rosanna, Hettie, Ulysses Grant, Frank, 
Eve, James, Custer, Emma and one who died in 
infancy. Jefferson is connected with the State Re- 
form School at Pontiac : Sarah became the wife of 
William Miller, and died in Indiana in 1873 ; Andrew 
is married and lives near his father; Rosanna is the 
wife of John Board, of Stone Bluff, Ind. ; Hettie was 
paralyzed in her lower limbs when three years old 
and has since been a cripple; Ulysses Grant, Frank, 
Eve, James, Custer and Emma are at home with 
their parents. 

Our subject continued under the home roof until 
after reaching his majority, receiving a good edu- 
cation in the common schools, and was then ready 
to commence in life for himself. He was first mar- 
ried, Sept. 25, 1878, to Miss Marietta Reed, who 
was born in Fountain County, Ind., in 1858, and 
died of typhoid fever at her home in Newtowu 
Township, Nov. 7, 1878. Mr. Campbell was sub- 
sequently married to Mrs. Mary (Hoobler) Cusick. 
The first husband of Mrs. Campbell, Clark Cusick by 
name, was suffocated by foul air in a well in Sep- 
tember, 1877. Mrs. Campbell is a daughter of 
Jeremiah and Frances Hoobler, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania; her father now lives in Newtown Township. 
Of this union there have been born two children 
Irma, March 15, 1882, and Samuel J., June 27, 1885. 

When Samuel Campbell first came to Illinois, in 
1853, he entered a tract of land in Newtown Town- 
ship for his father, Joseph Campbell, a portion of 










- . 1182 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



which lias remained in possession of the family for 
over thirty years. It is to he hoped that it will 
not be transferred for many generations to come, as 
there is nothing which confers more dignity upon a 
family or member of a family than to hold its pos- 
sessions and keep up the property as this farm has 
been kept up. The buildings are substantial and 
in good order, and the entire estate reflects credit 
upon those who have brought it to its present state 
of perfection. 




i; 



UGENE F. D. JOHNSON, a farmer by oc- 
cupation, but at present working for Walton 
Bros., of Fairbury, is a son of Hon. AmosM. 
and Melissa H. Johnson, a short sketch of whom 
may be found in this work. 

Eugene Johnson was born in Vermont, Fulton 
Co., 111., Oct. 19, 1844. He lived there until 1859, 
during which time nothing eventful occurred in his 
life, except an occasional "licking" for running awa3' 
from school. We next hear of him working in the 
American Pottery at Peoria, becoming very pro- 
ficient, and bossing the "boys" around with an air 
of authority. After nine years he went to Memphis, 
Tenn., and assumed command of a steamboat his 
father owned, and ran the same up Red River. Af- 
ter several trips between Shreveport and Jefferson 
City, Capt. Johnson loaded his boat with cotton for 
New Orleans, receiving $25 a bale. Landing safely 
in New Orleans, he sold the boat for $1,000, and he 
and his brother Lew, who was cashier on the boat, 
went back to Peoria, 111. 

In 1864 our subject went to Osceola, Ark., to 
engage in the raising of cotton in partnership with 
his father. In 1868 the levees broke, and their 
crop was entirely destroyed, and our subject con- 
cluded he had had enough of Arkansas. His brother 
Lew had preceded him to Chariton County, Mo., 
and rented a 500-acre farm, and Eugene, with his 
mules and wagons and a few faithful negroes, went 
and took possession of it. We cannot take time to 
tell of the glorious "licking" he got by the deck- 
hands while on his trip North, for letting his dog 
run into their dinner pans; suffice it to say, it \\.-i> 
a good one, and he will never forget it. He ar- 



rived in Chariton County badly bruised and used 
up, but alive, and before the crop was gathered, 
heard of his father's assassination (see biography 
in this ALBUM). His backing was gone, and all he 
could do was to labor on for the support of the 
family. A year later he went back to Vermont 
with his mother, brothers and sisters, and located on 
a farm which he and his brother Lew purchased. 
Later Eugene sold his interest to his brother. 

In 1872 Eugene Johnson and Miss Mary, daugh- 
ter of James and Theodate Fowler, were united in 
marriage. Two children were born of this union. 
Mr. Johnson, after an experience of two years in 
the grocery business in Chicago, in the employ of 
Johnson & Stover, moved to Cimarron, Kan., and 
there his wife died, and was buried. Sending his 
children back to Vermont, he wandered around over 
Colorado. New Mexico, Arizona, Nebraska and 
Iowa, and we next hear of him in Fulton County, 
111., again. 

On coming to this county, Mr. Johnson was out 
of means, "dead broke," and having no rich rela- 
tives who were disposed to aid him, worked at 
whatever his hands could find to do. Later he 
went to Logan County, this State. There he ob- 
tained a position as custodian of a grain elevator, 
and held the position for four years. In the mean- 
time he was married again. The latter union has 
been productive of four children, two pair of twins. 
In 1887 Mr. Johnson came back to this county, and 
engaged working with Walton Bros., of Fairbury, 
with whom he is still interested. He is a hard- 
working man, and although adversity has checked 
his onward progress to prominence and wealth, he 
will live in the memory of those who know his real 
worth as long as life shall last. 



R. WALLACE, the Judge of the County 
Court, and a resident of Pontiac, was born 
in Belmont County, Ohio, March 13, 1835. 
He is a son of David and Frances Ross, 
who were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respect- 
ively. He was reared to a farmer's life until he was 
twenty years old, receiving at the same time a good 
education. At the age of twenty, he entered the 




t. 

T 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



1183 



Madison College of Ohio, where he remained two 
years, and then attended the Monmouth College in 
this State, from which he graduated in 1861. Later 
he received the degree of A. M. from the same col- 
lege. In 1861 he enlisted in the 74th Ohio Infantry, 
and remained in the service until 1866. He entered 
the army as a private and was mustered out as 
Captain. The regiment to which he belonged was 
a part of the 14th Army Corps, and he participated 
in nearly all the battles of that division, from the 
capture of Nashville to the close of the war. 

After returning from the front, Mr. Wallace lo- 
cated at Ottawa, LaSalle County, where he resumed 
the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 
April, 1867, at that place. Going to Chatsworth, 
Livingston County, he commenced the practice of 
his profession and continued there until April, 1874. 
He was elected Judge of the County Court in 1873, 
and took up his residence at Pontiac. He was re- 
elected to the same office in 1877, 1882 and 1886. 
He was married in 1867 to Miss Louisa Strawn,.a 
native of LaSalle County, 111., and a daughter of 
Isaiah and Elizabeth (Champlain) Strawn, natives of 
Ohio and Connecticut respectively. They are the 
parents of four children. Judge Wallace is the 
commander of G. A. R. Post No. 105. 




|)ILLIAM R. MARVIN, a member of the 
Board of Supervisors of Livingston County, 
and a representative citizen of Emington 
Township, is a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y. 
He was born Oct. 20, 1 840, and is the son of Peter 
D. and Julia A. (Smith) Marvin, both of whom 
were natives of the Empire State. 

The subject of our sketch was reared to man- 
hood in his native county, and received a good ed- 
ucation in the common school. On the 21st of 
April, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Emrna J. Mosher, a native of Columbia County, N. 
Y. They were the parents of four children. In 
1864 he came West with his family, and located in 
Kane County, 111., where he made his residence 

^ until 1868, at which time he came to this county 
and settled on section 19, in Broughtou Township, 
where he at present lives. His wife died here Dec. 



17. 1883, and realizing that it was not well for man 
to live alone, he again entered the marriage state 
Oct. 14, 1H86. His choice was Miss Sarah E. Stuff, 
a daughter of Adam and Wilhelmina Stuff. 

Politically, Mr. Marvin is a Republican, and has 
held several important offices of trust in the town- 
ship and county. He has served as Clerk of 
j Broughtou Township and as Justice of the Peace, 
and is a member of the Milage Board of Trustees 
of Emington. He was first elected Supervisor in 
April, 1871, and with the exception of one year, 
has continued in that office to the present time. 



pZTINEFIELD BROS, carry on a general black- 
smith and horse-shoeing business in the 
town of Odell. These enterprising young 
men took charge of this business some five years 
ago, as successors to their father, whose history ap- 
pears in this work. 

Frank Finefield, the senior member of the firm, 
was born in Kendall County, 111., May 11, 1856, 
and was four years of age when his parents re- 
moved to Odell. He was educated in the common 
schools of this locality, and while a boy spent a large 
portion of his time when not in school in his 
father's shop, and at the age of seventeen he took 
up the business regularly, and followed it until he 
was twenty-three years of age. He then went West 
and settled in Salina County, Neb., at the town of 
Dorchester, where he formed a partnership with a 
man by the uamelof Barslow. He remained there 
two years and then returned to Odell, to take charge 
of the business he is now conducting. Nov. 16, 
1883, he married Helen I. Woodbury, who was born 
near Palatine, 111., and is the daughter of George 
and Anna (Puffer) Woodbury, both of whom were 
natives of Massachusetts. They are the parents of 
one child, George L., who was born Aug. 2, 1884. 
Fred Finefield, the junior member of the firm, is 
a native of Odell, and made his appearance on the 
stage of life Aug. 17, 1862. He was the sixth 
child of the family born to his father, Charles Fine- 
field. June 28, 1883, he entered into a matrimouia 
alliance with Caroline Erschen, who was born near 






' . 1184 



LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 



St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 28, 1862. She is the third 
child in a family of nine born to Mathiasand Caro- 
line Erschen, both of whom were natives of Ger- 
many, and who had come to America prior to 1862. 
Fred entered upon his present business at the same 
time as his elder brother, the partnership being 
formed as above stated. Since that time their lives 
have run parallel. Each of the brothers is the pos- 
sessor of a neat cottage home. Fred Finefield and 
his estimable wife are the parents of three children 
Frank E., Bertha and Albert M., all of whom are 
living. The brothers are not active in politics, but 
vote with the Republican party. 



ACK LEONARD, who ranks among the 
well-to-do farmers of Broughton Township, 
was in his early years a " Lancashire lad, " 
and was born May 12, 1833. His parents 
were William and Mary (Chadwick) Leonard, the 
former a Scottish Highlander \>y birth, and the 
mother a native of England. The latter spent her 
entire life on her native soil, and died in Lancashire; 
the father is still living and continues in England. 
Our subject spent his childhood and youth amid 
the quiet scenes of country life in his native county, 
and received a common-school education. Upon 
reaching his majority he resolved to change his lo- 
cation, and embarking on an ocean steamer at Liver- 
pool bound for New York City, at the end of 
thirteen days he set foot upon American soil in the 
great metropolis, and thence proceeded directly to 
Troy, N. Y., in the vicinity of which he worked 
about a year as a farm laborer. Thence he migrated 
to Kendall County, this State, and continued at the 
same employment until the spring of 1866, when 
he took up his residence (n Livingston County, ;m<l 
not long afterward located upon his present farm. 
Some time previously he had formed the acquaint- 




nce of Miss Charlotte Deveraux, and they were 
united in marriage at the home of the bride in Sul- 
livan oo the 10th of July, 1866. 

The wife of our subject was born in Oswego County, 
N. Y., Feb. 3, 1847. and is the daughter of Ezra and 
Mary A. Deveraux, natives respectively of New 
York State and the Republic of France. Mr. and 
Mrs. Leonard located in a modest home soon after 
their marriage, and in due time became the parents 
of ten children, of whom the record is as follows: 
Mary E. was born May 24, 1867; Hettie, Sept. 9, 
1870; Edward, Dec. 13, 1871; Walter, Aug. 30, 
1873; Mitchell, March 10, 1877; Lucy, Sept. 4, 1878; 
Gnstus and Gussie, June 7, 1884; these are all liv- 
ing and at home with their parents. Nellie and 
Lemuel died at the ages of five and two years re- 
spectively. 

The Leonard homestead occupies a quarter of 
section 32, and has about it an air of comfort and 
plenty which invariably attracts the eye of the 
passer-by. Our subject, during his twenty years' 
residence in this county, has made many friends, 
and is regarded a a useful and enterprising citizen, 
lie lias never been afraid of honest labor, and takes 
satisfaction in the reflection that his properly is the 
result of his own unaided industry, as he commenced 
in life a poor man and was willing to labor and to 
wait for the result which inevitably follows a course 
of perseverance with honest intentions. Mr. Leon- 
ard politically is a stanch Republican, and a mem- 
ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Although frequently solicited to accept 
local offices he has invariably declined, believing 
that he could serve the people around him fully as 
effectually in a more quiet and unostentatious man- 
ner. 

The parents of Mrs. Leonard had five children, 
namely: James E., William D., Lucinda, Byron 
and Charlotte. The mother died at her home in 
Sullivan, Sept. 8, 1877; the father is still living in 
Nebraska. 




4 



I 




Aaron, T h o rnas H 911 

Aaron, V. 1 504 

Adams, John 23 

Adams, John Q 39 

Adams, E. K 217 

Adams, H. F -.226 

Albright, George 555 

Algeo, Alexander 752 

A Igeo, Samuel 309 

Allen, C. C 536 

Ammons, Jeremiah 444 

Amsler, John H 1085 

Andrews, George 225 

Andrews, Henry F 493 

Angell, Ethan 607 

Angell, W. D 614 

Antrim, John C 324 

Applegate,G. W 281 

Arnett, Simeon . . . . , 848 

Arnold, William H -375 

Arthur, Chester A 99 

Arthur, Ohio 422 

Askew, William 317 

Attig, John 227 

Augustine, John 364 

Austin, James B 1015 

Axt, Charles E 656 

Aygarn, C. 1 1131 



B 



Babcock. B. P 523 

Babcock, J . S 525 

Babcock, R. W 756 

Baker, Charles M 1056 

Ball, A.C 262 

Balmer, John 775 

Baniber, C.R 517 



Bangs, E. A 546 

Bangs, H. M 486 

Barber, C. W 516 

Barlow, Samuel 862 

Barnes, B. F 505 

Barnes, Henry B 415 

Barnes, S . M 1097 

Barnes, Stephen F 931 

Barr, C. G 233 

Barr, Dr. C. H 1085 

Barr, J.N 95 4 

Bnrtlett, Mrs. C. C 481 

Bayler, Alfred P 1124 

Beach, Thomas A 432 

Beardsley, C 563 

Beatty, J . H 905 

Beatty, John H 861 

Becker, Aaron 421 

Becker, Christian 528 

Becker, J- H 565 

Becks, J. H 1055 

Bemis, A. N 300 

Bemis, N. A 946 

Bennett, John 496 

Bennett, Nelson G 520 

Bennett, P. J 474 

Berry, George 495 

Besgrove, J 574 

Beukma, Cornelius 5^9 

Beveridge, John L 171 

Bigham, J. R 547 

Billings, G. W 479 

Bischoff, Ludwig 570 

Bissell, William H 1.51 

Blackmore, J. L 685 

Blackwell, G. W 1071 

Blackwell, J. C 405 

Blain, William 566 

Blake, Daniel 321 

Blake, James E 764 

Bloom, Henry 508 

Blue, M rs. Elizabeth 755 

Bodley, John 514 

Boeman, George W 593 

Boh lander, George 732 

Bond, Shadrach n i 

Bosworth, M . J 772 



Boyer, George W. . .. , 983 

Boys, Charles C 530 

Bradbury, A . J 492 

Bradshaw, Joseph 290 

Breckenridge, Samuel C 753 

Breese, George G 515 

Brewer, Dr. D 1176 

Brewster, Alexander M 1066 

Brinkmann, Simon 378 

Brooks, A. J 270 

Brooks, George W 1135 

Broughton, Mrs. L. E.... 1050 

Broughton, William IO 47 

Brown, Alfred 1035 

Blown, B. F 777 

Brown, James 947 

Brown, J . A 229 

Brown, J. E 563 

Brown, Joseph 486 

Brown, L. H 226 

Brown, P. S 1163 

Brown, Thomas Y 483 

Brubaker, Abraham 1054 

lirunskill, William 939 

Brydon, James 836 

Brydia, William T 586 

Buchanan, James 75 

Buck, B- A 1032 

Buelljohn A 526 

BuflTham, John 296 

Bullard, B. M 575 

Bullard, J. T 394 

Buliard, Luciar. 646 

' Bunting, Edward 544 

Burnham, J. M 657 

Burrell, William 741 

Burt, E. R 642 

Butler, John 494 

Byers, John 504 



Cajne, William 509 

Cairns, Mary 1081 



Cairns, Samuel I 806 

Camp, A 503 

Camp, Abner W .771 

Campbell, John 778 

Campbell, J. N 1181 

Canhain, Henry 881 

Capes, John R 233 

Capes, William 223 

Carlin, Thomas.. 135 

Carlton, Benjamin ..816 

Carl ton, Frederick 932 

Carpenter, C. W 818 

Carpenter, S. F 838 

Carrithers, C. F. H 279 

Carter, C. E 734 

Carter, J. H 708 

Catton, Holland 590 

Cavanagh, Thomas 924 

Cavanaugh, J . A 363 

Chadwick, James 691 

Chambers. William 535 

Chamings, William 981 

Champlin,A.P 787 

Chapman, E. O 1121 

Chapman, James 734 

Chapman, William H .627 

Chappie, William 937 

Chesebro, Joshua G 426 

Chisam,C. H 207 

Christmann, John 992 

.Chritten, C. S 1145 

Clark, A. G 1171 

Clark, E. S 198 

Clark, H. J 633 

Claudon, A. B 794 

Clay, Jeremiah 916 

Cleveland, S. Grover 103 

Cline, George W 627 

Close, James 880 

Cockram, John 793 

Coe, Cephas. 762 

Coe, John 868 

Colehower, B. F .230 

Colehower, J. H 286 

Coieman, Stephen 825 

Coles, Edward 115 

Collins, Edward 251 



f 



INDEX. 



Collins, Jeremiah mo 

Conine, S. L 513 

Conrad, Frank 1049 

Conrad, W. H 1108 

Converse, Orlin 822 

Cook, Ira 933 

Cook, M. H 695 

Cook, W. F 249 

Coomer, John 766 

Corbin, Anderson 798 

Corbin, A. J 788 

Corbin, J.F nog 

Corbin , J. H 783 

Cording, Albert 724 

Cornwell, W. H 767 

Corrigan, John 396 

Cosgrove, J . H 866 

Cottrell, William 584 

Courll, M. D 923 

Cowling, William 609 

Cox, J acob 356 

Cox, J. T 786 

Coyner, John A 1119 

Crandall, C. H... 1123 

Critten, William W 828 

Crouch, C. F 789 

Crouch, Richard G 777 

Crow, William 402 

Crum.D.S 7 68 

Crumpton, S 673 

Cullom, Shelby M 175 

Cummings, John 495 

Cummins,' Hugh. 1164 

Cummins, James B 506 

Cunnington, Thomas 860 

Cupples, A 784 

Curran, Thomas S 1060 

Curtis, L 707 

Curyea, J. H 560 

Cyrus, C. M 884 



Danforth,W. H S3 8 

Darnall, Major M 265 

Davis, Albert-. 416 

Davis, F. M 191 

Davis, H 406 

Davis, Wjlljam G 1136 

Day, George 414" 

Day, Thomas 457 

DeMoss, Hamilton 446 

DeMoss, Henry J 334 

Dennewitz, Christopher 676 

DCS Voigne, A 545 

Detwiler, Martin 413 

Dewey, Fred C 454 

Diffenbaugh, Jesse - . .202 

Dillon, Edwin 213 

Dinet, A. E 855 

Dirks, E. 852 

Dixon, Charles E 807 

Dixon, E 255 

Dixon, Springer 544 

Dominy, L. B 901 

iJonohoe, F 721 



Dowhower, Jacob. 344 

Dronenburg, Hiram 794 

Duckett, Fred .480 

DuelKS.D 663 

Duncan, Joseph 131 

Dun lap, Robert 855 

Durfiinger, A 1132 

Durkee, G. B 640 

Dyvig. Ole 1165 



E 



Eads, F. M 383 

Eagle, John W 553 

Earing, John 879 

Earp, Samuel 247 

Easton, Alexander 977 

Edwards, Amos 466 

Edwards, Ninian 119 

Edwards, Thomas H 473 

Eggenberger, Ulrich ,.988 

Eiklor, W. F 371 

Eisele, Frederick 443 

Eisele, R 238 

Eisenhower, James W 248 

Elmore, Robert 428 

EntwUtle, William H 806 

.Evans, Andrew J 732 

Evvard, John B 715 

Ewing, James 937 

Ewing, S. D 234 

Ewing, William L. D 127 



F 



Fallis, Thomas 902 

Falter, Frederick 901 

Farr, Jacob. .. .. 619 

Farr, John 724 

Fauber, Emanuel D 725 

Faust, Charles 1069 

Fellows, J. H 728 

Ferris, G. W 4 68 

Fetzer, Josiah M 291 

Fill more, Millard. 67 

Finch, Father H. W 322 

Finefield, Charles A 194 

Finefield, Frank 1183 

Finefield, Fred 1183 

Finhold, William 1165 

Finley, John M 944 

Fin ley, J . S 295 

Fisk, H. D 856 

Flanigan, William 927 

Foley. Morris 1152 

Foltz, J.J 934 

Ford, Thomas 139 

Fordyce, GSraid 271 

Foster, George B 269 

Fotheringham, Peter 339 

Fox, Mrs- Martha R 900 



Francis, Albert 350 

Francis, Henry IO 53 

Francis, John 705 

Francis, J. S .749 

Frantz, Hon. H. J 906 

French, Augustus C 143 

Freude, August 320 

Frisbie, H. L 315 



Frobisch, Mrs. Elizabeth 336 

Fry.J.H 9,5 

Funk, Abraham 991 

Funk, Hon. J. H 1014 



G 



Gallup, Daniel 948 

Gallup, Marion 595 

Gallup, Orrin 1102 

Garfield, James A 95 

Garrels, G. A 216 

Gatchell, Isaac W 785 

Geis, John . . 206 

George, JohnC IT 77 

George, Thomas 718 

Gillette, H. M 666 

Gingerich, William 736 

Girard, Herman 291 

Girard, Philippina 625 

Glass, Thomas 190 

Gmelich, C 1174 

Goembel, W. P 845 

Good, Peter... 841 

Goodrich, D. C 728 

Goshorn, George 277 

Gould, R. R 589 

Graham, Robert A 862 

Gram, Alexander 809 

Grant, Ulysses S 87 

Gray, Daniel 583 

Gray, George B -1003 

Gray Bros. . ,714 

Greene, George E 746 

Greenebaum, H. G 282 

Greenbaum, Samuel M 078 

Gregg, R. D 1104 

Gregory, James A . , M . D . . .717 

Gregory, William M 524 

Grennan, Bernard 706 

Gschwendtner, Anton 916 

Gunderson, G . T 878 

Guppy, J. H 240 

Guthrie, J. N 635 



H 



Hack, Ezra 738 

Hack, Frederick 435 

Hack, William 928 

Hadley, B. E 299 

Had ley, James P 910 

Hagan, Father 1000 

Hall, A. H 711 



Hall, G e o rge 529 

Hallihan, John 712 

Hamilton, James 8^0 

Hamilton, John M 179 

Hamilton, Leander 744 

Hamlin,H.F 871 

Handley, Amos C 596 

Handley, D. J ... 280 

Hanna, Richard 543 

Harding, A. E 528 

Harmon, A 610 

Harrington, Peter 796 

Harris, John 998 

Harris, John 292 

Harrison, William Henry... 51 

Hart, George 943 

Hart, John W 682 

Hartshorn, Dr. T. C 1077 

Hayes, R. B 91 

Headley. Gilbert L --5*9 

Heckelman, J. A 917 

Heisner,Paul 588 

Hepperly,O.E 1021 

Herbert, Samuel 305 

Here, Stephen 48*$ 

Hertz, Amos i54 

Hewitt, W. B 550 

Hieronymus, Benjamin 580 

Higbee, Samuel 1180 

Hill, Harry 539 

Hilsback, David W 5 33 

Hilton, Henry 55^ 

Hilton, P. K 563 

Hilton, W. W 1115 

Hinkey,C. H 208 

Hoffmann, Albert 38 

Hoke, A. R s<;8 

Hoke, Charles H 786 

Hoke, George K 238 

Hoke, Samuel 196 

Holdridge, R. L 887 

Hollmeyer, Lewis H 1080 

Holloway, Lewis 203 

Holman, Thomas L. H 1042 

Hoobler, David 761 

Hoobler, Frederick 696 

Hoobler, Rev. John 754 

Hoover, James A 712 

Hopwood, John J 573 

Hornbeck. Henry 537 

Hornickle, H 675 

Hornickle, N 664 

Hoskins, Clayton 305 

Ho?sfeld, Rev. John 437 

Hotaling, Miller 583 

Houck, Felix 549 

Houston, Dr. M 1144 

Howard, Austin 212 

Howarth, James H 526 

Howell. J. I 1013 

Howitt, Leonard 739 

Hoyt,S- A 497 

H uber, Anton 539 

H umiston, Ben net 223 

Humphreys, C- C 851 

Hunt, Lovejoy 874 

Hunt, Walter S 195 

H unter, E . A 205 

Hunter, James A 846 

Huntley, David 189 



Hurt, Nathan 393 

Husted Bros 1135 

Hutchinson, Lansing 469 



Immke, Henry 820 

Ipson, Louis M 831 



Jackson, Andrew 43 

Jacobs, A. G 237 

Jacobson, Peter 308 

Jasperson, Peter 307 

Jeffers, Mrs. Electa. ... 214 

Jefferson, Thomas 27 

Jenkins, W. H 327 

Jennings, J. W 739 

Johnson, Andrew 83 

Johnson, Charles M 376 

Johnson, E. F. D 1182 

Johnson, E. M 328 

Johnson, E. V 329 

Johnson, F. D 266 

Johnson, F. I 452 

Johnson, Hon. A. M 1178 

Johnson, Stephen 287 

Johnson, Thomas J 197 

Johnson, William P 858 

Johnston, Isaac R 235 

lolly, Oliver 310 

Jones, Orin W 355 

Jones, William 259 

Jones, Z. R 323 

Jordan, Luke 288 



Kain, Robert 1006 

Kelagher, James 904 

Kelley, Milton 267 

Kellogg, Aaron W 1092 

Kellogg, T. M 353 

Kelso, John 395 

Kent, Arthur L 412 

Kent, S. E 417 

Kenyon, P.W 830 

Kepplinger, George J 1012 

Kerr, George 354 

Ketcham, J. D 004 

Kettelle, Charles 386 

Kidder, Thomas C 239 

Kilgore, William M 468 

King, C. R 457 

King, Jacob 848 

King, James 396 

King, John B 401 

King, J. R 216 

Kingdon, John 557 

KHngelhofer, Herman 516 



INDEX. 



Klyver, J. W 

Knight, M. B 

Knox.J. R 

Knox, Lyman D... 
Koehler, Adolph... 
Koehler, Gustavus. 
Koestner, George.. 

Koontz, G. E 

Krack, George C . . . 

Krack, J. M 

Kuns, Jacob 

Kuntz, Joseph 



39 
.608 
.726 
.925 
.694 
.723 
.006 
337 

.671 
.625 
447 



Lakin, F. A 

Lamp, Marcus 

Langan, James 

Langan, T. N 

Larson, Henry 

Latham, Wm. A 

Laubenheimer, Peter,. 

Lawless, Patrick 

Lawless, Thomas 

LeDuc, Louis F 

Legg, C. E 

Leggate, John 

Lehman, Wm 

Leonard, C. C 

Leonard, Elizabeth H. 

Leon ard , M ack 

Leonard, P. A 

Leonard, Roscoe 

Leslie E. KeeleyCo... 

Lewis, David G 

Lewis, J. C 

Lewis, Lars 

Liggitt, Thomas 

Lilly, J. W. A 

Lincoln, Abraham 

Linn, James H 

Linscott, Squire 

Lish,IraM. 

List, H. C 

Little, Jesse 

Loar, John 

Lockner, J . G 

Long, John 

Longnecker, S 

Louderback, Levi 

Louderback, Liberty.. 

I.ouks, Nelson 

Lovelock, James 

Lower, Abram 

Lucas, Edwin R 

Lundy, Elias J 

Lyons, Bernard 

Lyons, Thomas G 



J033 
..427 
..828 
.1088 
427 
275 



..408 
1038 
.1048 

..448 
..717 
..416 



1184 
..750 
..407 



..267 
1027 
.921 
..921 
.309 

79 
..590 
425 
..703 
.1174 
.1161 
..246 
795 
..518 
..476 
.1076 
.1169 
433 
..961 
..987 
..482 
. 826 
..822 
..404 



M 



Mack, Hugh D.. 
Madden, James. 
Madison, James. 



.249 
643 
3' 



Major, A. A 745 

Marks, John D 866 

Marks.J.W 1028 

Marsh, John W 798 

Marsh, Samuel L , 607 

Martin, James M 634 

Martin, M 477 

Marvin, W. R 1183 

Mason, L 1016 

Mason, Mrs. Mary R 695 

Masters, John 678 

Mathis,G. W 1033 

Matteson, Joel A 147 

Maxson,M. R 218 

McCashland, Thomas 325 

McClintock, J. T. 1172 

McCloud, John 666 

McCormack, Samuel 1094 

McCoy, Daniel 638 

McDonald, Edward 665 

McDonald,?. F 1041 

McDonald, T. S 1086 

McDowell, A. J 455 

McDowell, H. H 555 

McDowell,!. P 913 

McDowell, John W 803 

McDowell, Mrs. Frances. ...333 

McDowell, O P 763 

McDowell, T.G 527 

McGee, John 967 

McGregor, C. A 972 

Mcllduff, R. S 558 

Mclutosh, A 536 

Mclmosh.F. M 816 

McKay, Alexander 548 

McKee, Hugh 837 

McKenzie, Alexander 1071 

McKindley, Wm 590 

Me Lane, H . T 1031 

McMillan, A. S 805 

McMullen, Archibald 640 

McVay, Wm 1146 

McWilliams, David 187 

Messier, Wm. G 637 

Mette. Louis 604 

Metz, E. T 525 

Metz, E. P ....456 

Metz, Peter 534 

Metz.T. J 438 

Mickelson, N. N 1077 

Mies, Joseph 644 

Miller, M. M 641 

Mills, J. W 245 

Mills, Samuel 1087 

Mills, Thomas 1034 

Minard, John 965 

Mitchell, E. G 637 

Mitchell, Newton 1094 

Monahan, James 595 

Monahan,John ... .909 

Monk, Theodore 800 

Monroe, James 35 

Montgomery, A 1093 

Moore, J . G 372 

Moore, Wm. H 464 

Morgan, James P 346 

Morgan, Leander 1113 

Morris, C- F 1126 

Morris, E 367 

Morris, James E 206 



Morris, Joseph H. 
Morris, Michael . . . 
Morris, Wm. E . . . 



Morrison, Albert J . . 
Morrison, Jasper N. 
Morrison, Samuel . . . 
Morrison, Samuel L. 
Mortimore, J. T. ... 

Mortland, James 

Mortland, James M. 

Moulds, Charles 

Moulton, M. W 

Mulford, Daniel A.. 
Mulligan, Michael.. 
Munger, George B.. 

Munro, S. S 

Munro.W. C 

Munson, Peter 

Munz, Conrad 

Murdock, D. L ... 
Murphy, Timothy.. 

Myer, J. E 

Myer, Wm. A 

Myers, John F 



..262 

653 
1043 
..261 
..600 
585 
354 
567 
765 
743 
.1125 

..655 
..984 
.1064 
..788 
..620 
. 1167 

.IMS 

573 
..313 
.1083 
.1073 
..631 
. 1025 



N 



Naser, John 

Netherton, H 

Netdeton, George C. 
Newhalfen, Peter J.. 

Newman, M. A 

Nichols, James 

Nigh, Wm 

Norman, Mrs. A.... 

Norman, Wm 

Norris, Henry 

Norton, A. C 



648 

873 
..506 
1138 
835 



.804 
895 
943 
443 







Oakes, R. J 

Odell, James H 

Odell, John 

Oglesby, Richard J... 
O'Neill, Bernard.. .. 

Oppy, Jacob 

Orr, George 

Orr, W. J 

Ostrander, Dr. C. B. 

Ostrander, J. K 

Outram. Reuben 

Overholt, John F 

Owens, Rev. Peter P. 



..465 
..441 
. 1009 
..163 
.1103 
837 

. 212 

.925 
..840 

.846 
..485 
..38, 
..978 



Paddock, George D 

Palmer, J. M 

Parker, I. M ... . 
Parsons, Col. J. B.. 



..850 
..167 
..693 
. 069 





r 






t 





INDEX. 4 


f 




Parsons, Dr. N. S 681 
Patterson, John .. 578 


Reilly, John 7" 






Smith, John .... 918 


Taylor, George C 672 
Taylor, George L 1087 


Patton. G W 






Remsburg, Hon. Perry F 6 f 5 




Payson, Hon. L. E. ... 1036 


Smith, Wm 999 






Reynolds, John 123 
Rhodes. Lcland M 673 
Rice, David 422 
Rich, Joseph P 1101 


Sn> der, Daniel H 704 




Pearson, EH W 1019 
Pearson, Martin 832 
Perrine, Charles 982 
Perry, Ebenezer 1142 




Snyder, L. L 6tB 






Somers, Peter 922 




Persels, Roland 737 








Peters, Michael D 272 




Spafford, Robert S . 689 


Travis, Jeremiah 3 I 9 


Peterson, H 810 


Riordan P E.. . 1168 










Tredenick, James 968 


Phillips, Jacob 605 






Phillips, John T 661 








Phillips, Wm. A 790 




Spence, T M 228 












Pierce, Franklin 71 
Pillsbury, N. J 1126 


Rollins, C. W. 260 


Spencer, T. C... . .... 1176 


Tucker, Jacob S 423 




Tuesburg, Charles H 617 


Piper, Alexander S 877 








Piper, Joseph 1044 








Plowman, J. R 275 


Rudd J W 966 




Tuttte, L H 345 


Polk, James K 59 








Pope, L. C 1129 




Stanford, J F . 445 





Porter, Joseph M 540 
Porter, J. R 321 


Ruston, Winfield S 1009 
Ruiz, Wm . .. 288 

S 


States. A. H . . ; 334 






Stephenson, John E 702 
Stevens, Capt. Eugene R. ...1098 


Potter, Alfred G 945 


Potter, Elvie T 667 


Potter, P. M 6ij 


Stewart F W 4 ^ t 


Potter, Stephen 1065 


Stewart, John W 568 


Powell, John 316 


Stickney. C. W 960 
Stockham, DeWitt C 338 




Powell, Rev. A. B c 9 S 




Pratt, L. F 3 > 6 




V 

VanBuren, Martin 47 


Pricer, S. M 276 






Prickett, Aaron 88 j 




Straight, R.C 463 


Prime, S. T. K 1158 




Stratton, EL.. . 317 


Pritchard, John 895 




Stratton, Mrs. V. E.. ( n6S 


Proesel, Joseph .994 


Sears, W. W 484 




Puffer, R R 587 




Purslcy. John 431 




Strawn, Capt. Wm 773 


Putnam. E. G 1163 




Streamer, Jacob 639 


VanBuskirk, W. E 1153 


Q 

Quest, Mrs. E 17 6 




Street, Daniel 356 


Vercler, Peter 776 




Strobel, Bernhard .... . 339 


Verry.O. P 578 






Vickery, John 384 




Studley, C. C 325 


Virgin, John 603 




Studley, John 896 


Vorhees, Isaac. 414 


Sheldon C W 193 


Sullivan, Jeremiah 938 


W 

Wade John * 659 


Shelly, Malachi 8 S7 




R 

Rabe. Dr. W. 1 1,4, 


Sutton. E. R 618 




Swan, Hollis P 680 


Il09 


Swarner, M . R 3^7 


* g 3ir 


Swift, H. A 384 




Swygert, Emanuel 289 


Shrimpton, Philip 1044 


T 


Sidle. J. D as8 








Radcliff, John R m6 


Simpkins, C. W 859 
Simpson. Samuel .318 
Sinclair, Alexander 1137 
Skinner, George 749 




Ragan, Elon G iu2o 




Raisbeck, F 277 




Ramsay, Isaac T 4^0 




Ramsay. W. S 492 


Skinner, W. W . 768 






Raymond, John H 597 


Slyder. Jesse u 7 g 




Walter. Zachariah .658 


Redfern, Louis K 1148 


Slydcr,S. K 278 




Reed, Daniel 208 


Smith. B . . . . . 953 


Tanner. James 204 


' P '" 3 * 9 


Reed.J. H 399 


Smith, Charles E 616 
Smith, David F 635 




Reed. Wm . . . , 999 






iReed, Wm 871 


Smith. F. N 1070 


T 




Reese, J. D y>i 


Smith, J. A 527 


Tate, Wm. L 3 6r 


Webster. S. D... 842 








f. 

I 



INDEX. 



Webster, Warren 839 

Weider, Aaron 373 

Weihermiller, Nicholas 367 

Wendel, Henry 647 

Westervelt, Emery 360 

Westervelt, J. L 424 

Whalen, E 3*5 

Whalen, John 268 

Whalen, Thomas 707 

Wienand, Theodore ..630 

Wilcox, Samuel G 401 

Wilder, E. L: 387 



Wilder, M. DeF 403 

Wilkey, John 300 

Wilson, Charles 645 

Wilson, J. T 1166 

Wince, John M 257 

Winsor, H. W 576 

Wolf, John N . 340 

Wood, John 155 

Wcodburn, C. F 448 

Wooding, Stephen 819 

Woodruff, Hon. George A 976 

Worden, Charles 664 



Worrick, George. . . 
Wylie, James M. . . . 

Wylie, James 

Wyllic, J. H 

Wyllie, John 



....679 

IO22 

742 

...1166 
99 



Yates, Richard. 
Young, Jacob . 



159 
.224 



Young, Thomas N . 
Younger, Charles. . 
Younger, Wm 



."73 
..330 
. 67. 



Zeigler, John. . . 
Zeilman, P. B.. 
Zeph, Nicholas 
Zook, John M . . 



.1171 
..684 
..g6, 
373 




Arthur, O 420 

Barlow, Samuel 863 

Barr, J. N 1134 

Becker, Aaron 420 

Bemis, Nelson A I0 73 

Blackwell, G. W 231 

Bohlander, George.. 729 

Boyer,G. W 1067 

Brooks, G.W 1134 

Brown, James 1117 

Brunskill, William 1095 

Bullard,J.T 393 

Carlton, Benjamin 812 

Carlton, Frederick 1067 

Catton, H .-591 

Chamings, William 769 

Chappel, William 936 

Christmann, John 1067 

Church of St. John the Bap- 
tist 979 

Church of St. Rose of Lima. .979 

Clark, E. S 779 

Cline,G. W 253 

Coe, John 869 

Coleman, Stephen 824 

Collins, Jeremiah .1111 

Conine, S. L 511 

Conrad, Frank 641 

Cook, Ira 792 

Corbin, J. F izn 

Cowling, William 313 

Cunnington, Thomas 729 

Davis, W. G 679 

Dirks, E 853 

Eads, F. M 379 

Eggenberger, Uriah 481 

Eiklor, W. F 309 

Elmore, Robert 429 



Ewing, James 936 

Faust, Charles 361 

Finley, J. S 293 

Flanigan, William 1089 

Foley, Morris 269 

Francis, Albert 351 

Francis, Henry * II 39 

Fry, J. H 914 

Funk, J. H 541 

Gallup, D 833 

Garrets, G. A 571 

Gmelich, Christ 793 

Graham, Robert A 863 

Gregg, R. D 769 

Gschwendtner, Anton 914 

Hamilton, James, 892 

Harmon, Amiel 6n 

Harris, John 293 

Harris, John 361 

Herr, Stephen 489 

Hertz, Amos 481 

Hoffman, Albert 369 

Holdridge, R. L 401 

Hoi man, T . L. H. . . . 1040 

Hoobler, David 253 

Hoobler, Fred 709 

Howell, James I 661 

Humiston, Bennet 231 

Humphreys, C. C 853 

Hunt, Lovejoy 875 

Hurt, Nathan 392 

Jennings, J . W 5=1 

Kellogg Bros 351 

King, Jacob 571 

King, Joseph R 571 

Kuns. Jacob 551 

Kuntz, Joseph --449 

Langan, T. N 1089 



Lawless, Patrick 409 

Lewis, Lars 919 

Linn, James H 591 

Little, Jesse 747 

Lockner.John G 521 

Lovelock, James 1073 

Lower, A 985 

Lundy, Elias J 824 

M aj o r , A . A 521 

Marks, J. W 1029 

Mason, L 1017 

McDonald, P. F 1040 

McDowell, J. W 802 

McGee, John 833 

McVay.Mrs. Matilda 661 

Mette, Louis 313 

Mills, J. W 53 i 

Mills, Samuel 361 

Mills, Thomas 793 

Minard, John 963 

Morris, C. fr" 1127 

Morris, W E 739 

Mulford, Daniel A 985 

Odell, James H 471 

Odell, John 1008 

Pearson, Eli W 1017 

Piper, Alexander S 875 

Pope, L. C 1127 

Potter,A. G 833 

Potter, Stephen 481 

Potter, P. M 611 

Proesel, Joseph 739 

Pursley, John 429 

Radcliff, J.R 1117 

Reed, Daniel 209 

Reed, William 869 

Remsbury, P. F 331 

Rich, Joseph P 1095 



Ringler, H. Y 273 

Searing & Messier 331 

Setzer,P. W 369 

Sheldon, C. W 1029 

Shepherd, L. F .769 

Shepherd, H.B 471 

Shrimpton, Philip 401 

Siedentop, H 679 

Sinclair, Alexander J1 39 

Smith, D. F 273 

Smith, F. N 747 

Smith, John 919 

Somers, Peter 541 

Spafford, R. S 688 

Spence, M . D 489 

Springer, Reason 747 

St. Patrick's Church 1001 

Straight, R. C 461 

Stratton, Mrs. V. E 641 

Studley, John 897 

Sullivan, Jeremiah and Mi- 
chael 739 

Sutton, Emmet R 331 

Taggart, J. H... 974 

Taylor, Geo. L 401 

Thomas, J. S 891 

Tredenick, James 1073 

Tryon, Fred N 729 

Turner, Benjamin 511 

Ulbright, H " .273 

Walker, William 49 

Wendel, Henry 649 

Wienand, Theodore 3*3 

Woodburn, C. F 449 

Woodruff, George A 974 

Wyllie, Margaret 897 

Younger, William 670 

Zeph, Nicholas 963 










INDEX. 




Adams, John 24 

Adams, John Q 38 

Arthur, Chester A 88 

Barnes, Mrs. Hannah F 930 

Beardsley , C 563 

Beveridge, John L 170 

Bissell, W. H 150 

Bond, Shadrach no 

Buchanan, James 74 

Camp t Apollos - 500 

Camp, Mrs. Nancy T 501 

Carlin, Thomas 134 

Clark, E. S 2co 

Clark, M*rs. Mildrid Ann 201 

Cleveland, S. Grover ..102 

Coles, Edward 114 

Cullom, Shelby M 174 

Curran, Thomas S 1061 

Darnall, Major Martin 264 

Donohoe, Francis 720 

Duncan, Joseph 130 

Eads, F. M. 380 



Edwards, Ninian nS 

Ewing, Wm. L. D 126 

FHlmore, Millard 66 

Ford, Thomas 138 

French, Augustus C 142 

Garfield, James A 94 

Goembel, W. P 844 

Grant, Ulysses S 86 

Hadley, James P .908 

Hamilton, John M 178 

Harrison, Wm. H 60 

Hayes, Rutherford B 90 

Herbert, Samuel 304 

Herbert, Mrs- Ann J 304 

Hicronymns, Benjamin 581 

Hilton, P. K 562 

Holdridge, R. L 886 

Hoobler, David 758 

Hoobler. Fred 698 

Hoobler, Mrs. Martha 699 

Hoobler, Mrs. Sarah 759 

Houston, Dr. M 1144 



Humiston, bennet 222 

Jackson, Andrew 42 

Jefferson, Thomas 26 

Johnson, Andrew 82 

Kuns, Jacob 622 

Runs, Mrs. Jemima 623 

Lincoln, Abraham 78 

Madison, James 30 

Matteson, Joel A. 146 

McDowell, James 802 

McWiMiams, David 186 

Mills, J. W 242 

Mills, Mrs. Lucy E 243 

Monahan, John 908 

Monroe, James 34 

Myers, John F 1024 

Odell, James H... 440 

Oglesby, Richard J . . . .* 162 

Palmer, John M 166 

Patton, George W 342 

Pierce, Franklin 70 

Polk, James K 58 




Reilly, John 
Reynolds, John 
Ridinger, William 
Rollins, Mrs. Martha 
Rollins, Philip 
Smith, Bronson... 
Spafford, Thomas 
Spence, Mary 
Spence, William 
Stafford, W ........ 

Straight, R. C 
Strawn, C. C 
Taylor, Zachary 
Thornton, Arnold 
Tyler, John 
Van Buren, Martin 
Virgin, John 
Wakey, Jacob 
Washington, George 
Webster, S- D 
Wood, John 
Wylie, James M 
Yates, Richard 



720 
192 
1143 
284 
284 
952 
958 
1106 
1106 
953 
462 
996 

63 
958 

54 

46 
602 
886 

18 

844 

154 

1024 

158 



f 



